"Pony VCO is a compact analogue oscillator with wave folding, through zero FM and a built-in VCA. Let's put it through its paces.
http://www.befaco.org
Index - 0:00 Sound example - 0:33 Intro - 4:06 Overview - 4:33 Tuning knob - 5:16 Waveforms - 7:21 Timbre - Wave Folding - 8:30 VCA - 12:07 Modulating Timbre - 14:17 Add a filter - 19:36 Thoughts so far - 26:38 Thru-Zero FM - 28:17 More sound examples with filter and effects - 31:33 Conclusions - 38:45"
Update: pic and info via Befaco:
Analog Thru-Zero Wavefolding VCO/LFO
Pony VCO is a fully analog Thru-Zero oscillator with wavefolder and dedicated VCA in only 4HP. The module offers great stability and tuning capabilities thanks to its powerful core, based on Sound Semiconductors IC. It comes with range selector, that allows it to go down to LFO range, as well as octave and waveform selectors.
Pony VCO is also available in 1U format keeping the same functionality and control layout.
"This is the fascinating wavefolding and FM-modulating Pizza oscillator from Bastl Instruments. If, like me, you don't get on with FM in your rack, then this could be for you."
"The Moog Mavis is nice but expensive for its feature set. Is it worth the money considering what else is available for similar or less? In this video I give the Mavis a good going over and then compare it to some other synths - are there better choices out there?
Index / Intro - 0:00
Assembly - 2:20
Overview - 7:49
Oscillator - 9:23
Filter - 11:15
Wot no sequencer - 23:59
Wave folding - 30:58
Thoughts so far - 33:27
Some comparisons - 34:47
Final thoughts - 39:17
Outro - 48:30"
"This is an attempt to capture my performance from the Electronic Music Open Mic (EMOM) at The Rumsey Wells in Norwich last night. Recorded live direct to Reel-to-Reel and then recorded to computer, lined up with the video and posted.
It's interesting to me how the drums in the track are both on the money and off somehow at the same time. It's like it hooks in and then loses its grip. Weird, but fascinating. It was probably a heartbeat out of sync or something."
"In this video I'm building the Dysmetria from Dreadbox and showing you every step in more detail than you can possibly imagine. In a companion video I'll show you the testing, tuning and calibration procedure."
Index - 0:00 In the box - 2:35 Preparation - 4:15 Measuring Resistors - 7:46 Resistor soldering - 15:29 Diodes - 29:25 Crystal and regulators - 34:23 Trimmers - 35:31 IC Holders - 37:16 Power USB board - 45:25 Capacitors - 47:32 Electrolytic Capacitors - 53:37 Transistors - 58:16 Headers - 59:40 Power Header - 1:02:03 Patch Sockets - 1:04:35 Push Buttons - 1:07:20 Sliders - 1:11:33 Switches - 1:17:46 Knobs - 1:20:15 Spacers - 1:23:07 Mounting the power board - 1:24:05 Power testing - 1:25:37 Place the ICs - 1:27:53 Header socket - 1:31:23 Knobs, front panel and screws - 1:36:55 Initial testing - 1:40:58
Dreadbox Dysmetria Testing, Calibration and Tuning
The Dimension of the West Pest - Cre8audio West Pest Film video upload by Cre8audio
On the heels of the East Beast based on East Coast Moog style synthesis, Cre8audio and Pittsburgh Modular introduce the West Pest based on West Coast Buchla style synthesis.
"Cre8audio's second little synth is the West Pest. Inspired by West coast synths it has a big fat wavefolder and a fabulous Dynamics Controller that gives it a very different feel to the East Beast."
Index - 0:00
Intro - 1:17
Overview - 6:22
Wavefolding - 9:21
Oscillator waveforms - 15:26
Dynamics Controller - 17:54
LFO - 25:20
Multi-wave noodle with delay and reverb - 29:25
Sequencer and Arpeggiator - 31:23
Multi Engine - 34:50
Couple more sound demos - 39:37
Conclusions - 42:01
Dueling synths - 47:36
"Designed and developed in partnership with Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers, West Pest is a powerful monophonic full voice, integrating imaginative sound-shaping tools with traditionally “west coast” concepts. Test the pest!
West Pest’s unique sound has been influenced by Pittsburgh’s acclaimed Voltage Research Lab synthesizer.
The Pittsburgh-designed core oscillator technology has matured through the development of their SV-1 and later with Voltage Research Laboratory. This iteration’s waveforms have been optimized to be run through West Pest’s wavefolder.
Wave folding/shaping is integral to West Pest’s foundation. Wavefolding amplifies incoming waveforms. Rather than clipping or distorting, the wavefolder circuit folds the waveforms back onto themselves, creating upwards of six folds to add vast harmonic complexity and depth.
West Pest’s snappy, responsive articulation is accomplished by the “Dynamics Controller,” Pittsburgh Modular’s original invention. This unique concept is designed to behave like a traditional filter, a VCA, and an envelope generator, all at once. Upon note trigger, the filter opens fully and rapidly, producing a sharp, percussive attack. At release, the Dynamics Controller adds a ringing, resonant decay, resulting in a rounder, more musical sound. The Dynamics Controller is the product of years of research by Pittsburgh’s founder Richard Nicol, and Chief of R&D Michael Johnsen. Inspired by the developments of West Coast synthesis pioneer Don Buchla, Pittsburgh Modular has modernized and evolved these concepts, taking them into new realms, adding wider range, consistency, stability, and resonance control, as well as an infinitely variable, ringing decay.
Going beyond these analog sound-sculpting tools, West Pest also includes a deep new digital multi-mod /multi-function tool concept to add more flavor to the Pest’s production. The multi-mod lets users select between additional clock synced LFO, decay envelope, MIDI-controlled modulation, and random voltage generator modes.
West Pest’s compositional and performance capabilities are as robust as its ferocious sonic engine. West Pest can be controlled via MIDI, control voltage (CV/Gate), and its function keys, which double as a keyboard controller. Also included is an integrated sequencer & arpeggiator that can also be controlled via MIDI and is externally clockable.
A semi-modular synthesizer, West Pest has basically 8 different patchable modules (Oscillator, wave contour, dynamics controller, LFO, multi-mod tool, MIDI to CV converter, step sequencer, and button keyboard) with a whopping 18 Eurorack compatible patch points to plug into itself and your other gear. As a starting point, West Pest comes intuitively patched internally to create a bold and flexible full synth voice. Using the patch points enables users to reroute internal signal flow, as well as use with external eurorack format modules and synthesizers. To promote experimentation, Cre8audio has included a set of premium Nazca Noodles patch cables.
"Knobula sent me a Kickain - it's changed my life. Apologies for my terrible techno."
Kick Drum & Sidechain Redefined
Introducing Kickain, the world's first integrated kick drum and stereo sidechain compressor.
We've taken the best sounding kick drum circuit, added an enveloped 24bit reverb, and merged it with the ultimate sidechain compressor to give you one simple, easy to manage, mastering quality beat engine.
Stereo Spectral Compression
Linked Controls between kick, side chain and reverb.
909 inspired virtual analogue signal path
24 bit Stereo Reverb
FX Send/Return option
CV pitch control, play like a bass
40Hz/60Hz bass cut protection
12 hp
"I’m proud to present to you STEREO STRIP. My next module made in collaboration with Befaco. Stereo Strip is a stereo EQ, VCA, panner, distortion, mute & line level input and/or output interface for external gear.
Stereo Strip builds upon the well trodden paths of studio channel strips expanding them for musical and creative modular use with voltage control. Simply try swapping out simple VCAs for Stereo Strip to enhance your patches with EQ and voltage controlled panning. Or get creative and check out the patches below for highly shapeable distortion hacks, mind bending stereo ring modulation, CV routing, feedback waveshaping and more."
Divkid Stereo Strip - A Channel Strip For Eurorack
video upload by Patchwerks
"In this video Matthew (aka EZBOT) shares an overview and demo of the Divkid and Befaco collaboration, Stereo Strip.
Stereo Strip takes the idea of a channel strip and makes it modular. We hope that by bringing this long-established component of the audio engineering world into the Eurorack environment and by adding CV control over its key parameters that you will find new, creative ways to use it in your patches!
It features stereo inputs and outputs for audio or CV with EQ, voltage controlled panning, stereo VCA, performable mute and input/output level switching for Eurorack or line level uses. Abusing the input level switching allows for some musical, modulate-able and highly shapeable distortion sounds too.
Stereo Strip was designed to be a creative part of a modular patch. Creating
stereo images from mono sources, shaping and modulating existing stereo
images, synthesising stereo pseudo ring modulation, sweetening FX with EQ or drastically wave shaping your oscillators, creating send FX routings with benefits or it can simply be used as a channel strip at the end of chain in a patch.
"Stereo Strip takes the idea of a channel strip and makes it modular. We hope that
by bringing this long-established component of the audio engineering world into
the Eurorack environment and by adding CV control over its key parameters that
you will find new, creative ways to use it in your patches!
It features stereo inputs and outputs for audio or CV with EQ, voltage controlled
panning, stereo VCA, performable mute and input/output level switching for
Eurorack or line level uses. Abusing the input level switching allows for some
musical, modulate-able and highly shapeable distortion sounds too.
Stereo Strip was designed to be a creative part of a modular patch. Creating
stereo images from mono sources, shaping and modulating existing stereo
images, synthesising stereo pseudo ring modulation, sweetening FX with EQ or
drastically wave shaping your oscillators, creating send FX routings with benefits
or it can simply be used as a channel strip at the end of chain in a patch.
The addition of line level gain boosting (for the input) or reduction (for the output)
allow it to work as a stereo input or output interface for external gear with the
advantage of the VCA, panning and the EQ to shape the sound. Experiment with
bringing external gear into the Eurorack format and then shape and modulate
those sounds them on the way in!
Try patching Stereo Strip anywhere you would place a VCA in a system and/or
explore its EQ and voltage controlled panning, which are rarer additions to the
sound sculpting options for the Eurorack format.
Specifications
- 6HP
- 33mm deep including power connector
- 63mA +12V and 63mA -12V current draw."
"Is the new Volca FM2 the DX7 in a little box we've all been waiting for or is it a silly machine with a ridiculously complex and inaccessible synthesizer engine? I think it's a bit of both and in this video I'll show why it's a work of flawed genius.
Index - 0:00
Intro - 0:09
Having a play - 6:20
Adding a MIDI keyboard - 23:58
Loading DX7 sounds - 25:37
Conclusions - 31:38"
"The Hydrasynth Explorer takes batteries, so I thought I'd take it as an opportunity to get out into the countryside and explore the environment with my Explorer. Little did I know that this would turn into a bit of a battery nightmare because I got the absolutely wrong type. It's the first time I've gone out in the field like this and it has its challenges but I hope to get better at it and do it a lot more... provided I use the right batteries.
This video has been updated with solid battery information so that no one is confused about the sort of batteries you should and should not be using. And I'm sorry for giving Ashun Sound Machines a heart attack."
"The W614 is a whole modular system in a 6U oak case built with vintage-inspired modules with analogue and digital oscillators. I'll take you through the modules, share my thoughts on the configuration and then dazzle you with a bunch of patches."
Index - 0:00
Intro - 0:28
The Modules - 7:01
Summing up - 14:19
Patches - 16:58
"Our W614 Modular Synthesizer is an excellent, compact system for the studio; offering a good balance between versatility and portability. It features the essential modules that you would expect from a small studio setup, but with a broader range of modulation and sonic possibilities over the smaller W314, along with sequencing capabilities from our 8-Step Sequencer.
The system is housed in an elegant, solid walnut 6U, 104HP case. Also included is a premium integrated PSU from Konstant Lab.
"'I was pretty amazed by OB-E, it was pretty damn close right out of the shoot. It was “wow!'. I like listening to that." Tom Oberheim.
In 2021, during the release of OB-E®, we were contacted by Marcus Ryle on behalf of Tom Oberheim. Marcus is a co-founder of Line 6® but also a former Oberheim Developer who contributed to the OB-Xa, DSX, DMX, OB-8, Xpander and Matrix 12. Via Marcus, OB-E had found its way to the ears of Tom Oberheim and they were both impressed enough to suggest a collaboration to refine the instrument and release an update carrying their full endorsement.
Working under the guidance of Tom and Marcus, we further enhanced OB-E, Refining the Detune feature and adding a new Vintage knob, which dials in more realistic musical inaccuracies in line with the original instrument for a truly authentic 8-Voice experience.
The 8-Voice is not simply eight identical SEMs put together. The interaction of those 8 independent, and slightly different Synthesizer Expander Modules, plays a major role in making the 8-Voice’s sound special and the injection of these authentic inaccuracies into each of the eight SEMs in OB-E takes it to another level.
But don't listen to us - listen to two of our heroes, and bonafide industry legends, talk about their opinion of OB-E.
Find Out More: https://gforcesoftware.com/products/ob-e
Legal Notice.
All trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners. Oberheim and SEM are registered trademarks of Tom Oberheim."
"The latest version of OB-E is the first ever software instrument to be endorsed by synthesizer pioneer, Tom Oberheim. It is also PC compatible and both Mac & PC versions contain several enhancements developed in collaboration with Tom that make it even closer to the original. As if that's not cool enough, we've also added several new features including a comprehensive Reverb Effect and a Drum Mode. This video focusses on what's new.
"Lots of wavetables, lots of timbres and sub-oscillator action in a stylish and versatile module. Let's modulate those waves and see what Osiris is all about."
"Improvisation using The Mosaic Quantizer as an arpeggiator into the Qu-Bit Surface while grabbing a note via the DivKid RND Step Sample & Hold module and pumping that into the Deckard's Voice. Meanwhile I brought a sequence into the Ona oscillator running through the Grit filter supported by Pico Drums and Noise Plethora through a Percall run by the 6quencer."
