Future Retro XS and Vermona DRM mk3 and Algo-Rhythms

A couple of pics and a new sample set via Studio Wormbone here.

"There are free samples available from the product page. The demo song is up on Sound cloud"

Electric Tea 1.0 (Peace Games)

Electric Tea 1.0 (Peace Games) from Ion Ray on Vimeo.

"Peace Games is the first in a series of works that put sound where it doesn't belong.

Re-imagining the war strategy board as a platform for artistic expression, Peace Games uses porcelain bowls, metal orbs, speaker wire, water, and the conductive power of the human body to create a water based musical controller.

Peace Games was Created in association with Playeum for the "Bright and Shiny" event in Singapore, 2010.

About the Artists

Ion Furjanic is a musician, sound designer and inventor. His past work includes composition and sound design for over 50 feature films and documentaries as well as front man duties for Force Theory, a Brooklyn based performance art collective. Originally from New York, Ion currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
lavajumperstudios.com

Isaac Souweine is a media producer and designer. His past work includes game design and production on various web games, educational technologies and cross-platform media properties. Originally from Massachusetts, Isaac currently lives in Singapore with his wife and daughter."

ion Electric Tea First Look from Ion Ray on Vimeo.

I Make 2010

YouTube via makemagazine | July 21, 2010

"Meet some of the talented makers & crafters that made Maker Faire Bay Area 2010 so great!"

Dr. Bleep of Bleep Labs at :18.
Collin Cunningham at :59
Anyone make out where Mark is from at :49? Curious if they do any sound labs.

New Modular Case : Level Up

YouTube via humankoala | July 21, 2010

"My new Toy !!!"

ARP 2600 with 3620 Keyboard

via this auction

"Early version of Arp 2600 with 3620 Keyboard. Everything works as it should. Fully serviced by tech at Jersey Amps just last month. He can be contacted at vin.sabina at jerseyamps.com for any technical questions you might have regarding this ARP. Power supply was repair & each section was gone over carefully. Tech gave me a full 45 minute demo. He is the best in the New Jersey area... Serial number 2600P=#261565
3620=#1565"

You'll find some pics of the inside after the hop.

Note a big part of this post is about the tech. I sometimes get contacted by people looking for techs in their area. I usually refer them to the Synth Techs label on the site.

CLICK FOR MORE »

ARP Model 8 Minus Noise Mixer & Reverb

via this auction

"Unit is 20.5" wide / 14.75" deep / 5.75" high at rear / 3" high at front.
Reverb depth control on all 8 channels
Pre amp gain on all 8 channels
Low & high frequency Eq boost
Dynamic noise filter with full range adjustment (sensitivity)
Switchcraft jacks"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Juno-106 with Custom Wood Sides

via this auction and this auction.

"Custom tropical hardwood "tamo" end panels installed."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Modded Wasp Synthesizer Demo

YouTube via eidco | September 17, 2008 - [previously posted - new post for the auction below]

"This is a demonstration of the Wasp Synthesizer I sold on eBay. The auction ran from Sep. 24 to Oct. 4, 2008.

I originally had a link to the auction item here, but it is too old now and the item has been removed.

My Wasp sold for a disappointing $687 dollars. Congratulations to the lucky winner of the auction. The timing of my auction coincided with the tanking of the US economy and I'm afraid that scared off a lot of potential bidders. I've seen other Wasp synths sell on eBay for over $1200 even in a non-operating condition.

Thanks for listening, rating, commenting, and subscribing to my videos."


via this auction

"ORIGINAL 1979 EDP WASP SYNTHESISER"

Note this is not the one in the video above, but is a new listing. I spotted the video in this auction. The seller does note the video is not the one listed.

KORG POLY 800 ANALOG SYNTH (RARE REVERSED KEYS)

via this auction

Casio DG-20 Digital Guitar MIDI Synthesizer

via this auction

Spock and a Crumar Bit01

via Cafe 80

PaleoFuture by khoral
"The first half is one complex Prophet 08 patch.
The second half is one Crumar Bit01 patch.
Also Guitars and drum machine, and a Microkorg pad in the middle."

MIDI MOOG by Studio Electronics - MIDIMOOG

SN 1600 via this auction

"Mini Moog- A rack mount Mini Moog (using a complete set of Mini Moog circuit boards) built by Studio Electroincs. Includes MIDI and extra modulation options. This is one of the early Studio Electronics models that used a Mini Moog for the circuit boards. This unit also contains the octave buffer oscillator stability modification. Rack rash around some of the holes but otherwise in great cosmetic condition.


The unit responds to MIDI and sounds just like my stock Mini Moog. The additional modulation abilities simply adds to the units versatility. The unit will require calibration just like a standard Mini Moog to touch up the tuning and tracking."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Arp Odyssey Mark 1 (2800)

via this auction

There are some pics of the schematics and various documentation after the hop. Unfortunately nothing legible, but you can get a sense of some of what was documented.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Trans X @ PAtrick Miller

flickr by Fredo in (((Stereo)))

Roland AX-Synth


Trans-X - Living On Video Official Video

E.T. Drone Home Circuit Bent 4093 Synth by freeform delusion

YouTube via eecouk | October 11, 2009
via this auction - Sold For: £10.00
"E.T. Drone Home - This is a 4093 synth inside an Interactive E.T. We took out all the insides of E.T. (it was a failed bend), decided to do use the shell of the toy to house one of these drone synths. His chest still lights up, he doesn't move or talk. We added onto his back the following --- Mono mini Jack socket --- On/Off Toggle Switch ---Three potentiometers to control the synth. You can touch the dark part on his chest for some kind of body contact (don't know why this works we haven't connected anything to it?) this only works if you get the knobs at the right points which can be a few minutes work! .fd."

The Theremin IS metal!

"Just like like the flute...the Theremin IS a heavy metal instrument. (And, No... I don't think i've mastered it yet...and my apologies go out to Iron Maiden)"

Inside a MAXIKORG K-3

via SV SYNTHESIS where you'll find more pics.

Maxikorg by Salvatore Valentino

florian

flickr by Analogue Solutions

"Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk, posing with an Analogue Solutions Vostok at the Frankfurt music show.

I can't remember the year, but it was about 2005.

He was cool. He put his glasses on especially for the picture, to look more like a technician. And posed with the headphones on!

He talked a lot about cycling!"

http://analoguesolutions.co.uk/

Station X minimodular.

flickr by Analogue Solutions

"Station X minimodular by Analogue Solutions"

http://analoguesolutions.co.uk/

_1030153

flickr by Spacehotel
(click for more)

KORG Polysix

20100715152604.avi

YouTube via panote09 | July 21, 2010
panote09 on Ebay

ether^ra TYPE MEETING

YouTube via potterpaint2000 | July 21, 2010

"an improv featuring my Serge Creature/Seq A combo, VTOL synths and A Tenori-on midified through a Doepfer Dark Energy. http://etherra.blogspot.com"

Sebastian Arnold - Bits keep moving (digital grain dance)

YouTube via batzberlin | July 21, 2010

"This is another live video from the Berlin Antje Oklesund concert back in April. The song is the opener of my upcoming second Album "Attempt to change a running system e.p." which will be released 10.09.2010. Become a fan on http://www.facebook.com/sebastianarno... !
Recorded Live by Antje Öklesund / Till Kreische / Echoschall
Gear: Clavia Nord Modular G2, Nord Lead 2X, Korg Kaoss Pad Mini, SooperLooper (on Debian Linux), FaderFox Controller, Drums!"

bent psicose

YouTube via comemelinhos | July 21, 2010

"woody allen bent"

Side note: a bit of a transmission starting post after the anniversary post.

5 Years of MATRIXSYNTH!!!

It's that time again. Today is the five year anniversary of MATRIXSYNTH!!! I like to share a little bit about how the site ticks in these posts, some of the history for those that don't know it, some miscellaneous insights this year, and of course some numbers.

It all started back in July 20, of 2005, with a brief post wishing Dr. Bob Moog well. The brevity of the post was a bit of a foreshadowing of what the site would become.

I started the blog when the old site just wasn't cutting it anymore. I created the old site back in 1997 (before The Matrix movies ever existed BTW) as a personal portal for the various synth sites I used to visit. In 2005, blogging was just becoming popular. I found that I had a difficult time keeping track of things in email, my favorites list and the old site. The problem was many of the interesting bits were buried within sites, and possibly more importantly, a new method of sharing information was just emerging. Flickr (Feb 2004) and YouTube (Feb 2005) were just starting, Vimeo (Nov 2004) was relatively unknown, and SoundCloud (Aug 2007) wasn't even around yet.

In 2005, I created MATRIXSYNTH, the blog. I started tracking "Everything Synth". I let people know on various synth forums and email lists I belonged to about the site. In time it grew and people started sending things in. I realized what the site was becoming. It wasn't just a place for me to track stuff, but a place for anyone into synths. It was a daily heartbeat on what people were doing with their synths, not just a news site. In the beginning I posted every single image that came in on Flickr featuring a synth, and every single video on YouTube. It was fascinating at the time, because before then you never really saw what other people were doing, unless you knew them, or unless they had the means to host their own website. Flickr, YouTube, SoundCloud, Blogger, Word Press, and other hosting sites changed this. The site became a place for people to share and promote what they were doing. I received emails from people thanking me for connections they made because of the site. Many sites announced themselves here including DVDBORN (Jan 2, 2006), Muff Wiggler (Dec 4, 2006), TRASH_AUDIO (Oct 22, 2007), Analog Suicide (Dec 23, 2007), NOISESOURCE (April 22, 2008), and many others. The site currently gets over half a million pageviews a month. Think about that. More on the numbers in a bit. Before I get bombarded, I no longer post site announcements simply for the sake of site announcements. At 50 posts a day, it would be suicide and with the amount I post and I would take you all down with me. :) Posts have to be about specific synths, and via links are given.

There have also been a plethora of product announcements from manufacturers that read the site - too many to list. BTW, be sure see the MANUFACTURERS section on the right and the MANUFACTURERS page for a list of manufacturers that read the site and have taken the time out to send in a small 250px x 100px image. Note placement on this page is free. If you are a manufacturer, send me an image and I will add it. Note some dealers are listed there as well. Back to some history...

When I first started the blog, I wanted to put up a post at least once a week. It turned out to be more like once a day. I then wanted to put a minimum of five posts up a day, and then 10. I remember days when I didn't think I was going to hit it, and I remember days when I was so stressed out due to the sheer number and complexity of certain posts that I was ready to give it up. Every single post on this site is put up manually - there is zero automation. I now put up close to fifty posts every single day, seven days a week! With the exception of August 6, 2005, at least one post has gone up every single day since the inception of the site. If I only knew then what I know now I would have posted something on that one day. [Note: I thought I missed more than one day, but I couldn't find others - check out the archives in the right by clicking on the side triangles to drill down - if anyone finds another day I missed, let me know]. For those that are curious, it takes me anywhere between about four and six hours a day to do this. How do I have the time? Eight hours (usually less) of sleep, eight hours work, and eight hours for everything else (blog). I do contract-based work from home, so the entire day is pretty much spent behind my laptop working, with only a few breaks for food and a bike ride so I don't melt into my lazy boy. Weekends I get out and make time for my synths, friends, family, etc. The site pretty much is a full time job including weekends. How do I do it? I love it!!! That and there is a technique I honed over the years as crazy as it sounds. The more you do anything, the easier it becomes. It doesn't feel like work to me and even though things are not automated, I have a rhythm and a routine that I have relatively mastered. It took a couple of years to get that rhythm down. Now it's a bit of an addiction. That and with contract-based work I also work in surges, meaning some days are busier than others, and in between contracts I have more time on the blog. It all just works out. This brings me back to the note on that very first post back on July 20. At the time, I really didn't know what to say. It was an awkward first post but with the news that day, I knew that had to be the first post. I thought about what to write and I realized there was nothing I could say, other than providing the link, asking others to wish him well, and getting the heck out of the way. The post wasn't about me, it was about him. That has pretty much evolved into the theme of the site to this day. I want people to experience what others are doing, not my reflections on it. Once I realized that, posting became much easier. Part of this was also realizing that the number of posts going up can be difficult to consume, for myself included. The less I say the less time I waste. I try to keep things short, to the point, and myself out of the post. The site is a bit like conveyor belt sushi, a buffet, or tapas bar. Stuff constantly comes in and you can either take all of it in, or just pick what you want. The cool thing is everything is archived so you can come back to it later.

Some people ask me why Blogger? The reason is it's free and it's owned and hosted by Google. If I'm ever unable to run the site for whatever reason it will stay up. We have lost too many great synth sites over the years unfortunately. The excellent drummachine.com immediately comes to mind. If anyone remembers the site, it was the best site dedicated to drum machines - tons of pics, details and audio samples. It's now a promotion site. This is going to sound crazy, but the limitations of Blogger also keep things a bit more manageable and in check. I like the site as it is. It is what it is and that's what makes the site.

Time for some numbers. I'll try to keep it short this time. According to Google Analytics, since the inception of the site, there has been a total of 8,054,806 visits and 16,856,224 pageviews. That's up from 5,774,890 visits and 11,233,869 pageviews as of last year. If you look at the bottom of the site you will see Site Meter has me at 8,337,466 pageviews. This is because I started Google Analytics after Site Meter and I missed adding back the Google Analytics code a couple of times when updating my template. If you click on the map, you will see we are still missing a few countries. North Korea, I haven't said anything bad about you!!! It blows me away to think visits came in from some places. I chose the map for the image in this post because of this. This site is global. You get to see what people around the world are doing with synths on a daily basis. The site exists because of everyone out there who loves synths - you, me, and those that may not even know about the site yet. It's been a great five years and I look forward to the next. THANK YOU!!!

Update: Twitter: via Chris Carter!!!
http://chriscarter.co.uk/ @chris_carter_
http://www.throbbing-gristle.com/
http://www.chrisandcosey.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Carter_%28musician%29

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY MATRIXSYNTH from Chris Carter on Vimeo.

"Experimentally yours...

Chris Carter"

Update: I forgot to note the number of posts since the inception of the site. Including this post there was a total of 43,951.

Roland V-Synth & Juno-G

YouTube via SynthManiaDotCom | July 20, 2010

"A calm, ambient improvisation using the Roland V-Synth and Juno-G synthesizers. The V-Synth provides the pad, the Juno-G the drum machine and theremin sound."

Andy Wig - EML/Biscuit Signals & Cycles

YouTube via arthurpainter | July 20, 2010

"Here are sounds from my vintage EML 200 modular synth processed both internally and externally (by the Biscuit). Its drones are morphed into a random mechanical rhythm that is further filtered, delayed, and clocked for your audio/visual edification... oh yeah! The original signal also plays throughout "naked" as one knob on the Biscuit offers."

Moog Prodigy Monophonic Vintage Synthesizer

via this auction

Tara Busch Omnichord+moogerfooger cookin, mama...

http://www.analogsuicide.com/

Sequencer Synth

flickr by Unearthed Circuits
(click for more)

"The completed sequencer and synth."

Intellijel uStep demo

YouTube via EROEI | April 24, 2010

"Intellijel uStep tracks A and B go into Makenoise Maths inputs (ASR env is the result) which controls the level of two VCOs from the Cwejman S1mk2. TipTop Z8000 and Livewire Vulcan control the two S1mk2 VCF in a 2pole HPF 4pole LPF serial config. Abelton Live controls the clock and pitch via arpeggiator.

FX are Eventide H7600 and TimeFactor

http://soundcloud.com/mobtrans"

Logical Beat #1 - Intellijel Spock and Flip Flop

EROEI | July 19, 2010

"Electronic beat created by using XOR, AND and JK Flip Flop logic provided by the Intellijel Spock and Flip-Flop modules. Sounds sources are Eurorack Modular synthesizer. Logic is fed by Impulse machines on the Elektron Machinedrum, uStep, clock from Ableton and a VCLFO.

http://soundcloud.com/mobtrans"

n-forcer iPhone App (prototype)

YouTube via Denkitribe | July 20, 2010

"OSC app using two iPhones. Details TBA."

myVST Demo: COMBO MODEL V

YouTube via FreeVST | April 15, 2010 http://myvst.com/

"Combo Model V is a freeware virtual combo organ, modelled after a well-known combo organ from the 1960s.

Features
* 4-octave C-to-C keyboard
* Harmonic range 7 polyphonic octaves
* 4 footage drawbars
* 2 voice drawbars
* Vibrato unit with adjustable speed and depth
* Swell (volume) pedal
* Adjustable tuning per note
* Fully modelled (no samples inside)
* Model includes oscillators, dividers, crosstalk, filters, key contacts and key click
* Velocity-sensitive key contact attack and release
* Fully automatable
* 32 presets included"

hertz donut screaming

YouTube via DrOctave1 | July 20, 2010

"hertz donut screaming with a 4/4 and some hh"

PNW Synth Gathering this Saturday

Just a reminder. See this post for details. See the PNW Synth Gathering label below for videos and pics from previous years' events.

CRUMAR BIT-01 Rack Expander Model

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

jen sx1000 synthetone

via this auction

"sx1000 synthetone from italian synth manufacturers jen

it's a single dco monosynth with three waves: saw, square and pwm. it has a 12db resonant analog filter with it's own dedicated envelope, an adsr volume control envelope, a single lfo, vibrato, glide, and white and pink noise

it's capable of a range of sounds from bright moog-esque leads, to very thick, dirty and dark basses. you can get some pretty cool squealing filter sweep effects. this was made pre-midi, but there are midi retrokits available online"

Synclavier 6400 Sampling PCI System VPK

via this auction
"Synclavier 6400 System with Keyboard, tons of Sounds + PCI cards

Synclavier PCI system configuration:
32 Poly Voices (PSV Cards)
32 Megabytes of Poly Memory (2 of 16 meg cards)
8 Multichannel outputs
Midi 1 in by 4 outs
SMPTE
Digital STM Sampling input
Velocity Pressure Keyboard
Mac G4 computer
Elco cable with multichannel output XLR's
PCI cards and cable
Cables are 25 feet

We will include tons of sounds on a 1 Terabyte drive!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oberheim Xpander w/MIDI

via this auction
The CV and Gate Ins give the Xpander an advantage over the Matrix-12 if you can use them.

"Serial Number 700XXX. The machine is 6 voices and come equipped with full MIDI capabilities. It can function in Mono, Stereo, or even as a 6 voice multi-timbral monosynth. It also has CV/Gate capabilities and can be used as C/V to MIDI converter for up to 6 channels of your old gear. The modulation and routing capabilities on this thing are incredible. The XPander is a highly sought after classic for good reason. Not many people are willing to part with them! "

CLICK FOR MORE »

OBERHEIM STRUMMER

via this auction

"Keyboard to guitar chord converter."

Plug your controller of choice in the MIDI in and plug the MIDI out into the MIDI in of your synth. The Stummer has a number of guitar-like playing styles that will take whatever you play in and play that out it's MIDI out jack. There are classic guitar strums and some other techniques as well. It's an interesting utility module from the Oberheim Perf series.

Oberheim DX Drum Machine Vintage Extra E-Proms

via this auction
"The sound chips currently contained in this unit consist of the following:
1. Kick position: TR-808 Kick
2. Snare position: Original DX Snare
3. Hi-Hat position: Original DX Hi-hat
4. Toms position: DX Electric Snare (purchased through Electrongate)
5. Cymbals position: DX Handclaps (purchased through Electrongate) (Note: Three blank chips are inserted so that all three triggers for claps give a sound, each with a different clap “pitch.” This is what Electrongate told me I needed to do and it worked perfectly).
6. Perc. Position: Cowbell/Rimshot/Percussion hit

In addition to these chips, the following five extra chips are also included with this DX:
-DX IF0 CRASH
-CRASH DX IF1
-CRASH DX IF2
-CRASH DX IF3
-ELECTRIC GUITAR

This is a non-midi unit but a new midi add-on kit is now available for about $100 through a company called Electrongate. Two GREAT things about this drum machine are the individual output for EACH drum position (see back photo) and the external tuning pots for each drum (they are internal on the DMX if I am not mistaken). I used the individual outputs to great advantage, running each through a separate input on a multi channel effects process (also for sale in a separate auction). This way I could add reverb to the snare, compress the hi-hat, delay the percussion hits, etc., etc"

CLICK FOR MORE »

oberheim ob-12

via this auction

"Made by Viscount. 12 voices, 4 part multitimbral. built-in arpeggiator and phrase sequencer. built-in effects. 4-octave keyboard with aftertouch. ribbon controller."

Vintage Synthesizer Yamaha CS-50

via this auction

"The Yamaha CS-50, a vintage synthesizer from 1976, is a scaled down version of the classic Yamaha CS-80 and CS-60 synths. It offers 4-voice polyphony, with 1 oscillator per voice."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Creamware Minimax Synthesizer

via this auction

"fantastic emulator of the famous Moog Minimoog. You won't believe how close this sounds to a real Minimoog. In addition to the old school sound, you get onboard effects, 12-voive multi-timbrality, presets, dependability without tuning drift, stereo outs, and many more features."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha CS 10 analog monophonic synth

via this auction

"A very nice monophonic analog synth with a very easy signal flow and great tweak-ability. Best for fat bass lines , leads and atmospheric sounds . Has a very nice filter resonance and an excellent slow to very fast LFO which goes right into the audio range."


Yamaha Cs10 sound samples by abertronix