Frostwave SpaceBEAM waveforms shown on oscilloscope!

video upload by Edward Jones

You can find additional posts featuring the Frostwave SpaceBEAM here.

Loscha Opens up a Pollard Syndrum Quad!

video upload by Edward Jones

"This is going to be a long restoration!

The drum triggers go into the unit on a five pin Latched XLR, not a DIN as I said in the video.

The power supply is in an external box that has a mains transformer, and a voltage regulator, only to have it regulated again inside.
twice.

The MM5837 appears to be a no gp (I have a spare) but the real issue is that the faders and switches are all corroded and jumpy.

I did end up taking the panel board off, and the faders seem to be like the contemporary ARP kind. Plastic body, moving wiper body."

Loscha Opens: Roland 100m 180 CV/Gate keyboard.

video upload by Edward Jones

Inside a Roland 100m 180 CV/Gate keyboard controller.

Rare Novation MidiCon - The Prototype for the MM10! Which later turned into the Bass Station

video upload by Edward Jones

"This is the MidiCon -- a controller keyboard that 'never went into production'. However, I am here in Melbourne, and I have one.
This turned into the MM10, the controller for the Yamaha QY10 and QY20.
The same chassis turned into the Bass Station.

A very rare controller keyboard pre-dated the MM10, which begat the BassStation.
The main CPU has custom markings!

nov10xx
novation
324U 3E v2.0"

If anyone has any additional information feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

One was up for sale back in October, 2021. That's the only other Novation MidiCon post featured on the site.

Some pics:

Loscha presses Play: Yamaha PSS-270 Demo 𝓑𝓲𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓙𝓸𝓮𝓵 𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓪𝔂 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓐𝓻𝓮 has VERY weird instruments

video upload by Edward Jones

"The Yamaha PSS-270 is from the FM Synthesis line of keyboards.
The audio generation is handled by the YM2413 OPLL chip.
The OPLL is very well documented. Please look here for more information - https://www.smspower.org/Development/...
This chip has direct audio out, no DAC required.
One output is the Main voice out, and the other is the Percussion out.
On this unit, the Percussion and Main are both routed through the chorus unit. The chrous is MN3102 and MN3206, controlled by a fixed LFO. There is no feedback on the chorus. This could be added for a much more flangier effect."

The Reverse Engineers were going to star in "Getting to Bent" 2008 docco that was never completed

video upload by Edward Jones aka Loscha

Boss PC2 Percussion Synyhesizer demo

video by Edward Jones

Interesting demos of the LFO.

Loscha @ Frostwave Taal Taarang Tabla Hacking

Published on Aug 13, 2019 Edward Jones

Follow-up to Tabla Machine into Bass Synth Pedal

Tabla Machine into Bass Synth Pedal

Published on Aug 12, 2019 Edward Jones

Blofeld K+STrong Typo

Published on Aug 3, 2019 Edward Jones aka Loscha

2 must be sTronger than 1 and 3.

Loscha tries a freshly repaired Frostwave Blue Ringer

Published on May 3, 2019 Edward Jones

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Tempest" with Bear’s Den

The 3rd in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" series is currently up with BEAR’S DEN here.

"Inspired by, among other things, the paintings of Edward Hopper, the short stories of Raymond Carver, and film director Robert Altman’s Short Cuts, Bear’s Den is both erudite and intensely personal, defying trends and easy labelling. Musically, it also sees a startling progression. Following the amicable departure of guitarist Joey Haynes they are now a six piece touring unit built around a nucleus of Andrew Davie and multi-instrumentalist Kev Jones. While the band’s folk roots are still evident, they now come cloaked in the lush alchemy of ‘70’s and ‘80’s FM rock: Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and in particular, the nocturnal ambience of Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness On The Edge Of Town, alongside more contemporary artists such as The National, and Sufjan Stevens."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Loscha plays the EMS VCS3 aka "Putney"

Published on Sep 21, 2016 Edward Jones

"So, I had a crack at a Synthi a few years ago.
I had a good understanding of different synthesis methods and modulation routings, so, I was able to make some pretty neat sounds on this beast.

I don't own the synth, and the person who owned this when I played it doesn't own it any more, so don't ask.

Video recorded 3rd October 2009"

Loscha Plays his Korg MS2000r - headphone warning: Loud Piercing Sounds! Beward!

Published on Aug 12, 2016 Edward Jones

"My super secret 'Scream' sound I made on the MS2000r.
Inspired by The Human League's sounds heard on Travelogue, Reproduction and the prior releases collated on The Golden Hour of the Future."

Like whale calls!

Funk yr Duck - Frostwave Funk-A-Duck James Earthenware Loscha

Published on Nov 29, 2015 Edward Jones aka Loscha

"Hanging out at the then Frostwave Central in Carlton

Electro Harmonix drum machine being played through a funk-a-duck"

The almighty Paul Perry!!!

Volca Sample Uploading Custom Sounds using Single Cell Software's Caustic Editor

Published on Sep 2, 2015 Edward Jones

"Using Ubuntu (with WINE) to upload samples to my Korg Volca Sample.
It is really easy!
You literally just open the samples in the editor, ad upload them to your Volca Sample.
I've included a demo of the pretty light show that happens.

These Samples were uploaded using Single Cell Software's Caustic Editor
http://www.singlecellsoftware.com/cevs"

Volca Sample Tabla Sounds

Published on Sep 2, 2015

"A quick demo of the sounds I Uploaded."

Inside Radel Tambura

Published on Dec 11, 2014 Edward Jones

"Me having a bit of a hack around inside my Indian Tabla Drum Machine."

The Synths of Jodorowsky's Dune (2014)

Jodorowsky's Dune (2014) - HD Trailer Published on Feb 14, 2014 Giles Thomas·70 videos

Update: please see this post for some unfortunate news regarding Kurt Stenzel.

Many of you I am sure are familiar with Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel Dune as well as the film adaptation by David Lynch in 1984 and the 2000 miniseries by John Harrison.  If you are not, see this article on Wikipedia and then head back.  Unknown to many, there was a planned film adaptation in 1973 by Alejandro Jodorowsky. It was to feature art by H. R. Giger (Aliens) and Jean Giraud, possibly music from Pink Floyd and Magma; the cast of actors was to include Salvador Dalí, Orson Welles, and Gloria Swanson.   The adaptation never made it due to financial reasons.  Jodorowsky's Dune (2014) is a documentary on the undertaking of the film that never was.

The film launches in the US today. You'll find the cities and dates and additional details on the film's website here: http://sonyclassics.com/jodorowskysdune/dates.html

As for the synth connection, the soundtrack was composed by Kurt Stenzel who reached out to me. I asked him if he could give us more info on the synths used in the soundtrack and particularly what we hear in the trailer. The following is what he had to say (scroll down to Specifically for this Trailer in red if you want to jump to what you are hearing in the trailer):

"I did this soundtrack using a rig that I have used for years in Cookin With Kurt, Beyond-o-Matic and SpacEKrafT.  Since I play out at events in San Francisco I go for as much analog goodness as I can carry- so these synths are throughout the movie.

I have an original Novation Bass Station with keys (it has a really unique filter in my opinion), a Dave Smith Tetra (HEAVY!), an Oberheim Matrix 1000 (god-like), and for the sake of portability, I do get into some of the more recent analog modellers that all have some merit- I have a MicroKorg 2, a Novation Xio 25, and a Quasimidi Sirius.

 In the 'digital that's special' I have TWO CZ101s (the synth I learned on when it was new) and a Yamaha TG-33 vector synth.

Larger analogs that are hard to gig with, include a Moog Source (don't cry, I got this for $40 on the street when analog was uncool) and a rather GRITTY MicroMoog, and the 'head' part of a Moog Taurus 2, and a very handy Roland Juno 6. I also used a Korg Poly 61 and a Korg Poly 800, as well as one studio session with a real Rhodes, a real Celeste (no joke it was the one you see Susan Dey play in Partridge Family episodes-- the studio owns THE one) and they also had a Roland String Machine. The Celeste and Rhodes didn't make it to the film though--Director Frank Pavich though they were 'too normal' Ha! .

I also use Casiotones quite a bit--an original MT-60 my Dad bought in Japan when they were really novel, and a Concertmate from Radio Shack. I mention the Conccertmate as I realized that sucker has appeared on EVERY recording I have ever done--some of the low bit string sounds are ethereal and I run that through effects. It's very beat up from 20 years of gigs. God bless Radio Shack.

I also have lots of effects and toys like the Bliptronic, the Buddha Box, old school Kaos pad, and I use my kids Nintendo DS's to sync up 3 programs on 3 DS devices. I also got a Korg Monotribe and the Korg Monotron. Toys are good.

I used some very low fi techniques for sound design too. Oh, and my buddy Dave Miranda recorded me on his Dave Smith Poly Evolver keyboard as a last minute thing in NY and it wound up being a crucial scene-- that required no overdubs or any treatments-- that thing sounds amazing.

Also noteworthy, I am a hardcore user of the Roland SP-808 for sound design. That has been a platform for me since it came out, so my zip discs were flying on this project.

There's about 9 minutes of SpacEKrafT music in this film as well- that is my duo with Edward Dahl here in San Francisco. Ed uses Ableton and plays guitar and we have lots of toys--Alesis Air Synth and Air Effects. I use my aforementioned rig in various settings with SpacEKrafT. I also played a fair amount of guitar on the soundtrack, as well as some vocalizations. Some screaming, which came natural as I am also the singer in NY band "Six and Violence". When I am not tinkling on the keys.

SPECIFICALLY on the TRAILER: Zero to :40 is a relatively rare Yamaha SS-30 which I think has become fetishized since Sigur Ros uses one. That thing is way fun, and I have to thank Peter Fuhry from Beyond-o-Matic for loaning me that and the MicroMoog for many years.

In the trailer, when you hear the arpeggiation kick in at :40, that's one of my favorite synths ever, the Matrix 1000. That thing is my secret weapon. I love it. I am using the arpeggiator on the Quasimidi Sirius (and playing) to drive and alter the pattern. I know Sirius keyboards are rare nowadays, glad I never got rid of it. I mean, it has real Kraftwerk demoss in it straight from Germany!

The loud "blast" at 1:37, no joke, is a 'thunder tube' which is basically a tube with a drum head and a reverb spring--I banged it and slid the whole tube over an omnidirectional mic running through pitch shifting and all kinds of stuff. Don't tell Hollywood!

Next in the trailer, the brass at 1:55 is the Quasimidi Sirius which has an amazing factory patch named 'Shine On' (Floyd was supposed to do the original Dune) so it was a great coincidence, as I feel that patch is very cinematic--I have been using it for years--sounds great in a club (or now a movie theater). I probably ran some analog under it, the Matrix 1000 and the Tetra just via MIDI. 

This whole project was done largely with a MIDI 8x splitter as I improvise and play, so to get the multiple textures and voices at once, I fire the whole rig up and play my mixer faders live to weave textures. I did NOT use any computer based sequencing, almost no overdubs-- the synths sound beautiful as their own voices.

I played and mostly recorded myself. I pulled all-nighters as I had a full time day job, 2 kids, a lovely fiancee and band gigs the whole time this was happening. Frank Pavich essentially typecast me as he knew I was such a fan of Jodorowsky, all things 70's and analog, etc. This was not just a soundtrack, it was already my own personal and spiritual journey with or without the movie.

One last story of gratitude- I was very intent on getting my hands on a REAL Yamaha CS-80 -- granted that was a little later than the 1975 time period of the documentary, but I love Eddie Jobson's 'Alaska' solo, and obviously Vangelis used it so well on Blade Runner. I was very envious that Daft Punk seemed to have one on the Tron soundtrack. I asked all around-I know synth people- I know the guys in Devo a little and their crew is really cool- they almost got me one. NO ONE had a working CS-80, not even in Los Angeles. One night I came on a YouTube Tutorial called 'Vangelis Bladerunner sound JUNO 60' and followed it and dialed up such a great sound from my good old Juno 6. So I want to THANK "magevers" whoever you are on YouTube. That to me is what the synth community is all about-- people who really have a keen interest and are WAY INTO THE SYNTHS. Like you Matrix Synth Jones, THANKS BROTHER- hope you get to see this movie-- Jodorowsky will blow your mind and you will want to go and CREATE ART!"

Can't wait.  Thank you Kurt!

Update: some links via Edward W. Dahl in the comments:

"I am co-captain of SpacEKrafT and you might have seen this video posted here on Matrixsynth a little over a year ago."

Music: www.soundcloud.com/spacekraft
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/myspacekraft

Update 4/13/2014:

Q&A with Dune Composer Kurt Stenzel

Published on Apr 8, 2014 hellspreetube·39 videos

"Q&A with Kurt Stenzel, soundtrack composer for "Jodorowsky's Dune," after a showing at One Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, April 5, 2014.

http://www.kurtstenzel.com/
http://www.jodorowskysdune.com/"

via David Wilson-Okamura on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Roland Sh-09 Woogie from Tubular Bells

Published on Feb 15, 2014 Edward Jones·71 videos

"I love this little synth pattern for testing out sounds on the synth, it's a great pattern that you need to use non-retriggering envelope mode for, or it doesn't quite work properly. A bit of portamento doesn't hurt, but very short time. Sadly, the SH-09 only has 'Portamento', it's not fancy enough to have Keyed only.

The signal chain is Roland SH-09 -- Pitch Shifter Pedal -- Delay (very low in mix)

Enjoy."

Vintage Super Sound Drummer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Feb 13, 2014 Edward Jones·70 videos

via this auction

"This is a crazy analog monster waiting to have touch points added to give you the kinds of sounds only bit depth destroyers and expensive waveshapers will give you.

Plus, it also has the quaint features of a organ-top drum machine.It's a humble monster."

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