Rare Waves MIDI Narrator - Vintage Speech Synth DIY Kit

Published on Oct 4, 2018 EA78751

"MIDI Narrator is a fun MIDI-controlled vintage speech synthesizer. This DIY electronics kit from Rare Waves is for creative musicians, audio producers, and sound designers. It features the SP0256-AL2 speech synthesizer chip. These chips were used in 1980's home computers and arcade games. This kit lets you play all of its sounds from a MIDI controller or sequencer. Plus it adds pitch bend, pitch modulation, random pitch, and stutter effects. And, it can store up to 8 phrases for instant triggered playback from the on-board buttons. You assemble it by soldering, with our easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

The MIDI Narrator DIY electronics kit from Rare Waves.
Available at rarewaves.net, while supplies last."

Crazy talking vintage speech synth chip

Published on Aug 22, 2018 EA78751

"Just having some fun developing a MIDI-controlled voice synthesizer kit"

Electro dub chillout with synthetic alien soul voice

Published on Aug 16, 2018 EA78751

"This is an electronic music track that demonstrates the sound of synthetic vocals created with analog modules under development at Rare Waves. Our website is rarewaves.net"

Electro lovers rock w/ synthetic alien reggae voice

Published on Aug 11, 2018 EA78751

"A demonstration of artificial voices singing over a canned reggae rhythm from the Yamaha QY-70. The vocals are synthesized with voltage-controlled analog filters and oscillators, using hardware in development at Rare Waves.

Rare Waves manufactures unique electronic music instruments for creative musicians and audio producers. Our website is rarewaves.net"

Electro doom with synthetic alien death voice

Published on Aug 6, 2018 EA78751

"This video demonstrates vocal formant synthesis with some new hardware we're developing. The voice is synthesized with analog filters and oscillators. Created by Eric Archer / Rare Waves LLC 2018. Rare Waves manufactures the Grendel Drone Commander, Grendel Formant Filter, and other unique analog music equipment. Our website is rarewaves.net"

Eric Archer Lite2Sound PX photodiode amplifier optical synth filter

Published on Jul 23, 2018 EA78751

"This video demonstrates a experimental audio filter effect. The Lite2Sound PX photodiode amplifier kit v.1.4 from rarewaves.net is used. The CRT is a Tektronix 603 X-Y monitor. Connect an audio sawtooth oscillator to the X input. Connect the Lite2Sound output to the Y input, and also to the speakers. Point the photodiode at the CRT. Objects that block the photodiode's view of the CRT are transformed into audio waveforms. The silhouette of the obstruction becomes impressed into the audio waveform and you can morph it in real time by moving your hand. The sound is like a combination of PWM and notch / bandpass filter. And at the end of the video, the original "comb filter" effect is demonstrated!"

Previous Lite2Sound posts.

Synthesize surf sound effects using analog filters w/ Eric Archer

Published on May 30, 2018 EA78751

"Tips on getting simulated surf sound effects with an analog synthesizer. Use a pink noise generator, bandpass filter, notch filter, and VCA. Use envelopes to control the VCA and notch filter. The shape of the envelopes affects how realistic it is. This video explores the envelope shapes that make good analog surf sounds."

Music algorithms perform a melodic synthesizer duet

Published on Apr 20, 2018 EA78751

"I’m testing new hardware for algorithmic/generative music composition. This is a recording of an improvised melodic duet performed on two analog synthesizers simultaneously. The sequences are generated by an algorithm I’ve developed. It accepts guidance from the performer using a MIDI controller as input. The performer uses parameters that affect the melody, rhythm, timbre, and structure. Running two of the sequencers in parallel gives interesting harmonic effects, and provides much fun. –Eric Archer / Rare Waves LLC (2018)"

Grendel Drone Commander - Classic Pedal (official)

Published on Aug 18, 2017 EA78751

The Grendel Drone Commander in classic guitar pedal format.

"Coming soon from Rare Waves LLC USA ... the original circuit, the classic sound, plus gate control, and external audio In! Grendel Drone Commander Classic Pedal. rarewaves.net"

Eric Archer aka Rare Waves - Electro Jam Session w/ Rare Prototype Synths

Published on May 5, 2017 EA78751

"This electro track demonstrates a special selection of one-of-a-kind analog synths from my R&D lab. It features the LMS-17 Light Matrix Synthesizer, which is an update on a rare item called dR0NEMATr1X that I offered 8 years ago. The LMS-17 is a two-oscillator CV/Gate synth with a unique 2D array of tone-emitting LEDs, which you blend together with a light sensor stylus.

Also in the mix is a prototype acid bassline machine with a diode bridge filter, and a sweet pair of 100% MIDI-controlled analog synths called ZM-1A. You'll also hear some Grendel Drone Commander, and the Grendel RA-9 Grenadier plays a big role, naturally. (Plus a little help from the Blofeld and Alesis D4 drums).

Hopefully more of my R&D projects will make it to the marketplace soon... or at least some day. Visit RareWaves.net to see what’s out now."

Reverberant Drone Relaxation Music, 31 Minutes

Published on Nov 1, 2016 EA78751

"Listen to the calming distant sound of meditative drone music in the key of D, while studying, working, or just relaxing. Sound comes from the Grendel DC-2e synthesizer with pure analog reverberation from a spring reverb tank. Learn more about Grendel Drone Commander synthesizers at RareWaves.net"

Grendel DC-2e and RA-9 : Drone Funk (official)

Published on Oct 7, 2016 EA78751

"Drone funk synth demo with Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 Eurorack and Grendel RA-9 Grenadier. Two tracks of DC-2e, one track of RA-9, plus a touch of mystery synth."

Triple Grendel synth jam

Published on Sep 21, 2016 EA78751

"Demoing some sounds you can get from the Grendel DC-2e Eurorack voice modules along with the Grendel RA-9 Grenadier, plus a mystery synth on the left. Grendel synthesizers are available from I/O Music Technology, Detroit Modular, Switched On, NoiseBug, Perfect Circuit Audio, Analogue Haven, Noise Kitchen, SchneidersLaden. Rare Waves LLC 2016, www.rarewaves.net"

Eric Archer Analog Computer Bouncing Ball 2

Published on Sep 5, 2016 EA78751

"Eric Archer of Rare Waves LLC demonstrates an analog computer model of a particle bouncing on a vibrating table. The collision events and velocity data are used to synthesize audio by triggering a voltage controlled percussion module. The side-scrolling oscilloscope display shows the particle position (top trace) and the table position (bottom trace). Many interesting aspects of chaotic dynamics are observed, and we also learn that it sounds really cool.

Copyright 2016 by Eric Archer. All rights reserved."

Grendel DC-2e + RA-9 synth demo (official)

Published on Jul 27, 2016 EA78751

"I wanted to show some grimy electro sounds from the Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 Eurorack voice module together with its brother, the Grendel RA-9 Grenadier. We've got the Grenadier's sequencer patched to the DC-2e's LFO CV input, for a sequenced LFO effect. The analog bass drum and snare drum are new prototypes from my lab. Well, that's all the sounds in this mix. Reaper DAW software and a 4-channel MIDI-to-CV converter made composing easy."

Eric Archer Electro Percussion Lab 5

Published on Jul 22, 2016 EA78751

"Been 5 years since I added a new Electro Percussion Lab video. So, here it is. Check out the bass and snare drum circuits I’ve been developing lately. We’ll run them through some tone variations in this video."

Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 - Eurorack (official)

Published on Mar 3, 2016 EA78751

"This video walks through getting started with the Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2, beginning with using the Main Module by itself (0:30).

Next, see how to control it from a MIDI keyboard, using the Expander module and a MIDI-CV converter (3:40).

A self-patch that gives additional filter modulation is demonstrated (5:35). After that, one of the MIDI-CV converter’s auxiliary CV outputs is patched in to control DC-2e’s LFO rate with the MIDI mod wheel (7:00).

The next section demonstrates VCF 1’s self-oscillation (8:35), including how to cancel the filter’s self-oscillation so only the dry tone of the VCOs is heard (9:50). Then, VCF 1 is set up as a third oscillator, creating a constant-pitched drone note to accompany melody played on the VCOs (10:50).

Last, some examples of pitch modulation using the MOD knob are shown (11:40), leading to full-on crazy town.

rarewaves.net/products/dc2e"

Grendel Drone Commander DC-2E, mellow

Published on Nov 19, 2015 EA78751

"By reqest, a demo of the mellower side of the upcoming Grendel DC-2E Drone Commander 2 eurorack module, illustrating its sonic relationship to the earlier version. Patching CV from the keyboard to OSC1 lets one play a melody, while OSC2 maintains a steady pitched low pulsing drone.. Also in the mix are several tracks of pedal tones from DC-2E to thicken up the sound. Sawtooth waveforms were used throughout."

Grendel DC-2E Drone Commander 2 + Expander

Published on Nov 13, 2015 EA78751

"Dusty woofers? Not any more! Cleaning those hard-to-reach areas with the Grendel DC-2E Drone Commander 2 + Expander module. No CV/Gate input this time, just a self-patch to conjure some dark and earthy subterranean tones. This is the final version, not much left to do before they are ready.. available soon from online stores."

Drone Commander 2 LFO

Published on Oct 25, 2015 EA78751

"Here is a side-scrolling scope view of some interesting LFO waveforms, and a soundtrack of rhythmically modulated analog drone sounds. It was generated with a prototype version of the upcoming Grendel Drone Commander 2 Eurorack synthesizer module.

soundcloud.com/rare-waves

Tektronix TDS350 oscilloscope"