Original Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card

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Additional pics of the Original Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card. You can find demos in previous posts here. It made its first appearance on the site in a demo by Todd Barton posted here back in 2014.

"Original Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card - Communicates with the iPad via WiFi - Rare, Iconic Module - No Longer in Production

The Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card unleashes hidden functions of your Music Easel, and on top of that it bridges the gap between your DAW or other digital gear with its control functions and preset management.


NOTE: card has been updated with the latest firmware version: 73. Buchla developed that version on Dec 2022.

Here’s more info from Buchla Support dated April 13, 2023:

'Thanks for letting us know that the website descriptions are out of date.
Version 1.8 of the firmware utility appears to work fine with up to at least MacOS 12.5 (as I've been running).
The description needs to be updated.

Regarding the iProgramCard version. What are you running now? There have been a couple of users who preferred version 60 over version 66. I'm not sure why.

But also realize that there's a new version of the iProgramCard that we meant to post as well on the website.

iProgramCard Version 73 was created in December of last year. It was also an oversight that it wasn't released on the website. Version 73 works with the new app. It also works with the old iPad app but only over WiFi. The USB connection is broken in terms of sending banks to an iProgramCard with version 73 from the iPad app.

We will post that soon, but in the meantime I can attach you the file directly. Actually I can attach version 60 too.

This attached version 73 software allows the use of the new app with your iProgramCard.
Before downloading and installing, here's what you need to know:
1) The iPad app will no longer send patches via USB connections (though it has virtual control); the iPad app WILL still work/connect and send patches via a WiFi connection.
1a) If you continue to use the iPad app via WiFi, consider for best WiFi patch sending connections to increase the 'Waiting time between messages' to .04. (In 'Settings' of your iPad under Easel208Pad.) This goes for previous versions of Firmware too.
2) There is no translator from the iPad patches to the newly formatted ones in the new app, so it's best to recreate your favorite patches by hand in the new app.
3) You still only get 24 Programs since the memory chip on the iProgramCard only supports that many.'"

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Buchla Music Easel w/ iProgram Card

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via this auction, also on Reverb

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Buchla Music Easel Iprogram card &App testing

Published on Dec 17, 2017 Buchla info

"Buchla Music Easel iprogram,wifi controlled by Ipad App
testing before sale"

This is the dedicated iPad editor for the BEMI Music Easel and does not produce sound on its own. Curious if Arturia will eventually port their Buchla emulation to the iPad.

Buchla 102 - The Easel Explored by Todd Barton

Todd Barton has a new course up on the Buchla Music Easel over on MacProVideo here. Hop on over for the tutorials.

"The 'NEW', reimagined Buchla Easel is one of the most original and best sounding analog all-in-one synths ever made. See what this amazing instrument can do in this Easel Video Manual created by renowned Buchla expert Todd Barton.

Electronic music instrument pioneer, Don Buchla, created the original Easel in 1973. It was the very first all-in-one, pre-patched West Coast style synth! Fast forward 40 years and now there’s the “NEW” Easel. It retains its core analog roots, but when mated with its iProgram card, companion iPad app and the new 218e keyboard, it becomes one of the best sounding and fun to play instruments out there.

This course by Buchla expert, Todd Barton, explores every aspect of the Easel, from its unique sound generation to its powerful controls, sequencing and programming. In essence, Todd has created the very first Easel Video Manual. Todd is an internationally recognized Buchla expert and performer, and he works very closely with Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments in designing patches and creating product documentation.

If you have an Easel or are thinking about getting one... or even if you're simply interested in modular synthesis, this course is for you! So learn everything about the 208 and the 218e modules, which together comprise the one and only Buchla Easel, in this very in-depth course by Todd Barton."

BEMI Buchla Music Easel with iProgram Card

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BEMI Buchla Music Easel Analog Synth w/ Easel iProgram Card & Original Box

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Todd Barton with Buchla Easel AUX Expander and Easel iProgram Card at NAMM

"The Aux Card offers a noise source that can be variably filtered from full-spectrum White noise down to sub-audio 'Infra-Red' CVs. The auxiliary control oscillator allows the Modulation Oscillator to assume audio duties and can be used as the modulation source for a variety of uses. It can even be modulated itself. An A-440 reference allows quick tuning of your Easel with the flick of a switch."

"The Buchla Music Easel iProgram card is the ultimate accessory to modernize your Music Easel–a flexible replacement for the original resistor-based Program Cards. It makes use of the Program Card slot and enables patch editing, patch/librarian management, and even real-time performance from an iPad via the iProgram Card App. The iProgram Card communicates with the iPad via WiFi*. The iProgram card can store up to 24 presets in local flash memory so that it can be used independently from the iPad application. Two push buttons allow the user to scroll through and load any stored preset."

MATRIXSYNTH T-Shirt not included. :)

I missed going to NAMM this year, but it looks like Todd made sure MATRIXSYNTH was represented! Thank you Todd!

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I want to start by thanking everyone that comes to MATRIXSYNTH and helps make it what it is - the readers, the supporters, and of course all the sponsors on the right.

THANK YOU and have a GREAT 2015!!!

This site is a labor of love and a ton of work. This site is ultimately meant to be an testament to everything synth in the making. We have over nine years of daily synth history captured here, 119,983 published posts. I can't wait to see what the future brings us in 2015!

That said, here are a few interesting bits from 2014 in the longest post of the year. ;)

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Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card Tip No. 3 from Todd Barton & Upcoming Quadraphonic Performance

Published on Nov 29, 2014 Todd Barton

"Just realized even when the iProgram Card for the Buchla Music Easel is in "remote" mode you can still get CVs out of the physical Easel's Inverter out, Envelop Detector out and Mod CV out jacks.
Thus you can synchronize, affect and connect other Buchla modules to your Easel. And you can control, program and save those Easel output settings via the Easel iPad app."

And the upcoming performance featuring Todd Barton & Bruce Bayard:

"Quadraphonic: Space as Metaphor

Beginning Friday, August 1, Todd Barton and Bruce Bayard, performing as the duet Control Voltage Therapy, presented a series of concerts every First Friday at the Schneider Museum of Art. The concerts were every First Friday, August through December beginning at 11am. This coming Friday will be the final concert in this series. The performances are free and open to the public. Performances begin at 11 a.m."

BEMI BUCHLA MUSIC EASEL + iProgram card

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"In original packaging with banana cables,jumpers,power supply and the iProgram-card that work with a iPad app to control the synth via wifi and save patch!!!! International bidders are welcome."

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Easel Both Mode Programming

Published on Oct 8, 2014 Todd Barton

"Here’s a little thought on programming the iProgram Card iPad App while the physical Easel’s Control switch is in “both” mode. Though I am a composer and definitely do not understand the circuitry of either the iCard or Easel that has not stopped me from exploring ways to make “both” mode useable, flexible and expressive. toddbarton.com"

Side note: Todd Barton will be performing with the Buchla Music Easel along with three others in Quadraphonic: Easels in Space Nov. 7 at Schneider Museum of Art.

Some info on the patch via Todd on Muff's:

"Here’s a little thought on programming the iProgram Card iPad App while the physical Easel’s Control switch is in “both” mode. Though I am a composer and definitely do not understand the circuitry of either the iCard or Easel that has not stopped me from exploring ways to make “both” mode useable, flexible and expressive.

I beginning with the most basic patch, i.e. the Basic Setup that comes with the app:



What I discovered is in order to have more options in “both” mode I need to change a few parameters in the app patch, namely taking the Mod Osc to “low” and the Mod switch to f.m.

This is a pretty good rule of thumb – for more options keep the switches and sliders in the app patch in their lowest position. Of course you’ll have to tailor this statement to your aesthetic.

Here are my changes to the above Basic Setup for use in “both” mode:



"I’m guessing the reverse process it possible, that is, taking a complex app patch and simplifying it in “both” mode – exploring what shorting bars, cables, slider positions and switches give you a useful “both” patch and “remote” patch. More on that another day. cheers! Todd"

Spatial and Sonic Gestures Using the Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card

via Todd Barton: "I'm really stoked about this new use of the iCard in tandem with the 206e/227e to bounce different sounds around in space!

Here’s my little study in Spatial & Sonic Gestures using the Buchla Music Easel/iProgram Card and Skylab with the 227e System Interface.

By programming the 227e with the 206e Preset Manager I was able to create separate patches for separate speakers in a quadraphonic array. Using the Last and Next buttons on the to 206e I can scroll through various speaker configurations.

I created 6 patches and saved them to the iProgram Card. Using the Down and Up buttons the iProgram Card instantly scrolls through these patches. By simultaneously pressing the buttons on both the 206e and iCard I can precisely control speaker placement and swirl speed. Or I can create a wide variety of patch changes and speaker changes.

The recording is from the headphone output of the 227e and thus captures all four speakers. My wish was to be able to do an actual 'concrete' style piece in real time. So . . . this is in real time with just an Easel/iCard and a Skylab with a 259e/281e/292e. The effect for the majority of the piece are the Easel’s spring reverb. Near the end I kick in an Eventide Space pedal."

Buchla Music Easel iPad iProgramCard Overview by Todd Barton

Published on Mar 11, 2014 Buchla BEMI·3 videos

"Todd Barton's overview of the Buchla Music Easel iProgram Card."

Note the realtime editing.