Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to 2011! Synth posts will follow shortly. I am still alive!!! :)
New Years is slowly becoming my favorite holiday. It is a time to start clean and move forward. It represents freedom and hope in who we are and who we want to be. We get to shake off the past and just look forward. Don't ever let yourself down, you are all that you have.

That said, New Years Eve, and for this site, New Years day, has become the one day I look back and reflect on the year. I look back on the numbers and the posts and I share that with you, the readers and contributors of the site. I think it's fun to look back and see how large this particular audience is. I like to think of us as the hardcore synth enthusiasts in the world. We all love some aspect of the art of synthesis, whether that be analog, digital, hardware, software, tonal music, atonal, noise, circuit bending, DIY, or in short, "EVERYTHING SYNTH!"

First of all, I want to thank you, the readers and contributors of the site. THANK YOU! To the readers, thank you for taking time out of your day to visit the site, and to those that spread the word on the site. To the contributors/makers of synth content, thank you for taking the time to share your hobby, and in many cases, your passion with others. Thank you to all the DIYers and manufacturers for providing these fascinating and esoteric works for us to explore. To the dealers and shops, thank you for providing an outlet for us to pick, and in many cases, try gear out. We have a very boutique interest, and because of this a relatively small market, so thank you for doing what you do.

Before I go over the stats on the site, I thought I'd share a little on what was popular over the last year and what in my opinion, posting every day, really stood out. The two break out areas in the world of synths and posts this year was no doubt the iPad and boutique modulars. This year we saw the start of the slate as a new platform not only for synthesis and sound manipulation, but also, alternative control interfaces for existing gear. On the modular front, there is no denying the surge in the number of manufacturers and modules now available, as well as the format becoming more popular amongst users, and even getting some exposure in the mainstream (see Kesha). There was a time when modular systems seemed distant and unobtainable. A modular used to be equated with a complete modular system. Now people are discovering that you don't need a full system to get started (see this post). Will it ever become fully mainstream? That's hard to tell. The biggest challenge as before is still the cost of entry - a case and power supply. If it wasn't for that, modulars would be just as popular as effects pedals, as essentially, that is what modules are.

As for the most popular individual posts, here's what Blogger had for "all time". They just started providing this feature, so I have no idea how far it actually goes back, but all posts are dated 2010, so here it is. Note I post like crazy of course, an average of 46.35 a day this year, and most people see posts on the front page. That said, this is still interesting to look at. Worth noting is both Twitter and Facebook have become much more popular, so a bit of what you are seeing here are direct click-throughs to the posts from them. What's up with the Technics SX-WSA 1R?

New Moog Voyager XL
Sep 8, 2010, 24 comments
3,349 Pageviews

Bob Dylan Goes Electronica
Jul 12, 2010, 6 comments
1,344 Pageviews

RIP Keith Barr - Founder of Alesis and MXR
Aug 25, 2010, 16 comments
1,269 Pageviews

Santa came early...
Dec 22, 2010, 6 comments
1,216 Pageviews

eml 400 ebay
Jul 20, 2010
1,125 Pageviews

TECHNICS SX-WSA 1R ACOUSTIC MODELING SYNTHESIZER
Nov 7, 2010
851 Pageviews

Moog iOS App on the Way
Oct 11, 2010, 3 comments
818 Pageviews

Something Wicked is Coming From M-Audio
Dec 20, 2010, 13 comments
780 Pageviews

Daft Punk's Modcan Modular
Nov 3, 2010, 5 comments
753 Pageviews

RIP David Hillel Wilson - Curator of the New Engla...
Aug 29, 2010, 17 comments
730 Pageviews

Total number of posts for the year? 16,917, up from 13,002 in 2009. That's an average of 46.35 posts a day. Not a single day missed.

Number of posts by year:
2010 16,917
2009 13,002
2008 10,066
2007 6,673
2006 3,871
2005 1205


3,048,111 visits came from 209 countries/territories

I think I'm still banned in some...

According to Google Analytics, the blog had 3,048,111 Visits for a whopping total of 6,988,389 Pageviews. That's up from 2,565,300 Visits (18.82%) and 5,804,265 Pageviews (20.40%). When you look at the numbers, realize this site reads like a roster of posts, it's not a multi-page forum or site that requires you to constantly click through pages to get to the info you are looking for. Everything is there on the front page or two depending on how often you visit.

Total Visits:
2010: 3,048,111
2009: 2,565,300
2008: 2,010,102
2007: 1,383,340
2006: 513,060
2005: 207,750 (via AdSense)
Total: 9,727,663

Total Page Views:
2010: 6,988,389
2009: 5,804,265
2008: 3,865,863
2007: 2,519,689
2006: 912,490
2005: 207,750 (via AdSense)
Total: 19,385,956

The numbers by country for the year:
1 United States 1180153
2 United Kingdom 266338
3 Germany 209723
4 Canada 168485
5 France 168127
6 Italy 109265
7 Sweden 90540
8 Netherlands 82509
9 Japan 72101
10 Australia 62750

Again, THANK YOU for a great year!!!

Circuit-Bending the Kawasaki iSoundz Guitar with Burnkit2600 - part 3

YouTube via burnkit2600 | October 28, 2010

"Testing the flip camera with a quick run through of the new features added to the 'Chordowl', my Kawasaki iSoundz Guitar that was modified for the Moog circuit bending competition and won me a spot in the finals :)"

ANimALOGICA Bologna Synth Meeting 4th Edition 2010

"13 Novembre 2010
Raum, via Cà Selvatica 4d, Bologna
ore 10:00>19:00 + 21:30
[Googlish here]
ANimALOGICA Bologna Synth Meeting è il primo meeting in Italia che raccorda differenti realtà legate ai sintetizzatori e agli strumenti musicali elettronici dove musicisti, organologi, professionisti del settore, collezionisti e appassionati si riuniscono per un momento di incontro e di condivisione, di scambio di opinioni ed emozioni legate alla liuteria e alla musica elettronica.
Non è una mostra, non è una fiera, è appunto un meeting dove ogni partecipante porta uno o più strumenti da condividere con gli altri partecipanti per l’intera giornata del meeting. Si suona, si parla, si discute di musica e strumenti.

Per la quarta edizione di ANimALOGICA, il sintetizzatore, lo strumento musicale elettronico per eccellenza verrà affrontato all'interno dei tre seminari e nel concerto da differenti angolazioni:

CLICK FOR MORE »

1st Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

"Enter the First Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

Moog Music was born when a young Bob Moog, who considered himself a geeky, socially awkward kid with a passion for electronics and music started tinkering with electronic circuitry. As a boy, Moog built small radios, amps and three note organs in his basement workshop with his father & the rest is history. In celebration of this creative curiosity, Moog and Moogfest 2010 are sponsoring a circuit bending challenge, to honor all those that lick and stick, modify signals and jump traces.

How to Enter:
1. Procure a battery-powered sound-making device
2. Bend it by any means necessary.
3. Document the bend process and outcome with video with audio (required). The better you document, the better we can judge. All videos must be uploaded by midnight eastern time on Monday October 18th, 2010.
4. Upload the video to YouTube and tag with “moog circuit bending competition 2010” and “Moogfest 2010”.
5. Send an email with the subject Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2010 to info@moogmusic.com with the YouTube links to your entry.

Finals:
The top 3 contestants will be chosen as finalists on Friday, October 22, 2010 and win weekend passes to Moogfest 2010 as well as a Moog merch package. At Moogfest the 3 finalists will be given a workstation in the Moogaplex, the same toy and the same bag of tools (which includes a soldering iron, wire, switches, potentiometers of varying degrees, resistors, capacitors, heat shrink, bread boards, diodes, plus more surprises). Each finalist will have from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 & Sunday, October 31 to bend the toy at their workstations. Grand prize winner will be chosen by a Moog Music Engineer at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 31.

Grand Prize:
Grand Prize winner receives a Moog Pedal Board which includes one of each Moogerfooger (MF-101 Low Pass Filter, MF-102 Ring Mod, MF-103 Phaser, MF-104Z Analog Delay, MF-105M Midi MuRF, MF-107 ) and a Multi-Pedal (MP-201). [and a Slim Phatty]

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING.

All winners must be 18 years of age or older, unless otherwise stated and/or posted.

1. Entering Contest and Choosing and Contacting Winners:

CLICK FOR MORE »

BrianPatrickLizards1226.mp4 - Circuit Bent Open Mic

YouTube via CremeDeMentia. Lizard's Liquid Lounge 12.26.09

Update via brian comnes: "the first set was a xoxbox (#150) into a Flight of Harmony PlagueBearer filter that was being tweeked by the CV out of a Moog LP201 pedal - needless to say that PlagueBearer was the bad boy in control - that was my first time with these three things together - it shows too

the circuit bending credo is that " there is no such thing as failure" and I helped prove that - Creme deMentia OTOH stole the show with his set"

Raymond Scott Centennial Vinyl Figurine & CD Set

Available at raymondscott.com

via Boing Boing, via Jeff of http://raymondscott.blogspot.com/ in the comments of this post.

Note Press Pop also make the Bob Moog doll.

The small keyboard is Raymond Scott's Clavixox. The larger instrument is Raymond Scott's Electronium, video of it directly below (previously here).


Raymond Scott's Electronium

YouTube via DrRek

"As it remains in non working order in the Basement of Mark Motherbaugh's Mutato Music Offices in Hollywood, CA courtesy of http://absurdity.biz's circuit bending documentary"
Be sure to click on the labels at the bottom of this post for more. There are a lot of nuggets in there.

ARP 2600 Garbage and a Kitty

Another story to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"around may of this year in seattle, there was a electronics recycling thing going on which i helped with... it was insane piles of electronic waste, all of which would be disassembled and sold as scrap. during this event i asked the guy in charge if i could have a old 'music keyboard' i found (arp 2600 + 3620keys)! (no one knew what it was but me!!!!) once home i and it was taken apart for cleaning i found it had the old 'moog filter' and was missing 1 speaker,only thing wrong with it! plus someone had modified it (8 extra holes plus toggle switch) sorta like 70s circuit bending i suppose." via anonymous.
Not sure about the cat connection, but there it is.

D-Lab Electronics Multi Plexer

images via this auction

Details:
"GETLOFI.Com
The Multi-Plexer will produce those famous sounds that you grew up hearing on Lost and Space, The Forbidden Planet, Star Trek and other Sci-Fi classics. The name was assigned, simply because that’s what it does. The circuit sends an analog signal around in a circle, bending and distorting it, like a ring modulator. However, the MP is a FREE RUNNING Synth. No input is required for it to operate. But if you input a signal (like your guitar) it will ride the MP self generated wave. The end product is a result of many manipulations. I cannot describe its sounds in words. Please listen to the links and judge for yourself.

Multi-Plexer.MP3
Multi-Plexer.MP3
Multi-Plexer.Wav

Circuit:
The circuit is a basic pure Analog Synth (not noisy digital) with Depth, Sustain, Impact, Rate, Frequency and Volume adjustments. Only TOP Quality components were utilized. “Spared no expense” The circuit board was custom manufactured using a photo-etch system. It runs on 2- 9vdc batteries (included). Totally isolated circuit will not produce hum or ground loops on your Guitar amp or stereo as other plug in the wall synths do. This is a great gadget to add to your rock band as a creepy, self running, sound generator. It’s also a lot of fun to just play with on your home stereo. This device runs at a low frequency, therefore, it responds well to Bass guitars and keyboard inputs. It's initial design was intended for generation of neat sound effects. The input jack came later.

Check out the MP3 files that my friend in OK sent me (see links above). The original circuit was developed in the 1970’s. 30 of them have sold on the ebay so far. See my feedback for great comments on this device. This gadget is not available anywhere besides D-Lab. In other words, you will be getting a very unique item. My investment per unit is $70.00 (parts), excluding numerous hours of layout and construction time. The cost have elevated due to the cosmetic upgrades. I am doing my best to provide a top notch product. I realize that my gadget is small league compared to the big hitters (Moog, Paia & Korg). I just hope that you enjoy it. Bands around the country have been e-mailing me with great reports incorporating the Multi-Plexer's weird sound into their gigs. This device is great for Band Background weird noise or making your instrument act crazy!

This device is intended for fun or interface with your band equipment, not for development of a new Outer Limits episode. The cost is much less than store bought models and it is fully portable, unlike anything else on the market. Please e-mail me with questions or concerns before bidding. Unit comes with a nifty overview sheet for operating this crazy instrument."

MOOG Memorymoog L.A.M.M. - Lintronics

Click here for more shots via this auction.

"Hardware Upgrades Include:
* Five new jacks are installed on the rear expansion slot's cover plate: MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports, a 1/4" stereo output jack, a 1/4" mono output jack and a FILTER input jack. Stereo output circuitry is added. If the mono output jack is used simultaneously with the stereo output jack, then the Memorymoog's six voices are spread across the stereo field (the placement of the individual voices is fixed internally). The volume of the stereo output can be adjusted only with the programmable volume pot, and the value can be stored with each individual sound.
* An analog noise circuit is added to the stereo output board to avoid the digital loop effect of the original noise generator.
* The power supply is checked for cold solder points and defective components.
* The six voice cards are removed, checked, repaired if necessary, and modified for the Lintronics Autotune algorithm. Forty-six oscillator adjustments are replaced with high-stability precision multi-turn potentiometers. Oscillator capacitors and resistors are replaced with high stability parts.These modifications ensure the long-term stability of the oscillators.
* All system boards are removed, checked for cold solder joints, tested, and repaired if necessary. Modifications for pitch bending, modulation wheel, foot pedal, and octave signals are made. After these modifications, the cutoff frequency in Keyboard Tracking mode is not only controllable by the keyboard, but also by the transpose switch, tune control, and pitch wheel.
* The Octave Board is modified so that the setting of the octave switch can be stored on a per-sound basis.
* The Digital Board is rebuilt so that the reset switch functions reliably. Microprocessor and program ROMs are replaced with upgraded components. MIDI interface circuitry is added.
* The front panel components are removed, checked, and replaced if necessary. The front panel is cleaned, and missing or damaged knobs are replaced with original Moog parts as availability permits.
* After the upgraded circuit boards are reinstalled, the instrument is 100% tested, then allowed to burn in for 7 days, then tested again."

via Scott Metzger

D-Lab Multi-Plexer

Click here for more shots via this auction

Details:
"The D-Lab Classic Multi-Plexer in Baked ON-Dark Metallic Blue

I have had request’s to keep the unit simple for those that enjoy the sound and liked the original look, this unit is it! with a few updates:
1. New design Main circuit board (just received this week!)
2. New FREQ range pot (for better response).
3. Blue Metallic Bezel paint and Yellow LEDS. For a bit of 1970’s style.
4. Overview sheet.

Found this website write-up on my device! I guess they share synth technology.

GETLOFI.Com

The Multi-Plexer will produce those famous sounds that you grew up hearing on Lost and Space, The Forbidden Planet, Star Trek and other Sci-Fi classics. The name was assigned, simply because that’s what it does. The circuit sends an analog signal around in a circle, bending and distorting it, like a ring modulator. However, the MP is a FREE RUNNING Synth. No input is required for it to operate. But if you input a signal (like your guitar) it will ride the MP self generated wave. The end product is a result of many manipulations. I cannot describe its sounds in words. Please listen to the links and judge for yourself.

Multi-Plexer.MP3
Multi-Plexer.MP3
Multi-Plexer.Wav

Circuit:
The circuit is a basic pure Analog Synth (not noisy digital) with Depth, Sustain, Impact, Rate, Frequency and Volume adjustments. Only TOP Quality components were utilized. “Spared no expense” Runs on 2- 9vdc batteries (included). Totally isolated circuit will not produce hum or ground loops on your Guitar amp or stereo as other plug in the wall synths do. This is a great gadget to add to your rock band as a creepy, self running, sound generator. It’s also a lot of fun to just play with on your home stereo. Works best with Bass guitars or Keyboards, since the frequency is basically low.

Check out the MP3 files that my friend in OK sent me (see links above). The original circuit was developed in the 1970’s. Over 60 of them have sold on the ebay so far. See my feedback for great comments on this device. This gadget is not available anywhere besides D-Lab. In other words, you will be getting a very unique item. My investment per unit is $70.00 (parts), excluding numerous hours of layout and construction time. The cost have elevated due to the cosmetics I have been incorporating, plus quality components. I am doing my best to provide a top notch product. I realize that my gadget is small league compared to the big hitters (Moog, Paia & Korg). I just hope that you enjoy it. Bands around the country have been e-mailing me with great reports incorporating the Multi-Plexer's weird sound into their gigs.

This device is intended for fun or interface with your band equipment, not for development of a new Outer Limits episode. The cost is much less than store bought models and it is fully portable, unlike anything else on the market. Please e-mail me with questions or concerns before bidding. Unit comes with a nifty overview sheet for operating this crazy instrument. I can accept PayPal or M/O’s only. Payment must be received within 5 days of auction end. Shipping will be via Fed X ground ($9.00) to a street address, NO P.O. boxes. Thanks for looking and for your consideration.

NOTE: GREAT HALLOWEEN Sound effects device! Last one till 1 Nov."

Technomania on SonicState

Sonic State has launched Technomania, a video grab bag of randomn synth clips. Below are links to the first two episodes.










Episode 1
James Anderson and Circuit Bending
The Fairlight on Discovering Electronic Music
Russian Polyvoks
Fumitaka Anzai and a Lego Moog Modular
Mootbooxle and his Synthesizers.com modular

Episode 2
Roland CMU-810
The Moog Modular on Discovering Electronic Music
ARP 2500
James Anderson and Circuit Bending
Fumitaka Anzai and a Mellotron 400 patch change

via sequencer.de