CARMINE SCARPACCI - 'Married To The Moog' - vintage TV commercial

video upload by Con Brio Synthesizers

"In this classic late-night TV commercial, beloved New Jersey bandleader and impresario, Carmine Scarpacci, releases his exploration of the modern electronic sounds. 'Married To The Moog' - a collection of Old World Italian classics, transmogrified for the younger ears of today. Sounds of yesterday meet the sound of the FUTURE!

He and his 'associates' strongly recommend buying a copy of this: It would be "a real shame" if you didn't have a copy or three."

11 Con Brio - Bizarre Sequence

video upload by Con Brio Synthesizers

"These sounds play atonally with this sequence, seemingly ideal for a weird film scene."

See the Con Brio label below for more.

Original LINN LM-1 drum computer version 1 Rev.2 machine demonstration

video upload by Con Brio Synthesizers

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.

A Con Brio Happy Holidaze

video upload by Con Brio Synthesizers

"Happy Holidaze everyone, I'm ready for my set at the mall, Santa!!"

Functional and Audio Demos of the Ultra Rare Con Brio ADS 200R Synthesizer

Those of you who have been coming to the site over the years should be familiar with the ultra rare Con Brio ADS. There was a keyboard version and a remote, or rather desktop, version. They are identical in function and sound. There is only one known ADS 200R in existance and that is it in the videos above (and farther below). Note the placeholder image is the ADS 200 keyboard version but you will see the videos feature the 200R. Brian Kehew wrote in to let us know he is working on a website that will cover the history of this rare synth. He also made the set of functional and audio demos. Above are the functional demos and farther below are the audio demos. You will find video titles and descriptions for each video in the playlistbelow, but before that, here's what Brian had to say:

"I've been making a website for the Con Brio synth history. Will be ready in a few more months. But meanwhile I've uploaded some video of how the thing worked. Primitive now, especially to younger musicians. But for anyone who lived through the days of floppy discs and early digital synthesis will see how advanced the Con Brio's design was.

We still don't know much about the workings, as all known manuals are gone, and the designers can't recall everything of how it did work. Here are some simple explanations and demonstrations of the main functions.

It's also a true 16-bit synthesizer, which was rare and expensive at the time. It also used an iron output transformer (like good studio consoles) which somehow also helps it sound (in my opinion) better than the Fairlight, DKS and Synclavier designs.

The two instruments I had are now at the EMEAPP Archive Project in PA, they may be able to make better headway figuring out more of the system and it's operations..."

Be sure to see the Con Brio label for various bits of info that have come in over the years. Also see the exclusive label for the rare of the rare in the synth world.

Playlist: 1. Con Brio Synthesizer Instructional #1: Loading the O.S. and Light Show

This is the basic beginning, to load an Operating System for the Con Brio synthesizer from an 8" floppy disc. First, the Light Show disc is used, then the standard OS disc that allows for music synthesis.

2. Con Brio Synthesizer Instructional #2; Panel lights show relevance.

One of the most-brilliant and unique aspects of the Con Brio design is the implementation of panel lights; they guide you to work much faster and more accurately.

3. Con Brio Synthesizer Instructional #3: Loading Sounds onto the keyboard zones.

Finding sounds on the 8" floppy disc directories, and then assigning them to the two keyboards in various combinations.

4. Con Brio Synthesizer Instructional #4 - Speed of Disc Access

One of the notable aspects of the Con Brio systems is a custom-written code to make disc access practically instantaneous. This demonstration shows the rapid access speed when loading from the floppy drive.

5.

Further demonstration of loading sounds from disc and sequences to play them.

Con Brio Synthesizer Instructional #5 - Basic Loading 6. Con Brio Synthesizer Instruction #6 - Ensemble

Loading and using the Ensemble feature; the Con Brio could store a combination of sounds, layers, outputs, and sequences - and then save the whole set as an "Ensemble" preset - which loads nearly instantaneously.

7. Con Brio Synthesizer Instruction #7 - Loading and Stacking

Bringing in two sounds and layering them together.

8. Con Brio Synthesizers #8 - String Sequence with Tempo change

Basic Tempo control of a string sequence with the panel Tempo knob.

9. Con Brio Synthesizer Instructional #9 - Tuning and Synthesis modes experiment

As none of the Con Brio Owner's Manuals survived, it's very difficult to understand how they were supposed to operate. With a little guidance and help from the inventors, some methods produce results. This video is an experiment with saved alternate Tuning Tables and the Synthesis modes.

1 Con Brio Audio Demo One

A really nice wide-ranging set of sounds, changing across time, yet just a beginning demonstration of what the instrument could have done with more time and exploration.

2 Con Brio - String Section

Some string section sounds, very detailed and shimmering timbres.

3 Con Brio - Pipe Organ

Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition using a basic pipe organ program.

4 Con Brio - Wine Glasses

Digital synthesizers excel at this kind of crystalline ringing sound.

5 Con Brio - Sound 67

Playback of a sound with glitching, jittery elements; a fairly complex layered tone with some noise components, too.

6 Custom Con Brio Sounds

These tones are quite ahead of their time for 1980, and still sound quite modern. Easy enough to do them today, but back then, these were exceptional tones.

7 Random Number demo

Very similar to the randomness of a Sample/Hold on an analog synthesizer, but quickly becomes more layered and deep, a complexity that would take many analog synths to generate.

Con Brio Synthesizers #8 - String Sequence with Tempo change

Basic Tempo control of a string sequence with the panel Tempo knob.

9 Con Brio - Clear and Bright sequence

Demonstrates the sharp and detailed sound of these instruments.

10 Con Brio - Short Latin sequence

Just as the title suggests...

11 Con Brio - Dramatic

Dramatix, suspenseful set of sounds.

Baloran The River 2021 Black

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

via this auction

Reminds me of a Con Brio meets Rhodes Chroma.

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ConBrio ADS100 and Crumar GDS synthesizer brochures

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

via this auction

"Two vintage digital synthesizer brochures. Just the Brochures. ConBrio ADS 100 and the Crumar GDS General Development System. Both brochures have punch holes, no writing, no missing pages, no highlights, no stains, no stamp. Very rare."

See the Con Brio label below for more.

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The Complete Guide to Synthesizer by Devarahi Including the Con Brio ADS 200, Buchla Touche, Emu Audity, Aries and SMS Modular Systems & More

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

via this auction

"The Complete Guide to Synthesizers by Devarahi. Covers many legendary, vintage, analog and digital synthesizers. Arp 2600 sections. Many pics and diagrams."

Some synths featured inside:

Aries Keyboard System III
SMS Modular Synthesizer
Polyfusion
Moog System 55
Fairlight C.M.I.
Con Brio ADS 200 Digital Command Console
Crumar / DKI GD ?
Emu Audity
Buchla Touche

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SYNTH EVOLUTION - Illustrations of Classic Synthesizers

"SYNTH EVOLUTION is a new business specialising in illustrations of classic synthesizers, from the earliest Moog and Buchla systems of the early 1960s, right up to the introduction of the first analogue modelling synths of the early 1990s.

Every synth manufactured during that time has been covered - from the big names of Moog, Roland and Yamaha to the more esoteric products from RMI, Wersi and Powertran. Between them, all these synthesizers - and more importantly, the musicians who use them, have transformed music of the last 50 years bringing previously undreamt of sounds and styles to musical culture.

The first range of products from SYNTH EVOLUTION are stylish white ceramic mugs emblazoned with illustrations of these mighty instruments. There is a selection to browse from on the website, but any synth from a list of over 270 can be requested!

Note that currently only synthesizers are available - drum machines, samplers and more recent instruments are in the pipeline, as are other products.

Delivery worldwide.

www.synthevolution.net

Pictured:

Moog Modular 3C (1967)

Buy now

The Moog Modular Synthesizer 3C (1967) was one of Robert Moog's earliest instruments and formed the basis of what was to become the world's largest modular synthesizer 'TONTO'. Created by Malcolm Cecil, 'The Original New Timbral Orchestra’ eventually comprised two Moog Modular 3C's as well as many other modules from other manufacturers.




Arp 2600 (1971)

Buy now

The Arp 2600 was created in 1971 by Alan R. Pearlman and has been a classic ever since. Notable users are too numerous to list in full, but include Stevie Wonder, Jean-Michel Jarre, Orbital, Rick Wakeman and Nine Inch Nails. It was also used to create R2D2's bleeps and bloops in Star Wars.


Yamaha CS-80 (1977)

Buy now

The polyphonic Yamaha CS-80 is synonymous with the lush chord sound of Vangelos - such as the opening sequence of Bladerunner.

Released in 1977, it's eight note polyphony was a revelation, but it's 90kg weight meant some serious weight training was required to own one.


Con Brio ADS 200 (1980)

Buy now

The Con Brio Advanced Digital Synthesizer (ADS) 200 was an extraordinary synthesizer released in 1980 costing over $20,000. Based on additive synthesis, FM, phase modulation and some other esoteric sound generation methods it had 64 note polyphony and 16 oscillators per note.

Quite a beast, and a splendid looking one too - perfect for a retro-futuristic mug of tea!

—————
SYNTH EVOLUTION is the brainchild of Oli Freke, a composer and musician who’s had a lifelong passion for the synthesizer. He has previously supported the Human League on tour, run a dance music label, performed live house and techno in clubs and festivals, performed Brazilian drumming at the world famous Glastonbury festival and composed music for television. Find out more at www.olifreke.co.uk"

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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Gallery of Misfits - The Con Brio ADS 200R, Electronic Sackbut, EMS Polysynthi & Datanomics Datasynth

via noyzelab

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Vintage STRIDER Vintage digital synthesizer brochure

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

via this auction

Possibly even more rare the the Con Brio brochure that just went up.

"One of the more rare and interesting synthesizers is the STRIDER DCS-1. It was from Norman Oklahoma, and attempted to steal some of the market from Synclavier, Fairlight and Con Brio. This in in great shape. I have more vintage synthesizer stuff going up on auction, so check out my other listings, including more Moog panels. Thanks!"

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Vintage CON BRIO Vintage digital synthesizer brochure

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

via this auction

Here's something you don't see every day.

"One of the more rare and interesting synthesizers is the CON BRIO ADS-100 and attempted to steal some of the market from Synclavier, Fairlight and Con Brio. This is the brochure and spec sheet for the single prototype which never sold. This in in great shape. I have more vintage synthesizer stuff going up on auction, so check out my other listings, including more Moog panels. Thanks!"

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EMS Synthi 100 in a Van

Down by the river...

To go along with the Con Brio.

via Analogue Solutions

Vintage CON BRIO ADS100 Brochure

via this auction

"Very rare, circa 1980 original brochure for the legendary CON BRIO synthesizer. This is for the first model, the ADS100, and this is the 4 page brochure plus spec sheet. In fairly good condition for its age. An amazing synthesizer design, legendary for its appeal and space age look. Only one was ever made!"

See the Con Brio channel below for more.

Analogue Synthesizer Drum Machine Decoupage Vintage Retro Coffee Table

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

via this auction

Con Brio ADS in there.

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The Doctor and The Master - Moog Voyager Old School

Published on Jul 31, 2013 DouglasHurdGymnast·3 videos

"Moog Voyager OS, Prophet 08, Juno 60, Yamaha EX5, Hollowsun Drumbox

It could be me but doesn't the Tardis look like some sort of old Con Brio synth with a couple of MC-500s on the dashboard and a massive vintage KerPlunk set in the middle?

Anyway.....He's coming to get you!! - HIDE UNDER YOUR BED (unless you're like my better half and I and have a divan, in which case you're done for).

Imagine if Tom Baker had gone head-to-head with ultimate Master Roger Delgado. That would have made for a cracking watch. Obviously, I liked Anthony Ainley but he always seemed like a very hammy Zod with a bit of Kenny Everett thrown in for good measure."

TB-303 Hot Wheels Acid Bus

via Paul Barker on Facebook

The only thing that would make this better is if there was a Con Brio inside of it.

DSM-2 Drum Synth, In a Van, Down by the River

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

via this auction

Also see:

Con Brio ADS200... in a van... down by the river...

and

E-Mu Emulator for a Buck.. In a Van... Down by the River

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