Novation Summit - "A Sacred Dwelling" [Patch creation by Howard Smith]

video upload by eM

"When I heard of Mr. Howard's patches, I knew I couldn't delay, I needed to have them. Here you are listening to two of his single patches combined into multi setting: SY FIVE and ARP MEMORY.

I've come to accept that my journey into creating my own patches for the Summit may be far fetched. I am honored and privileged that there are those who understand this beautiful machine, well enough that I can enjoy and get lost playing them. It truly is an instrument that will stand the test of time, one to play and one to learn

You can listen to his patch creation 'Meridian' here:"

Meridian for Novation Summit

video upload by Howard Smith

"Available to purchase at:
Howard Smith Sounds: https://howardsmithsounds.com/product...
Patchbay: https://thepatchbay.io/product/meridian/
Gumroad: https://howardsmithsounds.gumroad.com...

100 Ambient and Cinematic presets for all electronic productions. Meridian was inspired by a love of science fiction movies, music, games and stories. The presets include many immersive pads that make extensive use of the modulation features of Summit plus a wide range of modern and classic synths, keys and FX.

Novation Summit V2.2
Please note many of the patches make use of the Summit’s dual filter and will not work on the Novation Peak.

The video and audio demos contain presets played live and recorded direct from the Novation Summit. All sounds are from Meridian and only a light limiter has been used for the demos

0:00 PD Noon
0:47 PD Coral
1:21 SY Noir
2:21 PD Minerva
3:16 SY DCO
4:17 PD Syrl
5:28 SY Sail
6:09 PD Crest
6:40 PD Koris
7:42 SY Five
8:06 SY Gent
8:58 SY Strands
10:00 Taktur"

Retro Station for Novation Bass Station II / AFX Station Live Demo ( Howard Smith )

video upload by The Hebephrenic Synths Of Alizay

Spitfire Audio Mercury — Unearthly Sounds from Hollywood's Secret Weapon

video upload by Spitfire Audio

Spitfire Audio collaboratively creates MERCURY library like no other by harnessing hotshot Hollywood instrument designer Chas Smith’s unearthly sounds for all


“Chas’ instruments have been a crucial part of all of my film scores, and although I’m a little sad that I will no longer have him all to myself, I am thrilled that he has finally succumbed to years of urging on my part and has at long last collaborated with Spitfire Audio.”

- GRAMMY® Award-nominated composer, keyboardist, record producer, and remixer Charlie Clouser (Saw, Wayward Pines, Nine Inch Nails), 2022


LONDON, UK: created in close collaboration with hotshot Hollywood instrument-builder Chas Smith, famed for transforming disused metal into Hollywood’s most menacing, most mysterious instruments for forty years (yet still sought after by blockbuster film composers needing to score the awe-inspiring, the mystical, the mechanical, and the alien), sound- specialising British music technology company Spitfire Audio is proud to announce availability of MERCURY — harnessing his unearthly sounds for all by sampling 14 of the hotshot Hollywood instrument-builder’s most celebrated acoustic instruments, then fusing, warping, and reinventing them in Solar, Spitfire Audio’s new eDNA-powered synthesiser, to deliver 600+ organic and synthesised textures, tones, and pads perfect for tweaking, twisting, and recombining to unleash the sinister, unshackle the industrial, and unveil the impossible worlds orbiting just beyond reach — as of August 25…

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Price Of Nothing & The Value Of Everything by Circuit3

New release from supporting member, Circuit3.

Available for on vinyl, CD, and download on BandCamp here.

"The album sounds great! Glad current artists are keeping the faith with quality songwriting" - Martyn Ware (The Human League, Heaven17)

"if the idea of a dystopian Howard Jones album fashioned from the roots of Synth Britannia appeals, then ‘The Price Of Nothing & The Value Of Everything’ is for you . . . this album is melodic vintage synth ear candy with a dose of gloom. 'I'm keeping the flame alive for those sounds and hopefully developing my songwriting along the way' – well, as far as CIRCUIT3 is concerned, he has achieved that!" - The Electricity Club

“the signature sounds, drum machine rhythms and lyrical stylings of that era are handled with exceptional care, with the fragile mystique of a track like ‘Face In The Crowd’ sounding like a newly-discovered tape of a Reset Records session left in a dusty corner of Vince Clarke’s Splendid studio space” - Mat Smith (Furtherdot.com)

https://circuit3.bandcamp.com

John Carpenter's Halloween soundtrack performed on the Dave Smith Instruments OB6 synthesizer

Published on Oct 16, 2019 Sean Christopher Evoking Emotion with Synthesizers

"It's October, so I thought some classic synth horror movie soundtrack music was in order, so I present to you John Carpenter's iconic Halloween soundtrack music.

John Howard Carpenter is an American filmmaker, screenwriter and composer. Although Carpenter has worked with various movie genres, he is associated most commonly with horror, action, and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s....including 1978's classic Halloween and its subsequent sequels.

These pieces were multitracked to Cubase entirely from the OB6. I did use some Valhalla reverb though, as I do love their reverbs."

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the Pro 2" with James Terris

The fourth in Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with James Terris here.

"Growing up in a small Northern California town where most bands played Reggae, Country, or College Rock was challenging for synth player and electronic musician James Terris. His very first synth was a Sequential Circuits Six-Trak sequenced from a Commodore 64, which he used to hone his skills as a composer, synthesist, and sound designer. In 1994 an unexpected turn of events led him to join and help develop the successful tribute act, Super Diamond. While not exactly a foreseen career, it proved to be an enjoyable and lucrative project that tours nationally to this day. James has kept his love of electronic music alive through musical side projects, working as a sound designer, and by occasionally supporting classic 80’s artists such as Howard Jones, Curt Smith (Tears For Fears), Dave Wakeling, Naked Eyes, and more. He has contributed sounds for many of DSI’s products, including the Pro 2."

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

Sonicstate.com Airs Top 20 Synths Show On Valentines Day

Just in time to snuggle up and watch with your loved one!

"Sonic State will soon be streaming a new IPTV video show called The Top 20 Greatest Synths. The show is based around interviews with synth users and collectors like Will Gregory (Goldfrapp), Roger O’Donnell (The Cure), Ade Utley (Portishead) and Howard Jones (Howard Jones) and features footage, photos and facts about the greatest electronic instruments ever made.

”We’ve based the chart on the votes that have been coming in plus a bit of poetic license to include some outsiders, underdogs and a few surprises!”

Sonic founder Nick Batt and former BBC producer Simon Power have been pleased with the response to previews of the show already available to watch at Sonic.

“It’s basically an excuse to rant about all-things-synth in a show that’s shamelessly nostalgic about electronic music and keyboards with knobs on.”

The Jupiter 8, Korg M1, Yamaha CS80, JV10-80, SH101 and Odyssey all get featured on the chart as well as some youngsters like the Access Virus, Dave Smith’s Evolver, the Alesis Andromeda and the Korg Oasys.

“We know not everyone will be happy with the positioning on the chart, but there’s enough in the show’s to keep everyone smiling.”

The Top 20 Synths will be presented as eight 10 minute videocasts posted once a fortnight on Sonic and YouTube and at various other outlets. Then the programme will be posted in its entirety at the end of the run.

“There may be a DVD version available and we also have some TV interest. But that’s for the future!”

With their recent excellent Winter NAMM (the largest musical instrument trade show) video coverage and weekly Sonic TALK podcasts, it certainly looks like Sonic are staying ahead of the game.

“Sonic are working on a lot of new ideas for audio and visual downloads. 2007 is gonna be great!”

And what’s number one on the Greatest Synths chart?

“I can’t possibly comment, but you can still vote for your Top 3 by visiting the site, so there’s still time to change the outcome!”

The Top 20 Greatest Synths goes live at sonicstate.com on February 14th.

Link

About Sonicstate.com
Begun in 1994, the founding members came together from a wide range of disciplines.
Nick Batt from pop/dance act DNA (Suzanne Vegas Toms Diner amongst their works), Neal Slateford also from DNA, Andy McCreeth a touring musician with art rockers Blue Aeroplanes and pro-audio dealer, Dave Brown - astrophysicist majoring in nanotechnology and Eric Winbolt – a rep for EMI records.
In the ten years since then Sonicstate.com has become the primary resource for electronic music. With an up-to-date news service, essential video streaming from all the major tradeshows and now features thousands of pages on musical equipment from last century to this."

BTW, SonicState was one of the first synth sites I went to back in in 1995/96. It remained at the top of my old site's synth list starting in October of 97 until today.