"Rare and vintage Computone Analog Wind Synthesizer Driver Lyricon II. Has some light wear as pictured. Works well but could use a good cleaning to be fully functional. Comes with synthesizer, wind instrument and all cables as pictured."
Published on Jul 9, 2019 synthprocess Club of the Knobs Synthesizer
"A spontaneous video documentary of the first meeting of legendary flute player Pedro Eustache with Kazike and his Club Of The Knobs Analog Synthesizer at LoLA Music Studios Los Angeles in 2018. Pedro's custom built Lyricon meets Kazike's legendary Modular Synthesizer 'Monster'."
I created a Super Jupiter patch program book, recording the parameters for 192 sounds. This facilitated the synthesis of new sounds, and through repeated tweaking of parameters, helped continually refine them. Each page contains data for 2 tones, and the patch parameters for split, dual, or 2 separate single tones. This video is part one, and showcases 31 sound effects produced in this manner. Best heard with stereo headphones.
2. Super Jupiter Custom Sounds Part 2
Being mainly a synth programmer rather than a keyboard player, I'm not the best person to showcase my own sounds, so pay more attention to the sound itself, rather than my playing. On some sounds I go up and down the keyboard to show the entire range. Occasionally I get inspired and carried away (as on my favorite lead sound "Lyricon." which has an accompanying water video). Toward the end, I provide a page from my patch book (introduced in the first video of this 3 part series) that shows the tone and patch parameter settings for 2 sounds: Keith Emerson's "Lucky Man" and Rick Wakeman Lead. If you have an MKS-80, pause the video and copy the settings and tweak to your taste.
3. Super Jupiter Custom Sounds Part 3
This is part 3 of 3 of MKS-80 custom sounds: Strings, Brass, Pads, & Keyboards. Pads are my favorite synth sound, so I spent a lot of time on these. The "Super Jupiter Pad" is my favorite, and I got carried away playing this one. It has an accompanying video. The pianos took a lot of time, because they are difficult to synthesize into useful, playable sounds. Velocity sensitivity makes all the difference, and is sorely lacking on the Jupiter 8. The MKS-80 is one of my favorite analogue synths.
4. Super Jupiter revisited: More custom Sound Effects
In my 4th Super Jupiter video, I demonstrate 17 new Sound Effects I recently programmed. Many of the sounds employ Xmod and a parameter rarely found on polysynths--adjustable pitch tracking for either VCO. This allows sound design typically only possible with modular synthesizers. New sounds were inspired by actual events, as on my first video (e.g. thunder sounds and babbling brooks, seashore with gulls, and insects). Check out swamp things, raceway, and flyby (propeller plane passing low overhead). In addition, there are numerous sample and hold variations and a few percussion sounds. IMO, as a sound designer, the MKS-80 module is Roland's best analog polysynth.
"This vintage Lyricon and Brlhart 9* mouthpiece, was purchased, by us slightly used, in December of 1988, and was only played, when we purchased it, by the seller (Jack Klitzman, from Seattle Washington) for a short time, we loved it's different sound - since that day, it has not been played, just stored with Ron's, 1,500 +, oddball woodwind collectibles, along with it's purchase, also included the Obernein unit. We are not an expert or knowledgeable about electronic (woodwinds yes, electronics, no), so we didn't try anything out - it did work when purchased, 30 years ago. The last 4 "pictures" explains the Lyricons history and how this instrument came about, the very last picture, is about the guy who knows all about these units, he purchased all parts and services the Lyricon units now"
"Rare Computone Lyricon wind synthesizer-Driver fully restored!
Also included in this auction is a JL Cooper Electronics Midi Wind Driver!
I am the first and olny owner of this beautiful instrument, which is now 100% functional and was fully professionally restored and upgraded in April of this year 2018 to factory spec by David O’Brien. whom the instrument’s inventor, Bill Bernardi, passed on his knowledge and stock of parts to when he passed."
Published on Mar 13, 2018 synthprocess Club of the Knobs Synthesizer
"Pedro Eustache & Kazike at LoLA Music Studio Los Angeles in January 2018. Pedro plays Lyricon connected with Club of the Knobs Synthesizer, experiencing C 1621 Morphable Wavefront Oscillators, C 910 Poly Resonators, C 1660 Voltage Controlled Phase Processor from COTK."
"The full video of the WMD NAMM JAMM. Featuring Alex and Matt of WMD together with Pedro Eustache on the Lyricon (run thru WMD's Synchrodyne). Total 100% musical inspiration!"
"One of the best parts about being in this industry and going to trade shows is meeting the amazing people that use our products to make music. Everyone takes a different approach to using what we create and when we get to experience them making music in the flesh it's always incredibly exciting and inspiring.
Pedro is no exception to that truth. In fact, he pushes the boundaries on what we knew possible with a only a couple eurorack modules. A wind player by trade, you can hear his work on films like Wonder Woman, Passion of the Christ, Kung Fu Panda, and many more as well as see him live on tour with the Hans Zimmer live production.
He has over 100 different wind instruments (many of which he fashioned by hand) and is also a bit of an electronics nerd. His interest in electronics and synthesis led him to the Lyricon wind synthesizer, a vintage analogue piece of gear that is controlled by a proprietary controller. This controller is much like a common MIDI wind controller, only it produces Control Voltage instead of MIDI information. He worked with a friend to produce an interface for this controller to interact with his modular synth. He puts that together with the Synchrodyne, routes different controls to parameters on the module, and creates tones and timbres we've never heard...
He hit us up when he came through for his most recent Denver performance with Hans Zimmer and wanted to show us what he was doing with the Synchrodyne. We set up some cameras, Alex put together a quick patch, and the two jammed.
Be sure to watch till the end as Pedro explains the patch right around 13:00
This performance was recorded in one continuous take and marks the very first time Pedro and Alex ever played music with one another. No practice, no plans, just two humans and a couple machines."
"'The Lyricon is the first electronic instrument to combine a synthesizer with a wind instrument that plays with the same feel and sensitivity as an acoustical woodwind. The Lyricon responds instantly to changes in reed and wind action, giving the player extensive control over loudness, pitch, attack, timbre, decay and other expressive elements of phrasing over a full six-octave range. With the Lyricon, a player's own expression is as important as the synthesizer settings in controlling sound output. And using both, the Lyricon player can produce sounds unobtainable on other synthesizers -- from the imitative tones of conventional woodwinds, brasses and strings, to any number of electronic effects.' -from the original brochure.
This instrument is a fully restored Computone Lyricon Wind Synthesizer from the inventor Bill Bernardi's personal collection. It is in 100% playing condition. The instrument body is in beautiful condition, with only a few tiny flaws in the plating (see pictures). The console panel shows no wear, with the protective clear plastic on the knob skirts still intact. There is a small tear in the tolex on the top upper edge of the console cover (see pictures.) The handle has been replaced. Included with the instrument is the original owner's manual, power cord, advertising flyer, reed, mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover.
"They don't get much more rare than this, especially FULLY RESTORED and in 100% playing condition!
If you're found your way to this auction, chances are you know what you're looking at...
Restored Vintage LYRICON I electronic saxophone wind synthesizer
Three months ago, it was completely repaired and restored by the only human in the world with the knowledge and special proprietary parts necessary to bring these bad-boys into full song. A new wind sensor membrane is installed. See pictures for full list of the work done on it.
Synth is in wonderful condition, everything works perfectly. Very rare, indeed! Ideal for the saxophone players who want to complete their collection..."
Update: in case you read this post when it first went up, be sure to give it another look for a few updates. It's a bit convoluted with quite a few tangents, but that's how it goes sometimes.
The following are some excerpts and tie-ins to other bits of synth history.
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Initially a saxophone player, Bruno Spoerri explored electronic music in the 1960s on.
"In 1964 he was invited to a job in an advertising agency and began to work with electronic music using a Ondes Martenot and, after, using lots of synthesizers and also experimenting with electrified/synthesized saxophones..." "As a saxophonist and jazz improviser I always looked for ways to play without a keyboard."
Pictured above is Bruno with his EMS Synthi 100 (videos previously posted here and here).
On the Synthi 100: "I bought the Synthi 100 in 1971. In 1987 I gave it to Felix Visser (Synton) in exchange for a Fairlight CMI; some years he had to sell it at an auction, and I don't know where it is now (I would recognize the instrument, as I did some small changes on it)." It was listed on Vemia back in 2009 posted here and here. Click though for pics.
In 1974, he recorded the album 'Iischalte (Switched-on Switzerland)'.
Bruno Spoerri - Le Ranz Des Vaches
Uploaded on Jul 25, 2011 Aura Archange Maudit·57 videos
Imágenes de la pelĂcula La lunga notte di Veronique (1966)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183441/
Video made by Aura Archange Maudit"
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"On 'Voice Of Taurus' (1978), Bruno Spoerri experiments a lot with electrified wind instruments and also with jazz-rock and rock."
Bruno Spoerri - Hymn Of Taurus (Taurus Is Calling You!)
Uploaded on Nov 19, 2009 MrJJBonanza·29 videos
Re-Published on Sep 30, 2014 Bruno Spoerri - Topic
"First track of Bruno Spoerri's 'Voice Of Taurus'
1978 Gold Records, Switzerland
Cat# 11 061 (Vinyl, LP)
Bruno Spoerri on 'Hymn Of Taurus':
"The rhythm track was created with my very first primitive ring modulator (4 diodes and 2 transformers) that is why it is so dirty The voice went of course through the EMS vocoder, the choir was created through the VAKO Orchestron."
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Again, don't miss the full interview with Bruno Spoerri on Astronauta Pinguim here. There's some fascinating history there including Ginette Martenot and the Ondes Martenot, Oskar Sala with his Mixturtrautonium, and Joel Chadabe. Regarding his original gear, "most of my analog gear is sold (most of it to the remarkable Swiss Synthorama of Martin Hollinger), but I still have my first synthi, the EMS VCS-3 (from 1970), the ARP 2600 with sequencer and the Lyricon I and II. I use the lyricon quite often in performances, the other gear mostly for demonstrations to visitors."
I was fortunate enough to visit Synthorama back in 2008. You can find my pics and videos from the visit here. See the Synthorama label for other posts including a one of a kind modular, the Airböurne, created by the curator of the museum, Martin Hollinger.
"This unit is essentially a two-oscillator analog synthesizer interfaced to a clarinet-like controller, as opposed to the usual keyboard. It also has outputs to connect to additional analog synths. The keys of the controller are "wired" to electrical contacts and it has breath control and reed pressure sensors.
The electronics of the synthesizer on this unit are 100% functional and have been serviced by an experienced synthesizer tech. Needed are repairs to the power supply section, and a good cleaning. NOTE: The controller needs cleaning and servicing as well and has problems with the breath control and reed pressure sensors. The keys all work fine. Service is still available for these problems from Bill Bernardi, the original designer and builder of the Lyricon - here is a link to information on contacting him."
"Oberheim OB-1 with Computone Lyricon Wind Synthesizer Driver .
The Oberheim , is full working over CV/Gate , but the Lyricon is not working , i dont have the schematics from the Lyricon , so i internal disconected the Lyricon .
The Bend Section is only partly working , because there is no keyboard in the OB1 and the CV voltage input is connected after the bend section"
"This is a vintage Computone Wind Synthesizer - Driver. This is also commonly called a Lyricon, although the Computone branded model just outputs CV (control voltage), and does not contain a built in analog synth which was part of the Lyricon branded units. Mouthpiece and reed are in excellent condition. 120Vac mains input..."
"This is a Lyricon Driver, designed to control external synthesizers via CV signals. It is in good working order as far as I can tell having tested it with a modified Moog Synthesizer. All the keys work. The unit is very clean. The only blemish I have noticed is a small crack in the mouthpiece cover (pictured). This auction is for the items pictured: Lyricon controller, locking case/synth control unit, power cable, manual, sealed keys/misc parts."
This instrument is a fully restored Computone Lyricon Wind Synthesizer from the inventor Bill Bernardi's personal collection. It is in 100% playing condition. The instrument body is in beautiful condition, with only a few tiny flaws in the plating (see pictures). The console panel shows no wear, with the protective clear plastic on the knob skirts still intact. There is a small tear in the tolex on the top upper edge of the console cover (see pictures.) The handle has been replaced. Included with the instrument is the original owner's manual, power cord, advertising flyer, reed, mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover.
"They don't get much more rare than this, especially FULLY RESTORED and in 100% playing condition!
"This unit is essentially a two-oscillator analog synthesizer interfaced to a clarinet-like controller, as opposed to the usual keyboard. It also has outputs to connect to additional analog synths. The keys of the controller are "wired" to electrical contacts and it has breath control and reed pressure sensors. BSeoSBRw1QuUpeg~~60_58.JPG)
