KAWAI XD-5 WALK THRU

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Brian Comnes

"This video documents the Kawai XD5 I'm selling on Reverb, enjoy, its not just a drum box"



via this auction

"Kawai XD-5 percussion synthesizer module in excellent condition with DC16 RAM card, power supply and full documentation including schematics.

Be sure to check out the video walk thru made with this actual unit for sale. This synth is more than a drum box!

This is an awesome drum synth module that has 256 waveforms, four of which can be combined to create a single drum or synth sound.

You build an array of 64 patches, from there you assign them to a "kit" spanning 88 keys and save it. You can have 16 Kits ready to rock.

It has great resonant lowpass filters and envelopes for shaping the sounds and is excellent for techno, electro and industrial drums, basslines and leads. For effects, a delay type effect is possible as well as a ring-modulator.

Patches can be directed to stereo out or 6 individual outs . Directing your kicks to a separate out and then to a compressor really makes them punchy.
There are 32 digital oscillators, 256 waveforms (16-bit, 44.1kHz resolution) comprised of
41 DC (Digital Cyclic) and
215 CM waveforms,
16 note polyphony,
64 user patches,
16 user drum kits,
a 16 x 2 character backlit LCD display screen, 2-space rack mountable

This XD-5 is in great shape and comes as pictured with a photocopy of the Owner's Manual, Patch List (Factory Preset), Wave List / MDI Data Format manual
includes a 12V wall wart power supply."

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K-Teck Introduces Rudiment Step Sequencer for Ableton Live

This one was spotted by supporting member, brian comnes.

via K-Teck:

"What is Rudiment?

Rudiment is a mono/poly step sequencer which uses the Max for Live framework, and only works in Ableton Live

Rudiment uses Interference Patterns to generate rhythms

Rudiment uses a Function line plus an extended variation on a Klee sequencer and shift registers to generate pitches

All this adds up to a step sequencer capable of some very natural patterns and phrases

Rudiment is very easy to use

Capable of long and complex patterns or

Short, repeated phrases with subtle changes

Mostly non-random - you can accurately predict patterns if you really want to...

Rudiment is a pattern tweaker's delight"

Synth Library Portland Lending Program Starts 8/27

This one is in via Brian Comnes.

You might recall Synth Library Portland sought funding back in 2017. It looks like their lending program starts this month.

via Synth Library Portland:

"We're excited to announce that our Lending Program will be starting on 8/27! Want to check out a synth and live in the Portland, OR area? Follow these steps:

Become a member on WithFriends

Sign up for an orientation

Create a MyTurn account and reserve that synth!

We're offering the first two online orientations on Fri 8/27 at 7PM and Sat 8/28 at 2PM. We’ll be offering these on a regular basis so don't worry if you can’t make either of these first ones.

Members who have attended an orientation will have their MyTurn accounts enabled and can take up to two synths home for two weeks at a time.

We'll explain the nuts and bolts of the program at the orientation but here's an idea of when everything happens for our first lending cycle:

Reservation window opens at midnight on 8/29 for QTBIPOC only, then is open-to-all on 8/31 & closes at midnight on 9/2.

In-person pick-up is in N Portland on Fri 9/3 from 4-8PM and Sat 9/4 from 2-6PM. Once you reserve a synth, you'll receive an email with the exact address and instructions for pick-up. Synths are due back on Fri 9/17 from 4-8PM or Sat 9/18 from 2-6PM at the same N Portland location you picked them up from.

We're excited to get synths into the hands of the Portland community and stay tuned for more to come from us soon!

With love,

Synth Library Portland"

Buchla Christmas 2020

Geir Opdal

"Just a little Christmas melody to wish you all a wonderful Christmas :)
#Christmasmusic#Untermenschmusic #Buchla

For my releases please visit Tibprod at: https://tibprod.bandcamp.com/"
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This one was sent my way via brian comnes.

ewa justka VOICE ODDER 2

e j

"WHAT IS IT?

- a synth based on PT2399 delay IC and 40106 2 light sensitive square wave oscillators
- two inputs: mic and oscillators, you can choose which input goes through the delay unit (PT2399)
- you can purchase either DIY kit (all parts included except for the battery) version with detailed instructions OR finished product.
- runs o 9v

“The word is now a virus. The flu virus may have once been a healthy lung cell. It is now a parasitic organism that invades and damages the central nervous system. Modern man has lost the option of silence. Try halting sub-vocal speech. Try to achieve even ten seconds of inner silence. You will encounter a resisting organism that forces you to talk. That organism is the word.” – William S. Burroughs, The Ticket That Exploded"

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/744423665/voice-odder-2

This one is in via brian comnes: "new version, with a panelyou can purchase.." via https://ewajustka.tumblr.com...

You can find additional posts featuring Ewa Justka's work here.

Daphne Oram

Published on Oct 26, 2013 wtfbollos

"Daphne Oram (31 December 1925 -- 5 January 2003) was a British composer and electronic musician. She was the creator of the "Oramics" technique for creating electronic sounds."

This one was sent my way via brian comnes.

You can find additional posts featuring Daphne Oram here.

Ewa Justka's Ladder to Hell

Ladder to Hell DEMO Published on Dec 27, 2019 e j

This one in via brian comnes.

"Laddder to Hell is a celebration of resonance !!
based on Moog resonance filter - TRANSISTOR LADDER -
- OCD distortion (modified) http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57B7rhhMBg8... [and below]

and ORIGINAL WASP filter : http://www.modular.fonik.de/pix/F_was... [and below]
(high and low pass)

AND Moog Lm 13700 filter http://musicfromouterspace.com/analog... [and below]
(also high and low pass)

audio input
CV for Moog resonance
and Wasp resonance

// i the demo i'm using TR09; TB03, vermona kickdrum and korg sequencer sq1//

you can purchase it here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/76545..."

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Islas resonantes, Eliane Radigue on ARP 2500

Published on Nov 25, 2012

This one was spotted by brian comnes. You can find an article to go along with it here. Check out previous posts mentioning Eliane Radigue here.

Note the above video is followed by:
Eliane Radigue ‎- Triptych (1978) FULL ALBUM
Eliane Radigue | Feedback Works 1969-1970 [2012, Full Album]

Video Description:

"Un día me encontré con esta obra casualmente se mimetizaba con el sonido ambiente, fue en una casa de playa , por lo que no era fácil oír por el intenso sonido del mar, estaba atenta, quería escuchar que era lo que realmente sonaba, y no lo encontraba, hasta que aparecen fantasmagóricamente las voces soprano, despacio, atrás de todo, incorporándose poco a poco sutilmente la encuentro reproduciéndose en un lector de cd , aparece mi amigo Gerardo Figueroa, y me presenta a Eliane Radigue, máxima exponente de la música electrónica desde los años en que compartía con Pierre Schaeffer. y Henry en los años 60.............. nunca mas pude encontrar este disco, hasta hoy....por eso lo comparto. tiene la simpleza y sutileza de mezclar los sonidos puros y perderse infinitamente en las islas resonantes..."

Googlish:

"One day I found this work coincidentally blending in with the ambient sound, it was in a beach house, so it was not easy to hear from the intense sound of the sea, I was attentive, I wanted to hear what it really sounded like, and I could not find it, until the soprano voices appear spookily, slowly, behind everything, gradually incorporating the encounter reproducing in a CD player, my friend Gerardo Figueroa appears, and introduces me to Eliane Radigue, the greatest exponent of music electronic since the years I shared with Pierre Schaeffer. and Henry in the 60s .............. I could never find this record, until today ... that's why I share it. the simplicity and subtlety of mixing pure sounds and getting lost infinitely in the resonant islands ... "

Guy Gets High Working on Legendary Buchla Covered in LSD

Update: video is back. I switched to their YouTube upload thinking it would be a better option long term for the archives, but apparently not.

Update2: bonus video on YouTube while it's up:

Web Extra: Buchla Model 100 Synthesizer at Cal State University East Bay

Published on May 23, 2019 KPIX CBS SF Bay Area

"Here more about the groundbreaking musical instrument at Cal State University East Bay and what it can do. Interviews with retired professor and composer William R. Shannon, electronic music pioneer Suzanne Ciani, musician and Buchla representative Joel Davel, and CSUEB Associate Professor Inés Thiebaut."

This one is in via Brian Comnes. The legend of the CSU Hayward acid/LSD soaked vintage Buchla 100 is true. Apparently it was dipped in LSD back in the 60s. It wasn't clear, however, if all panels or just the red one was dipped. You can find some additional pics of the infamous CSU Hayward Buchla 100 here. BTW, this was likely some Owsley Stanley LSD.

Left image via Todd Barton: "I love that the red panel is a 156 Control Voltage Processor which can blend, invert and mix up to 6 different CVs! You’re only as trippy as your CVs. Oh, and I love the squiggly line pattern on the faceplate 🤩"

And the article via KPIX5 San Franscico for the archives:

"SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — For years, an urban legend circulated online and in documentaries, purporting how part of a groundbreaking musical instrument — versions which are stored at a Bay Area university and other institutions — was dipped in a psychedelic drug.

Online chatter detailed how musicians who used the instrument would wet their finger, touch the device, and then lick their finger to get a little bit of mind-expanding inspiration.

Now this supposed myth may turn out to be a reality.

—

At the helm of KPIX Television, Broadcast Operations Manager Eliot Curtis tackles all sorts of technical problems to keep Channel 5 on the air. Recently however, a strange electrical transmission threw him for a loop. It happened inside his brain.

“It was … felt like I was tripping on LSD,” remarked Curtis.

It turns out that Curtis was indeed tripping on the infamous psychedelic drug known as lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD for short. He got dosed by accident at home in his workshop — in front of his wife.

“I think it’s super wild. I think this whole situation is a nice chapter in the history of the counter culture,” commented Curtis’ wife Holly.

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Parrots On Acid by Baghead

via Baghead, aka Brian Comnes.

Listen in stereo.

"A little inconsequential ditty, first experiment with cross patching a volca modular with a Bastl softpop

Not the best recording. The right channel is a bit weird, and it doesn't get going until 1:05 but it is what it is"

Pictured: the patch. Note the mini patch cables between the two.

WAV2Evolver Waveform Generator for the DSI Evolver Line

I was chatting with Brian Comnes about waveform editors for the DSI Evolver. There are the SoundTower and Vyzor editors that give you access to the full parameters of the Evolvers, but if you just want to create and upload waveforms, Brian let me know about WAV2Evolver, a free online editor that does just that. Thank you Brian!

See if you can make out my lame attempt at a waveform to the left. Note you can have only one point along the horizontal plane. I actually never thought about that before.

Update: the output is a .wav file so this could be useful for other synths and applications.


Some details from http://wav2evolver.beigemaze.com:

"WAV2Evolver is an online waveform conversion application for users of the Dave Smith Instruments Evolver family of synthesizers.

It allows you to upload WAV files containing single-cycle waveforms, and then download them as system exclusive files that the Evolver can understand. You may also download waveforms as RAW PCM files or new WAV files. The RAW and WAV files downloaded from this application use Evolver-friendly 128-sample, 16-bit PCM.

WAV2Evolver is also a waveform sharing application. You may view and download waveforms that others have generated, and you may share waveforms that you have generated. I encourage you to share your waveforms, although this is completely optional.

WAV2Evolver is an HTML5 application. If it's not working for you, please try using an up-to-date web browser. WAV2Evolver was written with the following technologies: jQuery and Bootstrap were used to construct the interface; PHP was used for the web services that transfer data to and from the application; the waveform conversion tools are written in C. The icons are by Glyphicons.

All of the code for this project is open-source, and can be found on GitHub.

Special thanks to forum user Razmo for his invaluable help in proving out the conversion code, long before I had an Evolver of my own."

Triangle into Benjolin Demo

Published on Feb 19, 2019 Brian Comnes

"Chaos Squared....take one chaotic device (Optotronic Trianglle Synth) and pump it into another (Benjolin) and what do you get? HAve a listen, definitely not a happy track, and mostly an exploration rather than a performance per se...."

Portabellabz Synthi Card for Buchla 208

Published on Feb 4, 2019 Todd Barton

"The new EMS Synthi (licensed) Card by http://www.portabellabz.be
be sure to checkout these audio files for best sound http://www.portabellabz.be/SYNTHI_Car...
Great to have this onboard.! Wonderful sounds and timbres. I will be making more videos -- hope you enjoy this teaser."

And via Brian Comnes, spotted on Muffs:

"I'm happy to announce the release of a new Portbellabz card for Music Easel and 208 under EMS Cornwall license.

This card expands the Music Easel or 208 with original EMS Synthi A and VCS3 circuits : an oscillator that produces simultaneous square and triangle waveshapes with wide range and features useful modifications (synchronization, shape CV, hi/lo range) and a noise generator with variable colour, together with my acclaimed Random Voltage Generator modification module that expands many original EMS Synthi A, AKS and VCS3, unlike the 208's one, it's true random.
The inputs and outputs voltages are adapted to match the ones used in the 208.


It will be available in late February / early March, pre-built (€460 + shipping, Rogans and rear edge connector in option) or as a DIY PCB set (€130 shipped) like the 208 ToolBox.

The prices include a commission for Robin Wood at EMS, that is the same for each pre-built unit or PCB set sold.

It works with 208p, 208r (not rev1) and BEMI / Buchla USA Easels. The tracking can be set to 1V/oct, 1.2V/oct or 2V/oct (or other, but who wants that ? :lol: ).

A very few privileged persons were lucky enough to already test a prototype and enjoyed it. Thanks to them for keeping the secret.

Hopefully a demo video of the great Todd Barton should pop up soon, thanks in advance Todd.

In the meantime, here are some (very basic) demo of the card with my own 208.
All sounds are coming from the card except the CO modulation track (208's CO modulated by the card). A 218r was used to demonstrate tracking. It's a bit high in the lowest notes but this is fixed.

http://www.portabellabz.be/SYNTHI_Card_demos_mp3.zip

[b]Oscillator[/b]
- 100% analogue discrete components
- square and triangle outputs, blue bananas are full range outputs for modulation, red knobs are outputs to the mixer
- wide range from very slow LFO to ultrasonic, switchable hi/lo range with fine tuning
- tracking good on about 5 octaves via the 208's keyboard CV in
- variable frequency CV input with attenuverter via black banana
- variable shape CV input with attenuator via black banana
- variable sync input with attenuator via black banana

[b]Noise[/b]
- 100% analogue discrete components
- white banana is full range output for modulation
- red knob is output to the mixer
- variable colour

[b]Mixer[/b]
- tinijax out to feed the 208's preamp
- banana out for mixed modulation

[b]Random voltage generator[/b]
- available on the white banana - a mini slide switch behind the panel selects noise or random, this affects the white banana only, the noise is still available in the mixer when random is used
- clock input via the 208's inverter "to card" socket
- noise colour changes the random voltage

Bill Sequeira kindly did this nice overview. Thank you Bill.
The pictured card is a prototype, the production one will look very similar.

[img]http://www.portabellabz.be/images/PortabellabzSynthiCard.jpeg[/img]

Thanks for your interest and more soon."

optotronic duet

Published on Jan 14, 2019 Brian Comnes

"Ewa Justka's Optotronics Motherfucker2 paired with her Triangle synth. - The triangle's trigger out is driving the MF2 after a few minutes. and for a brief time the MF2 is pushed into a Schlappi Angle Grinder ....Not a performance piece, merely an exploration of some of the sounds these two friends can make together....enjoy"

Check out Ewa Justka live here.

Some info on the triangle sequencer via etsy:

"Triangle △ synth is 8-step trigger sequencer based on CMOS chips.

it features 8 push button switches for changing the pattern , toggle switch for changing the range of the pitch, 3 knobs: tempo of the clock, pitch, glide. and two outputs: audio and trigger out.

It can play odd, complex patterns, from glitchy unpredictable strangeness to more organised bangers.

tuns on 9V battery which is not included.
needs audio mono mini jacks.

audio recordings here:"

オープンリールコタツ会議 | Open Reel Kotatsu Session - Open Reel Ensemble

Published on Jan 2, 2019 Open Reel Ensemble

"HAPPY NEW MAGNETIC YEAR!!

https://openreelensemble.com"

Musique concrete? :)

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This one in via brian comnes.

Random Lights by Baghead

"Four S&H sources and the Benjolin cross connected to the Schlappi ANgle Grinder. A bit rough in spots but now you know how they interact."

via brian comnes:

"This is the simply a Benjolin feeding into a Schlappi Angle Grinder with 4 random S&H cvs

Also the H9 Nebula preset for 'ambience'

Some interesting sections, headphones are a big sub recommended"

Analog and Vintage Synthesizer Books

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

via this auction

These are in via brian comnes.

"One lot of 3 books on analog synthesis techniques and history.

Vintage Synthesizers, Mark Vail
Analog Synthesis,Reinhard Schmitz , WIZOO books
Synthesizer Technique, by Keyboard Magazine"

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The △ synth by Optotronics

This one is in via brian comnes. △ synth is the latest creation from Optotronics who brought us Oi, Kant! and Scramble Everything. △ synth is available on etsy here.

"Triangle △ synth is 8-step trigger sequencer based on CMOS chips.

it features 8 push button switches for changing the pattern , toggle switch for changing the range of the pitch, 3 knobs: tempo of the clock, pitch, glide. and two outputs: audio and trigger out.

It can play odd, complex patterns, from glitchy unpredictable strangeness to more organised bangers.

tuns on 9V battery which is not included.
needs audio mono mini jacks."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Analog Presets on a Cathedral Pipe Organ - Vox Humana

Brian Comnes sent in these images of a cathedral pipe organ's presets (more pics below). I noticed on the far right what looks like "Voix Humana". Those of you familiar with classic preset patches should recognize "Vox Humana" as one of the classic patches on the preset version of the Moog Polymoog. The patch was famously used by Gary Numan. The "Voix Humana" got me wondering if the Polymoog patch may have been based on a common organ patch. I did some searching on YouTube and found the video below. What do you all think?

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Sheets of Sound Browser Based Single Cycle Waveform Generator

SCW Editor Introduction Published on Mar 3, 2018 20Objects

"The SCW Editor by Sheets of Sound, is a single cycle wave form generator & editor built on a light weight web audio platform. The level of possibilities within the editor are quite complex, with two sections. Main & Mix-In, and an array of controls.

None of this editing goes to waste, at any time you can render out your sample to your hard rive and head off to your favorite DAW or Hardware.

You can find the editor here: http://scw.sheetsofsound.com/

Any inquires, check here: http://sheetsofsound.com"

"You can use this editor to create waveforms through warping, distortion, wavemixing and waveskewing. Explore the menus to see the editing, rendering and sample formatting options available."

This is a pretty cool find sent my way via brian comnes.