BEFACO LICH Eurorack module reviewed by MARK JENKINS.

video by Mark Jenkins

"A powerful programmable digital module with assignable control voltage inputs. Based on Rebel Technology's Owl system and programmable using Faust, Max and other languages. Digital reverb, delay and Harmonic Oscillator are just the start of its abilities. Reviewed in depth in the forthcoming book 'Synthesizers; 50 Years'."

MOOG SUB 37 synth 1st UK user review/demo by MARK JENKINS

Published on Oct 15, 2014 MarkJenkinsMusic

"The new Moog Sub 37 duophonic analog synth, the first unit in the UK, put through its paces by MARK JENKINS author of the book/CD "Analog Synthesizers" (Focal Press) available through Amazon worldwide. More information, lecture and concert bookings - www.markjenkinsmusic.com"

Some bits of this video reminded me of the character of the Steiner Parker Synthacon in this video.

Moog Sub 37s on eBay

Yamaha Electone EX-1 Mega Rare Vintage Synth/Organ

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

via this auction

See this post for a demo and overview of one by Mark Jenkins, and this post for some additional info on the EX1 vs. EX42 which was the stage model of of GX1, precurssor to the CS80.

Update: It's not clear how much the EX1 is related to the GX1 and CS80. According to Colin f in the comments of this post, the oscillators are digital. The EX1 was released in 1977, the same year the Synclavier was released, as well the same year Bell Labs Digital Synthesizer was developed. You can find some history on digital synthesis on Wikipedia here. The EX1 is not mentioned. According to Mark Jenkins in the comments of this post, the EX1 is is a preset version of the GX1.


"Comes complete with:
One TX-III matching tone cabinet.
Stool.
Pedal board.
Music stand.
Original Yamaha voltage converter.

The good bits:
In good overall condition with minor marks.
All keys/pedals work.
Tone cabinet works and sounds great.
All the controls apart from the ones listed work perfectly.

The bad bits:
One note on the lower orchestra (synthesizer) section occasionally sticks, not sure what the fault is.
Tremolo function doesn't work - it's probably the belt or motor inside the tone cabinet, I use it connected to an amplifier through its separate out so don't use this function.
Sine wave LFO waveshape on the solo synth not working (other waveshapes work fine).

This is an amazing sounding instrument which can layer different types of analog/digital synthesier and organ tones all at once.
Very hard to find and in very nice cosmetic shape.
Cost £27,000 back in 1977!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music: Number Nine w/ Members of Tangerine Dream

via The Seventh Wave

"Tangerine Dream to play Birmingham …… almost!!!

Ninth Electronic Music Festival comes to Birmingham and once again it includes an all-day free electronic music event featuring talks, demonstrations, interactive sessions, synth manufacturer attendance, a room for attendees to set up and show off their synth gear and a number of free live performances!

The festival once again sees the addition of a ‘raffle’ to the all-day free event in aid of Drake Music who are the leaders in music, disability and technology.

In March of 2020 the ninth ‘The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music’ takes place across three days. For a relatively small festival The Seventh Wave continues to get some of the biggest names in electronic and progressive music.
This time around you can feast your eyes (and ears!) on no less than three either current or former members of global electronic giants Tangerine Dream.

On Friday evening, the headliner is Ulrich Schnauss, who as well as being a distinguished solo performer in his own right is a ‘modern day’ member of Tangerine Dream. Ulrich will be playing a rare live set alongside the founder of Engineers, Mark Peters. On the same bill you also get psychedelic electronic rock behemoth’s Teeth Of The Sea.

On Saturday evening, the headliner is Tangerine Dream ‘bandleader’ Thorsten Quaeschning who will also play a set alongside Ulrich Schnauss in which they will perform tracks from the ground breaking “Synthwaves” album as well as material from their new album. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be a very rare solo alto flute and loops ambient set by Theo Travis of Soft Machine/Gong/King Crimson.

On Sunday, Mark Jenkins performs “50 Years of Tangerine Dream” where the instrumentation will literally go from “metal stick” to “cash register” to modern day “Synths” in an all-encompassing show.

To cap it all, the Festival finishes with Steve Jollife (who played in one of the earliest incarnations of Tangerine Dream) and he will be performing the Tangerine Dream album Cyclone ‘in-full’.

Tickets can be purchased for the individual paid events from Skiddle at
https://www.skiddle.com/groups/theseventhwave/ and for the free event which runs from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm people can just turn up on the day, stay for a few minutes, or get hooked and end up of staying all day!"

BEFACO PERCALL Eurorack percussion module reviewed by MARK JENKNS.

video by Mark Jenkins

"Befaco offers many modules in built or kit form, often with quite unusual designs. PERCALL helps you create a drum machine within your modular system - see this quick review for how to do it."

Mark Jenkin's "The iPad Album" Synth List

See the update in this post. Note "The iPad Album" precedes the new Gorillaz iPad album and technically appears to be the first commercially available album made with the iPad. However it is worth noting iMatik made withe the iPhone preceded both. See this post for reference. One thing that hasn't been done from what I can tell is an album produced and mixed on the iPad or iPhone from start to finish. Note: "Mark Jenkins is the author of "Analog Synthesizers" available worldwide through Amazon(posted here) and an internationally published music technology author and keyboard collector."

Robert Schroeder's Vintage DIY Synth Designs

An article via 1982's E&MM in via noyzelab. You can find additional scans of Electronics & Music Maker at noyzelab's site here.

Robert Schroeder composed his own electronic music, was friends with and worked with Klaus Schulze. The following are a couple of excerpt on the article regarding his designs which you can see pictured:

“The synthesizers and sequencers used on “Harmonic Ascendant” were all designed and built by Robert. All the synthesizers were monophonic. I asked him if he had ever designed or built a polyphonic synthesizer or had any plans for doing so in the future; his answer was a very definite ‘No!’”

“After the release of his first album, Robert wrote a book entitled “Sequencer - Ein Musikcomputer(?)”. Available only in German, it gives full details on how to build a complete 30-note sequencer, including component lists, PCB patterns and circuit diagrams, all designed by the author himself. He claims it can be built for a tenth of the price of commercially available sequencers in Germany.”

Note this is the first post to feature Robert Schroeder as a maker.

Side note: I was curious what happened to Electronics & Music Maker and did a lookup on Wikipedia. There isn't an article on the magazine however it was mentioned in a number of other articles including one on Mark Jenkins who has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH a few times. Mark was the Music Editor for the magazine.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Synth Books

See the Synth Books label for more.
Also see the scans label for more synth documentation.


The A-X of Analogue Synthesizers by Peter Forest


Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail


Essential Retro by James Grahame

CLICK FOR MORE »

Custom Roland SH3a Desktop Unit

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

via this auction

via the seller: "hi your looking at reluctant sale of unique rolandsh3a analog synth.converted into modile form with the removal of supply into separate casing with captive connector cable. used as sound effects synth with single oscillator with multiple footages and different waveforms.sample and hopd capsble of creating complex glissando and arpeggio patterns voltage inputs for fillter and oscillator on rear ,white noise and various modes for bendng the pitch. the 32' footage has been repaired. check out you tube. this was owned buy sound maker mark jenkins author of analog synths [previously listed here]. this was also on the gadget show. check out mark s site and you will come to video of this item [posted here] being used when he was selling not to long ago. selling along with other stuff now gone to fund car. grab a one off bargain superb item with amazing sound and uses. will be well packed. thanks for looking. all works as it should all pots nobs work and in great nic also have spare slider.rare bit of roland history.also has paper manual copy"

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Microskill AS32 Synthesizer - Britain's Answer to the PPG Circa 1985

An article from Electronics & Music Maker on the Microskill AS32 via noyzelab. You can find additional scans of Electronics & Music Maker at noyzelab's site here.

"From the wilds of West Yorkshire comes a new computer-based instrument that could be Britain's answer to the PPG."

Note this is the first Microskill post on the site.

Side note: I was curious what happened to Electronics & Music Maker and did a lookup on Wikipedia. There isn't an article on the magazine however it was mentioned in a number of other articles including one on Mark Jenkins who has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH a few times. Mark was the Music Editor for the magazine.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Anvil Synthesizers "The Anvil" Digital Percussion Synthesizer Circa 1985

1985 E&MM article scan in via noyzelab. You can find additional scans of Electronics & Music Maker at noyzelab's site here.

"You probably don’t need me to tell you that it takes a good deal of nerve to enter into the commercial arena of hi-tech musical instruments, especially if you’re an unknown name and attempting R&D on a shoestring budget. Yet that’s exactly what a new British company, Anvil Synthesisers, have tried to achieve with their advanced digital drum machine, the Anvil."

Note this is the first Anvil post on MATRIXSYNTH.

Side note: I was curious what happened to Electronics & Music Maker and did a lookup on Wikipedia. There isn't an article on the magazine however it was mentioned in a number of other articles including one on Mark Jenkins who has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH a few times. Mark was the Music Editor for the magazine.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Ultra Rare EDP =STINGER= VINTAGE ANALOG SYNTHESIZER WASP !!!!

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

via this auction

According to the listing, only four exist. There have been a total of only three posts here on MATRIXSYNTH to feature the Stinger before this one. All three were auction posts.

CLICK FOR MORE »

MFB Kraftzwerg, Urzwerg, MicroBrute Custom Racked Mini Modular System

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Feb 8, 2015 Mark Jenkins

MFB Kraftzwerg listed here.

MFB Urzwerg Pro here

Arturia MicroBrute here

"Miniature semi-modular analog synth system for sale in London comprising MFB Kraftzwerg synth, MFB Urzwerg Sequencer and Arturia MicroBrute synth on a custom support frame, all practically as new."

TRANSCENDENT 2000 ANALOG SYNTH by TIM ORR of EMS

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

via this auction

You can find a demo video of this auctual synth here.

"The T2000 was sold only in kit form and this unit has been very well constructed (see interior photo) with a nice style of large knurled control knobs chosen, and unusually a small Roland style knob added to what is usually just the stump of a potentiometer for overall tuning.

Although this unit has never been anywhere near Martin Hannett or any member of Joy Division or New Order AFAIK, it was the unit featured in the book "Analog Synthesizers" (2nd Edition 2019, pp. 364-5) and for many sounds on the CD "Sequencer Loops" (2002) by Mark Jenkins of which a brand new copy is included.

CLICK FOR MORE »

MOOG50LONDON

"MOOG 50 LONDON celebrates the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Moog Synthesizer with live music in central London, Saturday October 11th 2014. Tickets on sale now.

Price is £14.99 for August orders, goes up to £16.99 in September.
PayPal to moog50london@gmail.com and send a direct e-mail also to the same address with your order details to receive your tickets.

On the bill - Walter Carlos (recorded), Vile Electrodes (live), Mark Jenkins "Klaus Schulze" and "Tangerine Dream" sets (live), Moog UK distribution demos, lights, lasers, video projections and more...

www.facebook.com/groups/moog50london"

ZW BASSMACHINE rare Wasp style analog synth with Moog style filter

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

via this auction

"ZW BASSMACHINE
Rare Swiss/Italian monophonic analog synth.

Good cosmetic condition example of the incredibly rare ZW-Electronics Bassmachine, which as far as I can find out is a Swiss-Italian design made in extremely small numbers.

I have heard this one working, but it's currently silent, and so sold as in need of repair. This may be as simple as a loose cable in the power supply, so possibly an easy fix.

Two oscillators can be tuned apart or transposed, and there are 10 preset buttons. The sounds are strong and analog, resembling a Wasp or Roland Bassline - while there are no controls for filter etc, the presets vary these settings for you. Internally you can see the distinctive transistor ladder of a Moog-style lowpass filter design.

Intended for collection in NW London and payment in cash. I will ship, cost will be around £20 with Parcelforce in the UK, more overseas, but I don't acceot payment methods which are subject to unexplained delays and fraudulent reversal. Other methods properly regulated by UK banking authorities are fine - bank transfer for example shows up in 15 minutes, is completely secure and creates a permanent record of your transaction. All my 100% positive feedback comes from transactions using either cash on collection or bank transfer, and no other method.

Listed as internally complete but non-working so absolutely no returns. Feel free to make contact with any questions while the listing is running.

Happy Synthesizing!

Mark Jenkins
Author, "Analog Synthesizers" (Focal Press)"

Last Call for Moog 50 London Event

"Last chance for discount tickets for the Moog50London event on
Saturday October 11th. Tickets booked this weekend are £14.99. PayPal to moog50london@gmail.com and send your details in an e-mail to the same address.

Live on stage are electro-pop masters VILE ELECTRODES plus the author of the acclaimed book "Analog Synthesizers" MARK JENKINS playing music in the style of KLAUS SCHULZE and TANGERINE DREAM. There'll also be recorded music by WALTER CARLOS, support from Moog's UK distributor and much more.

In September ticket prices go up to £16.99 and for October and on the door they're £18.99, so get yours soon. The fantastic venue St. George's is easily walkable from Denmark Street, the British Museum, and tube stations at Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Covent Garden and Russell Square. More info from moog50london@gmail.com.

www.facebook.com/groups/moog50london"

EMS Founder Peter Zinovieff Has Passed Away

Update: Image of Peter Zinovieff (previously in via Brian Kehew).

"Circa 1975: A photo from the Frankfurt Music Fair

Peter Zinovieff in the EMS synthesizer booth.

They are featuring the rare SYNTHI P model, just announced on the left side and stand. Underneath the board listing EMS musical artists is a SYNTHI HI-FLI effects unit is barely seen. Another unusual/prototype model is next to the Hi-Fli."


Peter Zinovieff and Electronic Music Studios video upload by JeffreyPlaide


Peter Zinovieff: Synth Pioneer video upload by Sound On Sound magazine Jul 21, 2016


Peter Zinovieff talks about modern musical interfaces video upload by Expressive E Jan 6, 2016


Peter Zinovieff feature uploaded by Erica Synths on Nov 23, 2020. This was the latest video to feature Peter Zinovieff that I am aware of.


Peter Zinovieff interview 2015 video upload by 香港電子音樂社 Hong Kong Electronic Music Society Jun 30, 2015


Dr Peter Zinovieff intro & performance excerpt - Deliaphonic 2017 video upload by Deliaphonic Aug 29, 2018

And a few perspectives from others:

Bright Sparks Behind The Scenes - The Brits video by GForce Software published Feb 16, 2021

Cosmic Tape Music Club Podcast hosted by The Galaxy Electric - E1 Peter Zinovieff

video by The Galaxy Electric published Jan 27, 2021

Peter Zinovieff Electronic Calendar

video by Mark Jenkins published Dec 9, 2019 - Electronic Calendar available through this post.

You can find a history of posts mentioning Peter Zinovieff here.

via The Guardian

"Peter Zinovieff, a hugely influential figure in British music whose early synthesisers helped to change the sound of pop, has died aged 88. He had suffered a fall at home earlier this month.

With its marketing slogan 'think of a sound – now make it', his company Electronic Music Studios (EMS) was one of the first to bring synthesisers out of studios and to the public. With products such as the portable VCS3 and Synthi A, EMS customers – including David Bowie, Kraftwerk, the Who, Tangerine Dream and Pink Floyd – were often taught to use the instruments by Zinovieff.

In 1967 he collaborated with Paul McCartney on Carnival of Light, a performance of a 14-minute avant garde composition created between Beatles sessions for Penny Lane that has never been released.

He was also a respected composer of his own work, including early experiments with AI composition and sampling – he claimed to have invented the latter technique." You can read the full post here.

via Wikipedia:

"Peter Zinovieff (26 January 1933 – 23 June 2021) was a British engineer and composer, whose EMS company made the VCS3 synthesizer in the late 1960s. The synthesizer was used by many early progressive rock bands such as Pink Floyd[3] and White Noise, and Krautrock groups[4] as well as more pop-oriented artists, including Todd Rundgren and David Bowie. In later life he worked primarily as a composer of electronic music.

Zinovieff was born on 26 January 1933;[5] his parents, Leo Zinovieff and Sofka, née Princess Sophia Dolgorouky, were both Russian aristocrats, who met in London after their families had emigrated to escape the Russian Revolution and soon divorced.[6] During World War II he and his brother Ian lived with their grandparents in Guildford and then with their father in Sussex. He attended Guildford Royal Grammar School, Gordonstoun School and Oxford University, where he earned a doctorate in geology.[7][8]

Zinovieff's work followed research at Bell Labs by Max Mathews and Jean-Claude Risset, and an MIT thesis (1963) by David Alan Luce.[9] In 1966–67, Zinovieff, Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson ran Unit Delta Plus, an organisation to create and promote electronic music. It was based in the studio Zinovieff had built, in a shed at his house in Putney. (The house is near the Thames, and the studio was later partially destroyed by a flood).[10][11] EMS grew out of MUSYS, which was a performance controller operating as an analogue-digital hybrid.[12] It was a synthesiser system which Zinovieff developed with the help of David Cockerell and Peter Grogono, and used two DEC PDP-8 minicomputers and a piano keyboard.[13] Unit Delta Plus ran a concert of electronic music at the Watermill Theatre in 1966, with a light show. In early 1967 they performed in concerts at The Roundhouse, at which the Carnival of Light was also played; they split up later in 1967.[11] Paul McCartney had visited the studio, but Zinovieff had little interest in popular music.[14]

In 1968, part of the studio was recreated at Connaught Hall, for a performance of pieces by Justin Connolly and David Lumsdaine.[15] At the IFIP congress that year, the composition ZASP by Zinovieff with Alan Sutcliffe took second prize in a contest, behind a piece by Iannis Xenakis.[16]

In 1969, Zinovieff sought financing through an ad in The Times but received only one response, £50 on the mistaken premise it was the price of a synthesiser. Instead he formed EMS with Cockerell and Tristram Cary.[17] At the end of the 1960s, EMS Ltd. was one of four companies offering commercial synthesizers, the others being ARP, Buchla, and Moog.[18] In the 1970s Zinovieff became interested in the video synthesizer developed by Robert Monkhouse, and EMS produced it as the Spectron.[19]

Jon Lord of Deep Purple described Zinovieff as "a mad professor type": "I was ushered into his workshop and he was in there talking to a computer, trying to get it to answer back".[20] Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco, in their history of the synthesizer revolution, see him rather as aristocratically averse to "trade".[21]

Zinovieff wrote the libretto for Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Mask of Orpheus,[22] and also the words for Nenia: The Death of Orpheus (1970).[23] The section Tristan's Folly in Tristan (1975) by Hans Werner Henze included a tape by Zinovieff."

Update:

Peter Zinovieff: A Tribute by CatSynth TV

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We look back at the life and work of Peter Zinovieff, who passed away last week at the age of 88. His work at Electronic Music Studios (EMS) was a major influence on musicians of the 1970s and beyond. At EMS, he co-created the well-known and coveted VCS3 and Synthi series. But he was also a composer in his own right, working on pioneering electronic music in the 1960s and returning to active composition in the 2010s with several collaborations with artists in other media and exploring massive sound spatialization.

Additional background music provided via the Arturia Synthi V as a tribute."

You can find additional posts featuring Peter Zinovieff here.

MFB 502 demo

Published on Apr 28, 2013 MarkJenkinsMusic·26 videos

"For sale, MFB502 drum machine. Analog sounds, MIDI In to play from keyboards and computers, programmable memories. UK power supply included if sold in the UK, overseas buyers need a local 12V 500mA DC power supply, standard connector.

Cash on collection in London, or I will ship anywhere but I DON'T ACCEPT PAYPAL IN PAYMENT.

Mark Jenkins
www.markjenkins.co"

MARK JENKINS "Moonchild" iPad Music

YouTube Uploaded by MarkJenkinsMusic on Jun 3, 2011

"Guest slot with Whimwise performing "Moonchild" from "The iPad Album". USA concerts in July 2011, UK concerts in September 2011. CD available through Amazon worldwide. www.markjenkins.co"

iSequence HD - BeepStreet
iPads on eBay