#NAMM 2024: Melbourne Instruments NINA

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We get a tour of NINA, a 12-voice polyphonic hybrid analog synth with motorized faders and a host of other features.

To find out more, please visit https://www.melbourneinstruments.com

'"NINA is the world’s first fully motorized analog synthesizer. Synth players have dreamt of this feature for decades, and now it’s finally available. Instantly recall your presets and layers, see exactly how the sound was created, or pick up from where you were last working.'"

Update: and one from Sonicstate:

NAMM 2024 - Melbourne Instruments - Nina Updates

video upload by sonicstate

"At NAMM 2024, we hooked up with Ian from Melbourne Instruments who introduced us to some updates recently bestowed upon on their synthesizer, Nina. Ian told us that they have added some fun features to the firmware, including scopes that display waveforms and an XY mode for visualizing stereo phase alignment. The biggest update, however, is the ability to modulate the morph between two sounds using the modulation matrix. Each of the 12 voices on the Nina can now individually control the morph through the modulation matrix, allowing for evolving and breathing sounds as you play.

Feedback for the Nina has been positive, with increasing popularity and favorable reviews. Melbourne Instruments has been listening to customer feedback and plans to release regular firmware updates, incorporating requested features.

Nina Price 3,599 USD"

Opus for NINA & Eurorack (Melbourne Instruments)

video upload by ArminSZ

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

"This features my new 12 voice Analog-Polysynths NINA from Melbourne Instruments.

My goal was to create a dynamic analog orchestral sound which would be able to 'cut thru' in a busy mix with Eurorack drums & voices.

Two layers of sound were used (NINA is up to 4 times multitimbral).

The Korg Kronos is (here) only used as Master-Keyboard to play NINA (no internal sounds were used).

KeyStepPro was used to play some FM sounds from the DistingEX.

Some deep bass via a Midi pedal and the PerFourMer.

All other sounds from the Eurorack played by Hermod+ and transposed via the Midi bass pedal.

All played live - no external effects used - recorded DAW-less with RME-Fireface."

NINA Trio - Melbourne Instruments

video upload by

"This video features the Melbourne Instruments NINA.

The Korg Kronos is only used as master keyboard - all synth sounds (Organ, Bass, Lead) were created by NINA.

Drums:
Drum loop from Korg Kronos

Effects:
Organ Layer: NINA output's 1/2 (all NINA's internal effects)
Lead Layer: NINA output's 3/4 into external Ping/Pong delay"

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

NAMM 2023 - (SOUNDS ONLY) NINA from Melbourne Instruments

video upload by sonicstate

"Melbourne Instruments showcased their synthesizer, the 12-voice Nina, at NAMM 2023. and Jim Heywood of Earmonkey Music gave us a delightful exploration of its capabilities.

Nina offers a combination of analogue and digital synthesis, with wave morphing, a four-pole transistor ladder VCF with modulatable resonance, a voice-level filter overdrive and digital wavetable oscillators. Nina's most defining feature, however, are its motorized controls, which are pretty unique. Melbourne Instruments tell us that Nina's encoders are long-lasting and offer the precise feel of analogue pots. The recallable and automatable controls, patch morphing, and powerful mod matrix make Nina an exciting prospect for musicians looking to explore its sonic possibilities.

Nina Price: 3,599 USD"

See the dealers on the right for availability.

Superbooth 2023: Melbourne Instruments Nina

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Melbourne Instruments debut their new flagship synth with brushless-motor based knobs, the Nina."

Melbourne Instruments Nina

NINA SESSIONS featuring CLOSE COUNTERS

video upload by Melbourne Instruments

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

"Melbourne Instruments’ NINA SESSIONS are a chance for us to show off our Nina Synthesizer, and also an opportunity for us to showcase some of Melbourne’s incredible musical talent. For our first Nina Session, we are excited to present local Melbourne duo, CLOSE COUNTERS performing original tunes from their latest album, ‘SOULACOASTA II’.

We asked Close Counters to choose some of their songs that they thought would be interesting to play on Nina. It was their idea to use two Ninas, and create a live improvised rendition of their song 'BREAK FROM IT' using only Ninas, their Nord Stage keys and a TR-8S drum machine. The above video is entirely live with no overdubs or additional effects. There has been minimal mastering and post production to the final mix, giving you a very true indication of Nina's sound and sonic palette.

For this performance, the duo use a number or factory and custom presets to shape the sounds, and both Finn and Allan are using different multitimbral keyboard splits throughout the song. You’ll see some heavy manipulation of the filter as you watch closely, along with a lot of ’morphing using Nina’s A/B morph feature. Nina’s morph allows you to move between two predetermined patches, smoothly blending every parameter of the two patches, including all modulation and effects. Morph allows performers and sound designers to virtually adjust just about everything with only one knob, making it possible to do what otherwise would take many hands, and even many keyboards.

If you like this video, we'll have more NINA SESSIONS coming soon. Up next we have a special Melbourne trio consisting of Daniel Mougerman (The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist, Ella Thompson), Angus Radley (Harvey Sutherland/Bermuda), and Graeme Pogson (The Bamboos, GL, Bermuda). Watch this space

ABOUT NINA:
NINA is the world’s first fully motorized analog synthesizer. Synth players have dreamt of this feature for decades, and now it’s finally available. Instantly recall your presets and layers, see exactly how the sound was created, or pick up from where you were last working. Musicians, Producers & Sound Designers can finally enjoy the flexibility of Soft Synth control from a real, physical instrument.

Learn more at:
www.melbourneinstruments.com/features"

NINA - 12 Voice Polysynth with Motorized Recall & Automation

video upload by

"This is NINA, a 12 voice polysynth combining the tactile and sonic qualities of classic analog, with motorized patch recall and automation."

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

5 Second Interviews at Knobcon 2023

video upload by Gerbil Hamster Records

"Shits too long sometimes
Love ya!

|||||Links|||||
Buchla
https://buchla.com/

Hive Mind Synthesis
https://www.thekillerbeerelayteam.com...

After Later Audio
https://afterlateraudio.com/

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio

AT Tours MESS, Melbourne's New Synth Haven

Published on Apr 14, 2016 Audio Technology Magazine

This one in via MATRIXSYNTH Member, Ross Healy of Vicmod Records. You'll find the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio or MESS website here.

"Based in Melbourne Australia, MESS is a unique not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the creation of electronic sound and music founded by Robin Fox and Byron J Scullin.

The heart of MESS is the MESS Studio, a fully functioning sound production workshop representing one of the most unique, eclectic and historically significant collections of electronic instruments in the world. Working from within the studio is the MESS School, a place for people to engage with the history, technique and artistry of electronic sound and music creation presented in a format that is flexible, affordable and artist driven. Work created at the studio and school is supported by MESS Show to promote unique performance events and recording releases reflecting the diversity of sound created at MESS alongside historical releases from the vault of Australian electronic music . Finally MESS Schematic not only maintains the instruments in the MESS Studio collection, it also offers a space for the development of new instrument ideas focussing on design, engineering and construction.

MESS is an independent, inclusive and culturally broad organisation, reflecting the history of the field, supporting those currently involved in creation, as well as ensuring and encouraging its vibrancy, diversity and legacy into the future. Wherever it is, MESS will create an environment based on encouraging physical interaction between artists and instruments. This is a place where coincidence, chance and curiosity allow and encourage people to interact with each other and with the collection. MESS maintains independence through a diverse funding model drawing on private patronage, membership donation, and cultural institutions."

All photos credit to K ristoffer Paulsen.

Buchla
This machine is based on the inspired and eccentric designs of Don Buchla who founded Buchla & Associates and later the Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments company. The system in this photo is based on the Buchla 200 series modules and this particular instrument is made up from authentic 200e modules and 'cloned' modules made by 3rd party manufacturers. A Buchla 200e system in action.

EMS VCS3 & EMS Synthi AKS
The EMS VCS3 and the EMS Synthi AKS are legendary machines in electronic sound and music. Inspired in-part by a commission from Australian composer Don Banks, EMS was founded by Peter Zinovieff who worked alongside David Cockerell & Tristram Carey designing some of the first 'affordable' synthesisers for the general public. These machines were used by artists such as Pink Floyd, Jean Michel-Jarre and Brian Eno. The Synthi AKS is the portable suitcase version of the VCS3.

Moog 55
Robert Moog is one of the preeminent designers of early synthesisers used continuously by countless artists since their first emergence in 1965. There are 2 of these Moog 55s’ in the MESS collection. Both are part of a limited edition (55 only worldwide) reissue of one of Moog’s best loved pre-assembled stock modular systems. Suzanne Ciani playing one the System 55 reissues that we have in the studio."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Melbourne Instruments NINA Gets Even Better! - v1.4 New Features (Demo w Osmose)

video upload by Mike Pensini

"Melbourne Instruments just released their V1.4 Firmware for the NINA synth with some cool new features including the ability to modulate the Morph function - paired with MPE on the Expressive E Osmose it's a pretty powerful combo!"

Melbourne Instruments NINA: Not just a pretty face!

video upload by Matt Johnson Jamiroquai

"A walk through the beautiful NINA by Melbourne Instruments"

SynthPlex 2022 - NINA Motorized Synth Updates

video upload by sonicstate

"The motorized morphing 12 voice synth from Melbourne Instruments was arguably the synth of the NAMM show this year, the whole motorized knobs and morphing presets, really seemed to catch the imagination. Since then, they've been working hard to get the preproduction models ready and start shipping the first models in December this year.

So Dan and the team has done a lot of work. Nina can be ordered on their website at https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

price has been fixed at $3500 US"

See the Melbourne Instruments label below for addtional posts.

Dogma: Cinematic Synth Improvisation with the Melbourne Instruments NINA + Expressive E Osmose

video upload by Christopher Gwinn

"Dogma: another bit of improv with a very cinematic pad on my Melbourne Instruments NINA desktop synth, using an Expressive E Osmose as the controller. Running through light UAD EQ, compression/limiting, and tape sim.

© 2003 Rig Veda Music."

Melbourne Instruments-Nina, first encounter

video upload by Belleville

"First 3 patches I made on the gorgeous Nina who just arrived. Prompted my first gear video ever. More to come!"

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

Melbourne Instruments-Nina, First Encounter-Part 2

video upload by Belleville

"Made some more presets. Enjoying the tones of this beast. Not quite an OBX but a high quality sound. Still working out levels recording on my camera, so not the best render, there is hiss from adding volume to video, the synth is dead quiet. Looking forward to a manual and more developments on the OS."

Ghost in the Synth: NINA by Melbourne Instruments - Review and Demo(s) #nina #synth #review

video upload by GBR MUSIC

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

"Welcome to the very first hardware synth review on this channel. In this video I deep-dive and demo the NINAby Melbourne Instruments for you. The Nina is an incredible 12 voice polyphony analog synth with a fully motorized control surface. It's also 4 part multitimbral and features patch modulation and a lot of other great features.

00:00 Intro and disclaimer
00:40 Opening demo
03:10 What's new with firmware 1.4
04:09 Motorized control surface
04:31 Presets banks
04:48 Main features highlights
05:09 Patch morphing
06:30 Spin trick
07:15 MPE compatibility
09:07 Layout overview
10:03 Arpeggiator
10:50 Sequencer
11:41 Oscillators
13:57 Mixer and Noise generator
14:16 Overdrive circuit
14:44 LFOs
15:03 Filter
16:46 Envelope Generators
17:03 Modulation matrix
18:22 Morph Modulation
19:08 Multitimbral capabilities
19:36 Multitimbral demo
20:21 Nina as an analog drum machine
21:01 Layer menu deep dive
23:18 Unisson control
24:26 Effect bus
25:08 What about the price?
27:00 Final thoughts and conclusion
27:43 Closing demo"

NINA synth: dreams come true (review & jam)

video upload by Pete Midi

"Melbourne instruments NINA shows how synthesizers should be built to provide the best of both worlds: the look and feel of a real instrument and the total recall comfort of a software plugin. Thereby NINA defines total recall in the most consequent sense with an approach that makes up a milestone in synthesizer history. The only disadvantage: once you have played with NINA any other synth feels incomplete.

00:00 Intro
01:05 Overview
01:33 Old problem
02:03 Nord solution
02:31 Nord vs. Nina
03:03 Nina experience
05:03 Demo 1
06:03 Demo 2
07:59 Demo 3
08:55 Demo 4
09:50 Multi Layer Jam

Setup: Melbourne instruments NINA recorded via Zoom AMS-44 audio interface on iPad pro running AUM. MIDI: KMM K-Board directly connected to NINA, Multi Layer jam with KORG Nanopad and iPad Mozaic app for sequencing and “meta” morphing of 4 layers"

Synthesis Tutorial | Making A Synth Lead Sequence

video upload by School of Synthesis

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

"In this video Davide demonstrates how to make a synth sequence / acid riff using a step sequencer on the Melbourne Instruments Nina Synth and reproduces the steps using a digital synthesiser to create the classic triplet feel synth riff. Here he shows how to assign a modulation envelope to the cut off filter to create variation in a riff and how to perform it live. This video also demonstrates how to fit it into a track, in this case he Is programming the riff in C Minor.

This video is taken from the up and coming Sound Design course from the School of Synthesis, a follow up to the Scaler 2 Course, which will be available Q4 2023.

0:00 Intro
1:14 Making A Lead Sound on Melbourne Instruments Nina Analogue Synth
2:53 Programming A Sequence
4:13 Assigning A Modulation Envelope to the Cutoff Filter
5:55 Adding A Delay
7:10 Adding Oscillators and Shaping the Sound
10:25 Programming a Digital Synth to make a Lead Riff
11:53 Writing the Notes
13:50 Assigning A Modulation Envelope to the Cutoff Filter in Carbon Electra
15:30 Adding Variation and Performing Live"

Melbourne Instruments Nina, a 12-Voice Polysynth With Motorized Knobs | NAMM 2022

video upload by Reverb

"The debut release from Melbourne Instruments, Nina is a 12-voice synth with plenty of variable shape triangle oscillators, ladder filter, and effects. It also includes motorized knobs that will automatically spin into place when selecting presets."

The Giant Theremin in Melbourne

Giant Theremin, Melbourne - a brief introduction

Uploaded by MelbourneCityCouncil on Dec 15, 2011

You might remember this one from this post.

"Move to your own groove! Let your feet create the beat! The Giant Theremin is a super-sized musical instrument controlled by movement rather than conventional touch. Fun and easy to play, step inside the activation zone and hear your movement control the sound. Run, dance and jump about to create a symphony of movement.

Inspired by Russian inventor Lev Termen's original 1928 theremin, Melbourne's artist Robin Fox has designed a Giant Theremin capable of sounding like all sorts of musical instruments (or indeed any sound) and can be played by up to eight people simultaneously. Bring your friends and your video camera.

The Giant Theremin was installed in Melbourne's Northbank precinct in November 2011 for Melbourne Music Week and will remain playable every day until February 2012.

http://melbourne.vic.gov.au/gianttheremin"

This Sunday at Dorkbot Melbourne, Australia

*4pm, Sunday 28 September, 2008
Level 1, 124a Johnston St Fitzroy 3065 (just east of Brunswick St).

This Sunday Dorkbot Melbourne, Auatralia.

::: Ross Healy (aka Cray) :::
::: VICMOD - Melbourne DIY Modular Synth Builders :::

Ross will provide a glimpse into the world of VICMOD, a group of musicians and synthesizer enthusiasts who meet monthly in the Melbourne CBD to discuss and construct modular analog audio synthesizers. Each month the group builds a different module, often those designed by Ken Stone (http://www.cgs.synth.net/). Ross will also demonstrate some of the modules which have been built at VICMOD over the past couple of years.

Experimental electronic artist Ross Healy has been an active member of the Melbourne music scene since 1988 and has released recordings around the globe with projects such as This Digital Ocean, Amnesia, 56k Siko Spunji, and Horaku . These days he releases and performs under the 'Cray' moniker, making music with his 95 module modular synthesizer as well as software instruments.

::: Ross Bencina (aka Mulchwerk) :::
::: AudioMulch 2.0 progress report :::

For the last 2.5 years Ross has been working on a new version of his AudioMulch software musical instrument ( http://www.audiomulch.com ) which is now reaching the final stages of development. Ross will provide a preview of what he's been working on and will discuss some of the details of the AudioMulch 2.0 development process.

Ross Bencina is a composer, performer, software developer and digital instrument maker, with a strong interest in improvised electroacoustic music. He has performed solo and with collaborators around Australia and internationally. Ross is the creator of AudioMulch interactive music studio - software for electronic music performance. In 2004 and 2005 Ross collaborated with researchers at the Music Technology Group, Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona where he contributed to the development of the reacTable musical instrument. Ross is the director of Sonic Fritter Pty. Ltd., which sells AudioMulch and provides software development and consulting services for audio-related applications.

http://www.audiomulch.com/~rossb"

Melbourne NINA 12 at NAMM 2022

video upload by MusicPlayer Network

"That synth you’ve been hearing about with all motorized knobs? This is it, from startup Melbourne Instruments. It features three oscillators: a genuine VCO, a virtual analog oscillator they describe as like the UDO Super Six, and a digital wavetable oscillator. Those knobs, though. You can see how responsive they are in the video — especially to MIDI commands e.g. from a modulation wheel on a controller."

Keith Humble's Optronics Workstation

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"This is the Optronics Workstation, an Australian synth made for composer Keith Humble around 1970. It could be controlled by brainwaves…

The Optronics Workstation contains an EMS VCS1 – you can see the controls in the bottom right corner. Yes, a VCS1, not the VCS3 that EMS eventually marketed. The VCS1 was the first synth made by British company EMS. Three were created, the original, known as the Don Banks Music Box, can be seen above in the last image. It was made in 1968, predating the VCS3 by 12 months and many say it was the commission from Don Banks that led to the formation of EMS, so perhaps without it, there would be no other EMS synths.

Humble’s Optronics was built by an engineer called Graham Thirkell around the VCS1. It is perhaps the world’s first electronic workstation, containing a mixer, a synth and FX, all of which are inter-patchable.

In the centre is the 'Mindreader' or 'OmniVoila'. Players attach an electrode to their temples and this device read the signals and turned it into voltage to produce sound or modulation. On the left side is a three-channel mixer for three external line inputs, plus a send for a delay. Top right is a patch panel where voltages can be routed to create sound or modulation. Above that you can see two ring modulators. It also has an in-built spring reverb.

Humble was a huge early proponent of electronic music in Australia. He founded the Electronic Music Studio at Melbourne Universities’ Grainger Centre and the music school at La Trobe University, Melbourne.

The Optronics Workstation is now in the collection of MESS, the non-profit Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio. They are fantastic people who preserve and restore vintage instruments and encourage people to come in and play with them. Humble’s Optronics still works, so if you’re in Melbourne or near there, drop them a line and go say hello.

They were going to send me some video of it in action but I think they’re too slammed. I’ve included the only audio I could find that might be the Optronics in action. It might not be, though. But it was made by Keith Humble about a year after he started working with the Optronics and given that it was his only synth at the time, I think there's a good chance the audio was made with the Optronics."