Boolean Logic Latched - Patch 02

video upload by

Patch 01 here

"Using only a single clock input Boolean Logic Latched by Magnetic Freak is able to create a plethora of rhythmic patterns by combining divisions of that clock through logic gates. In this instance the patterns drive a kick, snare, 3 static pitch VCOs, and a bass boost. An entire arrangement of elements driven by complimentary patterns derived from a simple clock.

Clock: Buchla 246 Sequential Voltage Source
Kick: Bugbrand DRM2 Analogue Drum Voice
Snare: 1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator (DAO)
Synth Voices 1-3: Northern Light Modular 8-bit Synth Voice (h8B)
(with Buchla 291 VCF layered with Voice 1)
Bass: Bugbrand DRM2 amp modulation

Recorded as 2 tracks into Ableton Live. Compression, reverb, and panning added in post."

1979 AO SVG

1979 AO SVG from Grayscale / 1979 on Vimeo.

1979 AO and SVG (based on Plaits and Marbles by Mutable Instruments). Visit https://1979.ws for more info.

Not sure when this was released. I'm only finding one previous post with The Galaxy Electric featuring one in March of 2020. Some info and a pic for the archives:

Digital oscillator with envelope and VCA/LPG

The Algorithmic Oscillator is a Buchla-format VCO based on Plaits by Mutable Instruments. The successor to the 1979 DAO, the AO has more knobs, more parameters, and more I/O than the DAO plus new features not present on Plaits. With an internal envelope generator and a simulated LPG with adjustable vactrol response, the AO is an ideal standalone voice module for small Buchla systems.

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The Galaxy Electric - Stardust {Official Music Video} - Cosmic Tape Music

Published on Mar 19, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

New track from supporting member, The Galaxy Electric. Gear list below.

"Thanks for listening! Go on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

Stream or download this song here: http://www.thegalaxyelectric.com/star...

Official Music Video for the new cover version of Stardust by The Galaxy Electric
Video Created by Michelle Pan
https://www.instagram.com/pan.michelle
https://www.vimeo.com/michellepan

This single was created in our signature Cosmic Tape Music style, utilizing electroacoustic techniques, Reel to Reel tape machine, and varispeed “tape tricks” for vocals and bass guitar to change timbre and original pitch. The use of electro-mechanical effects treatments like spring reverb and tape delay were implemented to add a touch of vintage spice.

The following gear was used to make this song:
TEAC A-3440 Reel to Reel tape machine
Buchla Music Easel
Mellotron M4000D mini
1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator
Crank Sturgeon Plug SP contact microphone
Knas Ekdahl Moisturizer Spring Reverb

Lyrics:
And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we're apart
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust of yesterday
The music of the years gone by.
Sometimes I wonder, how I spend
The lonely nights
Dreaming of a song
The melody
Haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you
When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
But that was long ago
And now my consolation is in the stardust of a song

Beside a garden wall, when stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale
Tells his fairytale
Of paradise, where roses grew
Though I dream in vain
In my heart it will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love's refrain.

The Galaxy Electric Website: https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com
The Galaxy Electric Shop: https://www.thegalaxyelectricshop.com"

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music - Improvised Modular Performance - Air Chrysalis

Published on Jan 23, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

"Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

This improv's theme was done in honor of Podular Modcast's patch challenge : Air Chrysalis

For those not familiar, this is a podcast dedicated to covering the global modular synthesizer scene. It is hosted by Tim Held.

Every week he encourages the guests to create a patch inspired by an adjective and noun of his choosing. They get a few minutes and then they have to perform their patch on the spot.

In his episode 88 on Monday January 13, 2020 he turned it around on his audience and gave his listeners the words Air Chrysalis. We took the challenge and went live on Facebook and Instagram and started the patch from scratch.

Thank you Tim for creating such a fun way to challenge our patching skills.

Equipment Used:
Mellotron 4000D Mini
Roland RE-20 Space Echo Pedal
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Buchla Clones: 266r Source of Uncertainty, 291r Dual Voltage Controlled Filter, 280r Quad Function Generator, 292c Quad Lopass Gate
1979 Modular: Dual Algorithmic Oscillator, Digital Resonator, Stereo Microsound Processor"

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music - Improvised Modular Performance - A Guiding Light

Published on Jan 9, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music

"Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

Keep the rockets fueled:
https://www.paypal.me/thegalaxye?fbcl...

This is the second installment of a series of improvised modular synth performance mixed with pop elements - female vocals and mellotron.
These elements combined with a tempo synchronized looping technique provide a rich sonic landscape of cosmic texture inspired by the early electronic and tape music innovators. This music is especially inspired by Space Age era electronic music or cosmic tape music. The effects are spring reverb, delay and the occasional reversing and pitch shifting of the recorded phrase. Our goal is to combine analog and digital technology to recreate this early electronic music tonal variety in an improvised setting.

Equipment used:
Buchla Music Easel
Buchla DIY case
Buchla Clones: 266r Source of Uncertainty, 291r Dual Voltage Controlled Filter, 280r Quad Function Generator, 292c Quad Lopass Gate, 259r Programmable Complex Waveform Generator, 281h Dual Function Generator, 292h Dual Lopass Gate, LEM 3U Powered Boat, 280 Touch Activated Voltage Source
1979 Modular: Dual Algorithmic Oscillator, Digital Resonator, Stereo Microsound Processor
Eurorack: Koma Elektronik Field Kit, Erica Synths Pico EG and Pico Input, 4ms Dual Looping Delay and Row 30 Power, Mutable Instruments Warps, Synovatron CVGT1
Mellotron 4000D Mini
Roland RE-20 Space Echo Pedal
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer
Monome Grid controlling MLR {re:mix Max for Live app}

Camera:
Apple iPhone X

The Galaxy Electric - https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music - Improvised Modular Performance - Into the Unknown

Premiered Jan 2, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

Also see Buchla Cosmic Drone Sessions by The Galaxy Electric

"Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

This is the first installment of a series of improvised modular synth performance mixed with pop elements - female vocals and mellotron.
These elements combined with a tempo synchronized looping technique provide a rich sonic landscape of cosmic texture inspired by the early electronic and tape music innovators. This music is especially inspired by Space Age era electronic music. The effects are spring reverb, tape delay and the occasional reversing of the recorded phrase. Our goal is to combine analog and digital technology to recreate this early electronic music tonal variety in an improvised setting.

Equipment used:
Buchla Music Easel
Buchla DIY case
Buchla Clones: 266r Source of Uncertainty, 291r Dual Voltage Controlled Filter, 280r Quad Function Generator, 292c Quad Lopass Gate, 259r Programmable Complex Waveform Generator, 281h Dual Function Generator, 292h Dual Lopass Gate, LEM 3U Powered Boat, 280 Touch Activated Voltage Source
1979 Modular: Dual Algorithmic Oscillator, Digital Resonator, Stereo Microsound Processor
Eurorack: Koma Elektronik Field Kit, Erica Synths Pico EG and Pico Input, 4ms Dual Looping Delay and Row 30 Power, Mutable Instruments Warps, Synovatron CVGT1
Mellotron 4000D Mini
Roland RE-20 Space Echo Pedal
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer
Monome Grid controlling MLR {re:mix Max for Live app}

Camera:
Apple iPhone X

The Galaxy Electric - https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

1979 DAO to Buchla 230 Env Follower 6 01 46 AM

Published on Dec 11, 2019 Todd Barton

"More fun exploring the uses of the 1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator with the Buchla system. This time using the 230 Envelope Follower."

My patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd

1979 DAO overview and demos

Published on Dec 9, 2019 Todd Barton

"My look at 1979 Modular's 4U-format Dual Algorithmic Oscillator based on Mutable Instruments Braids. Plus some demos of how I integrate it with my Buchla systems."

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd

Todd Barton 1979 posts | 1979 DAO posts

The Galaxy Electric - Buchla Cosmic Drone - Session 1 - Modular Drone Music

Published on Nov 21, 2019 The Galaxy Electric

"The Galaxy Electric - Buchla Cosmic Drone - Session 1 - 11/18/19 - Modular Drone Music

Relax and tune into our live weekly Drone Sessions. This inaugural session involves a drone featuring 4 Buchla style square wave oscillators starting in tune a couple octaves apart. As the oscillator frequencies drift apart by way of manual control beating ensues. Listening to droning oscillators can serve as an aid in a meditation practice as there is no sudden changes in sound. Just smooth drifts in pitch and the resulting beat frequencies. Drones can also serve as an ambient track to have on while doing tasks that require intense focus. The slow yet progressive nature of a drone performance can help one focus on tasks without distraction.

The electronic music instruments used in this performance of modular drone music are the Buchla Music Easel, and a small system involving a Buchla clone model 259 Programmable Complex Waveform Generator, Buchla 292h Dual Lowpass Gate, and 281h Dual Function Generator in the Buchla LEM Powered 3 Boat."

Patch and Tell - E1- Buchla Clones 280 266 - Pseudo Sequence - Source of Uncertainty -1979 DAO

Published on Nov 21, 2019
Patch and Tell - E1 - Buchla Clones 280r 266r Pseudo Sequence - Source of Uncertainty - 1979 DAO

"Augustus Green of The Galaxy Electric uses a Buchla inspired modular synthesizer system to demonstrate making a randomly generated pseudo sequence using the 266r Source of Uncertainty Buchla clone, 280r Quad Envelope Generator Buchla clone, 1979 modular Dual Algorithmic Oscillator DAO, and 292c Quad Lopass Gate Buchla clone. The DAO is a dual version of the masterful Émilie Gillet's Mutable Instruments Braids. The new dual interface design and electrical engineering to assure Buchla system compatibility was performed by 1979 modular. The HARM and TOY* Algorithms are featured in this patch. The varied pitches as well as the animation of the DAO's parameters are being generated at random by the Source of Uncertainty. The 292c Quad Lopass Gate is used as a dual VCA in this instance and is being animated by the 280r Quad Envelope Generator. This is a modular synthesizer tutorial and demonstration that focuses on the Buchla modular synthesizer system."

Braids WTBL 1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator Buchla - Wavetable Synthesis

Published on Jul 16, 2019 The Galaxy Electric

"The objective for this video was to morph through the different transwaves of the wavetables of the WTBL algorithm in the 1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator. The original circuit was designed by Émilie Gillet of Mutable Instruments in the Braids Eurorack Module.

The patch consists of random voltage being sent from a BEMI Buchla Music Easel to the pitch cv input of the DAO. The same random voltage is being used to slightly manipulate the timing of the Pulser which is also controlling a lopass gate from a 292r in combo mode. The cv of the modulation oscillator of the Easel is being used to animate the wavetable sweep of this algorithm. The delay effect is coming from a 4ms Dual Looping Delay who's timing is being synced to the same meandering Pulser. Notice how the random voltage is a looped sequence. It sounds quite melodic thanks to the ability to quantize to semitones in the DAO."

1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator WMAP Buchla Braids - Wavetable Synthesis

Published on Jul 11, 2019 The Galaxy Electric

"This is a tutorial demonstrating the experience of morphing through the wavetable map of the 1979 Dual Algorithmic Oscillator. This modular synthesis module is an adaptation based directly off of the brilliantly designed Braids module by Émilie Gillet of Mutable Instruments.

Here I am scrolling the X and Y axis separately and then together to give a sense of the 256 wavetable timbres achievable with just this one algorithm. The five note sequence is being generated from the Sequential Voltage Source of a 208e BEMI Music Easel. The occasional octave shifts are generated from the 218e Touch Activated Voltage Source. The reverb is the spring reverb from the Easel and the module is using its built-in VCA and Attack/Decay Envelope Generator."

An Interview with Barry Schrader

Hi everyone! As you know Barry Schrader will be giving his farewell concert at CalArts on September 26. The following is the beginning of my interview with him. I opted to post the questions and answers as they come in.  New QAs will get a new post so you do not miss them and they will be added to this post so we have one central post for the full interview. This should make it easier for all of us to consume in our busy lives, and it will allow you to send in any questions that may come to mind during the interview process.  If you have anything you'd like to ask Barry, feel free to send it in to matrixsynth@gmail.com.  This is a rare opportunity for us to get insight on a significant bit of synthesizer history, specifically with early Buchla systems, and I'd like to thank Barry for this opportunity. Thank you Barry!

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The First Synth to....

Update: The new home for this list is now here. You can add to the list there or comment here and I will update both lists. Note that the complete list however will be there as I do not plan on updating this list with updates made there. That would be too much work and would compete with me being able to put up new posts here. Can't let that happen. : ) Related but separate from that list also see https://120years.net. That said...

If you are going to add to the list in the comments, use the same format.

Year - Manufacturer - Model - First at
1837 - C.G. Page (Salem. Mass) - first to produce electronically generated sound (not necessarily associated with a musical instrument). After inventing the Volta in 1800 (an early battery), in 1837 Page was doing experiments with coils and realized when certain coils were attached to a batter they omitted a ringing sound. While he initially thought the ring came from the electrical current was interrupted (battery disconnected), what was actually taking place was the induction through the coils was causing them to vibrate. via Peter Grenader
1885 - Person and Ernst Lorenz -'Elektrisches Musikinstrument' - the first musical instrument designed to produce electrically generated sound. It used electronic vibrations to drive an electromagnet that were connected to resonating boards, which translated these vibrations to sound. via Peter Grenader
1897 - Taddaeus Cahills - Telharmonium - electromechanical instrument.
1936 - Oskar Sala - Mixturtrautonium - first synth using Subharmonic synthesis
1939 - Homer Dudley invents the Parallel Bandpass Vocoder (VODER) - A manually key operated speech synthesizer
1940 - Homer Dudley invents the The Voder speech synthesizer - A device which used the human voice and an artificial voice to produce a composite
Both were researched as a way to transmit speech over copper wires (id est, telephone lines)
1948 - Hugh LeCaine - Electronic Sackbut - First voltage-controlled synthesizer
1948 - Dr. Raymond Scott - Wall of Sound - First polyphonic Sequencing Worstation (electromechanical) and the Electronum - first sequencer.
1950 - CSIR - Mk 1 - The first known use of a digital computer for the purpose playing music
1956 - Louie and Bebe Barron - Produced the first all-electronic musical score for a major motion picture - MGM's 'Forbidden Planet'
1957 - Max V. Mathews at Bell Labs - MUSIC - the first digital synthesizer. Technically, it was a computer program, though it set the stage for every digital synthesizer that proceeded it. See Laurie Spiegel with one here.
1963/64 - Buchla - model 100 modular - 1st "modern" modular synth
1967 - Moog - Moog modular synthesizer I, II & III - 1st commercial modular synth.
1969 - EMS - Synthi VCS-3 - first non-modular mini-synth
1970 - MOOG - Minimoog - 1st Mono Synth with keys (non-modular)
1971 - Tonus/Arp - Soloist - 1st preset mono synth
1971 - John Chowning - developed FM synthesis using the MUSIC-IV language (source), a direct descendent of Mathew's MUSIC program. FM synthesis was later licensed by Yamaha, and used in popular synths such as the DX-7.
1972 - Triadex Muse - first digital synth
""is the first digital musical instrument and was produced in 1972. It was
designed by Edward Fredkin and Marvin Minsky at MIT. It is an algorithmic
music generator: it uses digital logic circuits to produce a sequence of
notes based on the settings of various parameters. It has four small sliders
in that control Volume, Tempo, Pitch, and Fine Pitch. It is not known how
many were made, but they are considered extremely rare.
The Muse is the subject of U. S. Patent 3610801"
1973 - Coupland Digital Music Synthesizer - First Digital (Triadex beat it?) Update via Peter Grenader: "No time to read through all these posts to see if it's come up yet, but the Coupland was vaporwear...it never existed. I met Mark Vail, who's now a friend, by writing him a letter informing him that his story about the Coupland in his Vintage Synthesizers book (GREAT book) which mentioned it's only recorded showing was at the AES show in LA in 1978 was a farce. I was there - at their booth and their suite in the Hilton where the instrument was said to be. I was there on the first day, I was there on the last day. The only thing they had was a small model - about six inches across, sitting on a table. The booth was amazing - this radial orb multiple people could sit in, with a cover that came over each person which played what I remembered was a very impressive demo which swirled around four speakers inside the box. I, and everyone else, were blown away. They kept saying...'it will be here tomorrow, it'll be here tomorrow'...so I showed up the last day just to see it, figuring by the then it would have arrived...it didn't. I did see the frst Synthclavier at that show however. Their suite was across the hall from the Coupland folk. That completely kicked the crap out of everything else shown that year."
1973 - Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer - NED - Synclavier prototype - first digital synth
1974 - Roland - SH-3A - first commercial additive synth
1974 - RMI - Harmonic Synthesizer - first commercial additive synth
1975 - Buchla 502 - six voice polyphonic with minicomputer and ability to save patches to tape drive. Development on the 500 series began in 1969.
1975 - Oberheim FVS - four voice polyphonic with Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer. Not sure if the Buchla 502 or FVS was released first.
1976 - PPG - PPG 1003 sonic carrier - 1st programmable mono/duo synth with patch memory (this, along with the model 1020, might have been the 1st synths to use DCO's as well)
1977 - Yamaha - CS50/CS60/CS80 - first single enclosure polyphonic keyboard synthesizers with the CS80 to be the first synth with poly aftertouch
1977 (late) - Oberheim - OB-1 - 1st commercial programmable mono synth with patch memory
1978 (late) - PPG - Wavecomputer 360 - 1st wavetable synth
1978 - Sequential Circuits - microprocessor control the SCI prophet 10 (briefly) and the P-5 --- again based on existing E-mu tech stuff
1979 - NED - Synclavier - First FM
1979 - Fairlight CMI - First Sampler, First Workstation
1980 - Performance Music Systems - Syntar - First self contained keytar
1982 - Sequential Circuits - Prophet 600 / First Midi Synthesizer (though some argue the Prophet 5 rev 3.2 is pre-MIDI MIDI)
1983 - Yamaha - DX7 - Digital takes over, FM goes mainstream
1983 - OSC - OSCar - First real-time additive with analog filters
1984 - Sequential Circuits - SixTrak - first multitimbral
1985 - Casio - CZ-101 - First battery-powered all digital mini-synth
1987 - Kawai K5 and Technos Axcel - first additive synths
1989 - E-Mu Systems - Proteus - First dedicated ROMpler
1992 - Seer Systems - first host-based software synthesizer in 1992
1994 - Yamaha - VL1 - first physical modelling synth
1995 - Clavia - Nord Lead - 1st Virtual Analog
1996 - Rubberduck - still not the first softsynth but came before Seer Systems Reality.
1996 - Steinberg - VST - Ok not a synth but enabled a lot to be written as plug-ins and used simultaneously
1997 - Seer Systems - Reality - First Modular Soft Synth
2002 - Hartmann Neuron - first neuronal synth
2912 - KalQuestoTron - the first genetically engineered synth. Each cell is an oscillator, filter, and neural sequencer. Can be delivered via injection to always play 'hold music' in your head.

I thought it might be fun to have a "first synth to..." post. There's been a lot of buzz over Sonic State's Top 20 Synths of All Time with good reason. What exactly is a "top synth?" Is it it's influence on the music scene? It's rarity and lust appeal? The number of synths sold? According to Sonic State their list was the result of Sonic State reader's voting for their favorite synths. Blame the voters if you don't like what you see. Based on what has come up on the list so far, the E-Mu Proteus and Roland JV-1080 for example as well as the Roland Jupiter 8 not even making the top ten, I'm guessing a bit of it has to do with the vote and... possibly the most influential/ground breaking synths for their time. The JV1080 and Proteus? Not super sexy in this day and age, but what they offered in their time? Who knows. It's obviously subjective. But there is something that isn't. The most influential synths of all time not because they were super sexy or utilitarian, but because they offered something that was not previously available.

I thought what might be interesting to create a list of the first synths to feature a particular technology or feature. For example what was the fist synth to bring FM to the table? Was it the DX7 or a predecessor? What was the first digital synth and when? The first additive synth? I have a good idea and could probably look it all up, but that wouldn't be any fun, so.... You tell me. I am going to make this an open post that will live over time. You get to participate by putting an entry in the comments. I will update the list and when I do I will change the time stamp of the post to keep it current. That said, for the archives, this post went up with a time stamp of 4/11/07 7:20 PM PST. I'll start the list (btw, do correct me on the MOOG, what model should we be talking about here? The A, B, C or D or all of them?).

Year - Manufacturer - Model - First at
1970 - MOOG - Minimoog - 1st Mono Synth with keys (non-modular)
1978 - Sequential Circuits - Prophet 5 - 1st Programmable Polyphonic Analog
... List continues above.

Update 3/34/12: Also see the first synthesizers to offer patch storage here.