FVS vs reSEMble Nov 2023

video upload by Randy Piscione

"Another demo of the PM Foundations reSEMble, four of them (https://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfound....) This time, I've duplicated a patch on the FVS and the reSEMbles. I was going to do a dry video but figured I'd do a little tune. At the beginning you can see my left hand playing the FVS while the right hand plays the reSEMbles, and since they alternate for a brief time, you can compare the two instruments. Together they sound amazing! I imagine this is what it's like to play a dual manual eight voice. There are also some ARPs, a Rhodes, a Kurzweil K2600XS, and an Alesis SR16 adding support."

PM Foundations FVS Plus Separates

video upload by Randy Piscione

"More PM Foundations (https://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfound...) multi-reSEMble panel comping. Everything except drums is coming from the cabinet with the reSEMbles and separates in it. The bass is coming from the separates (the SEM-based modules). The drums are an Alesis SR-16. I made most if not all of these modules.

You can get a closer look at the separates here: [posted here]

and the SEM tribute panels (reSEMBLE) here: [posted here]"

PMF SEM Tribute Modules

Demo video upload by Randy Piscione

"Demo of a DIY modular SEM, sort of. There is some talking at the beginning (GASP!). PCBs and panels are available here: https://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfound.... The 'Oberheim Tribute' modules are also used in the reSEMble panel. The VCF has been built with the option to self-resonate but can also be built to emulate the SEM’s behaviour. All sounds except drums are from the PM Foundations modules. The drums are from a Mutable Instruments Anushri. This is not an opus, just some sounds. The modules can duplicate the sounds of an SEM but I wanted to show some of the extra bits."

reSEMble FVS Poly Demo

video upload by Randy Piscione

"Another demo of four reSEMble panels (https://www.tindie.com/products/pmfou..., this time polyphonic. Also included the Oberheim FVS in this one. I'd like to encourage everyone to listen to the entire video, in stereo, with headphones if possible.

Before anyone says anything silly like, 'it doesn't sound like the FVS,' you are correct. Why is that? Although this can sound very similar to an FVS, it takes time to get the patch exact, I wanted to demo the PM Foundations version of an FVS, and even an FVS doesn't sound like an FVS, meaning none of my four SEMs sound exactly the same. The VCOs, VCF and EGs are based on the SEM. If you want to hear how close reSEMble can get to an SEM, check out my other videos.

I have included the wavefolders and ring modulators in some of the patches as well."

Resemble FVS Mono

video upload by Randy Piscione

"First, very quick, demo of a four-voice reSEMble, four PM Foundations reSEMble panels in monophonic mode. What if an SEM had three VCOs instead of two? That's twelve VCOs! What if, maybe halfway through fooling with these, you mixed in four wavefolders? The four panels are panned in stereo, listen loud if you can. https://www.tindie.com/products/pmfou..."

PMF ER-808 Drums Times Two

video upload by Randy Piscione

"Two PM Foundations ER-808 drum modules (Roland TR-808 tribute), one doing drums and the other percussion. Recorded to a Zoom H1N (mixer is still toast), video used a GoPro and gimbal, not so sure that worked out. Go here for the stuff: https://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfound...
Details below.

Master Clock – Pamela’s Workout (original)
Sequencer 1 – PM Foundations Super Synthola (prototype)
Sequencer 2 – Analogue Solutions Oberkorn (Eurokorn)
Clock Divider – PM Foundations C DIV
Drums 1 – PM Foundations ER-808
Drums 2 – PM Foundations ER-808
Pad 1 – PM Foundations reSEMble
Pad 2 – PM Foundations reSEMble
Submixer – Bastl ABC
VCOs – PM Foundations 8080 SEM Tribute
VCFs – PM Foundations 3080 SEM Tribute
Folder – PM Foundations RingFolder
EGs – PM Foundations – ADSR-D Sem Tribute
LFOs – PM Foundations MOD+
Mixers – Barton Musical Circuits Stereo Outs
Lead - Kilpatrick Phenol"

Most of the Stuff Dec 2020

Randy Piscione

"My son is a fan of Mike Dean, who does videos in his studio demoing his impressive collection. I figured I’d try the same, on a smaller scale. A bit of 70s prog rock showing off. Recorded live, two parts to the video, each with a pad and a lead. Hit “Show More" for the equipment list.

Oberheim FVS – drone pad
ARP Odyssey – second lead
ARP Axxe – second lead
ARP Little Brother – second lead
Roland A90 – second pad
Mutable Instrument Shruthi (6 of them) – second pad
Animoog – second pad
Korg Microstation – second pad
Roland Alpha Juno 2 – second pad
Roland A37 – first pad
Full Bucket Tricent Mk III – first pad
Full Bucket qyooo – first pad
Analogue Solutions Oberkorn - bass
Division 6 Business Card Sequencer - noodle
D:Machinery Black Seq - noodle
Pamela’s Workout – main clock
Animodule Tik Tok – clock divider / multiplier
Mutable Instruments Anushri – first lead
PM Foundations SEM Tribute modules – first lead
PM Foundations resemble panels (2 of them) – bass and noodle
PM Foundations RingFolder - noodle
PM Foundations 3080 VCO - noodle
Bastl ABC - noodles
Kassutronics VCO3340 - noodle
Frequency Central WaveRunner - noodle
Manhattan Analog SVVCF - noodle
Doepfer A-143-2 - noodle
MFOS VCA – noodles
Barton Stereo Out Mixer – noodles and bass
Behringer X32
Dynaudio BM5 MkIII
A few other Eurorack Utility modules

I think that’s it."

Two reSEMble Additive

Randy Piscione

"Here’s another 2 reSEMble demo, this time some basic additive synthesis. reSEMble can be purchased at http://www.tindie.com/products/pmfoun.... First part is a short vid of a PM Foundations prototype scope showing the waveform as the various harmonics are brought in, as two triangles and 4 sines. At 1:00 the second part of the actual demo starts, and I do some knob noodling, along with a little bit of ARP Axxe providing a lead line in the background. Eventually I screw everything up by bringing in combinations of the ring modulation and folder on both reSEMbles. Besides the reSEMbles, there’s an Analogue Solutions Eurokorn sequencer and a PMF QuantOct quantizer."

PM Foundations Voltage Controlled Clock

Randy Piscione

"This is a quick demo of a Eurorack-format Voltage-Controlled Clock from PM Foundations. You can find the Quantizer, VC Clock and reSEMble here: http://www.tindie.com/stores/pmfounda..."

"This is a voltage controlled clock module to drive your synth sequencers and switches. All CMOS based, no microprocessor so it is easy to build and test.

There is a CV input so that the clock speed can be varied using a control voltage instead of, or as well as, the manual speed control.

If you are currently using a VCO or LFO as a clock generator, you can use this module to free that up.

IMPORTANT NOTE

CLICK FOR MORE »

Two reSEMble Pad

Published on Mar 2, 2020 Randy Piscione

"Two reSEMbles droning while I move knobs around, just leave it on and listen while doing something else. One is tuned in 4ths and the other in octaves. Ring mod adds a bit of dissonance, Shaper adds some crunch. Sounds better live, and/or loud.

http://www.tindie.com/products/pmfoun..."

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

reSEMble asSEMble

Published on Oct 31, 2019 Randy Piscione

"Five minutes or so vid of the reSEMble panel being assembled. The, uh, soundtrack is reSEMble, one take, one track. Two sequencers, a clock, quantizer and the State Machine EG from PM Foundations where used as well but all sound comes from reSEMble. I also did some knob-twiddling while the sequencers ran. The video thumbnail shows the setup used for the soundtrack.

This is the prototype so we're still making minor (very minor) changes."

You can find the first demo here.

Introducing reSEMble

Published on Aug 25, 2019 Randy Piscione

"This is the maiden voyage of reSEMble, a single-panel, single-voice synth inspired by the Oberheim SEM, for Eurorack. More info below.

This is a prototype panel, home made (obvious I know) but the building blocks are available from PM Foundations. The panel is currently in Front Panel Designer, but I have not ordered one yet. The 'modules' can be built as standalone Eurorack modules or built behind the reSEMble panel. There is no point-to-point wiring. All connections are made with ribbon cables that run from the back of each module to a single busboard.

We haven’t decided how to market / sell it yet, or even if there is enough demand to bother, but I’m definitely making another one for myself. The 3 VCOs, VCF and two EGs are based on the SEM, but, in addition to a 3rd VCO, there are a few other enhancements, including an expanded LFO, Noise, sample and hold, a wavefolder and more modulation and routing options.

This is not a clone of an SEM. Unlike someone who shall remain nameless but whose initials are UB, we actually sent a note to Tom Oberheim, who forwarded our note to a friend of his, who spent some time on the phone with me. He encouraged us to take Tom’s work and build on it, which we did. The combination of toggles and expanded module functionality replace approximately 80 patchcords."

PM Foundations SEM Tribute Modules - Comparison with Vintage SEMs

Published on May 1, 2019 Randy Piscione

1. reSEMble 1 of 2

Quick comparison of an Oberheim SEM and the new SEM-tribute modules from PM Foundations. The SEM audio is on the left, PMF modules are on the right. This is live. I tried to play similar lines on both keyboards. It is tricky to get the patches exactly the same, especially when tweaking live like this. The "echo" you hear is actually the other keyboard and modules being played. Headphones are certainly helpful on this one.

These are not clones. I asked Tom Oberheim about doing an SEM clone for Eurorack, and he referred me to a friend of his who has been helping him since the 1970s. We had a long phone conversation and his take on Tom's take is that Tom would rather see us develop something new, even if it is based on his work. So, that was our goal.

2. reSEMble 2 of 2

This is a brief overview of the new “SEM Tribute” modules from PM Foundations. Featured are two VCOs, the VCF, one envelope generator and the first version prototype of the modulation module. The little musical excerpt at the start is the new modules playing bass, along with an Alesis SR-16 on drums and Casio CZ-101 doing the chords.