Siel Expander 80 Resource Site

"This page is dedicated to the Siel Expander 80 synth module, which seems to constantly be slated for being an inadequate copy of the Korg EX800. This web page is a complete resource for the Siel Expander 80, showing that if time is given to understand it, and accepting it's limitations, then a very capable synth will become apparrent."

Roland JSQ-60

via this auction

"Roland JSQ-60 digital keyboard recorder. It is an amazing device designed to give you more control and variety on your DCB keyboard... The JSQ-60 is a polyphonic sequencer compatible with DCB synthesizers such as the JUNO-60 or the JUPITER-8. Due to its large memory capacity of approximately 2,000 notes, the JSQ-60 can memorize a complete musical composition . The JSQ-60 can also memorize changes in the patch memory of the JUNO-60. The JSQ-60 is capable of both real-time and single-step loading. In the real-time mode, all performances played by the keyboard are loaded. And in the single step mode, the pitch of each note is loaded in each step. While listening to previously loaded performances, you can overdub up to three times in real time. Shifting the JUNO-60's patch memory and starting/stopping the JSQ-60 can be controlled by the DP-2 pedal switch. A cassette interface is provided for limit less data storage. Two Sync out jacks are provided to sync with devices such as the TR-606 DRUMATIX or TB-303 BASS LINE. Easy to carry. Weight: only 1.5 kg!"

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Multivox MX-20

via this auction

ELKA OMB 3

via this auction

The auction states this is analog. Anyone out there know?

Studio Electronics SE-1X

via this auction

"More Information from the Studio Electronics website: Seen where the sound of success was heard, the SE-1 recreated the power of the classic Moog tone and far more. The distinctive Oberheim filter and numerous additional features helped to make this Hiphop and R&B legend the serious professional's source for the boominest basses and smoothest, wormiest leads on the planet. The SE-1X continues in this tradition, remaining true to its roots, while stepping up its functionality and form; wide open to future expansion and exploration via its Flash-ROM operating system –not to mention the boundless creativity of our supernal sound designers!"

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machinedrum 01

machinedrum 01 from Zane Brzezinski on Vimeo.

Machinedrum02

Machinedrum02 from Zane Brzezinski on Vimeo.

Atari Punk Console 2.0 Kit from GetLoFi

more info including how to order on GetLoFi

"The Stepped Tone Generator circuit by Forrest M Mims III has been around for ages. Recently the same circuit was rediscovered and reborn catching the attention of the Internet as the Atari Punk Console for its coarse and crunchy tones. When it became apparent that the demand for this sound was still great it was decided that offering a Kit is not such a bad idea. The original schematic and PCB transfer drawn up by Matthew Helm seemed like a good place to start, however it is riddled with needless complexity and was not something one could wrap their head around easily. Plus it was not taking the advantage of superior PCB mounting capabilities. Behold the Atari Punk Console (APC) 2.0! Redesigned entirely from scratch and based on the original schematic from the Radio Shack Book. The APC 2.0 is designed so that its components solder directly to the matching traces on the printed side of the board. It is quick and easy to put together even for a novice."

A New Access Virus at NAMM?

Rumor has it that there might be a new Access Virus coming at NAMM.

via Mr. Array:

"Tons of speculation is going on out there in regards to a new Virus being released at NAMM. Apparently online stores are listing all lines except the Snow as discontinued. Check out this thread for more info. This might be the last exciting NAMM in quite some time, given the state of the world's financial system."

Again, this is all rumor, so take it as you want. What's a little scary is that last sentence. Hopefully there won't be too much of a lull in the synth market. There's also rumors that Clavia/Nord has discontinued the G2: here and other threads on electro-music.com.

Polymoog restoration

flickr set by unfrostedpoptart

A Synth Dream

Chang sent the following in on the AH list. I've posted Synth Dreams in the past and figured this one was worth a post.

"My dream the other night...

I went to a music shop and bought two new synths. One was called the JP6 by Roland but was not a Jupiter 6. It was built almost like a taller, narrower Korg MS-10 or MS-20, with avery colorful front panel.

The other synth was kind of like a Nord MicroMOdular only when programmed it produced these gorgeous, analog drenched sounds and arpeggios. I and my abovementioned companion marveled at the sounds before the ladder sex. Then at some point later in the dream the guy from the store stole the synth back and I woke up pissed.

I have often dreamt of weird sex. I am only human.

I have never dreamt of synths. I am a geek now. Synths & sex? That's reallly weird."


Someone of course wanted to the know the details. Consider yourself warned... There is no synth content beyond this point, so if you are sensitive towards this stuff, move on...

"YOu ased you sick bastid:

Last night's dream has stuck in my head all day.

I can't figure out which part was the weirdest.

After the cut, there is sexy dreamy nonsense. You have been warned.

So the first weird bit was me having sex with the mother of an old high school friend. Only it was not the actual mother, but some sort of composite. And it began on a ladder. Yeah. When we actually, bedded, I tore away her turtleneck sweater to reveal a large surgical scar down the center of her chest and something written on her abdomen which I cannot remember. At some point earlier in the dream she had told me she had recently recovered from cancer. As we had the dream sex, she moaned, "THE CURE!!! THE CURE!!! THE CURE!!!" which neither took to mean sex with me was a cure for cancer (studies are inconclusive) and not an endoresment for Robert Smith and co."

Now this is a crazy synth dream...

Apollo Studio

Synth.nl has been tracking the building of his new studio online. I've been watching it but holding off on a post until some synths appeared. :)

The have. You can find all posts on the building of Apollo Studio here.

"In this picture you see the left part where my analog corner will be again. In the third cabinet from the right I put the UPS for the studio, but when I switched it on I heard that it has fans and makes noise, so I will move it to the server room. Not all my analog synthesizers are going here by the way, because in the new setup I will also have a special place for all my modulars. They are going to be all together on the second desk that Gerrit is building at this moment."

Divider_euroPCB

flickr by fonitronik

"2-sided layout for a Simple Clock Divider for my Modular (eurorack), providing footprints for cliff 1386 sockets.
www.fonitronik.de"

Philip Oakey & the all seeing i - 1st Man In Space 2 videos

YouTube via crowbaby5. Roland SH-101 synth fest.
"Philip Oakey from the Human League teams up with fellow Sheffielders the all seeing i - there are two live versions on this clip."

via dr ben goldacre
"sheffield band, they seem to get their sheffield mates in all the time, like tony christie, (heh) phil oakey, and jarvis cocker. and one of them was in I Monster and the other was in that band in the Harry Potter movie (true)."

Grr....

Blogger is not letting me upload images at the moment, so I can't post things like this Plan b teaser. Posts with images will come later.

Logic Express 8 - New Beginnings

YouTube via skyskraberen
"New song made with Logic Express 8 and Novation Xiosynth.
The bass is a sample from Future Music Magazine sample cd, the rest of the instrument are played via the midi or the built-in keyboard in Logic (cmd+shift).

The video was made in iMovie using images from when floppy discs were used and saved photos with mistakes in them."

Garageband - Double Virtual

YouTube via skyskraberen
"This song is called Double Virtual and was made using Garageband. All software instruments were triggered and played via the built-in keyboard.

Lyrics written by Skyskraberen and recorded using iSpeak, where you can type in any word and the application will speak it. You can select different voices, this one is Victoria."

Propellerhead Reason version 4

Removed this one. See the comments.

EMX-1 Exotic Beatmaking in Tokyo(HD)

YouTube via cyberspacecowboys
"Played by S_Ishimaru.
KORG Electribe EMX-1 Beatmaking."

padr

YouTube via cray56

leploop, step three, pcb testing, kick

YouTube via tonylight
"LepLoop It's a small synth protype I'm developping with my friend Peppo.
The idea was to have a compact live analog instrument.
The circuit it's an original design.
The synth can produce 3/4 sound at the same time
kick
noise hh/snare
bass/melody

After one year of developping the pcb it's arrived, here I'm testing the kick generator"

Bananalogue VCS as a fuzz device

YouTube via AlexPears
"Here is the first of what I hope to be many synth videos, in this one I show how to use the Bananalogue VCS as a self oscillating fuzz of sorts."

En Halvkokt i Folie - Live Jam Part 2 - Fylkingen Sthlm 2008-07-19

YouTube via eSyringe. Analogue Solutions SEMBlance, DIY and more
"The guys in En Halvkokt i Folie hooked up some of their electronic gear for a live jam at Fylkingen Stockholm in july 2008."

Patch Tutorial 1

Patch Tutorial 1 from Elan Hickler on Vimeo.
"Some things I forgot to mention:

-The envelope controlling the lowpass filter is set with high attack, decay, sustain, and release.
-The pitch VC to the lowpass filter is inverted but heavily attenuated.
-I used no resonance and the notch filter was turned all the way down.

Sorry, the sound quality could be better. I'll use a higher bitrate next time."

Music Thing on Hiatus

And this is what I woke up to today. This is a sad day for us fans. Music Thing along with Create Digital Music and Analog Industries were the first music blogs I visited and still the top three in my opinion.

They also helped me during rough times - site issues and figuring out how to find the balance in blogging. I will always be thankful of Tom for his support, guidance and of course a few beers in London last summer! :)

Read Tom's post on why he is taking and indefinite break. Although, I am definitely crossing my fingers that MT will come back one day, I congratulate Tom on his success and wish him the best. Sometimes you just need a break and a change in perspective. Family and life should always come first.

Tom, thank you for Music Thing, your support and the great memories. I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you online or in person again one day.

cheers,
matrix

Plan B Preps for NAMM

follow-up to this post

the squarewave parade updates

POLLEN

bleak impedance matcher

bleak waveshaper

bleak dual EXP

bleak mult

SAFEPLACE - minm

Rough Rider Pro Now Available

http://www.audiodamage.com/

Tutorial: Making a sawtooth bass on a 4 op FM synth (TX81z)

YouTube via muzik4machines. Also features Akai MFC42 filter.

The Making of a Thingamakit

more pics here:

O making of do Thingamakit

Note this is the Thingamakit from this video post.

GCe2 // GestureSynth

GCe2 // GestureSynth from Mouse & the Billionaire on Vimeo.
"Here's an example of the GCe2 (Gestural Controller - Exploration 2) in use with an application called GestureSynth. Tilting to the left and right lowers and raises the pitch, respectively. Tilting back applies a chorus effect, and squeezing the expression pads on the side creates a flange.

Thanks for watching."

Circle by Future Audio Workshop

Circle by Future Audio Workshop from precious on Vimeo.
"Interfacedesign for "Circle", a software synthesizer by Future Audio Workshop.

More info + demo download:
futureaudioworkshop.com/circle/

precious-forever.com/design-studio/future-audio-workshop/"

Rare Blue Utility LFO

via VICMOD where you will find one more shot [see update below].

snip via Elby Designs, The Panther Series CGS758 - Utility LFO where you will find the full description:
"This module is a dual utility LFO offering manually variable wave shapes. Standard waveshapes are falling ramp variable through triangle to rising ramp, and variable pulse width. A fixed square wave is also available, as is a combination waveshape that is variable between the TRI/SAW output and the SQUARE. This is a MIX not a morph. Two switches allow the variable outputs of the two LFOs to be intermixed.

The Utility LFO is based on the standard integrator/schmitt trigger oscillator core. Two pots in the integrator charge path allow for the adjustment of speed, and along with two diodes, for the adjustment of
charge versus discharge time. Changing this ratio will allow the TRI/SAW output to be adjusted from a falling ramp through triangle to a rising ramp. At the same time, the output of the schmitt trigger will reflect this in the length of its output pulse."

Update via reSEQUENCer in the comments:
"Hey Matrixsynth, that's my Christmas present in the VICMOD photo. The kit was under the tree, then in my rack a couple of days later. Plays well with the Steiner Filter, ChaQuo & Roland 100m. Cheers, reSEQUENCer"

Sampler Meeting

flickr by micromoog1
(click for more)

full size

Mini64, a MIDIbox SID V1

via sebo on this electro-music.com thread where you will find one more shot.

"Here is a picture of my Mini64, a MIDIbox SID V1.
(from http://www.ucapps.de/ of course)."

x0xb0x plays some spooky piano

YouTube via neandrewthal
"The melody is created by two VCO's, one being fed the CV out of the x0xb0x sampled second clock pulse and the other one, the same thing sampled every third clock pulse. They go through a lowpass filter which is opened by an envelope every third clock pulse and on to the neural agonizer to spookify things." There's a KORG Polysix in there as well.

80's LT DESIGN

YouTube via pavyzdziui.



Anyone know more about the Vilnius?

"80's Lithuanian design objects: antenna Aušra, hoovers Audra and Saturnas pillar of TVs-set Šilelis, sound system Venta, first Lithuanian keyboard Dielonika, skis and hand dryer Vėjelis, tape recorders Elfa, Vilma, synthesizer Vilnius."

Voice Box - Video by Jack Conte - Vocal Harmony Machine/ Vocoder - Electro Harmonix

YouTube via ehpedals. KORG MicroKORG
"http://www.ehx.com
Visit the all-new EHX site!

For the Voice Box, go to:
http://www.ehx.com/products...

Voice Box video by EHX pals Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn."

Korg DS-10 & Kaossilator

YouTube via LustigAkustik

ems synthi & co. 2

YouTube via ipnoteca
"hello, here is an experiment with old and new gear.
all the sound you hear is made using an EMS SYNTHI, KORG MS20,ROLAND SPACE ECHO except for drum played by IPOD TOUCH with BEATMAKER 1.3 apps.

hope you'll enjoy!!!

www.myspace.com/ipnoteca"

Yamaha DX7 Digital Algorithm Programmable Synthesizer

via this auction

Interesting that Yamaha went with "Digital Algorithm Programmable Synthesizer" rather than FM in the label description. Algorithm referred to the various combinations of operator modulation pictured in the middle shot. In the same way you picked your oscillator waveform in analog and PCM based digital synths, you picked an algorithm in the DX7. You'd then edit from there.

Sequential Circuits Prophet VS

via this auction

"8 VOICE VECTOR SYNTHESIS WITH ANALOG FILTERS(CEMs.) 4 Oscillators per voice and can sweep them with the vector joystick"

acidlab BomBass Analog Acid Synth TB-303 clone

via this auction

"ONE OF THE FIRST ONES MADE, hence no midi, but it works great with any midi to cv/gate converter. Sounds like a 303 but can do so much more with the two oscillators, ring mod, osc. sync, lfo , filter FM. LFO has several different wave forms over the standard, like random and S&H, great for whacked out filter sweeps"

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Flight Of Harmony Plague Bearer Analog Synth Modular

via this auction

"THE FILGHT OF HARMONY - PLAGUE BEARER VERSION 1.1, #19 OF 20 --- Quad Voltage-Controlled Resonant Bandpass filter... Runs on batteries or power supply."

Roland TB-303 Bassline with AcidLab Mod

via this auction
"Fully functioning, except that it will only run on a power supply, since the battery leads were removed for the modification. Also, all holes were drilled for the CV/gate and audio mods, but never installed. The main modifications are present, though and working, ie. the overdrive, decay and resonance, x-mod pots and the Accent, Slide and bend switches and leds. MODIFICATIONS: overdrive, x-mod(cross modulation of oscillator), full accent on/off, full slide on/off, pitch bends, cut-off range expanded, resonance range expanded with new res. pot and decay can now be shorten to nice little Blips!!! Should be easy to add the cv/gate/audio jack mods if you want, with the directions from the acidlab site and some wire and 1/8th inch jacks. More info and specs"

Studio Electronics SE-1x LTD Red Eye Analog Synth

via this auction

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Roland Juno-106

via this auction

"The sliders for the LFO and DCO have been pulled out. As you can see the original sliders come with this auction. I have not been inside this keyboard so hopefully it will not be too hard to reinsert these sliders but they might need to be replaced."

Access Virus TI Polar

via this auction

The Sweeps - Breaking Up

YouTube via inkoggnito77
"Massive vintage synthesizer use, lots of Moog leads and Fender Rhodes presence in this live clip from German-based THE SWEEPS. Check them out on http://www.myspace.com/thesweepsmusic"

Nerve Net Noise, First Night Boston 2009

YouTube via monumentaldocuments.
"First US appearance of Japanese synth wizard. Crummy cell phone footage."
via Michael:
"Japanese synth noise mastery live on new years eve. Sorry I couldn't
get a shot of his gear, but it was an amazing homemade
dual-joystick-controlled synth."