Stereo Transfer Function Synthesizer - Proof of Concept (Teensy)

video upload by Ryan Gaston

"A simple demonstration of some of the sounds yielded from a simple Teensy-based synthesizer. This is a proof of concept more than anything else; ultimately, this will be integrated into a more complete instrument.

The internal signal path is based on a combination of phase modulation, frequency modulation, and digital waveshaping via arbitrarily constructed transfer functions. Three oscillators intertwine in various ways, each contributing to the sound's instantaneous timbre, pitch, loudness, and sense of spatial location. The use of many internal feedback/feedforward nodes enhances the potential for chaotic, unpredictable sonic structures.

Originally, the idea was to create a stereo oscillator with transfer function-based waveshaping; however, I found that with a sufficiently knotted internal signal flow, it was possible to achieve a pretty astonishing range of animated sounds using relatively limited means. Though very much inspired by the Hordijk Blippoo Box, Hordijk Benjolin, Serge Wave Multipliers, Buchla Touché, Buchla 400, Buchla 700, and Buchla 259e, and some experimental works by Larry Polansky, I'm finding that there's much more sonic territory to be explored utilizing the bizarre combination of feedback and waveshaping via arbitrary transfer functions.

Again, I hope to continue to expand this into a more complete, performable instrument. But for now, enjoy some noise."

Soundscape #045 Spiral of Flow (Monome, Ciat-Lonbarde, Blippoo, GND-1, Daxophone, Drymba, Guitar)

video upload by Shirato_Noise

"Sketch of Sound Experiments."

Bifurcate

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Continuing to explore the Wingie Blippoo firmware, this time trying to find a slightly more restrained way of working and allowing something to develop over a bit more time.

Paired with a BC9 on the line input for extra unpredictability. And sending it all out via a QuBit Aurora (standard firmware) for atmospherics.

I am loving the soundscapes this thing creates. Really regret not picking up an original Blippoo when I had the chance years ago."

Wingie Blippoo + TouchOSC

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Quick runout for the alternative Wingie firmware, inspired by Rob Hordijk's original box of controlled chaos.

Control of the beastie is greatly enhanced by the superb TouchOSC template created by Mod Wiggler member bcomnes

Here I'm running the Wingipoo out through Lancet Retroverb spring reverb for extra metal drippiness.

This video is often loud and has a very wide frequency range so choose your playback device accordingly"

Meng Qi Wingie 2 // Blippoo Box New Firmware Demo

video upload by Dexba

"What a fantastic addition!
As a beautiful homage to Rob Hordijk's legacy, Meng Qi has just released a new firmware, featuring a recreation of the Blippoo Box.
It sounds incredible, it will provide hours of sonic exploration in the ultra-compact, battery-powered Wingie form factor, what could we ask for more?
Can't wait to see what other firmware will come for the Wingie platform!!!
In this video, you will find a bit of a demo and a rough tutorial.
Hope you'll find it useful! 🧡"

Blippoo for Wingie: a Wingie2's alternative firmware

video upload by Meng Qi

"Blippoo for Wingie is an alternative firmware for Wingie2. The new firmware is inspired by Blippoo Box, a genius instrument created by Rob Hordijk (1958-2022), who contributed a lot to synthesizer design. May his spirit lives on in his instrument designs, thoughts, and influences.

get it: https://github.com/mengqimusic/bfw/re...

The new firmware could turn your Wingie2 into a self-contained instrument capable of producing a variety of sounds and patterns. As a great companion, it will help you in your music-making practice especially when you want to applicate controlled chaos to your music."

Noise Sketch #288 Husky Chirping (Papa Srapa, Death By Audio Fuzz Screamer)

video upload by Shirato_Noise

This appears to be the first post to feature Papa Srapa's designs. More info on him below.

Noise Sketch #285 Uranus (Papa Srapa, Knas Moisturizer, Blippoo Box, Death by Audio TSA2)


And a live recording by Eduard 'Papa Srapa' Srapionovvia https://radio.syg.ma:

"Live recording by Eduard 'Papa Srapa' Srapionov (b. 1961), an innovative and eccentric Russian experimental/noise sound artist from Rostov-on-Don, primarily known as a designer and creator of peculiar DIY synthesizers, electroacoustic instruments, and various music/non-music interactive objects and sculptures, often built from junk, cheap toys, household items, etc.

Srapionov began his career in the eighties as an audio/light engineer and stage technician for Valery Posidelov's band Day and Evening («День и Вечер»), as well as a bassist for several jazz ensembles and rock groups – most notably, Zazerkalje. Since the early 2000s, Papa Srapa began performing solo with an array of unique self-built electroacoustic instruments, synthesizers, drum machines, effects processors, heavily modified turntable with prepared records, and various unidentifiable sound objects.

Most of his recordings are self-released on CDr – often each copy has a unique handmade artwork and cover design. Papa Srapa also released a few limited edition albums on Ginjoha (Japan), Kotä and Nazlo Records (Russia)."

You can find additional pics and releases by Papa Srapa on Discogs.

RIP Rob Hordijk - Creator of the Blippoo Box, Benjolin, and Hordijk Modular Systems

video uploads by Pedro Trotz

"Rob Hordijk explains his modular designs at the European Electro Music Event 2012 that took place at Mallorca - Spain."

Sad news in via an anonymous reader today, who spotted the following from Pedro Trotz on Mod Wiggler. Those of you that have been following the site should be familiar with Rob Hordijk's work through numerous posts on the site. Two of his most famous creations were the Benjolin and Blippoo Box.

"I am deeply saddened to announce that my friend and mentor, Robert Ernst Hordjik, passed away earlier today. He was an important part of my life and I am sure also of many others here. He will be greatly missed.

I first met him in the Chateau Sonore event he organized in Belgium, in July 2007. There, lots of similar souls shared our passion for electronic music and electronic instruments. There was a lot of G2 and modular talk, but also performances, instrument demos, concerts, rehearsals... That's when I first heard of the Blippoo, one of his first creations that made him famous.

A few years later he started his work on the modular system that has his name. I felt so grateful for his initiative in Belgium that I couldn't help but planning a follow-up, this time in Mallorca. This time, our meeting had a lot less participants but it was an even better opportunity to make friendships that will last for a lifetime. I believe that in this meeting, in a trip we made to the north coast of the island, between the mountains of the Serra de Tramontana and the Mediterranean Sea, is when Rob decided that he wanted to retire to Mallorca. I can't blame him. It was the middle of January and we were having a pic-nic on the side of a curvy road facing the sea and enjoying what we natives call "the little summer" which is something that happens from time to time in mid-winter when the sea suddenly calms and temperatures rise up to 20 degrees Celsius.

We had a Benjolin workshop, we talked a lot about his design philosophy, and I was happy to record the first series of videos about his modular System. The ones you can find in my Youtube channel. After that series of videos I asked him to build a modular for me and soon enough he came back to Mallorca to deliver it in person.

During this visits I introduced him to Biyi and they automatically made a great connection. Biyi went a few times to The Hague to assist him in the building of Blippoos and modular systems. He even built his own under Rob's supervision. We all three had the idea to start a company in Mallorca where Rob would make the designs, Biyi build the stuff and I would take care of the business side of things. It was all set-up. As soon as his obligations in the Netherlands were fulfilled he would come to Mallorca. The moment arrived but almost at the same time his illness and COVID made things extra difficult.

In one of our talks he said to me that the Benjolin, the Blippoo and the Modular System were his dearest creations and that he was honored to have made so many people happy with them. Let's honor his memory by using them and making the most beautiful sound imaginable.

Farewell, my friend. I love you." - trotz

The following is from the Synth DIY wiki page on Hordijk.

Born in 1958, self described "synthesizer designer and builder,[3]" Rob Hordijk began learning electronics from around age 12 after developing a fascination with the glowing tubes in stereo amplifiers.[1][4] When he was 14 his father who had noticed young Rob's interest gave him a subscription to an electronics course, which lead to an examination for a ham radio license.

Trained as a designer and not a musician, Rob came from an arts background, studying as a sculptor and jeweler in the 1970s. He approached electronic music in a similar spirit to abstract painting, inspired by the ambient works of Brian Eno, and Luigi Russolo's Intonarumori instruments; where attempts were made to blur the boundaries between music and art:[1]

"In those days I was quite interested in the idea of sound as a material to be sculpted, in the same way you can sculpt wood and metal. [...] You can make mechanical objects that make all sorts of sounds, or you can make electronic objects that make all sorts of sounds. but what I like about the electronic objects is that you don't see what makes the sound. [...] It opens the way to sort of make it a bit mysterious."[1]

In the early 1980s as various integrated circuits, micro-controllers, and processors became available to hobbyists, Rob began buying things such as the early Curtis chips and RCA 1802 based SuperElf processor board out of curiosity more than professional ambition.[1][5] Later switching to an Apple ][+ and the Mountain Hardware Music System, for which he developed a Forth language version that could do all sorts of stuff with the Mountain cards, like KarplusStrong-type plucked string sounds and pitch shifting.[5] His first introduction to a DSP was to the DMX1000 around 1984. In 1986 he switched to Atari ST and an Akai S900.[5] These days he is a Clavia Nord Modular G2 aficionado.[5]

"I am not really a gear freak. But I do believe in mastering synthesis techniques, in making synthesis a second nature, so to be able to fully concentrate on the creative processes."[5]

After finishing art school, Rob also completed 11 years of study in Information Technology, learning about design methods and inventory control.[1] As well as his own instruments Rob worked on the Nord Modular G2 including contributing many patches to the Nord Modular online community, and wrote a comprehensive unofficial manual of the instrument. He has produced music for environments, buildings, film, and dance performances, but is yet to produce an official release on a label.[5] As of 2022 Rob has announced his retirement and will no longer be taking orders.[6]

Design Philosophy
Rob's personal definition of a modular synthesizer is more to do with modulation than modularity; referring to functional modules as 'sections'. Everything is supposed to be able to modulate or effect everything else. All levels within the system are optomised for comparability with one another.[1]

See https://sdiy.info/wiki/Rob_Hordijk_Design for more.

Update via brian comnes: Hordijk info on synthesis: https://rhordijk.home.xs4all.nl/G2Pages/ - quite in depth.

Todd Barton - Start From Silence

Published on Nov 22, 2019 Todd Barton

https://nathanmoody.bandcamp.com/album/start-from-silence

"I'm so excited that this album is now out! Last month I met Nathan Moody in person for the first time. He dropped by my place on his way to do a talk and performance at Velocity in Seattle. After just a few hours together my friend, Bruce Bayard came by and we three decided to jam. Nathan had a cool field recorder that he setup and recorded us all in the room. The jam turned out to be sonic serendipity, a rare conjunction of modular planets. I hope you enjoy it . . .

Todd Barton: Hordijk Blippoo Box, looper, shakuhachi flute samples
Bruce Bayard: Buchla Music Easel, Morphagene sampler
Nathan Moody: Ciat Lonbarde Tetrax Organ, Sidrax Organ, and Cocoquantus; Make Noise Ø-Coast

Recorded by Nathan Moody on October 1, 2019.
Mixed by the performers.
Mastered by Nathan Moody at Obsidian Sound.
Album artwork by Bruce Bayard.

Oh, and consider joining my Patreon to help support more tutorials et al. https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd"

"Recorded live in Ashland, Oregon, “Start from Silence” captures three masters of West Coast analogue synthesis performing with a focus on reciprocal listening and improvised expression.

Todd Barton, Bruce Bayard, and Nathan Moody combine a unique set of unusual instruments into a journey in tone, gesture, and sound. The aural dynamics were made in response only to the sounds, breaths, and movements of each performer. The music ranges from ambient to intense, gliding from amorphous to structured with bubbling streams of energy and contemplative drones that guide the listener throughout. The recording purposefully contains the artists’ breaths and movements, lending verisimilitude, presence, and authenticity to this organic performance.

The artists hadn’t played together before this recording, making the emergent soundscapes and sonic exploration all the more stunning…yet perhaps unsurprising, given the their combined 70+ years of composition and performing experience.

released November 22, 2019

CLICK FOR MORE »

Beware of the BLIPPOO BOX !

Published on Oct 1, 2019 ] mxbdpln [

"This are the sounds of an already classic synth : Rob Hordijk's Blippoo Box, version 2018. Still a very unique analog synthesizer, at first looking completely chaotic, but then when you dig deeper you can find the sweetest spots... This video a just a short demonstration of what you can get after tweaking the knobs a bit.

From Rob Hordijk :

The 2018 version of the Blippoo has a couple of changes in respect to previous versions:

1 The range of the oscillators is extended at the low end. Cycles can now
take up to minutes.

2 CV outputs are +/- 1V/Oct compatible over an eight octave range.

3 The S&H circuit is improved and has a switch to choose between two signals to sample: either Triangle B or the mix of the two Rungler signals.

4 The Resonator has a crossfader on its input to fade between the internal PWM pulse signal or an external signal that should be roughly at audio line level. Without an external input signal it can act as a volume/mute control.

5 The audio output signal is slightly hotter, in cases up to 4V pp.

6 The FRQ CV IN affects Rate A only."

Hordijk Feedback Patch

Published on Sep 14, 2019 Todd Barton

"Just wanted to explore a simple feedback patch on the Hordijk based on my favorite Rastko Lazic feedback patch for the Serge system: [video posted here] Eventually my little Hordijk patch turned into a version of Rob Hordijk's famous Blippoo Box :-)
Join my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd"

EMS Synthi A meets Hordijk Blippoo Box and strange conversation ensues

Published on Feb 24, 2019 Richard Scott

20Objects Podcast 215: Todd Barton

Published on Feb 4, 2018 20Objects

"I'm always intrigued by a good story. How about "from early music player to Buchla master"? Todd Barton's story is as good as his mucis - which is damned good. His use of serious electronic music gear to create focused worked is quite unique, and it is reflected in the way that the music sounds awesome regardless of the technology used to create it.

And the list of technology is pretty serious: Buchla modulars and Music Easels, Serge modulars and the Haken Continuum - and even the Hordijk Blippoo - are all pulled into play as necessary. Todd has been releasing recordings, but also recently did a series of live shows throughout Europe and the western US.

In our chat, we go over his entre into electronic music, how he got drawn into Buchla and Serge gear, and how he makes his choices now. He also talks a bit about the process of doing live modular teaching via Skype, and how he creates his live musical sculptures. Very in-depth conversations on creation; this is a discussion that will prove inspiring.

Check out Todd's work at his website: toddbarton.com. And enjoy the podcast!"

Kozept and Weinglas Live at Noodlefest, Rotterdam

Published on Oct 24, 2017 Wein Glas

"After an earlier collaboration this year, album FRNDS, Weinglas and Kozepz performed a live set together for the very first time at Noodlefest 2017, V2, Rotterdam.

Gear list Kozepz:
Ciat Lonbarde Plumbutter
Ciat Lombarde Cocoquantus
Kalimba

Gear List Weinglas:
2 Hordijk Blippoo Boxes
Ciat Lonbarde Tetrax
Ciat Lonbarde Phashi
Industrialectric RM-1N
Synthstrom Audible Deluge"

Kozepz and Weinglas at Noodlefest

Published on Oct 17, 2017 Wein Glas

"After an earlier collaboration this year, their album FRNDS, Weinglas and Kozepz got the opportunity to perform a live set together for the very first time at Noodlefest 2017, V2, Rotterdam.

Part 04 - phases and tines (stay tuned for more!)

In these times of often unwanted changes it is good to have something steady: Like friends all over the world. So what can be better than two friends from the Netherlands and Germany collaborating to make international noises for one world. Noisemakers kozepz and weinglas are making the world a better place! Even if this means that we all have to listen to their dark soundscapes and aural pollutions first."

Update on the gear used: "Kozepz and Weinglas making noises with Cocoquantus, Plumbutter, two Hordijk Blippoo boxes, some samples, and a Tetrax!"

p.mkhlv / ambient intro live performance for powwow modular broadcasting

Purple Tonal Central 27
Published on Aug 4, 2017

This one in via Pavel.

Improvised performance featuring the following: ciat lonbarde plumbutter, rob hordijk blippoo, meng qi voltage memory, prophet 6, ableton + push as fx processor

Analog Heat

Published on Jul 2, 2017 Cray

"Elektron Analog Heat being used on Double Knot, Blippoo Box and my euro system"

ASTROGENIC HALLUCINAUTING experiments with tools of chaos

ASTROGENIC HALLUCINAUTING experiments with tools of chaos - STEREO FIELD - BLIPPOO BOX - DOUBLE KNOT

Published on May 16, 2017 thenoiztemple

"ASTROGENIC HALLUCINAUTING - experiments with tools of chaos - Landscape STEREO FIELD - Rob Hordijk BLIPPOO BOX - Lorre-Mill DOUBLE KNOT and an Eventide SPACE reverb - for more noiz: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/as...

an adventure with tools of chaos...

STEREO FIELD is one instrument with three uses. It is simultaneously a stereo/quad modular touch plate synthesizer, a stereo/quad audio processor and a pressure sensitive chaotic CV controller.

The Blippoo is a unconventional analogue synthesizer with a unique implementation of twin digital shift registers known as Runglers made by Rob Hordijk from The Hague in Holland.

Double Knot is an all analog synthesizer which is both sequencer and voice. It can be thought of as something of an indeterministic "groovebox". A stereo instrument with two identical voices that can give different rhythms, melodies or cross timbral slaps. The idea of this instrument is to invite reconciliation of linear and nonlinear systems, and to encourage the building of multiple-feedback synthesis architectures."

DeElevator 1 - Live Avant Electronics by Simon Birds & Ross Healy

Published on Nov 29, 2016 Cray

DeElevator 1 released on Vicmod Records. December 9 2016



We are pleased to announce the new release on Vicmod Records from DeElevator. The album title is DeElevator 1.

Live avant electronics by
Simon Birds – Buchla Music Easel
Ross Healy – Rob Hordijk Blippoo Box and Euro Modular

Richard Scott Live in Berlin #1

Richard Scott Live in Berlin #1 from richard scott on Vimeo.

"Sound Anatomy and Cusp Editions composer Richard Scott performing in concert on Modular Syntheisizers, Blippoo Box and other machines at Salon am Moritzplatz, Berlin, April 2016.

richard-scott.net
soundanatomy.bandcamp.com
cuspeditions.bandcamp.com"