MATRIXSYNTH: Search results for Buchla 400


Showing posts sorted by date for query Buchla 400. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query Buchla 400. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Sunday, January 28, 2024

BAF 2024: Catalyst Audio - MIG Modules


video upload by sonicstate

"At Buchla and Friends 2024, Sonic State had the opportunity to speak with David from Catalyst Audio about their latest release, the MIG series vacuum tube modules. This series includes a VCO, mixer, VCF, VCA, and a noise source, all designed around new old stock tubes from Soviet fighter jets in the 80s. David explained that the collaboration between Buchla and Friends and ElectroSurf led to the development of these modules, with ElectroSurf handling the tube circuits and David working on the layout and production. The MIG series modules feature unique waveform shaping capabilities due to the use of two tubes, allowing for audio rate switching and balance adjustments. The VCO, mixer, filter, and VCA all offer distinct tonal changes and features that can be overdriven for added versatility. The noise module provides a wide range of sound possibilities, from pitched variations to white noise textures. Currently, they have about 1,500 tubes in stock, making these modules a limited edition item. However, the tubes are perfect for Eurorack systems as they consume low power, making them compatible with standard power supplies. The final price is yet to be determined, but it is expected to be around $400.

https://www.catalystaudio.com/"

Sunday, October 29, 2023

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."

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

Electronic Perspectives: Vintage Electronic Musical Instruments by Tom Rhea



via Electronic Perspectives

“A Love-Letter for Fans of Electronic Musical Instruments” … from one of the foremost historians in the field, Dr. Tom Rhea.

Forty-five years in the making, Electronic Perspectives: Vintage Electronic Musical Instruments contains all of Tom Rhea’s fifty-two influential columns that were first published in Keyboard magazine from 1977-1981. This 400-page tome greatly expands on the original content with updated information and hundreds of newly restored images. Electronic Perspectives: Vintage Electronic Musical Instruments includes two CDs of unearthed recordings; spanning multiple eras of electronic music. All in a gold foil-embossed hardcover book, housed in a deluxe slipcase.

Electronic Perspectives: Vintage Electronic Musical Instruments is in pre-production. Price/release date to be determined.

This one was sent my way via Brian Kehew who tells me it will feature the "first Buchla and Moog recordings ever made (both unreleased) as well as Con Brio, etc." See the link above for full details including video featuring the inside of the book. It's a beauty.

Thursday, June 02, 2022

Dave Smith Was an Ironman Triathlete



In case you missed it in this post, Roger Linn noted Dave Smith was "an avid athelete, cyclist and triathlete. He actually participated in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in his younger years..."

@birdkids reminded me of an article on the development of the Prophet VS archived on the WaybackMachine. In it, Chris Meyer mentions Dave was in Hawaii prepping for the tournament during that time. I thought it was interesting and worth sharing. I captured it below.

"Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 07:55:41 -0800
From: Xrystal
MIME-Version: 1.0
Subject: Birth of the Prophet VS

I thought the following might be of interest to you. Xrystal
_____________________________________________________________________


The Birth of the Prophet VS

By Chris Meyer, ex-employee of Sequential Circuits

reprinted from the VS WaveWrangler User Guide by permission of Interval Music Systems,
©1991 Interval Music Systems.

It all started somewhere in 1985. We were still working on the Prophet 2000 sampler,
and as resident historian (in other words, I had the most magazines and manuals) another
engineer was asking me to explain how various instruments performed crossfades. I had
finished discussing the Fairlight, and had moved on the PPG - explaining its wavetables,
and the ability for it to scan a group of waves first in one direction and then back again,
While I was scrawling this back and forth motion in my notebook, suddenly a little twinge
went off in the back of my head, and myhand drew the next line arcing down the page.. and the
concept of crossfading beween waves in two dimension, not just one, was born.

Sunday, May 08, 2022

Buchla Easel Command 208C - Orange


video upload by TheTrackdriver

"A piece of music recorded live. The two melodic stems come from the Buchla Easel Command 208C which is receiving MIDI from Steinberg Nuendo plus the internal sequencer. Some parameters are controlled by the Buchla 281 clone and the glide at the end by the 266. Chords are from the Waldorf Blofeld, bass from the Moog Sub37 and drums from the Akai Rhythm Wolf.

The blackbirds were filmed with a Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 with a Panasonic Leica DG 100-400 lens. The bird song was captured with a Røde VideoMic GO II."

Saturday, April 10, 2021

ID700 - Software Synth Based on the Buchla 700



via https://modo.sc/id700/

Available on the App Store here.

"In 1987 Don Buchla released the Buchla 700 synthesizer. It was the next logical step from Don's previous digital synths (the Buchla 400, Touche, Buchla 500) but was also influenced by the synth trends of the 1980's, specifically FM synthesis and the all-in-one workstation concept. As usual, Don was ahead of the curve and the 700 never took off. Very few were sold and even fewer functioning units exist today. I always loved the sound of Don's digital oscillators, and combined with the scarcity of the instrument it seemed like a fun project to recreate it in software and reintroduce its concepts to the world.

ID700 is a software synthesizer based on the voice architecture of the Buchla 700. Like many of Don's other designs, sound generation is achieved primarily via FM synthesis and waveshaping. Each voice is made up of sixteen individual modules:

four Oscillators
six Indexes
two Waves
one Morph
one Filter
one Amplifier
one Location

The Oscillators, Indexes, and Waves are configured in one of twelve preset Algorithms, all of which feed into the fixed signal paths of the Morph, Filter, Amplifier, and Location modules.

Each of the Oscillator, Index, Morph, Filter, Amplifier, and Location modules have their own dedicated complex Envelope for modulation.

The Wave modules provide wavetable synthesis using Chebyshev polynomials and include additional waveshaping functionality.

Arbitrary tunings are supported via the Scala Tuning File format.

MIDI and MPE are supported (note: not all hosts support MPE).

The iOS version supports AUv3 and IAA."

Update: demos posted here.

Tuesday, March 09, 2021

Studio.h WPM Wireless Preset Manager for e-series compatible modules. Unfettered Preset Management!


video by Kent

"Introduction to the liberating Studio.h WPM (Wireless Preset Manager).
I'm working on the next video as this uploads. We'll look at everything in great detail, including:

Small system ideas
a 24 panel system
The configuration pages
and more.

00:00​ Start
01:28​ WPM Close up
01:37​ WPM Configuration switches
01:46​ What's in the box & adapters
01:50​ In the case
02:20​ Switching Presets over WiFi!
03:15​ System Considerations w/206e
04:00​ WPM w/206e & Stobe/S&H Strategy
04:53​ Notes about my system
05:31​ The 2 pages WPM serves up
06:12​ Physical size and considerations (will it fit?)
07:18​ Dimensions: Height & Depth
08:19​ Easel-K: A Match Made in Oregon - The Ideal Candidate
08:51​ 225h does it do PM?
09:34​ Easel-K innards. Power connectors are available.

Discussion on Muffwiggler: https://bit.ly/3vaVHWz​

===
Introductory video. Lots of talking and discussions of strategies and usage in systems.
Be sure to use the navigation/progress bar to jump to sections of interest for repeated viewing and pausing. I left many snapshot/screengrabs up for only 5 seconds as the video is already quite lengthy and one can easily pause upon what one wishes to see in greater detail.

More in the way of actual use coming up in next videos. I'll show it in my 24-panel system and then either my 10-panel or 4-panel (currently out on loan). We'll go through the pages that are served up by the WPM, etc.

[b]Answers to a handful of likely questions:[/b]
Q: How does it work?
A: It is a WiFi server and serves up (currently) two web pages that are accessed via a web browser. I've tested it on a Mac, iPad Pro, iPhone6s, and my ancient iPhone 3GS. The 3GS renders the main page strangely (fault of the browser due to its age and lack of updates) but it does work. Any cheapo Android should work and Studio.h have tested a few of them.

Q: Will it work with v2 (non-Primo) 200e systems?
A: Yes, there is a switch for this shown at 01:37​

Q: Is it possible to change the log-in information?
A: Yes, the WiFi name and password can be changed. I'll demonstrate this in the next video. There is also a switch, at 1:37​, showing that the system can be made entirely 'Open'. Live dangerously!

Q: Will this enable preset management of my 208 variant?
A: No. None of the 208 units are e-series compatible. They simply don't have the hardware onboard for e-series knob positions, slider positions, patching, levels, etc.
However, for the Easel-K owner, you've just level-upped your 223e!

Q: Will it coexist with existing Buchla Preset Managers (206e/225e).
A: Yes, as shown in this very video plus the leveraging of Preset Management Strobe Mode. See 04:00​

Q: How much does it cost? How do I order one?
A: $400 USD and drop Studio.h a line on: http://studiohsoftware.com/contact​

Bravo, Studio.h!"

Thursday, October 31, 2019

October by Shasta Cults





All Buchla 400 EP from Shasta Cults, available on Bandcamp and Hard Wax.

Shasta Cults recently released Configurations featuring the Buchla 700. Excellent album BTW.

Image of the Buchla 400 below via @buchla_archives


Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Instrument Designer: Rare Buchla 700 Synth Coming to Software on Mac, Windows & iOS



via modosc designs

"a modern interpretation of the buchla 700, coming soon for mac, windows, and ios."


If you are not familiar with the Buchla 700, check out Chimeror by Benge on Vintage Buchla 700. According to that post, only about 12 of these machines were ever produced, and there are possibly only 4 working examples left in existence.

Update: Some additional info via modosc designs:

On the developer: "Jonathan Schatz has spent his life pursuing dual passions of music and computing, occasionally simultaneously. One of these convergences led to working with Don Buchla on the 200e system for several years. The latest such convergence is Modosc Designs."

FAQ:

"What is Instrument Designer?
Instrument Designer is a software synthesizer inspired by the Buchla 700.

Ok, what is the Buchla 700?
The Buchla 700 is a 12 voice 4 operator FM synth released in 1987 and designed by Don Buchla. There are several main ways the 700 differentiates itself from the other FM synths common in the industry at that time:

Each algorithm outputs through two independant waveshapers. This allows a single instrument defintion to output two different audio signals without requiring a separate stacked voice. This also increases the sonic palette by allowing a user to easily create non-sinusoid waveforms.

The waveshapers are cousins to the ones use in the Buchla Touche, Buchla 400 and the Buchla 259e. They are quite unique and use some interesting waveshaping techniques.

Each voice has 13 complex envelopes which control almost every aspect of the sound algorithm. The envelopes have a unique exponential display, are programmable with an arbitrary number of breakpoints, and include programmable features such as looping.

Programming was simplified with the help of a graphical user interface and an external monitor.

What does it sound like?

There weren't a lot of these produced so there's not that much out there, but what is out there is quite interesting:

Charles Cohen — Generator
Benge — Chimeror
Ode To Gravity — this is from the release party for the 700 and includes interviews with Don
So what happened to it?
The instrument never became very popular and today is one of the rarer of Don Buchla's instruments (which says a lot). The software itself was never finished, and the video card which connected up the external display was unreliable and eventually end-of-lifed by Intel. Probably 15-20 of these were made - I personally know of 3, of which only 1 currently works.

Why hasn't anyone made a reissue?
Good question. The design is quite complicated and includes 4 separate computers as well as a large membrane input surface. It would certainly be possible to build but it wouldn't be a cheap endevor, and unlike other recent reissues it probably wouldn't be a big seller - it's likely the most difficult instrument of Don's to use.

So why are you bothering?
I love the sound of Don's wavetable synths (specifically the 259e) and I've spent a lot of time implementing and reimplenting various related algorithms. I had the opportunity to play around with a 700 a few years back and the idea was hatched there.

Are you using the original source code?
No. This entire project was implemented using a scan of the original 700 manual as the spec (which was the usual Don way of doing things). You can view the original source code here, which is interesting because it seemingly contains code used for a NASA project as well:

Set ON_B700 non-zero to get a Buchla 700 PROM, or zero to get a NASA 3D Helmet Display PROM.

That source dump from Lynx Crowe is unfortunately incomplete but there is a project that's managed to get it to boot. Unfortunately the source code only includes some of the controller code and none of the DSP code so currently there's no sound generation.

Where can I learn more about the Buchla 700?
The Buchla 700 Preservation Page
Notes on the Buchla 700 audio synthesizer
Buchla 700 archeology
Buchla 700
Chimeror by Benge
The Buchla 700 Emulation Project
Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails playing a Buchla 700 in Twin Peaks — I don't know if the sound is actually 700 or not but who cares?"


Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Shasta Cults - Buchla Touché Waveshapes


Published on Apr 8, 2018 Shasta Cults

This is the first video ever featuring the graphic output of the Buchla Touché waveshapes, from currently the ONLY Buchla Touché with the ability to display them. This is as rare as it gets in the synth world.

"The Touché uses non linear wave shaping for timbre generation, same as the 360, 400, 700 and 259e (a distortion based wave shaping technique).  It has 9 native  wave shape tables (6 user programmable). A sine wave is generated digitally and then sent through the selected table. Timbre is effected by the amplitude of the sine wave, so it accents high and low harmonics more, based on sine wave level.  Timbre modulation was Don Buchla's wave shape technique. This particular Touché is a development model that will display wave shapes, as well as allow you can program your own…  if you can figure it out." See this page for some technical info on Waveshaping from ussb.edu.

The following was composed on the Touché using sine waves.



You can find previous posts featuring the rare Buchla Touché here.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Buchla 400 Piece 1 by Alessandro Cortini


Published on Dec 28, 2017 Alessandro Cortini

"First score on a newly restored Buchla 400"

Thursday, November 09, 2017

CHRIS POTTINGER - STAGNANT SECRETION LP Featuring Buchla





via Tasty Soil

"Tasty Soil Records is proud to present Stagnant Secretion, a new record by Chris Pottinger. Composed at home in Michigan using a Buchla modular synthesizer [200e and home built 100/200 modules], this album contains selected recordings made between 2011 and 2016.

Lonely sounds drift up from beneath the murky fluid. Experience the life cycle of an aquatic creature, stalked by parasites and hungry to feed. Covered in leeches, growing plump from gulping its blood. A quivering fleshy lump, confused and clogged with algae.

Stagnant Secretion is limited to 400 hand numbered copies, presented in a deluxe Stoughton tip-on LP jacket with artwork created by Chris Pottinger. This album also includes an 11x11 insert and MP3 download card.

Available to purchase here"

Thursday, June 01, 2017

Phantohm


Published on Jun 1, 2017 Ebotronix

4ms Peg, QCD/Expander², QPLFO, RCD², VCA Matrix
Analogue Systems RS 110²², RS 360
Buchla 292e
Bananalogue Serge VCS
Cyndustries Zeroscillator
Doepfer R2m², A101-2², A131², A133², A134²²,

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Buchla 400 Electronic Musical Instrument - Description and Specifications Brochure


via Glen Darcy

"I found a an old brochure for the Buchla 400 that I had laying around. This I got from West LA Music in about 1983, they had one for sale there. It was not on, either due to nobody knowing how to use it or it was broken....but I remember drooling over how cool it looked."

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Buchla & Korg SQ 10'


Published on May 4, 2016 Ebotronix

Update: part 2 with a cat:

Buchla & Korg SQ 10²



Buchla System #1
Korg SQ 10 Sequencer & Master Clock
Maestro Ringmodulator
4ms QCD / Expander
Moog CP 251 (SQ 10 Clock Speed and QCD Ratching)
Lexicon MPX 100, MX 400
Make Noise Format Jumper
Alesis 3630
Aphex model 104
Rocktron Rack Interface²
Rane SM 26
Yamaha MCS 2
mackie the mixer²
vid # 1505

Friday, February 12, 2016

AHMW 2016 Synth Meet Set for April 23rd


Additional details here.

"This year's theme: SIXTEEN

Bring something with SIXTEEN of SOMETHING...

Sixteen voices, Sixteen steps, Sixteen knobs, etc.

The annual Get-Together will be Saturday, April 23rd at the PHHS Media Center.

I'll have the doors open at 10:00am. All synthgeekgearheads are encouraged to join us and spend some time with awesome gear and great people.

Past gear includes:
All sorts of Modulars (MOTM, DotCom, Euro, Blacet, Metalbox, Wiard, Cynthia, Modcan, Serge, Buchla)
Moog: Minimoog, Voyager, Prodigy, Polymoog, MemoryMoog, Taurus (I & III)
ARP: 2600, Quadra, Odyssey
Oberheim: Xpander, OB8, OB-X (and crOwBX!), OB-1, Two Voice, Four Voice
Sequential: Pro 1, Prophet 5 (rev 2 & 3), Prophet T-8, Prophet 2000
Roland: Juno 6, Jupiter 4, Jupiter 6, Jupiter 8, RS-101, SH-09, SH-101, SH-3a,
TB-303, TR-505, TR-606, TR-707, TR-808, TR-909, System 100, System 700
Korg: MS-20, PS-3100, Trident, Lambda
Yamaha: CS-15, SY-2, CS-80, SK-30
Also: VCS3, Putney, PPG, SunSyn, Polygamist, Buchla 400, Rhodes, Hammond
And DIY gear, and much more!

Location is between Lagrange and Angola in northeast Indiana.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Don Buchla with His 400 & More Vintage Synth Pics via echo7even


via @echo7even where you'll find more.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

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!

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

carp


Published on Jun 17, 2015 Ebotronix

"4ms Peg, QCD² /Expander², QPLFO, ,RCD², VCA Matrix
Analogue Systems RS 100², RS110²², RS 360², RS500e²
Bananalogue Serge VCS
Buchla System #1
Cyndustries Zeroscillator
Doepfer R2m, A101-2², A118, A133²,A134²², A143-1/2/9,
A149, A151²,A152,A156²,A160/161², A175²²,A185-2(14x),
A138a²²b²²c²²²², A192-1(4Vox midi CC )
Flame 4 Vox ,Arpeggiator 2013 (melodic minor),
FX16,Talking Synth Module²
flight of harmony choices
Koma Kommander
Make Noise Brains ,PP², Maths²,Moddemix²²,QMMG,
Optomix, René, Wogglebug²
Malekko Anti²², Unkle²²,Jag
Moog Taurus 2, FreqBox²², MP201
Oberheim Sem
Roland SVC 350 Vocoder, System 104 Sequencer
SSL Modulation Orgy
Tip Top Audio Z8000 manual voltage source
Toppobrillo Quantimator²(melodic minor), Sportmodulator,TWF²
Logic masterclock to Kenton Pro 2000
Rocktron Rack Interface²
Yamaha MCS 02 ( Flame Arpeggiator 2013 Midi CC)
FX : Alesis 3630,Philtre, Boss VF-1,BSS DPR 402
Lexicon MX 400, PCM80,, Line 6 Echopro ,TC M one XL, M3000
mackie the mixer²
drums : Ultrabeat
vid # 1347"

Thursday, April 16, 2015

AHMW 2015 This Saturday April 18th!


AHMW 2014 - A look at last years event.

"This year's theme: HYBRID

The annual Get-Together will be Saturday, April 18th at the PHHS Media Center. I'll have the doors open at 9:00am. All synthgeekgearheads are encouraged to join us and spend some time with awesome gear and great people.

Past gear includes:
All sorts of Modulars (MOTM, DotCom, Euro, Blacet, Metalbox, Wiard, Cynthia, Modcan, Serge, Buchla)
Moog: Minimoog, Voyager, Prodigy, Polymoog, MemoryMoog, Taurus (I & III)
ARP: 2600, Quadra, Odyssey
Oberheim: Xpander, OB8, OB-X (and crOwBX!), OB-1, Two Voice, Four Voice
Sequential: Pro 1, Prophet 5 (rev 2 & 3), Prophet T-8, Prophet 2000
Roland: Juno 6, Jupiter 4, Jupiter 6, Jupiter 8, RS-101, SH-09, SH-101, SH-3a,
TB-303, TR-505, TR-606, TR-707, TR-808, TR-909, System 100, System 700
Korg: MS-20, PS-3100, Trident, Lambda
Yamaha: CS-15, SY-2, CS-80, SK-30
Also: VCS3, Putney, PPG, SunSyn, Polygamist, Buchla 400, Rhodes, Hammond
And DIY gear, and much more!"

Full details here.
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