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.

7/10/23 (alternate take) DIY Ray Wilson / MFOS synthesizer + Zerosum Inertia 6AS6 + Metasonix R-57

video upload by Cfpp0

"This video contains more filter sweeps than the video previously posted on 7/10/23, and the MFOS filter cutoff settings cause the Zerosum Inertia 6AS6 Signal Combiner to generate different rhythms than in the previous video. Two MFOS LFOs (at audio rate) go to Zerosum Inertia 6AS6, get combined, go to the MFOS filter, and go one channel on the R-57."

---

ON a separate note, in case you missed it, also see the Music From Outer Space and synthCube Announce Noise Toaster Project Contest.

Music From Outer Space and synthCube Announce Noise Toaster Project Contest!

via synthCube

"Win cash prizes, store credit and merchandise by showing off your Noise Toaster

synthCube has organized a 'Show Off Your Build' contest to celebrate the most popular MFOS project of all time-- the Noise Toaster-and the companion how-to book Make:Analog Synthesizers by Ray Wilson, the founder of MFOS.

If you've built a Noise Toaster, enter the contest to show off your project and tell its story-or build a new Noise Toaster in order to enter the 'New Build' categories!

Noise Toaster desktop analog synthesizers come in all shapes and sizes-and the contest will award prizes for different categories- see the contest landing page for details and prizes!

Prizes include VISA gift cards, store credit vouchers, MFOS merchandise and MFOS synthesizer kits.

To enter the contest check out the details at https://gleam.io/competitions/...

Also check out the dedicated Noise Toaster Support Threads at Modwiggler and Facebook.

More info contact info@synthcube.com"

THE FIRST SYNTHESIZER - PUBLISHED BY RAY WILSON - 20 Years Before His Well Known Ones!

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"THE WP20 WAVEFORM PROCESSOR SOUND SYNTHESIZER"

What Is Music From Outer Space? And Why Is It So Influential.

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"MUSIC FROM OUUUUTERRRR SPACCCCEEEEE"

Analog Modular Live Chaos Solo-Performance

video upload by Andreas Remshagen

Another Live Performance with my DIY Analog Modular System.
I have used nearly all my Devices in this Song
The Software that is driving my two Polyend Midi to CV-Devices was
described in an earlier Video (You can download it for free)
The Devices in the order of the Song:
-Orchestrion analog String/Choir machine with second Resonator
Filter
-Bass Synth
-Elektor Formant with Synthacon filterclone as Subbass
-Analog Drumbox with 4 DS7-Clones
-Doepfer DIY
-Analog Groovebox with YuSynth Metalizer
-Noise-Toaster designed by Ray Wilson (Musicfromouterspace)
-Strings/Choir Synth 2.0 for first Melody
-VCO designed by YuSynth with Moog-Filterclone and elektor
CV/Gate Keyboard

DIY Voltage Controlled Oscillator

video upload by KellerDev

"This VCO has saw, triangular and square wave output. Simulation on falstad:
https://tinyurl.com/2kfswz4d It has puls width, linear and exponential frequency modulation.It is based on a Ray Wilson schematic, from MFOS: http://musicfromouterspace.com/analog...
RIP to Ray Wilson
Find the schematics, PCBs and layout on my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kellerdev"

Drone Music With DIY Analog Synthesizer (Hana Synth)

video upload by Jeanie

"Made a small piece of ambient music by using my DIY synthesizer, all the synth sounds from it. Thank you all for the encouragement and support.

Hana synth is a two voicing sound generator and drone machine, based on Ray Wilson’s WSG from Music From Outer Space.

Each voice contains: 2 audio rate oscillators, 1 LFO oscillator and 1 low pass filter with controls for oscillator frequency, LFO frequency, modulation depth, low pass filter frequency plus overall voice volume level. There are also 3 switches for gate on/off (oscillator 2 gates oscillator 1), duo ( to add oscillator 2 into audio output) and shape (to switch LFO oscillator 3 between triangle and square waveform).

The separate volume controls are especially useful to enable blending of each voice for easier performance and a wider sonic landscape.

Hana synth is powered from a 9V adapter or 9V battery and has a 6.35mm jack output for direct connection to a mixer or an amplifier."

FusionLab ION Synthesizer

video upload by Toine Scholtz

"A little video demonstrating the Ion, a digitally controlled analog monosynth that I built a while ago. All the music in the video was created using the synth only (sequenced from and recorded into Ableton Live).

I started sketching the concept for the synth nearly 10 years before I began the build, but had a great deal to learn about analog and digital electronics before I was capable of actually building it. I arrived at the final design around mid-2020, began the build late 2020, and completed it a few months into 2021.

The synth is controlled by MIDI over USB. I used a PJRC Teensy 3.1 microcontroller and several DAC ICs to generate control voltages.

The Ion has 3 VCOs, each producing a slightly different selection of waveforms, and a noise source with its own state variable filter. Each VCO can produce a pulse width waveform, and each has a dedicated LFO to control PWM. There are two main resonant VC filters, each with continuously variable responses between LPF, HPF, BPF and notch. The filter configuration can be continuously faded between series and parallel.

The synth has a main VCA with dedicated envelope generator, and each VCF has a dedicated EG controlling cutoff frequency. A dedicated LFO can control the frequency of one or all three VCOs. Three other modulation sources, an EG and two LFOs, can be routed through the modulation matrix, a two channel matrix with 7 sources and 8 destinations available on each channel. Each VCO output can be also used as a mod source, as can the noise source. The matrix destinations include VCO pitch, VCF cutoffs, and AM of one of the VCOs and the main VCA.

The synth uses a Doepfer DIY synth board, which provides one of the VCOs, one of the VCFs and its envelope generator, the main VCA, the pitch modulation LFO, and the slew limiter used for the glide control. All the remaining modules are either completely discrete or make use of dedicated synth chips.

The design of VCO1 is adapted from Thomas Henry's astoundingly good VCO-1. The second VCF derives from Thomas Henry's beautiful VCF-1 design. VCO2 uses the AS3340 clone of the classic CEM chip. One of the mod source LFOs is based on a very elegant Ray Wilson design, and the other mod source LFO and envelope generator (as well as the main EG and the EG modulating the other VCF) are build using the fantastic modulation chips designed and supplied by Electric Druid. The noise source is also based on the Electric Druid noise generator IC.

In practice, the synth architecture is predominantly subtractive, but the mod matrix means it's also possible to do basic FM, although that's fairly limited by there being only two mod matrix channels (mod matrices are difficult and expensive to implement).

The synth cost about 5 months of spare time, more money than I have the courage to calculate, and some intense stress and frustration in getting it to work properly. Debugging hardware is much more difficult than debugging software.

It was an amazing journey of learning, and I'm one step closer to knowing how not to build a synth. It also gave me an even more acute and humbling appreciation of just how astounding is the work done by the synth electronics pioneers, and indeed contemporary designers. I stand, diminutive, on the shoulders of many giants.

https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/
https://doepfer.de/DIY_Synth_e.htm
https://www.birthofasynth.com/Thomas_...
https://www.birthofasynth.com/Thomas_...
http://musicfromouterspace.com/index....
https://electricdruid.net/product/env...
https://electricdruid.net/product/vcl...
https://electricdruid.net/product/noi..."

Agent xX - DIY Modular Synth Live Session

video upload by Andreas Remshagen

"an exciting live session that could be the theme music of an agent film.
The following DIY devices are used (in order):
-The analog Strings/Choir Synthesizer with VP-330 Filterclone
-The analog Bass-Synth with Moog-clone-Filter
-The analog drum-Box with 2 HiHats and four DS-7 clones
-An restored Elektor-Formant System
-The analog Groovebox with YuSynth's Metalizer Design that makes
the guitar-sound
-For keyboardsolo an analog YuSynth VCO-Design and a Steiner-Parker
Filterclone
All Devices are driven with my free Sequencer-Software and two Polyend
Poly Midi to CV-Converters
see my sequencer-software Video for an explanation + Download [posted here]
the effects are 2 Alesis Midiverb4 and one Yamaha FX500
Thanks to Yves Usson (YuSynth) and Ray Wilson (Musicfromouterspace)
for sharing their Ideas!"

SynthCone NoiseBox#2: Unboxing & Demo

video upload by poorness studios

"Here's another instrument from overseas. The NoiseBox#2 comes from SynthCone in Petrozavodsk, Russia. It's based on the Noise Toaster circuit created by Ray Wilson - Music From Outer Space (MFOS). It's a little box of fun!

Intro @ 0:00
Unboxing @ 1:50
Overview @ 2:43
Basic Sounds @ 3:34
More Complex Sounds @ 6:38
External CV Modulation @ 9:30
Processing External Audio @ 11:26
Adding Reverb & Delay @ 13:50
Summary @ 14:35

You can find SynthCone's Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SynthCone"

MFOS Noise Toaster (Luna_NT) Analog Synthesis Demo and Tutorial

video upload by CatSynth TV

"The Luna_NT was a custom build of the Noise Toaster from Music From Outer Space (MFOS). It is basically a full analog subtractive synthesizer voice, with VCO, VCF, VCA and two modulation sources: AR envelope and LFO. We go over each of the parameters of this instrument in detail and provide a basic tutorial on analog subtractive synthesis in the process.

Luna Lab Noise Research, which created this instrument, apparently no longer exists. However, one can still get the original Noise Toaster, including the PCB designed by the late Ray Wilson, as a kit from https://synthcube.com

You can also find the original design at https://musicfromouterspace.com

00:19 Background on the MFOS Noise Toaster and our Luna_NT version
01:22 Basic demo including bass sounds
02:51 VCO, and modulation with LFO and envelope generator
08:17 VCF parameters and modulation
11:48 VCA and envelope-generator modulation

Please consider supporting this channel to help us bring you more synthesizer+audio tutorials and other content. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/catsynth
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth"

DIY Analog-Synth - Nature (Live)

video by Andreas Remshagen

"An early Music-Style played live with my DIY Analog-Modular System.
the following DIY-Synths are used (I described them in my other Videos):
Strings/Choir-Synth 2.0 (Driven by Polyend Poly2 in First-Mode and Midi-Keyboard)
Strings-Synth 2.0
A Noise Toaster Synth (by Ray Wilson, MFOS)
The Analog Groovebox with built in mini-Sequencer
A Doepfer DIY-Synth
Bass-Synth with Moog-VCF
A YuSynth-Modular System (4-Wave VCO, moog-VCF-clone, ADSR and VCA
(Driven by Elektor-formant CV/Gate Keyboard)
The Mini-miditech keyboard is for the whole Pitch-it drives a Doepfer Dark
Link that is connected with all CV-ins through a CV-Distributor)
Effects are a Alesis Midiverb4 and a Yamaha FX500"

Like Wish You Were Here meets JMJ.

Vintage Health Club “Switcheroo” Synth on a Rope

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

via this auction

"Up for auction, a vintage Health Club “Switcheroo” analog synthesizer filter. This unique synth/filter was created by the late synth guru Ray Wilson (1956-2016) [MFOS]. The fully functional unit is in excellent condition and comes with a power source. Only a few of these were produced, and they rarely come up for auction.

Some of the features include:
2 Voltage controlled oscillators (VCO), scaled to 1v/Octave)
1 Voltage controlled filter (self-oscillating and 1v/Octave, as well)
1 Attack-Release envelope generator
1 Low-frequency oscillator (LFO)
1 Voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA)
1 Mixer
1 White Noise Generator"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Turbo by Electric Noodle Box

Aidan Taylor

"Headphones / quality monitors recommended!"

In memory of Ray Wilson of MFOS - Music From Outer Space.

Analog Drumbox with four DS-7 Clones (with Plans and Circuits)

Published on Feb 17, 2020 Andreas Remshagen

"Electronic Music needs a Drumbox!

Here is a full analog Drumbox i customized for a comfortable usage- its easy to build and it comes with standard Parts.

It has 16/12 and 8 Steps and every step can be switched for each Drum
-4 DS-7 Clones
-2 Noise based HiHats
-Mixer with stereo-Balance for each Drum
-internal and external clock

Here are all Plans and Circuits:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yn-...

The original Site to the DS-7 Clones:

http://m.bareille.free.fr/ds7clone/ds...

Thanks to m.Bareille, Yves Usson from www.yusynth.net and to Ray Wilson www.musicfromouterspace.com"

Soundtronics MFOS Soundlab MIDI Ultimate with Arturia Keystep in Wooden Case

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Jul 6, 2019 Torsten Spiller

"A very first demonstration of the Soundtronics Midi Ultimate which is based on the MFOS Soundlab Ultimate. I made a special version of my DCASE that the Midi Ultimates fits in."

via this auction

"The MIDI Ultimate project is a fully-featured analogue synth with a performance comparable to many commercially available instruments. The MIDI Ultimate is an evolution of the musicfromouterspace.com (MFOS) Sound Lab Ultimate design by the late Ray Wilson who is credited for much of the design which has been reproduced with kind permission of Synthcube.com in the US.

Synth Features
Three Musically Accurate Voltage Controller Oscillators (VCOs) with sawtooth and variable width pulse wave forms, pulse width modulation, hard-sync, log CV inputs.
Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter (VCF) 12db/Oct doubles as a sine wave oscillator
Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA)with log response
White Noise Generator
Active 8 Channel Mixer for all VCO waveforms, noise and external input
Two Attack, Decay, Sustain & Release Envelope Generators (ADSR)
Two Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO) with square, ramp, triangle and sawtooth waveforms
Repeat Gate Generator that can also double as another square wave LFO)
Sample & Hold (S&H) with variable sample rate and glide
Toggle Switch Patching with potentiometer mixing
Echo Effect Sound Processor
MIDI to CV Interface with 1-16 channel selector switch, responds to all 128 MIDI note keys
Headphones and Line output
Integral +/- 12Vdc Power supply Regulator (needs external 12Vac 500mA plug top adaptor)
DIY Construction with through hole components
Single board design with PCB mounted pots and switches eliminates panel wiring"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Father & Sonthesizer Ep. 12: The Sonic Multiplier

Published on Sep 3, 2019 George Kay

"In this series me and my dad talk about our DIY synths and current projects/past experiences. This episode we present another previous project, the Sonic Multiplier by Ray Wilson aka Music From Outer Space, my favourite ring modulator!

http://musicfromouterspace.com/index...."

You can find all episodes for Father & Sonthesizer here.

Music From Outer Space - MFOS - Soundlab Ultimate w/ Expanders and Voice of Saturn

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

via this auction

"This is a custom built modular synthesizer comprised of the MFOS Soundlab Ultimate and two identical Soundlab Expanders. The case itself was made from old bleachers from the school the builder worked at (who is one of the recommended builders on the MFOS website if you didn't feel up to the DIY challenge). The main synth voice is normalized but can be repatched. The patch points are an interesting combination of banana jacks and 1/4" jacks. There is a passive multiple box included that convert 1/4" and banana cables in either direction.
The bottom of the unit was also signed and dated by Ray Wilson when it was sent in to have the envelope generators response curve tweaked (I believe to make them snappier)

Soundlab Ultimate Features
3 VCOs with Square and Saw Waveforms
Noise Source
External Input
5 Channel Mixer
Analog Lowpass Filter
Analog VCA
Attack and Decay Envelope Generator
Sample & Hold Circuit
Gate Repeater
2 LFOs with Square, Rising Saw, Triangle, Falling Saw Waveforms, and Low and High Rate Ranges
4 Attenuators
Soundlab Expander Features (per each side)
Attack Decay Sustain Release Envelope Generator
Analog Multimode Filter w/ Lowpass, Highpass, and Bandpass
Analog VCA
Ring Modulator (Analog Multiplier)
Signal Booster
Envelope Follower
CV Inverter
4 Channel Mixer

Also included are a bunch of banana cables (some stackable, some not) 3pin cables to link the power from the main Soundlab to the 2 Expanders, and a separately built project Voice of Saturn drone synth. The Voice of Saturn does work but is a little finicky, and seems to need some calibration as the ranges on the controls are very narrow. But it will be an interesting add-on to this system giving you 2 extra VCOs and 1 LFO."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Soundtronics MIDI Ultimate DIY Analogue Synth Based on the MFOS Sound Lab Ultimate

Published on Jan 8, 2019 Soundtronics Ltd

Related posts:
2018: Who are Soundtronics? 5U Modular with MFOS Yusynth & more // Synthfest 2018
2016: Soundtronics to Partner with MFOS on Bringing Synth DIY to the Masses & Other Formats

Video description for the above:
"In January 2019, the UK electronics magazine EPE published the first of 6 articles written by Paul Cooper of Soundtronics Ltd on how to build the MIDI Ultimate. The MIDI Ultimate is an analogue synth based on the MFOS Soundlab Ultimate. The soundtrack was produced entirely on the MIDI Ultimate using overdubbing and the Reaper DAW software. Whilst it is not that close to the original Stranger Things theme, a studio full of classic 80's synths was not going to be replaced by one 'home made' synth but it was fun to try!"

Midi Ultimate DIY Synth Demo 2

Published on Feb 24, 2019 Soundtronics Ltd

"At the time of publishing this video, 2 of the 6 installments of the build guide for the MIDI Ultimate synth have been publish in the EPE magazine. So why you are busy with your soldering iron, here is another taster of a track from the 80's using only the synth and the Reaper DAW software for recording the individual sound layers."

MIDI Ultimate Patch 1 - Pulsing Filter

Published on Mar 11, 2019

"We have named this patch the Pulsing Filter and this recording was done in one take using only the MIDI Ultimate and a MIDI keyboard for the key changes. The patch is based on three VCOs tuned to sub octave and sub sub octave. Their square wave outputs feed into the VCF, the VCA is bypassed and onto the echo effects section. The VCF has both LFO and ADSR modulation for the cut-off frequency. The LFO rate is very slow and gives the underlying cyclic sound. The ADSR is triggered from two sources, the sample and hold clock to give the main beat and also from the MIDI keyboard to give emphasis to note changes. During the course of the track, echo is added, then white noise and then lots of filter resonance."

via Soundtronics

"The MIDI Ultimate project is a fully-featured analogue synth with a performance comparable to many commercially available instruments. The MIDI Ultimate is an evolution of the musicfromouterspace.com (MFOS) Sound Lab Ultimate design by the late Ray Wilson who is credited for much of the design which has been reproduced with kind permission of Synthcube.com in the US.

This project will appeal to both those whose primary interest is in electronics and those whose interest is purely making music. This is quite a large build to take on with nearly 700 components (fig 1) and may initially be seen as rather daunting. However, the construction is covered in 6 issues of the EPE magazine with cover dates from February 2019 to July 2019. With care and with our detailed constructional articles, it is quite achievable. The two essential skills needed to undertake this construction are soldering and component identification. If these are new to you then numerous guides and videos can be found online. If you are a first timer or relatively inexperienced in electronics, practice your soldering before starting on this synth. Whilst the component count is high, the PCB is assembled systematically with each individual section tested before moving onto the next.

Synth Features
Three Musically Accurate Voltage Controller Oscillators (VCOs) with sawtooth and variable width pulse wave forms, pulse width modulation, hard-sync, log CV inputs.
Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter (VCF) 12db/Oct doubles as a sine wave oscillator
Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA)with log response
White Noise Generator
Active 8 Channel Mixer for all VCO waveforms, noise and external input
Two Attack, Decay, Sustain & Release Envelope Generators (ADSR)
Two Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO) with square, ramp, triangle and sawtooth waveforms
Repeat Gate Generator that can also double as another square wave LFO)
Sample & Hold (S&H) with variable sample rate and glide
Toggle Switch Patching with potentiometer mixing
Echo Effect Sound Processor
MIDI to CV Interface with 1-16 channel selector switch, responds to all 128 MIDI note keys
Headphones and Line output
Integral +/- 12Vdc Power supply Regulator (needs external 12Vac 500mA plug top adaptor)
DIY Construction with through hole components
Single board design with PCB mounted pots and switches eliminates panel wiring"

The analog Strings-Synthesizer V2.0

Published on Dec 19, 2018 Andreas Remshagen

"This is a modification of my self-made Strings-Synthesizer.
i have Added 3 LFOs that makes a Chorus/Vibrato Effect in multiple Variations. This gives a very lush sound like the old String-Machines Solina etc.
Oscillator-Design by Ray Wilson (Musicfromouterspace.com)"