The Plantasia Synth 💎 Crown Jewel of Analog with Mark Barton

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

You can find Alex Ball's The "Plantasia Moog" Modular Synth - An Untold Story here.

"Dive into the captivating story of Mark Barton, the genius behind groundbreaking inventions like SynDrums, his pioneering system called Speech Assisted Music (SAM) designed to convert text into speech, his work with Steve Job on the first Apple computer release and his award-winning plugin designs with Cherry Audio. Discover how Mark's love for sound led him to meeting Mort Garson and subsequently owning the legendary Moog "The Plantasia Synth" that Mort played on his best -selling album Plantasia, and how it eventually found a new home with Anthony! You'll also hear untold stories about Mort's Moog, Mort's Music and Mort's Genius. Join us as we explore the intersection of innovation and music, showcasing incredible creations and the stories behind them. Subscribe for more inside looks at the magic of synthesis!"

The "Plantasia Moog" Modular Synth - An Untold Story

video upload by Alex Ball

"In 2023, Anthony Marinelli aquired a 1969 Moog IIIc modular synthesizer that has a very interesting history. In this video, we tell that story for the first time."

The KORG PS-3300 Returns!

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the reissue of the mysterious Korg PS-3300, first released in 1977, along with some history about it and footage of its creator, Fumio Mieda.

Huge thanks to Korg for letting me snaffle their prototype to make this video and for letting use some of their interview footage.

NOTE - Korg have asked that I make it clear that this unit is their working prototype and that the release date and price of production units is still to be finalised at the time of uploading and that they will announce that officially themselves in due course. Thanks for your understanding.

0:00 Intro Jam
1:38 A little history
3:54 Demo 1
4:53 Overview
7:38 Resonators
10:50 Temperament Adjust
14:35 Semi Modular Polyphony
15:08 Demo 2
16:22 Legacy
17:58 Demo 3
18:39 Summary
19:34 Outro Jam

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One minute with the Oberheim TVS-1 from 1975 #synth #oberheimtvs1 #oberheimtwovoice

video upload by Alex Ball

Talking Synth Tutorial!

video upload by Alex Ball

"A LOT of people have asked me to do this tutorial, so hopefully it's useful!

0:00 Intro
0:23 The Human Voice
2:42 The best way to do it
7:41 An alternative way to do it
9:42 Another alternative way to do it
10:48 VSTs
11:49 Outro Jam"

Joe Satriani's Drum Machine

video upload by Alex Ball

"Whilst the E-mu SP machines are most famous for their use in Hip-hop, they were used by numerous artists in different genres and in different ways.

To that end, I thought it would be interesting look at why and how it was used on Joe Satriani's 1987 album "Surfing with the alien".

A note - I am aware that playing Joe Satriani songs on an Ibanez JEM is like doing a video about Spider-Man whilst dressed as Batman, but the JEM is the guitar I have. 😀

0:00 Intro
0:58 References
1:24 Custom Samples
3:29 Hi-Hat Shenanigans
4:21 Computer Games
5:01 The SP-12 Setup
6:31 Live Cymbals
6:54 Outro and Surfing with the alien cover"

Synergize/Synergia Tutorial: FM Algorithms (Digital Keyboards Synergy)

video upload by Lantertronics - Aaron Lanterman

Synergia emulator: https://jariseon.github.io/synergia
Synergize patch editor: https://chinenual.github.io/synergize

0:00 -- Introduction
0:47 -- Connecting
1:35 -- FM algorithms
4:24 -- Patching with registers
10:50 -- Limitations
11:35 -- Harmonic numbers
11:56 -- Detuning
12:15 -- Waveforms
12:55 -- Semitones
13:31 -- Envelopes
14:21 -- Experiments

DK Synergy: Origins of an Additive/FM Synthesis Powerhouse (Synergia softsynth + Synergize editor)

video upload by Lantertronics - Aaron Lanterman

0:00 -- Introduction
1:57 -- Famous users
3:01 -- Sample packs
3:17 -- Synergia softsynth
4:13 -- Synergize patch editor
5:09 -- Bell Labs/Hal Alles synthesizer
5:49 -- Crumar GDS
6:45 -- Mulogix Slave 32
7:16 -- Setting up Synergia+Synergize
9:23 -- Patent
9:37 -- Facebook group
9:58 -- Dani Wilson
10:14 -- Alex Ball

Also see DK Synergy II+ with Kaypro and Synergize talk about editing software

The Stunning Korg Trident

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at a wonderful vintage synth, the Korg Trident Mk I from 1980."

0:00 The Intro
1:45 The Synthesizer
3:29 The Brass
5:37 The Strings
8:27 The Flanger
9:16 The Trident
10:55 The Rear Panel Experiments
15:48 The Legacy
17:33 The Outro Jam

Why to buy the most famous drum machine of all time

video upload by Alex Ball

"Like most people, I've always wanted to own an original Roland TR-808 but it's always been the wrong price or the wrong time or both. Earlier this year my time finally came.

I wanted to make a video showing why it's still a very relevant and useful instrument in a modern studio and that it's not just purely about nostalgia, whilst that obviously plays a part!

0:00 Intro Jam
1:38 Individal Outs & FX
5:14 Trigger Outs and Synths
9:16 Sampling and Synching
12:52 Boutique Comparison
14:39 Sample Pack
15:15 Summary and Outro Jam

Sample pack, stems and music from the video: / alexballmusic"

Tone Science No.9 'Theories and Conjectures' - Various Modular Synth Artists Available Now

video upload by DreamsOfWires

"I have a track (a new version of 'Minimum') featured on the latest Tone Science compilation from Ian Boddy at DiN Records. Available as a digital download, and as a limited edition Digipak CD of 500 copies. Check it out here:

https://dinrecords.bandcamp.com/album...

'Minimum' was recorded entrirely within a Eurorack modular system - sounds, effects, mixing, WAV recording, as a real-time performance (no overdubs). All sound modules are AJH Synth. It uses 6 analog VCOs: The melody is a single VCO (lower frequency) supporting the self-resonating Ladder Filter (upper). The later pattern is 2 VCOs through the Ring SM sub-octave generator. The drone sound in the background is 3 VCOs, 2 through the Wave Swam, and all through the Triple Cross module, where they're cross-faded using 3 seperate LFOs.

From Ian Boddy:
Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

Following the success and critical acclaim of the first eight Tone Science compilation albums,
DiN label boss Ian Boddy has collated another nine tracks from musicians of varying backgrounds working in the realms of modular synthesis.

As the Tone Science journey continues it never ceases to amaze just how varied and individualistic each musicians work can be. Whilst the hardware is technologically based each artist teases out a reflection of their own musical personality.

This volume kicks off with two pointillistic compositions from Loula Yorke and State Azure with intertwining sequencer patterns flowing and coiling around to create ever changing soundscapes.

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The Sounds Of HALO: Combat Evolved

video upload by Alex Ball



"A look at some of the equipment used by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori to score Halo: Combat Evolved, released in 2001.

Huge thank you to Neo Te Aika, Frostbyte, Booey, Noelle, Yewlyn, Python Blue, Jafet Meza, RenSFX, meowsandstuff, Fleetwire, AtlyxMusic, PunkGalFuryn and anyone else at Project Odyssey for their incredible work identifying many of the sounds that I showed in this video.

Check out Project Odyssey:
https://odysseyaudio.org/odyssey.html

Thank you also to my Patrons on Patreon.

0:00 Intro
0:50 Halo
3:21 Terminate
5:27 India Garden
7:12 TarzansDance
8:41 St. Choir
9:14 Beauty Vox
10:12 Kit 424
11:06 Symphonique
12:25 Biosphere
12:53 Cascade
14:09 Albion
15:01 Oasis
15:51 SoundtrkDANC
16:38 Summary"

The YMO Music Computer

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the revolutionary Roland MC-8 from 1977 which was one of the earliest microprocessor-controlled digital sequencers. Around 200 of these units were made and they were extremely expensive.

As I've covered the history of this unit several times, I thought it would be interesting to follow in the footsteps of a band that made significant use of the MC-8, which was Yellow Magic Orchestra.

In the video we look at how the MC-8 works and use it to compose a track in the style of YMO using the techniques and (where possible) instruments that they used in the late 70s.

Thank you to my Patrons for their support. The track, stems and MC-8 data are available there.
https://www.patreon.com/AlexBallMusic

You can buy the track on my Bandcamp: https://alexball.bandcamp.com

0:00 Intro
0:47 YMO, Hideki Matsutake and the MC-8
2:25 The MC-8 Interface
5:12 Programming the MC-8
10:43 Transport and Saving
12:20 Overdub and Sync
13:15 MPX Programming
15:10 Summary
15:50 The Feature Track - Lovers in Tokyo"

Make That Gary Numan Synth Sound

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The easiest way to get the classic Gary Numan CARS Vox Humana sound is to download Alex Ball's sample pack. Sampled from a vintage PolyMoog, and all proceeds go to the Bob Moog Foundation. A worthy cause, so download it even if you won't use it!
https://bobmoogfoundation.myshopify.com

Here's Alex's demo... very nice as per usual: [posted here]

But if you want to have ago yourself, this is the second easiest way.. just follow these 10 easy steps. It's a simple enough tone to recreate, but to get it as close as possible you'll need 3 LFOs. If your synth only has 1 LFO you can get close enough for a bit of Numanesque electro synth hero action."

What Is All That Stuff Inside A Polymoog (by synthpro)

video upload by synthpro

"This is a video I felt it was time to make going over the polymoog more in depth technically to go hand in hand with @AlexBallMusic's post on the Polymoog synthesizer."

See Alex Ball's Polymoog video here: That Gary Numan Synth. Update:

Dillan's Polymoog 203a Demo (by synthpro)



SN 1244

That Gary Numan Synth

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the Polymoog and how Gary Numan adopted one of the presets from one of the versions to help define his sound.

0:00 Intro
0:41 What is the Polymoog?
8:00 Vox Humana and Gary Numan
13:35 Cars Cover

The sample Instrument
https://bobmoogfoundation.myshopify.c..."

Dalek Voice Tutorial

video upload by Alex Ball

"How to do the Dalek voice with a ring modulator."

With an ARP 2600 & KORG MS50.

Cult German Music and a Japanese Sequencer

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at how the Korg MS-20 and SQ-10 sequencer were an intergral part of the sound of a group of German musicians in the late 70s and early 80s.

0:00 Intro
1:09 Der Mussolini - DAF
5:02 Los Niños Del Parque - Liaisons Dangereuses
8:10 Minimal Tape 3/7.2 - Pyrolator
10:48 Sample Pack
11:38 Outro Jam / Patrons

Huge thanks to Brad Holland and my patrons and patreon.

The sample pack is available here: https://www.patreon.com/AlexBallMusic

Synth settings (these are my estimations, rather than certain):

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oberheim OB-X 61-Key 8-Voice Synthesizer w/ Encore MIDI

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Has the Encore kit which gives the OB-X midi in/out/thru, CC control over certain parameters, and 120 patch locations. PM to determine shipping options. This OB-X was featured in one of Alex Ball‘s videos, please check link." [posted here]

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Oberheim OB-X (1979)

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the classic Oberheim OB-X synthesizer from 1979. Huge thanks to Steven R Sellick for the kind loan!

0:00 Intro
1:07 The Oberheim OB-X
1:30 Potted History
3:01 Demo 1
4:10 What's on an OB-X?
6:50 Demo 2
7:44 The Filter and Tom Sawyer
10:45 Demo 3
11:46 The Impact of the OB-X
13:19 Outro

Huge thank you to my Patreons.
https://www.patreon.com/AlexBallMusic"

12/1/23 Roland (& RYK & E-licktronic) System 100m + Tapco 4400 + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"The sequence and drum pattern are lined up differently in this take, with more emphasis on the upbeat. The E-licktronic 118a snare goes to the Roland 150 and gets a ring mod with one of the 112 oscillator outs, then that snare joins the kick in the 121 filter. The 112 oscillators are going to the other half of the 121, to the 172 phase shifter, to the 130 vca, enveloped by the 140. But the 112 oscillators also go to the 172 gate delay (thanks Alex Ball for the tip) for an extra sub oscillator layer, which goes back to the 112, but it’s not much of a feedback loop. CV from the RYK 185 and several LFOs modulate."