Solar Powered Modular & Synths in a Tent in the Forest

That's my kind of camping.  :)

Via Phil999 on sequencer.de, translated by Florian Anwander who sent this one in:

"I came back today from the forest and have gained experience with solar and Euroracksystem. Extremely impressive both.

The batteries and solar panels from http://www.sistech.com are just great. With no effort I could run a small modular system, a Windows tablet, and other devices completely independent of the power grid.

The highlight of the batteries is that you can simultaneously charge and deliver. I have to explain this a littlebit: A XXL88 accumulator loads a maximum of 2A / 17V, can therefore absorb only 34W. The large panel provides 112W in ideal conditions. That means you can charge the battery on the one hand and still have (theoretically) at 78W output.

The Endorphin.es modules are simply awesome. I can only recommend. The high price is justified, it is definitely worthwhile to save some. I am modular for some time on the road (but with antique equipment), but what Endorphin.es has since transported me into a new league. It has turned out that I simply need LPG's. And a complex oscillator. That's the sound that I want. And it'll still be cheaper than with Buchlasystemen. And Shuttle Control makes the whole thing so much easier. Simply create with the editor a couple of presets, then control with an iPhone (Lemur) objects, or of course on the computer in the studio. This extends the capabilities of the system enormously.

Everything is still a bit new to me, although I would be attributed more to the old-timers. There are simply the new developments on the market that will change the thing. So what was a few years ago just is not available.

Here are a few impressions."

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Elka Synthex 2 Digital Desktop Synth From Mario Maggi in the Works

This one is in via swissdoc and indirectly via Florian Anwander on the AH email list. This is not the new analog Elka Synthex clone from the new Finnish Generalmusic. This is however from the creator of the original Elka Synthex, Mario Maggi, and it is all digital. An interesting side note mentioned below is that Mario Maggi owns the Synthex name. Not sure what impact if any this might have on the upcoming Generalmusic Elka Synthex remake.


An Update: via swissdoc. It appears a filing for the name SYNTHEX was made on April 29, just three days ago. The filing is under category 15 which covers: "Electronic musical instruments; Electronic synthesizers; Electronic musical apparatus and instruments; Electric and electronic musical instruments; Mechanical, electric and electronic musical instruments; Electronic apparatus for synthesising music [musical instrument]."

"Hello to everyone,

my name is Enrico Cosimi, I'm the author of the text on ACM concerning the Synthex 2. I have been in touch, here in Rome/Italy, with Mario from the late Eigthies and, from the mid Nineties, I'm working with Mario on his "version two"; as you can imagine, Mario is a very very very busy kind of genius, who conceived and realized a lot of third party non-musical items (especially for telecommunications and health). I am not allowed to reveal all the data concerning the new Synthex 2 (b.t.w., it will be a digital equipment: would you dare to conceive an analog instrument with 128 LFOs and 64 EGs in the same box?), but - trust me - when it will be done, it will be a GREAT machine.

CLICK FOR MORE »

R is for Roland - Illustrated Synthesizer Book

via The Analog Roland Orchestra

"»R is for Roland« An illustrated book by Tabita Hub. Written by Michal Matlak and Florian Anwander.

Featuring 23 selected Roland machines from 1973 until 1987 that revolutionized the world of electronic music.
Offering over 350 pages filled with fine art portraits of the machines, detailed insight into the history and scores of artist interviews.

Available from April 2015 | Orders open on 1st of April"

Vintage Doepfer VMS - Voice Modular System for Auction

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

via eBay Germany

Note this would be the third Doepfer product according to the timeline here. It is from 1982 and it predates the Sound Sampler recently posted here by two years.

Another one spotted by Florian Anwander who had the following to say:

"This is an auction on ebay Germany. The VMS - Voice Modular System' was a Curtis based synth, that provided
* a voice card with two VCOs, VCF, VCA, and two ADSR,
* an addon card with two LFOs and Noise for each card, and may be some other functions
* an interface card to controll the synths parameters from a C64
* a 32 x S&H card, where the voltages from the interface where distributed to the voices.
* a memory card, where presets could be stored
One system could consist of 8 Voices.

In this auction also a Sound Sampler Card,a MIDI-CV-interface, and a card for a polyphonic CV/Gate-Keyboard is included.

Unfortunately the auction the seller does not ship to other countries than germany.

Original text of the auction in Googlish:
'Mid-80s, I have several times different special assemblies by Dipl. Phys. Dieter Doepfer purchased to build me a synthesizer module system. I once 1,032.50 DM for all these parts paid (the old invoices I send with). From the construction project unfortunately did not work out. The various boards, partially equipped with plenty Curtis CEM ICs and other were not built by me, the boards were therefore not connected to power supply voltages. While these are all modules of the early Doepfer devices series, but it would be a shame to dispose of these boards as hazardous waste. Even if only the Curtis ICs into account, then this package is still some value is, therefore, the starting price of the auction of EUR 150, -. Because I can not verify the circuit boards and assemblies, sell everything as defective goods. I'm still on the assumption that the ICs work.

There are the following modules with the corresponding assembled boards:

1 Voice Card
1 expansion card
1 analog output interface based card
2 analog output interface 32 channel S & H Cards
1 analog memory bank
1 half-Europe microcomputer board
1 analog memory bank backplane

The matching of the modules front panels, potentiometers, switches and jacks are not there. A few existing external components (front panels, mounting, etc. s. Photos) I deliver to.

At Curtis CEM ICs are installed on Voice Card and expansion card into the following number:
2x CEM 3340 VCO
1x CEM 3320 VCF
4x CEM 3330 Dual VCA
2x CEM 3360 Dual VCA
2x CEM 3310 ADSR

Full-linked blueprints for different modules with copies of the original CEM IC documentation (in English) are for the following modules in the Appendix:

Voice-Card
Expansion-card
Analog output interface (ASB)
Analog memory bank
Midi-CV interface (v. Peter Fischer)
Polyphonic computer keyboard (v. Peter Fischer)
Sound sampling unit (natural sound memory (SSE)

Furthermore, the scope of the auction include several brochures and price lists from Doepfer from 1983-84 and 1984-85, as well as a multi-page copy of a Elrad article about Curtis CEM CEM ICs and documentaries about other ICs.

This offer is valid only within Germany. This offer is valid for Germany only - no shipping to other countries.'"

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Synth Gear and Makers in January 2015

After this year's massive New Years post, I thought it might be interesting to see how many new makers and new gear announcements we received in a single month.

This may or may not become a monthly theme on the site depending on interest.  If you think it's worth while, leave a comment.

At a high level we had 12 new makers, one new old maker previously never featured on the site, and a whopping 193 new synth related products. Check out the module list below.  The list is a combination of what was either announced or released this month.

The list in order of appearance:

CLICK FOR MORE »

HARMS MAC16 MIDI Analog Converter

Here's one from obscure synth history. I found this on Florian Anwander's website when updating this post.  This is the first post on MATRIXSYNTH to ever feature the HARMS brand.

"The Harms MAC16 is a rare MIDI-to-CV/Gate converter which was made by a small one man company Harms in Hamburg Germany in the late nineties. The original price was around 1250 Deutschmarks (about 600 Euro). It provides 16 channels, which can be configured for any kind of MIDI to analog conversion. Basically there are five modes:

VCO (CV) - which converts note data, pitchbend into either Oct/V or Hz/V Voltage. Portamento can be added. There is also the possibility of microtuning, octave spread (for mistuned or non standard synths!), pitch offset and keyboardsplit zones

VCF - converts basically the note info into a voltage; then a SoftEnvelope, a SoftLFO, and one MIDI controller (modwheel or aftertouch) can be added; the amount of the envelope and/or the controller can be controlled by the velocity of the corresponding note. The converter channel can get its information either from a MIDI channel in general (using the last note) or can be assigned to a dedicated VCO-channel for polyphonic setups (* see below); keyboard splitzones are possible

VCA - same as VCF, only with other name

Aux - same as VCF, only with other name

Lite - similar as VCF, but no assignment to a dedicated VCO

Gate/Trigger - creates a gate (positive or inverted) from a note on event. Again it can use either the last note information from all notes of one MIDI-Channel or it can be assigned to a dedicated VCO-channel for polyphonic setups (* see below); splitzones are possible too of course
DIN-Sync out from MIDI-Clock"

See Florian Anwander's page on the Harms MAC16 for a pdf of the manual and more.

Chord-Trigger for Korg Polysix and Poly61

Chord-Trigger for Korg Polysix and Poly61 from Florian Anwander on Vimeo.

"This is a demo of an addon module for the Korg Polysix and the Korg Poly61. The addon establishes a trigger input, which triggers the played voices of the synth if an external trigger signal is provided. If no cable is inserted in the trigger input, the synth will behave normally.

This is still a prototype, and the final version will look a little bit different.The addon module will be available as kit and as complete module.

To add the module to the Polysix/Poly61 good skills in desoldering chips are required. It is easily possible to remove the kit and to bring the synth back to the original state.

If you are interested in the module, please visit http://fa.utfs.org/diy/korgpolysix/. As soon as I will have the final version, I will announce it there."

Update: the following are some other projects by Florian Anwander:

Most well known are the Korg Monopoly Modifications (and the simplified adjustment procedure)
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/korg_monopoly/index.html
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/korg_monopoly/modifications.html
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/korg_monopoly/vco_adjustment.html

Modifications for the Jupiter 6:
* adoption of the signal level to the resonance
* linear FM for the Crossmodulation
* Filter-FM
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/rolandjp6/
(I can put the sound examples to soundcloud, so you can include them easier)

A very simple addition of a LED to the voicecards of Yamaha CS50/60/80, which makes it much easier to tune the synth.
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/yamaha_cs60/

A DIN-Sync to Trigger-Module
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/a100/sync2clock/
It can be used as 3HU modul or as module in other boxes. Like in a CR-78
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/rolandcr78/cr78_DINSync_interface/ (this one is with a prototype board, but meanwhile I have a complete pcb)

Other information that might be interesting is

about the Harms MAC-16, a rare 16-Channel MIDI-CV/Gate converter
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/harms_mac16/

a overview about all analog roland filters:
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/roland_filters/

the service manual for the Akai S-612
and also some information about the rare multisampling option for the S-612
http://fa.utfs.org/diy/akai_s612/"

Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider Studio Sale

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

This one in via Florian Anwander.

"Apparantly Florian Schneider from Kraftwerk is doing some studio sale."

You'll find the full list of items here. I grabbed some of the synth items for the archives.

Pictured:

Computone Wind Synthesizer Driver Midi Controller

Vermona Digital Rhythm Machine

Firstman Sequence Synthesizer Model SQ-01

Roland SH-101 Synthesizer

Russian Vintage Synthesizer

Roland CR-78 CompuRhythm SN 976966

Formanta Electronic Percussion Synthesizer

Korg Programmable Rhythm KPR-77 Drum Machine

Syntovox SPX-216 Vocoder Synton Effects Unit SN 0019

Waldorf Midibay Midi Patchbay

Reverse Keys Korg Poly-800 Synthesizer

Yamaha CS-15 Synthesizer

CLICK FOR MORE »

Rare Vintage ASE Modular Synthesizer

In the history of the site there has only been one other ASE post. That post from August of 2006 was on Automat and the ASE MCS70. The ASE MCS70 was a knob laden keyboard synthesizer. In the post you will find a link to Synthmuseum.com with some additional info.

This Monday, Patrick Hopewell posted the image to the left on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge with the following: "Can you identify this machine? I believe this to be a kit from the early 70's." At first I didn't recognize it and I read "ASI" instead of "ASE" on the top right, so a search came up empty. After mentioning this to Patrick he said it looks like ASI in the pic, but is actually "ASE" and he received an offer to pick up the system. It was in a garage for 30 years before now. Patrick currently has it in possession. He put up some pics here including some of the inside. The following is what he had to say.

"I finally took the back off and documented every circuit. There are some issues with the synth but nothing that can't be resolved. I have been chatting with Norman Leete and he says that everything looks good but I still should go through and test every circuit before I try to power it up again. I have sent the guy I bought it from an email to see if he has the contact info for the guy who built this thing in the 70's. I will keep you posted as I find out anymore information. Feel free to post anything you find interesting. I would like to see if any of your readers recognize any of the circuits. I did find out from Norman that the pots are the same ones used in Moog modulars."

If anyone has any insight feel free to leave a comment here, on Facebook, or email me directly and I'll forward it along.

Update: some additional info from Florian Anwander on ASE (note per Update2 below this modular is not from the same ASE):

"As far as I remember ASE was a kind of 'one man show' company by Mario Maggi, later engineer for various Italy based musical instruments companies like Elka (the man behind the Synthex).

There is an interview with M. Maggi on http://www.synthesizer.at (german) [Googlish here], which says 'The world heared already around 1970 from Mario Maggi, when he built his first monophonic synthesizer. It was in the style of an ARP Odyssey and Minimoog [translaters remark: in opposite to modular synths]. This synth still works today. Musicians like Enrico Olivieri, Roberto Turbitosi, Mario Natali and others used it.'

I have seen in the early 80s an ASE in a studio in the outskirts of Frankfurt which looked similar (same black glossy panels, same kind of various knobs), but to my memory it was smaller than one of Patrick Hopewell."

Update2 (6/12/2014): I have confirmation this is not from Mario Maggi.  The designer remains unknown. If anyone has any insight to the maker of this system, feel free to contact me or leave a comment.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Electronic Attack Party VIII

YouTube Uploaded by verstaerker on Aug 16, 2011
Synth spotting.
"a little crazy cut of the EA Party including Livepeformances by utopia:banished, nullgrad, Florian Anwander, Moogulator, Seiko Tronic, o8o8 project - music by moogulator and the intro is taken from our awesome jamsession"

Glamour Shots of Kiwitech PE and More

via Florian Anwander
(click for more)

"Pictures from our latest session of our Munich based project "ambiosonics". Contains some glamour shots and also normal pics from the session (see attachment).
The recordings of this session are partially available too."

Synthesizertreffen München 2010

YouTube via SCHAAFJOERG | October 17, 2010 - Vid replaced with HD version October 18, 2010

GRP at :27. New Melltron interface at 1:40. Dieter Doepfer at 1:16, John Bowen and the Solaris at 2:10, and tons more of course. Music and video by Joerg Schaaf of Radikal Technologies performed on a Spectralis 2.
"Am 16/17 Oktober 2010 fand das Synthesizertreffen erstmalig in München statt. Florian Anwander, Theo Bloderer sowie Martin und Stefan vom Musikhaus Hieber Lindberg in München haben das möglich gemacht!"

Googlish:
"On 16/17 October 2010, the synthesizer meeting was first held in Munich. Florian Anwar, Theo, and Martin and Stefan from Bloderer Musikhaus Hieber Lindberg Munich have made this possible!"

Update: some pics of the event are up on Aliens Project here.

Pictured: synthfrau and her leopard skin mini and modular.


Update: videos and links to pics via Moogulator of sequencer.de:

Synthesizer Treffen München 2010 Part 1 von 2

YouTube via Moogulator | October 18, 2010

"Synthesizer Meeting Munich 2010,
http://www.sequencer.de/synthesizer/v...

not too many noises in here, just gear watching. es gibt hier nicht zu viel zu hören, eher zu sehen."

Synthesizertreffen München 2010 Part 2 von 2

Korg SDD-3000 Service Manual

You can find a copy of the service manual scanned by Florian Anwander here [mirrored here].

Polymoog Resonator Schematics

via Florian Anwander on the AH list.

Florian Anwander's Roland JX-3P Resource Site

Click here for arguably the best resource site on the Roland JX-3P. You'll find pictures, tips and tricks, Modifications, Schematics, Manual, Wishlist, and Links to more.

Note this is a follow-up to the previous post.

Roland System 100 Service Manuals

You can find them here via florian anwander.

Synth DIY Germany 2008

You can find images of the event on Florian Anwander's site. Be sure to click on each image for the full size shot when you get there.

Micro Performance Poly-MIDI.1 Update

via Florian:

"I am the one who bought the Poly-MIDI from Bernd. It took me some time to understand how it works, but in fact it works fine - though I did not get everything. There are five sequences, which must be recorded from an external MIDI-keyboard in realtime. I did not find any relation between the keyboard like coloured buttons and the input modes. There is no mode, where you could use the buttons as a keyboard.

For playback there is a non-quantized mode and several quantized modes from 16th to quarter notes and several triplet modes.

Very nice feature is a chord trigger mode: it records a chord from MIDI and in playmode this chord will be transposed by the incoming MIDI notes.

There is also a step input mode, but each step it seems to be related to an step of the clock. The internal clock is 192 ppm - so this step mode is not very useful - at least until I understand it better. ;-)

Regarding clock: It reads and provides MIDI Clock, DIN-Sync and a TTL-clock (which is identically with the clock signal from the DIN-Sync), and finally it outputs a 16th trigger. Unfortunately it does not sync to an external 16th trigger. Syncing as slave works only for MIDI and DIN-Sync, the external Clock in seems to require TTL-level and so it is very "timid" (sorry, funny word, but describes it the best).

Finally I am still seeking for more information. There is no brand description neither at the outside nor inside the case. This one has the serial number "00387", but I cannot tell whether there really were that much of these sequencers. My suspicion is, it means: third made in 1987...

Anyone who has more info please get in touch with me via http://fa.utfs.org/contact, or of course, post it at matrixsynth.

All the best, Florian Anwander"