SDIY Class #4 - Zen and the art of Kit Assembly : Building the VBModular Overfolder Module

Published on Apr 1, 2017 Synth Diy Guy

"In depth guide to building the Overfolder kit including discussion on efficient procedure for building module kits in general.
Here's a complete demo I did of this module: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jen7I... [below]

Video and Music by Quincas Moreira
Module designed by Vinicius Brazil.

The Overfolder kits and prebuilt modules are ready to ship, please write to me directly if you'd like to purchase one: sdiyguy@gmail.com
Prices are 120usd for a kit and 175usd for an assembled module. Buyer covers Paypal and shipping.
Enjoy!"

Overfolder module demo

Published on Jan 18, 2017 VBrazil Modular

"Demo of our voltage controlled wave folder module for Eurorack
Module design - Vinicius Brazil
Video by Quincas Moreira"

Chord Organ is Alive

Published on Mar 29, 2017 Quincas Moreira

"fresh off the bench, the Music Thing Modular Chord Organ, my next Kit Review"

RIP Ray Wilson

Hi everyone. I have some incredibly sad news in today. Ray Wilson of Music From Outer Space passed away on Thursday, July 21. As many knew, he was battling stage 4 cancer. His family's GoFundMe page is still up and has not yet reached their goal. His family will likely have bills, so if you'd like to contribute something, please do. For those that would like to donate to Ray's family directly via Paypal, I am told his Paypal address is info@musicfromouterspace.com.

Regular readers of MATRIXSYNTH will surely know who Ray Wilson is. For anyone that doesn't, Ray was the man behind the synth DIY site Music From Outer Space. The domain name was registered back in Nov 2003; I'm not sure when the site went live, but there is an archive of the site from the WayBackMachine dated Jan 15, 2004.

Ray's contributions through his website and his YouTube channel have influenced synth DIY hobbyists and budding new makers and manufacturers alike over the years. Many owe him for their start in the world of synth DIY. You can see the exhaustive list of his DIY projects on his site here. His most popular project of course was the MFOS Soundlab Mini-Synth. His work has contributed to more than 590 posts here on MATRIXSYNTH. I'm sure there will be more to come. The first time MFOS was featured on MATRIXSYNTH was back on August 30, 2005, just over a month after I launched MATRIXSYNTH.

Ray Wilson was also the author of Make: Analog Synthesizers.

Something you may not have known is that he was also an amateur standup comedian, and he shared his performances on his main YouTube channel. As you know, I started MATRIXSYNTH back in 2005, Just over a year after MFOS launched. The first time I saw one of Ray Wilson's standup shows I thought I was on the wrong channel! :) When I realized it was him, it of course brought a smile to my face. The first thought that came to my mind was, wow, this is a truly genuine human being. The following is the last standup performance shared on his channel, from August, 2014:

The Ray Wilson Show August 26th 2014

Published on Aug 26, 2014 Ray Wilson

"AMATEUR DOING STANDUP - NOT SYNTH RELATED AT ALL. This is actually sit down comedy. I don't include profanity in my bits because I'm no good at it. If you want to be the Chopped Champ don't miss this episode. If you know someone else that might get a smile out of this I definitely appreciate shares."


Quincas Moreira, who also does synth DIY work, was a friend of Ray's. Together they composed the following piece. Update via Quincas:: "That's Ray singing. It's his song, lyrics, melody and harmony. He'd done a previous version but I thought the song was so awesome it deserved to be properly produced, so I got him to send me the original session and recorded real drums, bass, piano, percussion and backing vocals."



"Quincas Moreira and Ray Wilson collaboration - Are We Waves... Physicists are still working out our true physical nature - currently confusion reigns."

"He'll finally find out if we are waves or particles. Rest in peace my friend."

The following is the last video on Ray Wilson's YouTube channel. He will be missed.

Goofing with two MFOS SL Mark IIs, Ultimate and Sequencer.

Published on Apr 26, 2016 Ray Wilson

"Having some fun with the synth. It definitely is therapeutic."
___

Heartfelt thanks to Lorne Hammond & Skot Wieddman who sent the sad news my way.

Moog Releases Model 15 Modular Synthesizer for iOS

Published on May 3, 2016 Moog Music Inc

Now available on iTunes: Model 15 - Moog Music Inc.

Update: a quick note worth mentioning from Quincas Moreira who beta tested the app: It's a "brand new engine, they even worked directly with Apple to improve the ios's handling of heavy audio processing like this. Geert Bevin, the Dev, has said there is no dynamic voice allocation as this is a modular, all modules are constantly running, just like on a real one." You can find a list of Quincas Moreira's presets in the comments below.

"Suzanne Ciani, one of the first and most influential female electronic music composers and synthesists, creates a short sonic sketch using the Moog Model 15 modular synthesizer app. Ciani explores the custom-programmed sounds she designed in the app alongside Moog technicians as they hand-build the app's hardware modular namesake at the Moog Factory in Asheville, NC.

Listen to Suzanne's full composition here:



Ciani's unique patches are available as a free expansion pack in the Model 15's in-app store.

The Moog Model 15 App is an iOS version of the iconic 1970’s instrument. It is designed to evoke the joyous experimentation and sonic bliss of it’s predecessor’s vintage hardware, the Moog Model 15 App meticulously recreates the look, feel, and sound of its highly expressive analog namesake."

And a couple of user videos:

Moog Model 15 Synthesizer - Factory Sounds Demo

Published on May 3, 2016 Synth Anatomy

iTunes: Model 15 - Moog Music Inc.

Please support me on Patreon if you enjoy my content: https://www.patreon.com/synthanatomy?...

"This is the new Moog Synthesizer App Model 15 based on the Model 15 Analog Modular Synthesizer."

Moog Model 15 Modular - Monster New iOS App Exclusive

Published on May 3, 2016 sonicstate

iTunes: Model 15 - Moog Music Inc.

"In yet another beautiful studio room at the Funkhaus in Berlin, we saw a preview of the Model 15 - a lovingly emulated Moog System 15 modular modeled on iOS - sounded pretty tasty - Geert Bevin takes us through it"

Side note: Geert Bevin is the man behind the MPE: Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression MIDI specification. You can find previous posts featuring Geert and his work here, including the LinnStrument, Eigenharp, Madrona Labs Aalto, and Symbolic Sound Kyma.

iTunes: Model 15 - Moog Music Inc.

"The Moog Model 15 App is the first Moog modular synthesizer and synthesis educational tool created exclusively for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

* The Model 15 App requires iOS version 9.3 or later to work. *

Each facet of the Moog Model 15 modular synthesizer has been meticulously recreated in this application to ensure the power and transcendent sound quality of each module remains intact. The character, harmonic complexity and mystique of the Moog Model 15’s modules, from the legendary Moog 921–series oscillators and 904A Low Pass Filter, to the coveted 907 Fixed Filter Bank have been painstakingly preserved.

In order to develop the most immersive and expressive modular interface possible, the Model 15 App has been designed utilizing Apple’s new Metal advanced graphics engine. This ensures that all zooming, panning and modular patching throughout the application feels completely natural, something that would have been impossible otherwise.

The Model 15 App features both monophonic and 4-voice polyphonic operation is easily commanded via 4 seamlessly integrated controllers. Simple swipes and taps provide instant access to a traditional Moog keyboard, 1150 ribbon controller, 8-step sequencing arpeggiator and the award-winning Animoog keyboard with 22 built-in scales and polyphonic modulation capabilities.

Also included are extended features which expand the capabilities of the app beyond the traditional offerings of the hardware Moog Model 15. These include total MIDI integration, assignment for external control, use as a MIDI controller, dedicated Audio Bridge and MIDI Bridge modules, looping recorder module with overdubbing, a master ping-pong delay module and a new extension cabinet that includes additional amplifiers and voltage-controlled reversible attenuators that can be used for effects like ring-modulation.

Because the Model 15 App utilizes Apple’s Metal technology, only 64-bit devices are supported. Compatible devices include iPhone 5s or newer, iPod touch 6 or newer, iPad Air or newer, and the iPad Pro.

Additional Features
• Ships with over 160 unique presets
• Recreates the sound of a hardware Moog Model 15 modular synthesizer
• Easily share presets and recordings with anyone
• Tutorial patches to assist all experience levels
• Intuitive patching and cable coloring
• Support for landscape and portrait modes
• Voltage-controlled stereo ping-pong delay
• Expressive sequencing arpeggiator
• Moog 1150 Ribbon controller
• Real-time looping recorder with overdub and immediate sharing
• Up to two controllers on-screen (iPad only)
• Optional left-handed UI operation

Supports
• 3D Touch and Apple Pencil integration for after pressure
• Note-per-channel MIDI controllers
• Ableton Link
• Inter-App Audio and Audiobus
• MIDI Bridge and Audio Bridge
• 7 and 14-Bit MIDI
• MIDI Program Change
• Bluetooth LE MIDI controllers
• Typing keyboards for shortcuts and musical typing
• AudioCopy, AudioPaste and AudioShare"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Quincas Moreira's Songs From Outer Space - Synth Album to Benefit Ray Wilson

"Synth DiY is a passion, and Ray Wilson's Music From Outer Space is more than a website, it is home sweet home to those of us who yearn for the music of the spheres. All the sounds in this album were made with the MFOS Soundlab MKii synthesizer, a truly inspiring instrument by Ray. All proceeds from sales of this album will be forwarded to Ray in order to help with his medical expenses for as long as his health requires it. [see this post for details]

released December 15, 2015

All sound design, composition, production, arranging, performance, recording, mixing and mastering by Quincas Moreira.

Album Art by Ted Stall

Soundlab MKii Synthesizer designed by Ray Wilson and built by Quincas Moreira."

Groovezilla by Quincas X

Quincas X is synth maker Quincas Moreira.

"Groovezilla was my response to the challenge of FAWM 2015, to create a full 14 track album in the 28 days of February. The album was done mostly on the iPad with diverse apps, but there's a good bit of my DIY analog modular in there, as well as my trusty old Hohner electric piano. It is a mix between experimental music and grooves, and the theme is classic monsters. Enjoy!"

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I want to start by thanking everyone that comes to MATRIXSYNTH and helps make it what it is - the readers, the supporters, and of course all the sponsors on the right.

THANK YOU and have a GREAT 2015!!!

This site is a labor of love and a ton of work. This site is ultimately meant to be an testament to everything synth in the making. We have over nine years of daily synth history captured here, 119,983 published posts. I can't wait to see what the future brings us in 2015!

That said, here are a few interesting bits from 2014 in the longest post of the year. ;)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pleidean Strike

Pleidean Strike from Quijote Cinemusica on Vimeo.

"Another 'nearly' generative piece representing cosmic battle sounds. It was a fine self-playing patch but I couldn't resist tweaking a few knobs. Done on the Weird Synth 001, a bananafied 4.5U DiY Yusynth/Mfos modular music box."

via Quincas Moreira on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge