"This is a 1969 Maestro Model MRK-2 'Rhythm King' Rhythm Machine. Made in USA by Gibson Inc, Lincolnwood, Ill. USA. Serial #15314.
Features and Problems: 18 Pre-programmed 'Rhythms'. (7) Latin, (8) American and (3) Traditional. Controls for: 'Volume', 'Balance' and 'Speed/Metronome'. Lighted On/Off rocker switch. Eight additional 'momentary' black switches for: 'Bass Drum', 'Snare Drum', 'Hi-Hat Cymbal', 'Cymbal', 'Tom Tom', 'Bongo', 'Blocks' and 'Clave'. This unit was tested by our electronics tech and he said it all worked except for the 'Bongos', 'Blocks' and 'Clave' switches which are non-functional and do not work. All control switches were cleaned. All other switches and rhythms/controls work fine. Exterior wood case covering has much wear (see photo). The AC cord, 1/4" cable and Footswitch all work and are stored in the compartment on the back."
"Many people believe it's the best sounding analogue 8 voice polyphonic synthesizer ever made! It's in the Roland Jupiter 8 and Sequential Prophet 5 league type of synthesizer and this particular model has history too. It has spent it's earlier days at the Berlin Hansa Studio (Bowie, Iggy, Japan, Depeche Mode etc.) in Germany. The serial number is 1238 of only between 1500 and 1800 ever made (people are unsure about that). The last model was made for Stevie Wonder after production already stopped. More famous players: ELP, Jamiroquai and Jean Michel Jarre."
"The floppy drive kept having problems(most SP1200 floppy drives eventually die out). This one has a completely rebuilt floppy in it, most of the ones on ebay have the original floppy in it which will eventually die out or break completely. The floppy has been tested and is fully functional. It also has a brand new backlight in it. All other functions were tested, led lights and sliders, drum pads and everything works."
"It's a 61 Note Keyboard; No Midi; Sounds : " String ", " Bass ", " Piano ", " Harps ", & " Brass ". These sounds can be used individually or collectively. The Orchestrator String Machine is a bit heavy but a very SOLID piece of musical equipment."
follow-up to this post where you'll find the specs. "Just a quick demo to show this awesome iPad application. The StepPolyArp iPad application hooks up wirelessly to a Windows or OSX computer. I currently have the StepPolyArp app talking with Logic Pro that then drives a Doepfer MCV24 to go from midi to CV and Gate. The Oberheim is being triggered in Unison for all 4 Voices on every step. Each voice is being panned right/left to create a nice stereo effect with a total of 8 oscillators.
iPad STEP POLY ARP Preview! Control your synth wirelessly
VJFranzK | October 12, 2010
"Control your laptop or synth by wireless MIDI! Full review coming soon...
This app transmits note patterns wirelessly to your computer*, or soon, via MIDI cable, with the MIDI Mobilizer peripheral, to any MIDI capabable source. (*Of course you can also then route the MIDI through your computer to any MIDI out port.)
I thought there should be an App that does this... and here it is! Very handy for the serious electronic musician. (Beginners should probably start on one of several "all in one" apps - not that there's anything wrong with that!)
The set up was easier than any wireless control app I have tried. Just follow the directions (more general in focus than the 2 Ableton specific Apps, much easier to set up and feature rich than the OSC apps.)"
YouTube via MOTMguy | October 12, 2010 follow-up to this post "Another demo by Terry Ahrens showing laser galvos connected to a Synthesis Technology E350 Morphing Terrarium. Module info is here: http://www.analoguehaven.com/synthesi..."
via Paul Schreiber on the AH list: "Note that when Terry mentions "..the E350 is the filter..." this is referring to what is used to drive the galvos (the E350 os a VCO in reality). Normally, envelope-detected audio is used as the "filter" and the galvos are swept by quadrature triangles (like a CRT raster sweep).
For those interested in replicating this setup: I will ask what galvos he is using and what they cost/where to buy. Note several important things:
a) in the US, this sort of laser projector CANNOT be used in public unless under very STRICT requirements. b) professional "off the shelf" XY galvo pairs w/drive electronics and power supply can run $1500. The galvos can require 3A peak each, and the moving mass/inertia is large. The galvos are usually mounted on 1/4 in steel plates (called optical plates) and then inside a matte black steel box weighing 10kg/25lbs to keep vibration 'errors' to a minimum. The box keeps spurious laser deflections from "flying around the room" . These galvos are also very fast and very accurate: they can move to 30,000 individual positions per second (the mirrors usually have 45-55 degrees total travel) at 0.05 degree accuracy.
Thanks again to Terry Ahrens for setting this up and making the videos.
208 lightshow
November 28, 2009
"208 Random circuit triggering Modcan delay, Verbos' 258 VCO, Noise Ring, Teezer & VCS.
VCS clocks the 208, & a CGS Utility LFO modulates pretty much everything else."
Low Pass Gate & Buchla 258
November 28, 2009
"Saw version of Mark Verbos' 258 clone through a 292c LPG. Modulated by Noise Ring, Teezer, joystick."
Isle of the Dead
December 05, 2009
"Wogglebug, 258, 208, 292c, Modcan delay, Noise Ring & Jerkster horror music"
Teezer VS Verbos 258
December 27, 2009
"I got some 10-turn pots & made some panels, now they are a lot easier to control. This clip is the 2 VCO's cross-modulating while being modulated by Utility LFO, wogglebug, Noise Ring."
Teezer VS Verbos 258 (#2)
December 27, 2009
"A while later, something resembling music..."
Friday 15th
January 15, 2010
"Double Well Chaos, CGS Utility LFO & VCS, 208 Random, 258, 292c, Teezer, Jerkster, Noise Ring.
Some of the bassline is the decay of the low pass gate being 'warbled' by the Utility LFO between each clock cv it receives from the 208."
300 drone/chords YouTube via isledemort | August 09, 2010
"1 of 2 videos using the same patch, this one using a Bugbrand CTL-1 touch voltage source to play chords/drone. Many audio sources from 5 300 series modules can be heard (dual Envelator, VCO waves, Waveform City, Wogglebug & sub-oscillators from the Mixolator)."
300 clocked
isledemort | August 09, 2010
"2nd of 2 videos using the same patch, this time the 300 is being clocked by the Bugbrand CTL-1's 4 step sequencer, which is in turn being clocked by a Noise Ring."
Winter's end
isledemort | September 28, 2010
"The sound is mostly Wiard 300 modules, along with a diy buchla 258 vco (bassline)"
"Testing out a CGS VCS, which is being modulated by an Ian Fritz Jerkster, an envelope generator & a Noise Ring. The VCS in turn modulates a Plague Bearer's VC inputs. The output is heard from the Plague Bearer."
Teezer TZ-VCO #2
isledemort | September 07, 2009
"2nd video testing out a 'Teezer' Through Zero VCO, designed by Ian Fritz (this time with better sound quality). Various settings are explored, with modulation by Wiard Noise Ring, #3 Wogglebug, Plague Bearer & Jerkster."
This one spotted and sent in via brian c. A search on Suzuki Tronichord will bring up more posts including a "groovy synth babe" and a video with Martin Gore of Depeche Mode with one.
Top: "21 LED ring is glued onto plastic lid, and than, lid is glued onto the magnifying glass frame. Not very Hi-Tech hack, but serves it`s purpose very well. : )"
"This is a square-wave generator with a pulsing effect, hand built into an Atari paddle controller. When you press the trigger it plays the pitch controlled by the large original knob. When you flip the switch a LFO will start to pulse on and off. The speed of the pulse is controlled by the additional smaller knob and at high speeds you can get some interesting throaty sounds.
A red LED lights with the sound. It can easily be connect to amps, effects, recording equipment, etc. At the end of the original cord is a 1/4" plug and running from there is a wall adapter for power.
This classic feels great in your hands and residue in the old knob (that once caused annoying skips during your game) now gives you nice little distortions."