5/1/25 (1st SDS6 test) Simmons SDS6 & SDS8 + Peavey 1300 + Alesis MIDIVERB II + Paia 6740

video upload by Cfpp0

"A first test of the Simmons SDS6 after having it extensively serviced by The Simmons Guy. I love it!"

Two great Simmons demos today. See the Simmons label below for more.

4/27-30/25 (16th, 145) Metasonix D-2000 + Roland 100m SPH-323 TR606 + EML 400/401 + (in description)

video upload by Cfpp0

"4/27-30/25 (16ths, 145 bpm) Metasonix D-2000 + RYK 185 + Roland System 100m & SPH-323 & TR-606 + ElectroComp EML 400/401 & EML 200 + DSP 808 + 2hp Comp + Soundforce S-LD + Peavey 1300 + Alesis MIDIVERB II + Paia 6740

The pumping drone that sounds like a harmonium is the ElectroComp EML 200 through a 2hp Comp module, with reversed reverb from the Alesis MIDIVERB II and spring reverb from the Paia 6740. The bass pulse is the Metasonix D-2000, triggered by the MFB SEQ-1. The 16th note synth panned center is the Roland System 100m, sequenced by the RYK 185, through the Roland SPH-323 through the Peavey 1300. The 16th note synth line panned left is the EML 400/401. The percussion is the DSP 808 and the Soundforce S-LD, triggered by MFB SEQ-1 and ALM Pamela’s New Workout, which clocks everything."

4/18-19/25 (tranq staccato) RYK 185 + Roland System 100m & TR-606 + (more listed in description)

video upload by Cfpp0

"4/18-19/25 (tranq staccato) RYK 185 + Roland System 100m & TR-606 + DSP 808 + MXR 136 + Paia 6740 + Alesis MIDIVERB II + ADR Pan Scan + Eventide H3000B

Nothing drones quite like the ElectroComp EML 200. Two EML 200 VCOs are running through its left mixer into its internal spring reverb into its right mixer into the ADR Pan Scan and the Alesis MIDIVERB II and Eventide H3000B (Cyclons). The synth is the RYK 185 sequencing five VCOs through three filters on the Roland System 100m, processed by the Pan Scan, H3000B, and MIDIVERB II, with LFOs modulating the filters and with manual wiggling of the envelopes. The claves is the RYK 185 gate output triggering the DSP 808 module, with spring reverb from the Paia 6740. The tom is from the Roland TR-606, squashed by the MXR 136 limiter, with a room reverb on the MIDIVERB II. As the TR-606 kick drum is faded in, it further squashes the already squashed tom. The other kick is the DSP 808, with a trigger from ALM Pamela’s New Workout inverted by the Ladik U-202."

4/16/25 (transpose) ARP 1623 & 1613 + Roland System 100m + Alesis MIDIVERB II + Paia 6740

video upload by Cfpp0

"4/16/25 (transpose) ARP 1623 & 1613 + Roland System 100m + Alesis MIDIVERB II + Paia 6740 + ALM Pamela’s New Workout

Well, I’ve been having too much fun with the ARP 1623 sequencer, so we decided not to sell it after all. We were lucky and got it during the pandemic from an eBay auction with no reserve and no lurking whales, and we know we won’t be that lucky again. In this video the 1623 sequence is transposed by a slower sequence on the ARP 1613. The ALM Pamela’s New Workout clocks the ARP 1623 sequencer, which is in sequential 8/2 mode. The 1623’s Position 1 output drives the 1613, which is also in 8/2 sequential mode, but with a three step sequence (steps 4-8 are set to gate bus 3). The 1613 quantized output A is mixed with the 1623’s quantized output B in the Roland 130 mixer, then that controls the pitch of one of the Roland 110 VCOs. The 1623’s quantized A controls the other 110 VCO’s pitch. The 150 LFO and the 140 LFO are modulating the two 110 VCFs. Both VCAs run through the Lower West Side Studios M830 Signal Distribution System to the Mackie Onyx 1640 mixer. The Alesis MIDIVERB II is on an aux send and the stereo output returns to two channels on the Mackie, hard-panned, with onboard eq to brighten it up. The Paia 6740 spring reverb is panned hard left."

4/5/25 (B: ROCK 2/8) Korg KR-55b + Ace Tone VM-80 + Paia 6740

video upload by Cfpp0

"I can’t remember the last time I used this modded Korg KR-55b, so it was high time we moved it from the pull-out rack shelf. That made room for the Simmons SDS8, which is now on that shelf, below the SDS7. We got an “as-is” SDS6 sequencer a few years ago and it has finally been repaired and on its way back, so we’re getting prepared. And now the TAMA TSQ-1000 drum sequencer is up for sale at Christopher’s Boutique 489 on Reverb. Anyways, this KR-55b was modified by SD Machines with decay and pitch controls, external 5v clock input, as well as individual audio outputs. Those six outputs are patched to the six Ace Tone VM-80 inputs, which are overloading hard. The VM-80 mono output runs to the Mackie Onyx 1640 mixer, where the Paia 6740 spring reverb is added on an aux send."

MOTM / Synthesis Technology's Paul Schreiber Has Passed Away

Paul Schreiber at CONTROL in 2018


It has come to my attention that Paul Schreiber has passed away.

Pictured: Paul Schreiber at the 2006 NAMM show. Top from this previous post (pic by fr1zz), and bottom from this post (pic by Synthtopia) - this is the first image of Paul on the site. There is one comment in that post: "He's a good guy." Indeed.

Readers of the site should be familiar with his work. He was the man behind MOTM and Synthesis Technology.

To say Paul was one of the greats to influence the synth community would be an understatement. He was pivital to the rebirth of modular synthesizers. He started when modular as we know it today was in its infancy, as one of a very small group of large format DIY modular manufacturers along with Blacet, Modcan, Cynthia, Wiard, Oakley, STG, Catgirl/CGS, Tellun/Lower West Side Studio YuSynth, Jurgen Haible, and of course DIY staples like Thomas Henry/ MFOS, Ray Wilson and PAiA (see this post for some modular formats back in 2007). I focused mainly on those offering DIY. There were other manufacturers including Synthesizers.com, Club of the Knobs, MOS-LAB, Moon Modular, MacBeth, CMS, and more. Feel free to mention others in the comments. This post is about Paul, but I think it's important to reflect on some of the large format modular manufactures he was amongst at the time.

Paul created the MOTM format of 5U modules in 1998. MOTM stood for Module of the Month offering monthly DIY kits. From Wikipedia: "MOTM was created by Paul Schreiber in 1998. The system was created in part due to the renewed interest in large-format analog modular systems that occurred in the late 1990s. Between 1998 and 2021, over 8000 modules were sold. The company, Synthesis Technology, also offered a limited number of modules in Eurorack[2] and Frac[3] format."

He was also helped design the Moog/Realistic MG-1. From Wikipedia: "In 1980, Moog Music was seeking to contract manufacture a mass-marketable synthesizer which could be sold via a large retailer. Moog representatives secured an appointment at the Radio Shack corporate offices for a 5-minute demonstration. Radio Shack approved the concept, and Paul Schreiber (then employed by Tandy Systems Development) worked together with Moog on the synthesizer's design to achieve Radio Shack's price requirements.[2][3]"

He later joined the eurorack scene with Synthesis Technology branded modules. FYI, his site for MOTM was always http://www.synthtech.com/, short for Synthesis Technology. The first post to mention Paul and MOTM was posted just under twenty years ago here on MATRIXSYNTH back on August 26, 2005. If you click through you will see it was a post announcing the MOTM/synthtech.com site was going down for the weekend. He announced he was retiring from the synthesizer business in August of 2023.

I beleive the first synthtech eurorack module was the MOTM E340 Cloud Generator. The first demos were posted on July 14, 2009, followed by a mockup of the front panel on July 20. The first post to mention Synthesis Technology was an Epic Son track by John L Rice in August of 2011. Since then there has been approximately 845 posts to feature MOTM, and at least 398 Synthtech.

You can find a number of interviews with Paul in previous posts here.

It's worth repeating, Paul Schreiber was one of the key figures that brought modular back to the masses. He was both respected and loved by the synth community. It's impossible to overstate his influence. He will be missed.

The following are the first the last video interviews with Paul to be featured on the site:

The SynthSummitShow Episode 2: Paul Schreiber (Synthesis Technology) and A.Dapt (music producer) ...

Streamed live on Oct 2, 2015 Flux302 of Fluxwithit.com. Details previously posted here.

SysEx Dumpster - Episode 44 - a conversation with Paul Schreiber
video upload by Sysex Dumpster on Jul 30, 2023. Details previously posted here.

The first videos to feature Paul presenting a module was back on January 3, 2010, and the first interview on SoundCloud in 2013, and he was of course featured in the modular documentary film I Dream of Wires.

PAIA 5700P Drum Synth

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via this listing

"Very cool ultra rare 4 voice drum synth. Recently serviced and fully functional. It can be triggered with a piezo style drum trigger (PAIA had these rubbery hockey-puck looking triggers) or an audio input (I have been triggering it with rim shot samples from my MPC1000). Sounds amazing, very fine tunable."

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Original Vintage 1980 16 Page PAIA Catalog

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via this listing

"This original vintage PAIA Catalog contains information and picture’s of the the PAIA P-4700/J Modular Synthesizer and much more."

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SynthFest UK 2024 - Iconic Drum Machines

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Oli Freke from Synth Evolution takes us on a guided tour of some of the most iconic drum machines that shaped music in our time.

He'll be joined on stage by Michael Eden who will demonstrate some of the drum machines in his collection.

Chapter times:

00:00 - Introducing the hosts
00:50 - What is a drum machine?
03:30 - The Wurlitzer Sideman from 1959, the first drum machine?
04:35 - Wurlitzer Sideman demonstration
08:15 - The Sideman's valve mechanism in action
09:52 - Legal problems and use by home organists
11:21 - Transistor-based Keio Donca Matic DE-11 from 1966
13:34 - Donca Matic DE-11 demonstration
15:15 - Keio becomes Korg
16:17 - Ace Tone Drum machines from 1967
17:15 - Keio Mini Pops 7 from 1967
20:47 - Famed use by Jean-Michel Jarre on Oxygene (Note: YouTube has muted the music clip)
23:12 - Inclusion of Quijada/ Jawbone sound
24:24 - Robin Gibb, Sly & The Family Stone drum machine firsts
26:29 - Paia Programmable Drumset from 1975
28:06 - Paia Drumset programming demonstration
32:16 - Use by Peter Gabriel
34:01 - Roland TR-808 from 1980
37:29 - Roland TR-808 features and demonstration
41:00 - Programming a beat on the TR-808
43:48 - Pioneering new genres of electronic music
47:13 - How does the TR-808 make its sounds?
48:14 - Recreating the 808 bass drum
50:39 - Recreating the 808 snare drum
52:22 - Recreating the 808 clap sound
53:48 - Recreating the 808 hi-hat sound
56:17 - Recreating the 808 cowbell sound
57:38 - Comparing the digital model with the original TR-808
58:29 - Outro

Oli Freke may be contacted via his website.
https://www.synthevolution.net"

PAIA DIY MODULAR SYNTH w/ Docs

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

via this listing

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Paia Programmable Drum Set

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

via this listing

Pics of the inside below.

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The Memetune Annual 2024

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Available now from the Memetune Bandcamp merch page - a very limited run of BOTH Annuals (2023 and the new 2024 edition) at a special price!

https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com/merch...

The new Annual is also released today:

https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com/merch...

The second edition of the Memetune Programme Annual - for the year 2024

Hardback book (A4 size) with 74 full colour pages and download code for the accompanying music album

Based on the second season of Benge's unique 6 part TV series focussing on his passion for vintage synths, studio gear and video production equipment

The Memetune 2024 Annual follows the TV series format, broken down into the following categories:

LITTLE BLACK BOXES looks at some classic 80s and 90s rack mount synths, instruments that are often overlooked due to their utterly bland appearance. Their sounds, however, are anything but

SWITCHED ON CYBERSYNTHS features a brief history and description of abstract electronic music, in particular sounds created on modular synths, taking in randomness, chaos theory, feedback loops, nonlinear modifiers, plus stochastic and algorithmic ideas. It ends with perhaps the largest modular synth patch ever attempted, featuring 11 of the Memetune modulars containing over 430 modules

SYNTHESISER CLUB points a vintage video camera at various synthesisers and systems, and focuses on ‘families’ of synths, meaning a group of instruments made by one manufacturer in a particular time in synth history

PATCHING TODAY is a deep dive into patching on a selection of vintage modular systems, namely the Modcan A-Series (the most versatile modular ever made?), the Polyfusion 2000 (the simplest modular?), an EMS rig containing a VCS3, TKS sequencer, 8-octave filter bank and dual Synthi 100 HPF (the most English modular?), a Paia 4700 (the worst modular ever made?), the Buchla 100 (the first modular ever made?) and a hybrid Roland “green” modular system containing a modified System 100, SH5 with special modular panel and RE201 Space Echo (the ‘wonkiest’ system ever made?)

VIDEO LAB begins by presenting a short film called Proof of Hypertravel made entirely in the Lab, and then goes on to detail the lengthy process that went into making it, covering such things as Storyboarding, World-Building, Green Screening, Compositing, Special Effects, and types of vintage video cameras

There is also the Memetune Puzzle Page, the legendary Memetune Dictionary of Words, and a tour of the Memetune garden in a 1980 Lotus Esprit

The music on the download album that accompanies this annual has been selected from the second series and contains all the tracks made in the Synthesiser Club, Patching Today and Little Black Boxes sections respectively, approximately 60 minutes of original synthesiser compositions to enjoy whilst perusing the Annual

To watch the series search on YouTube for 'Memetune Programme by Benge'"

confined spaces #4 - PAiA Moroder

video upload by wildchurch

"Triggering/syncing a PAiA 9700s synth with a Boss DR-220A drum machine, plus a few other things.

While prat-arsing around with the PAiA, using the trigger out of the DR-220 to 'animate' its filters, I got a Giorgio Moroder sort of sound that I quite liked so worked it into a sketch as basis for some future development.

It's a self-playing system thanks to a Kawai Q80 MIDI sequencer running everything, with some MIDI to CV conversions here and there. Rather than detail all the patching, which isn't particularly exciting, here's a list of the gear involved:

Sound sources:
- PAiA 9700s
- Boss DR-220A
- School Rhythmer
- Fred's Lab Buzzzy!

Sound Effects/Processing
- DBX-160X compressor
- Elk EM-13 Analog Echo
- Korg SDD-3300
- Zoom Studio 1204
- Rocktron ProRax CE1 compressor/expander
- Homemade filter box

Clocking/Sequencing
- Kawai Q80
- Audiowerkstatt trigger2midi2trigger
- DIY multiples, clock dividers, ADSRs, trigger to gate convertors

TRIGGER WARNING!
The video is just various clips randomly cobbled together so isn't always in aligned to the sounds, i.e. the lights aren't necessarily flashing at the right moment."

PAIA Modular Synthesizer with Keyboard, Cables, and Documentation

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

via this listing

"This is a mid 70's PAIA Modular Synthesizer, these were originally sold as build it yourself kits, and all of the modules were sold separately. Included in this build is a wide variety of modules that PAIA had available at the time.

There are manuals and instructions sheets for all of the modules, and the keyboard. Also included is many of the voltage and audio patch cables.

Both devices power on, however when looking it over I tested with a volt meter and found the voltages to be low. For example: They power supply is supposed to output 9V and 18V on two separate outputs - but my test showed 5V and 13V out.

That is all the testing I did and concluded that this Synth needs some servicing. Either a transformer or power rail issue apparently."

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Paia 4700 1970's horror vibes

video upload by Tinfoil Cat

"Just using raw oscillators without a filter, good to have three of them. The bass is a Minikorg 700S, I think. Drums probably PO-32. Sorry for the reverb hum, have to shield that tank..."

Paia Oz Vintage Poly Synth Rare VGC Working

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via this auction

Pics of the inside below.

PAIA Oz synth from the 70s. It’s a cool, portable, battery powered synth organ with full sized keys, 5 octave selectable, trigger out, built in speaker and apparently used by DEVO. I soldered in a new battery holder as the old one looked flimsy and wasn’t making good contact. The ribbon controller is working but it’s more a gimmick and not a true pitch bender. All keys function and all functions work except I haven’t tested the trigger outs. This unit is pretty clean inside and out but it is a vintage DIY synth that’s rare so I’m selling as is and as described. Awesome piece to display in your collection and totally playable. I would imagine that adding a nine volt power supply would be extremely easy as well as adding an audio line out. This kind of begs to be modified into something more but I never got around to it."

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Paia 2720 + 4700 (1970's DIY modular synthesizers)

video upload by Tinfoil Cat

"I've been telling myself for too long that I should post more Paia videos. This is an old video shot before I fixed the keyboard on the 2720 (broken sample and hold as you might hear). The main part is 4700, the 2720 helps out with a fourth VCO. The spring reverb is a little noisy.

These were available as kits from Paia starting in the 1970's. The 2720 is closely related to the 2700 that arrived on the market over 50 years ago!"

Interesting side note via sdiy.info:

"Frac rack, FracRak or Frac, from Fractional Rack, is the modular synthesizer format designed by John Simonton of PAiA. It has a mainly USA following largely through the popularity of Blacet modules.

Like the Eurorack format, Frac is considered a 3U format..."

Paia Custom Analog Synthesizer 1972

via this auction

"Here we have a one of a kind custom PAiA built into an old suitcase built By Steve Alcorn the vice president of engineering at Linn, the synth is an expanded 2700. It inludes original 1/4" patch cables, suitcase has a key and there is another key to power the synth on. Comes with every pamphlet for each module used. Steve also signed the outside of the suitcase.

Steve pre-wired it up like an Arp Odyssey It is still completely custom-patchable as well. Modules include:

Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (3)

Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (2)

Voltage-Controlled Bandpass Filter

Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter

Envelope Generator

Control Oscillator / Noise Choice

Power Supply

Glide Retro Fit

Envelope Follower / Trigger

Sine Converter / Pulse Width Modulator

Balanced Modulator

Envelope Generator

In addition, all the original manuals are included for the above modules, plus a few other of PAIA's products.

The unit is designed to be easily ported to gigs, where in a few seconds the keyboard can be lifted out of the case cover and the case cover detached, giving you a Moog-like setup. It was a fun performance instrument. I remember generating the crashing waves for Riders on the Storm during a gig in 1973!

This unit has not been powered since the late 70s. Prudence would suggest a thorough inspection of all the electrolytic capacitors, for starters. But this would be a dream project for an electronics tinkerer, and gives you a very large collection of very rare PAIA circuits as your starting place."

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Vintage 1970s PAiA GNOME MICRO SYNTHESIZER KIT

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via this auction

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Vintage PAiA 6780 Polyphonic Organ/Synthesizer

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via this auction

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