Metasonix Wretch Machine Videos by Smokey Quartz

Wretch Jam #1 Published on Apr 12, 2014
An experiment. Metasonix S-1000 Vacuum Tube Synthesizer and R-56 Vacuum Tube Spring-Reverb Module. No keyboard or controller, just the S-1000 ran through the R-56. A lot of the noise, feedback, and distortion is coming from the R-56. Everything is competing for the attention of those little springs in the R-56. Lo-Fi, noisey, droney, and live.

The video is from an old digital camera. The audio is recorded straight into the computer with a little bit of EQ and compression. I can't say this is representational of the S-1000 or R-56 sounds, it is just what came out tonight.

Wretch Jam #2 Published on Apr 13, 2014
Another all tube improvisation, this time with the Metasonix S-1000 synthesizer and D-1000 drum machine being ran though the R-56 Spring Reverb module. The Elektron A4 is sending some triggers to the Metasonix gear but is contributing no sounds. Everything is competing for those little reverb springs.

Video is from an old digital camera. A mono audio signal being recorded straight into the computer with a compression and EQ.

Wretch Jam #3 (with Drone Cat) Published on Apr 14, 2014
Another with the Metasonix S-1000 and D-1000 being ran through the R-56 reverb module. Storge' the cat assisted.

Wretch Jam #4 Published on Apr 15, 2014
More reverberated, vacuum tube farts. Recorded during a total eclipse of the moon. 415.2014

Metasonix S-1000 synthesizer and D-1000 drum machine ran through the R-56 reverb module. Interrupted by kitten.

Wretch Jam #5 (with Drone Cat) Published on Apr 16, 2014
A quick drone with kitten. The Metasonix S-1000 vacuum tube synthesizer ran through the R-56 spring reverb module.

Wretch Jam #6 Published on Apr 19, 2014
Another wretched jam with the Metasonix Wretch Machine, D-1000, and R-56.

Wretch Jam #7 Published on Apr 20, 2014 Smokey Quartz·8 videos
Another hypnotically horrible Wretch jam with the Wretch Machine and R-56 spring reverb module.

Wretch Jam #8 Published on Apr 21, 2014 Smokey Quartz·9 videos
A wretched improvisation with the Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine and R-56 Spring Reverb module. Storge' the cat lends his support.

metasonix wretch machine hifi

Update: I accidentally put up the video labeled hifi thinking it was the same video as the lofi. It's not. Here's the lofi vid. Title link takes you to the hifi. the hifi is considerably shorter, so watch this one.

YouTube via companyofquail.

"this is just a simple 16 step sequence from a mobius driving the metasonix wretch machine starring me turning knobs and the wretch machine making noises."

Note that companyofquail brought us these excellent Genoqs Octopus videos.

Plant Music #1 (Knas + MIDI Sprout)

Published on Jan 24, 2017 Smokey Quartz

"In this video I try out the MIDI Sprout for the first time, connecting a Flamingo Flower (Anthurium andraeanum) to the Knas Ekdahl Polygamist synthesizer. The MIDI Sprout is a “Biodata Sonification Device” that allows plants to play synthesizers! Everyone and everything should be allowed to play synthesizers! Listen to how the sounds change as I touch the plant leaves and flowers."

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Metasonix Wretch Machine Vacuum Tube Synthesizer

via this auction

"The Metasonix Wretch Machine. Nothing else comes close to the sound of this beast.
Through a weird twist of fate I ended up owning two of these things. This is the newer of the two, and other than a quick 'does it work' power on test, it's pretty much unused. Owning two of them is just excessive, so this one has to go. The new price on these has increased recently (now $3300). This is your chance to get one at the old price.

Comes with all the original box, manual and metal 'beer shield' cover for the tubes. (Recommended only for use during shipping to protect the tubes, unnecessary when in use though you can leave it on if you desire)."

Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Vs Korg MS-10 & SQ-10

Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Vs Korg MS-10 & SQ-10 (edited version)

Published on Feb 6, 2013 DJjondent·166 videos

Unedited version below.
"My first recording of the Metasonix S1000 Wretch.
The S-1000 is a beast.

the equipment used:
One Metasonix S1000 Wretch Machine
One Korg MS-10
One Korg SQ-10 sequencer

I've bypassed the S-1000's own filters & waveshapers.
The sound is just the Wretch's two valve VCOs filtered through the MS-10 lowpass filter.
No midi here.
Everything is sequenced and modulated the old fashioned way.

I used the Korg stuff as it's hertz/volt not the usual 1V/octave.
I reckon it sounds better.

The unedited version of this recording is here:"

Robotspeak Metasonix Wretch Machine Demo

flickr by BeerNotBombs.
"Eric Barbour of Metasonix demonstrates the Wretch Machine at Robotspeak in San Francisco."

Metasonix Wretch Machine S-1000 MODDED

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

via this auction

"Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine modded to bring the trim and span pots to the front for easy use and crazy tunings. Was modded with high quality Vishay endless potentiometers and freshly re-tubed with Telefunken tubes with less than 10 hours on them. Sounds absolutely incredible you will not see another like this for a long time..."

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Metasonix S1000 Wretch Machine

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

Note the best pics but there aren't many of these out there so this one gets a post here vs. MATRIXSYNTH-B.

"Very lightly used Metasonix Wretch Machine (without midi). Works perfectly. Sounds nasty! Includes synth, box, power supply and manual. Serial number 23 of 96. Only 96 were made. Handmade in California by Eric Barbour. Production ceased in 2012."

Shoving a Kick Drum up the Wretch Machine's Ass

YouTube via plague1715 | January 17, 2011 |

"You may have wondered what it sounds like when you plug a kick drum deep into the rectal cavity of a Metasonix Wretch Machine...well now you know."

Metasonix Wretch Machine + Moog Delay

YouTube via plague1715 | October 28, 2010

"The Make Noise Pressure Points is acting as a manual gate for the Wretch. When the cable is plugged in, the Moog Voyager's slewed sample and hold signal modulates the pitch of the wretch. Wretch output is going into the Moogerfooger MF-104z Analog Delay, whose rate is modulated by an attenuated triangle wave from the Voyager."

Metasonix R-55 Thyratron VCO Vacuum Tube Oscillator Eurorack Module

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

via this auction

bigcitymusic special edition on the bottom.

"For Sale: (1) Metasonix R-55 Thyratron VCO synthesizer module in eurorack modular format. This was a limited edition module that was only sold at Big City Music and is not longer available. Includes M3 screws and power supply ribbon cable. From Metasonix:

The R-55 is essentially one of the VCOs in the legendary S-1000 Wretch Machine in a 22U Eurorack module. It produces the notorious "sharkfin" sawtooth waveform of thyratron VCOs, replete with the weird pitch variations and apparent ﾓnoisinessﾔ of a thyratron oscillator.
Turn up the overdrive control, and the oscillator output clips the output amplifier pentode tube, for a unique soft-clipped square-wave sound. The simplicity of the R-55 will fool you--its behavior is erratic and weird, it always sounds broken, and the waveform is deviated in every way. You don't even need to feed it Hz/v CV; just run a square-wave or pulse signal from a conventional VCO into a pitch CV input, and it will force the R-55 to track along with the other VCO.

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Wein Glass - Sex and Tubes and Rock and Roll!

Published on Aug 31, 2016 Wein Glas

"From the new Weinglas album release 'All Tubes' on vicmod records: https://vicmodweinglas.bandcamp.com/a...

The album 'All Tubes' is made with lots of strange electronic instruments and synthesizers made with vacuum tubes from Metasonix, Trogotronic and Zerosum Inertia!

This track features the Tubesounds of the Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine!"

Radioactivity Lectures

Published on Aug 31, 2016 Wein Glas

"From the new Weinglas album release "All Tubes" on vicmod records: https://vicmodweinglas.bandcamp.com/a...

The album "All Tubes" is made with lots of strange electronic instruments and synthesizers made with vacuum tubes from Metasonix, Trogotronic and Zerosum Inertia!

This track features the Tubesounds of the Metasonix D-1000 Drum machine, KV-100 FX & S-1000 Synthesizer, the Trogotronic 676 and a lot of Zerosum Inertia ZIMM modules!"

Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine Tube Synthesizer

via this auction

"The Professional Solution-The Ultimate Tube Synthesizer! The Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine Tube Synthesizer Rack Mount.

Pitch sources:
* 2 independent VCOs
* Made entirely of vacuum and gas-filled tubes
* Range >2 octaves using CV, octave switching allows range from 33 Hz (low C) to more than 2 kHz.
* 3 waveforms: thyratron sawtooth, square, and square with suboctave
* VCO2 may free-run or be soft-synced to VCO 1
* Numerous patch points allow enormous flexibility

Waveshaper:
* Unique circuit with soft clipper and pulse adder (shapes waveforms from VCOs by adding small pulses to top of waveform at discontinuity)
* Made entirely of vacuum tubes
* Settings: disable, soft-clip only, and soft-clip with pulses added to signal. Latter circuit allows simulation of noise source.

Filter:
* Unique multimode circuit allows it to be used as a lowpass, treble/midrange bandpass or bass bandpass filter.
* Continuously variable control allows mixing of filter forms in any proportion.
* Made entirely of vacuum tubes.
* Range of treble resonance switchable, 400-1700 Hz. Bass resonance tunes from ~100-350 Hz

VCA:
* Unique circuit using a pentode tube
* Made entirely of a vacuum tube
* May be modulated with the AR generator only, or with the control voltage generated on modulation bus 2

Modulation:
* 2 envelope generators, A(S)R and AD, both triggered with input gate signal. Both may be combined on either modulation bus to create ADSR.
* 2 independent LFOs, triangle waveform, range <0.3 Hz to more than 5 Hz.
* 2 modulation buses allow combining the A(S)R, AD, and two LFOs as needed to affect any CV input in the audio circuit (VCO pitch, VCO squarer waveshape, waveshaper pulser, filter tuning).

Main CV input controls pitch of both VCOs (Hz/V response).
Gate input triggers envelope generators, accepts 0-5v or 0-10v gate voltage.
6AL7 "eye" tube displays status of LFOs and A(S)R control voltages on three separate glowing green bar graphs.

Miniature joystick performs multiple jobs: vertical motion affects pitch of both VCOs, horizontal motion affects tuning of filter.
Press joystick in to trigger envelopes.

Features
Size: 6U high standard EIA rack mount, 3" depth below rack panel. 11 vacuum/gas tubes. Weight about 20 pounds with AC adapter. Draws 12 volts (AC ONLY) at 3 amps."

Metasonix S1000 "Wretch Machine"

Metasonix S1000 "Wretch Machine" prototype. Damn, that is one sexy looking behemoth of a synth (never thought I'd ever say that). Look at that thing! It's got tubes poppin out of it. Be careful... Title link takes you to a bigger shot and a PDF with details (I copied and pasted the details below in case you don't have a reader). Via Michael Weeks of www.endmusik.com, via the floor of the VTV expo. Thanks Michael!



Specs via the PDF in case you don't have a reader:
"The Ultimate Tube Synthesizer.
Pitch sources: two independent VCOs.
Made entirely of vacuum and gas-filled tubes.
Range >2 octaves using CV, octave switching allows range from
33 Hz (low C) to more than 2 kHz.
Three waveforms: thyratron sawtooth, square, and square with
suboctave.
VCO 2 may free-run or be soft-synced to VCO 1.
Numerous patch points allow enormous flexibility.
Waveshaper: unique circuit, with soft clipper and pulse adder
(shapes waveforms from VCOs by adding small pulses to top of
waveform at discontinuity).
Made entirely of vacuum tubes.
Settings: disable, soft-clip only, and soft-clip with pulses added to
signal. Latter circuit allows simulation of noise source.
Filter: unique multimode circuit, allows its use as a lowpass,
treble/midrange bandpass or bass bandpass filter.
Continuously variable control allows mixing of filter forms in any
proportion.
Made entirely of vacuum tubes.
Range of treble resonance switchable, 400-1700 Hz.
Bass resonance tunes from ~100-350 Hz.
Filter sweep is performed with photoresistor element.
VCA: unique circuit using a pentode tube.
Made entirely of a vacuum tube.
May be modulated with the AR generator only, or with the control
voltage generated on modulation bus 2.
Modulation: two envelope generators, A(S)R and AD.
Both triggered with input gate signal. Both may be combined on
either modulation bus to create ADSR.
Two independent LFOs, triangle waveform, range <0.3 Hz to more
than 5 Hz.
Two modulation buses allow combining the A(S)R, AD, and two
LFOs as needed to effect any CV input in the audio circuit (VCO
pitch, VCO squarer waveshape, waveshaper pulser, filter tuning).
Main CV input controls pitch of both VCOs (Hz/V response).
Gate input triggers envelope generators, accepts 0-5v or 0-10v
gate voltage.
6AL7 "eye" tube displays status of LFOs and A(S)R control voltages
on three separate glowing green bar graphs.
Miniature joystick performs multiple jobs: vertical motion affects
pitch of both VCOs, horizontal motion affects tuning of filter.
Press joystick in to trigger envelopes.
Size: 6U high standard EIA rack mount, 3" depth below rack panel.
11 vacuum/gas tubes. Weight about 20 pounds with AC adapter.
Draws 12 volts AC ONLY at 3 amps.
Expected availability mid-2006, expected retail price $2500.
Optional internal MIDI-CV interface, add $300."

Metasonix Wretch Machine Vids

Remember this Wretch up for auction? The following are some vids of it.

EM-bizarre-hard-6c.mov
EM-bizarre-hard-7c.mov
EM-bizarre-hard-8c.mov
EM-bizarre-hard-9c.mov

Metasonix Wretch Machine S-1000

flickr by donokono

just a nice shot of the S-1000

metasonix.com

Happy New Year From Big City Music - New Website, Larger Showroom and New Gear Coming

via @bigcitymusic

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2016 will be great as we've launched a new website, opened a bigger showroom, and have lots of exciting new gear to show everyone in a few weeks 👏🎊 #keepmusiccreative #metasonix"

The image appears to be the Metasonix Wretch Machine.

If you are heading to NAMM this year, do not miss the Big City Music booth!

Wretch Jam #6

Published on Apr 19, 2014 Smokey Quartz·7 videos

"Another wretched jam with the Metasonix Wretch Machine, D-1000, and R-56."

All parts here.

Totalmusik Polyphonic Wretch Machine

via Totalmusik

"Over 2GB of glorious samples of the raw, untamed tube oscillators of the Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine. Aimed at the crafty sound sculptor looking to get direct access to a huge library of raw, malleable waveforms from the only currently manufactured synthesizer with balls enough to ignore over 50 years of technological innovation."

Smokey Quartz - Pneumata #2

Published on Oct 25, 2015 Smokey Quartz

"A meeting between the Ekdahl Polygamist and Metasonix Wretch Machine with a little percussive help from Mr. Basimilus Iteritas. The Polygamist is running the show, triggering everything with it's LFOs and sending out pitch CVs to the Wretch and BI from it's ribbon."