Intro to Synthesis - Synth Lessons by Randy Randy Piscione

Published on Feb 18, 2019 Randy Piscione

"This is a series of synthesizer basics in small, fairly simple (at least to start) bites. Each video is 4 to 6 minutes long and covers one or two basic concepts. I have tried to keep the talking to a minimum. Hope these are useful. If not, please let me know (nicely would be preferred), and if you have a topic you'd like me to cover, let me know that too."

Playlist:

Intro to Synthesis - Part 1 - VCO and VCF
Intro to Synthesis - Part 2 - CV
Intro to Synthesis - Part 3 - Gate Trigger EG
Intro to Synthesis - Part 4 - VCF Type VCF Mod LFO

Toronto Modular Meet Videos

Published on Dec 1, 2014 rezzn8r & Randy Piscione

Modular Meet in Toronto, Ontario, October 30, 2014

1st video in playlist from rezzn8r, next five from Randy Piscione.

PMF QuantOct

Published on Jun 22, 2018 Randy Piscione

"This is a demo of a new quantizer from PM Foundations, the QuantOct. http://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfounda...

It's a four input, four output module with 14 resident scales. Mine has the following: chromatic, whole tone, major, major pentatonic, harmonic minor, aeolian minor, minor pentatonic, dorian, lydian, plus four 4-note chords. Other scales are available.

Here's another quick video with some harmony-related fooling around:"

PM Foundations Prototype Quad Quantizer test

Published on May 21, 2018 Randy Piscione

"Since I've been doing so many videos for PM Foundations, I am now part of a list of testers for new stuff. This is a prototype quantizer with an octave pot, four inputs and four outputs. It has access to 14 different scales. This video was really just a test for PMF but I thought it was interesting so PMF gave me permission to make it public."

ARP Odyssey, Axxe and Little Brother

Randy Piscione

"This is a demo of an ARP Odyssey, Axxe and Little Brother. I want to thank John at PM Foundations for his substantial help in getting these working. The glitch at 2:27 is the last issue I need to solve, it's very intermittent. The original condition of these synths can be seen here:"

Old Synths pre-Restore
Randy Piscione

"Near the start of 2020 I ended up with a few old synths in need of restoration. This video was originally taken Feb 29 / Mar 1st 2020. Starts with some pics and then a short video of each of the synths in the condition I received them in."

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Trip seeing the Oberheim TVS w/o side panels. Almost thought it was a clear plexiglass case!

Randy Piscione TSF 2017 Demo

Published on Nov 10, 2017 Randy Piscione

"This is my rack for the 2017 edition of the Toronto Sound Festival. It’s a Mutable Instruments Anushri, a bunch of modules from PM Foundations and some stuff from Ladik. The three PM Foundations modules with blue knobs are going to be included in the giveaways.

I start off with the Anushri, doing a bass line and some drums, all coming from the Anushri. Then I fade in three VCOs from PMF, along with the filter, EG and dual VCA. I’m also using a Frequency Central LFO and a few extra modules from Ladik. At some point, I bring up some exponential FM in one PMF VCO, driven by the Synthola Sequencer, which is clocked from the Anushri. Then, using a Befaco Attenuvertor mounted behind a custom panel, I fool with some resonance modulation on the PMF 2Q12 Filter."

reSEMble 2 VCO

Published on Feb 23, 2020 Randy Piscione

"Demo of a partially-built reSEMble panel. Some live noodling and knob turning. Not sure I can still concentrate on two things at once (playing and turning knobs). I have left out the 3rd VCO and the Shaper (ring mod and folder). You can choose to build it like this, at least to start, and save some time and some money. The bass was recorded earlier, using the lower row of modules, which are the separate versions of those behind reSEMble."

Randy Piscione reSEMble posts

Nonlinear circuits VCO demo Part 1

Published on May 28, 2017 Randy Piscione

"Demo of a Nonlinearcircuits VCO. From the nlc website, 'The VCO is a standard Mikulic/Electronotes core with phase sync and pan-pulse circuitry from the Aries AR-338.' This is from 2012.

I created a custom (and not particularly attractive) panel to house two of these behind it. Going to do another video to demo the sync and FM but probably something more performance-oriented.

Info here:

http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/data/VCOgui...

http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/data/VCO%20...

http://nonlinearcircuits.blogspot.ca/..."

Update:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Randy Piscione Studio Live 2020

Published on Mar 31, 2020 Randy Piscione

"On March 29th, while stuck in the house thanks to the isolation policies, I wandered around my office taking a video (with a Sony A6500) of some stuff while doing some narrating and some playing."

Randy Piscione's TSF 2018 Demo (Toronto Sound Festival Nov 24 - 25)

Published on Nov 8, 2018 Randy Piscione

"Here's a quick demo of a small Eurorack thing I'm bringing to the 2018 Toronto Sound Festival. Very cool event if you're into interesting music, interesting equipment and, if you don't mind me saying, interesting people. http://www.torontosoundfestival.com/

Lots of PM Foundations stuff, here's the rack, more or less: http://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/vi..."

Pond

Published on Jun 13, 2017 Randy Piscione

"Starts off quiet, picks up when the drums come in. Use headphones if you can. Better audio is here: http://randypiscione.bandcamp.com/tra...

Sequence, bloopy percussion and lead is the modular. The lead is the nonlinearciruits VCO on the left and a Make Noise DPO on the right. Lower pad-ish thing is the Phenol driven by the modular. Whistle-ish thing is the Kurzweil, and so are the drums."



"Calling this Pond is a bit of a stretch but it's what I thought of. It starts out really mellow, like a pond just as dusk is approaching, where you might here the odd bird but not much else. But as night moves in, things start to happen in a pond, all sorts of little creatures come out.

Instrumentation is a combination of the Eurorack modular, Kilpatrick Phenol and some Kurzweil K2600XS"

PM Foundations Synthola Demo

Randy Piscione
Published on Aug 16, 2017

"This is a demo of the PM Foundations Synthola Eurorack sequencer module.

Get it here: http://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfounda...

Here is an additional vid showing how the sequencer sounds as a function generator:"

PM Foundations Synthola Demo - Modulation

Randy Piscione
Published on Aug 16, 2017

"In the first video of the Synthola, I demo'd the various features of the sequencer. In this video, I hooked it up to a 'scope to look at the waveforms generated when using it as a function generator.

I only use the Win 10 Movie Maker app so the video only shows the 'scope. Someday I really need to get a better video app."

PM Foundations 3320 VCF based on the Prophet-5 Filter

PMF 3320 VCF Randy Piscione

"Demo of the PM Foundations 3320 VCF. This one is based on the CEM3320 VCF chip, which was used in the Prophet 5. It's capable of some very organic sounds, make sure you listen to the entire video. Get it here: http://www.tindie.com/products/pmfoun..."

"Randy Piscione says: 'There are lots of bits that are squelchy, and almost organic-sounding, much like some of the sounds Joe Zawinul would get out of an ARP 2600. Everyone should have one of these.'

SUMMARY

Use this PCB and front panel to build your own FOUR-POLE VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER using the classic CEM3320 filter chip from Curtis Electromusic Specialties or the new AS3320 from Alfa. The CEM3320/AS3320 is a self contained voltage-controlled four-pole filter with voltage-controllable resonance. It has an exponential (V/Oct) frequency control input which can cover more than ten octaves. The filter chip is temperature compensated.

The CEM 3320 was used in classic synths such as the Sequential Prophet 5.

IMPORTANT NOTE

This is a PCB and Panel set only. One high quality PCB and one front panel ONLY are included. You will need to purchase your own components and build your own module. Comprehensive build instructions and BOMs are provided to help you source the components needed and we even provide links to shopping carts to simplify sourcing those components. Some product photos above show COMPLETED build.

Read more about the CEM3320 and AS3320 and even purchase your filter chip there.

FEATURES

Four pole VCF low pass filter
Exponential 1V/octave response
Exponential voltage control of resonance
Two frequency CV inputs
Q CV input
Input level control for smooth or overdriven sounds
Board accepts DIP18 packages and sockets.
6HP Eurorack with our panel
CONSTRUCTION

This is a low component count project and an easy build so you can have high quality VCFs in your rack with minimum time and expense.

Build it yourself - This is a set of one high quality PCB and front panel ONLY for users who want to purchase their own components and build their own module. Some product photos above show COMPLETED build.

You can purchase the AS3320 from various sources including Cabin Tech and Electric Druid

This module will fit perfectly into a 6HP Eurorack space.

Comprehensive manuals, parts lists and component shopping carts are provided in the documentation link for building, testing and using the module."

Synth Brochures from Randy Piscione's Archives

video upload by Randy Piscione

"Midiverse - TV recently posted a video of vintage synth ads, which I noticed on Matrixsynth [posted here]. This got me thinking about my own archives, mostly from the 1970s and early 80s, so here's a not as slick as theirs slideshow of my stuff. Music includes an Anushri, FVS, some ARPs and a K2600XS."

Toronto Sound Festival 2017 Various YT

Published on Nov 27, 2017 Randy Piscione

"Various video bits from the 2017 Toronto Sound Festival."

Toronto Sound Festival 2017 Pics HD

Published on Nov 27, 2017 Piscione

No audio, just pics.

"Photos from the 2017 Toronto Sound Festival. A bit rough, shot with my cell phone."

Update: and the Hex chicken :)

Toronto Sound Festival 2017 Hex Chicken

Published on Nov 27, 2017

"A quick demo of the Hexinverter Mutant Chicken Module from the 2017 'round of the Toronto Sound Festival."

https://www.torontosoundfestival.com

PM Foundatiions Quantola Demo

video by Randy Piscione

"This is a demo of the Quantola sequencer, from PM Foundations. It is based on the Synthola, which you can see here [posted here] The Quantola PCBs and panels can be purchased here: [https://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfoundations/] Choose the “Quantized” option. At 1:51, I said “quantizer” when I meant 'Quantola.' There are also demos on my channel of the 8080 SEM-tribute VCO, 3080 SEM-tribute VCF and ADSR-D SEM-tribute envelope generator."

Toronto Sound Festival This Weekend November 19-20 2016

Details here


Randy Piscione will be there with a 18U by 126HP setup.

Update: Wendy Carlos will not be there. It will be a presentation interview only.

Oberheim ARP Noodle

video upload by Randy Piscione

"Quick noodle with some vintage bits, cell phone video and audio. A bit showy, and a bit rough in places. Volume is low too, and the "mix" is at the whims of my phone mic. Oberheim FVS on bass, ARP Odyssey, Axxe and Little Brother on lead, a bit of Alesis SR-16 on drums. Since my right wrist still has a non-union, doing this is challenging but getting through a minute or so is still possible."

Pmfoundations 2Q12 VCF Demos

Published on Sep 5, 2017 Randy Piscione

Playlist:
1. PMF Filter Demo
2. PMF Filter Quick Improv
3. PMF Filter Minimoog Filter Compare

Oberheim FVS Demo

Randy Piscione

"Demo of my Oberheim FVS-1. This one took two years to get to where it is now, and is still a bit flaky sometimes (like me) but still amazing to play. I want to thank John at PM Foundations for his substantial help in getting this working. Without him, it would be in a closet.

0:00 is a thick pad. 2:16 is another pad using a pinball song, with the VCF between LPF and Notch. 4:37 uses the Bandpass filter. 6:54 is polyphonic VCO sync. 8:39 is a bird-related excerpt using a split keyboard, with one SEM playing the bass and the other 3 doing the chords. The top three are tuned an octave higher than the bass SEM."

PM Foundations FK24 VCF YT

Published on Dec 18, 2017 Randy Piscione

"Here's a demo of the FK24 voltage controlled filter from PM Foundations. Gets more odd as things progress. Around 2:30 it started making some interesting vowel-ish noises. This stuff is nice, check it out. http://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfounda..."