KRAFTWERK tribute to Florian Schneider 1947 - 2020

Published on May 9, 2020 Redmartian

"These are just a few clips I posted on Mastodon as a tribute to Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider. They feature some elements that brought his personality and humor to the band. His skill as a radio telegrapher featured in Radioactivity. While they repeat the main lyrics "tune into the melody" becomes "tune into the KRAFTWERK" in morse code. His use of the vocoder and mellotron on Radioland and of course the Texas Instruments Language Tutor which was featured on Computerworld.

These are just in the moment posts, mostly 1 minute or less made for social media and are not complete cover versions. All backing music was recreated and sequenced using MIDI or played live on vintage analog synths."

Florian Shneider posts

Synth Rorschach #48: MULTICS is ALIVE - booting MR12.6e 6180 emulation

Published on Feb 19, 2017 Redmartian

"This panel came from the University of Michigan and likely hasn't been driven this way in well over 20 years. Here we see the 6180 Multics emulator reading the switches set on the panel to 024000717200 and the initialize button been pressed to boot the virtual machine. The 6180 Maintenance Panel is being driven by a Xilinx BASYS3 which in run drives two logic boards that are cabled into the 6180 panel wiring harness. All switches and lamps are available to the emulator and you can dial through the scroll to check the various states of the machine. Once Multics has booted you'll see the famous Idle Pattern (or snake). Multics lives once again!"

Reminds me of Digisound meets EMS, meets something else I forget at the moment.

See the Synth Rorschach label below for more.

ROLAND SYSTEM 100M VINTAGE ANALOGUE MODULAR SYNTHESIZER

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on May 15, 2016 Redmartian

"Roland System 100M using only internally generated CVs, gates and triggers."

via this auction

"This listing is for a vintage Roland System 100M analogue modular synthesizer. It features 3 x 110, 1 x 140, 1 x 150 and 1 x 191J modules.

The 100M is unique from other modulars in that it has a integrated signal path for CV, Trig and Gate which be used without (or with minimal) patching.

This is a Buy It Now listing, but offers are welcome.

110: VCO (Pulse, Saw, Tri), VCF and VCA. Two have a reversible mod that allow the low output to be used as a SYNC input (see video)
140: Dual EG / LFO
150: Sample/Track and Hold, LFO, Noise Generator
191J: Integrated multiples (40 jacks, 6 cv/gate/trig in/out, keyboard input, expansion output)

The original sides were made from an imitation wood contact sheet on particle board. The wood sides in this auction are made of solid African Bubinga hardwood.

The 191J is for the japanese market and runs off of 100v. Provided is a USA 115v to 100v step down converter. An assortment of 21 1/8" patch cables are included."

Glow in the dark slider caps as well!

CLICK FOR MORE »

RED MARTIAN GHOST INTO THE FOG EDISON PHONOGRAPH WAX CYLINDER

Published on Dec 22, 2015 Redmartian

"Limited run of 20 Edison Phonograph wax cylinder records
BUGHLT KL-27A"

Red Martian - någonting 2M Edison phonograph record synth music

Published on Dec 7, 2015 Redmartian

Here's something you don't hear (or see) every day.

"2M of new synth music on an Edison phonograph cylinder record (cut by Benjamin thevictrolaguy) Very limited run of 10 cylinders.

Phonograph is a Model D 2/4 combination with an S reproducer and Cygnet horn mic'ed with an SM57

Music performed live using a Roland TR-808, Jupiter-4, Jupiter-6 and Yamaha CS-15"

https://redmartian.bandcamp.com

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES / IF ONLY I COULD LIE - limited 7" grey vinyl record

Published on Oct 31, 2015 Redmartian

"red martian / math genius collab on charlotte sometimes / if only i could lie. released on BUGHLT records limited 7" grey vinyl / December 2015."

All Rev 1 Prophet-5 (3 passes in unison) & TR-626 on Charlotte Sometimes.

http://redmartian.com

TOM ELLARD MEETS THE PDP-12 AT THE LIVING COMPUTER MUSEUM

Published on Sep 24, 2015 Redmartian

"Tom was introduced to the PDP-12 while Stephen Jones was working through the restoration effort in the summer of 2013. Stephen sent videos to Tom and it made an appearance in the interactive fiction game [H.H.] Here Tom is experiencing the PDP-12 for the first time running a program called Kaleidoscope in which the user manipulates two dials (X and Y) which are then sampled and used in producing the image on the screen. The -12 has a speaker and every time accumulator 0 is used a flip flop generates a pulse or square wave. Based on how quickly this occurs you will usually hear this square wave in the audio range. The speaker has been amplified for this video."

I asked Red Martian when the PDP-12 came out and how it produced audio:

"1971, though it goes back to the LINC and LINC-8 computers starting in 1960. It has an analog to digital converter which can sample from 8 multi-turn pots and 8 1/4" jacks as well as a bank of 6 relays for switching things. The tone you hear is a flip flop producing a square wave at a frequencing in the audio range everytime accumlator 0 is used. So depending on how busy the system is doing the calculations for plotting points on the X/Y display in kaleidoscope you get a different frequency, sometimes FMish sounding.

I bypassed the speaker and wired in an amplifier for the sake of Severed Head's visit."

PDP stands for Programmed Data Processor. Wikipedia has page on it that goes through the history of the PDP line. On the PDP-12: "Descendant of the LINC-8; with slight redesign, and different livery, officially followed by, and marketed as, the 'Lab-8'."

http://www.livingcomputermuseum.org

RED MARTIAN: RETRAILING (Featuring Ichabod) - Release Event in Seattle Tomorrow!

Published on Sep 18, 2015 Redmartian

Red Martian is having their album release event at the Seattle Living Computer Museum this Saturday. You might remember their recent performance there where they covered Kraftwerk. The track above was composed on Ichabod when Stephen Jones of Red Martian was helping George Mattson test Ichabod during its construction. Note Ichabod will not be at the event as it currently resides with Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, but you are sure to see a great live performance with synths.

Video Description:
"A new album of 13 electronic pieces. The first 100 will be given away as gifts at SRGE: Arcade Armageddon September 19th, 2015 at the Living Computer Museum. Red Martian performs at 8:30pm on the main stage.

Track listing:
[Tracks 09 and 10 were composed on Ichabod, 03 on the Syntar, 04 on the MMM, and 07 on the Solaris.]

01 cowboy and the vocoder [see this post - great track with a sad story]
02 nedan omloppsbana
03 närmar snöblandat regn
04 av död (delorean)
05 retrailing
06 flytta hav av is
07 känner mig så låg
08 風の谷のナウシカ
09 utan hjärta *
10 bedövande en översvämning *
11 ひょろり
12 se io m'accorgo
13 ett vykort

improvised live on the custom Mattson Mini Modular named Ichabod."

Vintage Computer analog synth commodore 64 sx64 SID chiptune

Published on Aug 30, 2015 Redmartian

"SX64 with two SID chips analog synth"

Red Martian Covers Kraftwerk at the Living Computer Museum Seattle

Uploaded on Aug 15, 2015 matrixsynth

[1st track in the set is actually Isi by NEU]

Red Martian covers Kraftwerk at the Free Play event at the Living Computer Museum in Seattle Washington, Saturday, Aug 15, 2015.
The Seattle Retro Gaming Expo was going on and Red Martian played.

http://redmartian.com
http://www.kraftwerk.com
http://www.seattleretro.org
http://www.livingcomputermuseum.org

Gear:
Realistic Moog MG-1
Roland GAIA
ARP AXXE
Sequential Circuits Prophet-600
acidlab MIAMI
Roland SVC-350
Texas Instruments Language Translator with German & English

BTW, if you do not recognize the name Red Martian, do a quick search for them on the top right here on MATRIXSYNTH.

A few pics before the show:

CLICK FOR MORE »

COMMODORE SX-64 dual SIDs, 4 pot controller, Prophet-64 and Messiah

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Jul 20, 2015

"This SX-64 is forsale on ebay. The music you hear was generated by this SX-64 in real time recorded directly from the stereo output." Update: Be sure to listen in stereo!  There are different things happening on each channel on this one.

via this auction

Note this is Redmartian's system. He also has a Roland TR-808 and Early OSC Minimoog Model D listed.

"VINTAGE COMPUTER ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER COMMODORE SX-64 SID PROPHET MIDI CONTROLLER

This listing is for a modified Commodore SX-64 Executive Portable Computer
It has the following modifications:
JiffyDOS (a switch on the back allows you enable CBM DOS or JiffyDOS v6.01)
SID2SID (This allows two MOS Technology SID chips to be installed version 6581)
Ray Carlsen's reset circuit
A 3.5mm stereo (SID1 and SID2) audio jack next to the JiffyDOS switch.

What it included in this listing:
Commodore SX-64 with the modifications listed above
A prophet-64 catridge (Sequencer, TB303 clone, Drum machine and Mono synth)
A Messiah cartridge with midi (Sequencer, TB303 clone, drum machine, mono synth and wave player)
Commodore SX-64 manual
Commodore 1351 mouse
A small project box with a Sequential PROPHET nameplate and 4 pots mounted for use with Prophet-64 and Messiah
The little Prophet 4 pot controller box works in conjunction with the keyboard to let you
select various functions and then tweak sounds in real time. They can be used mainly with
the TB303 clone (bassline) and the mono synth and the drum machine.
It has one epoxy repair where the keyboard cable connects. The repair is solid."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland TR-808 Vintage Analogue synthesizer Drum Machine with Custom Wood Sides

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Jul 18, 2015 Redmartian

via this auction

Note this is being offered from Redmartian, who also has an early OSC Minimoog listed.

"Working TR-808 with custom Claro Walnut wood sides."

CLICK FOR MORE »

1974 MOOG MINIMOOG MODEL D EARLY OSC SN 9984 with Lit Mod Wheels

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Jul 18, 2015 Redmartian

"a short video showing that this minimoog model D is working properly."

Note this is being offered from Redmartian.

via this auction

"This auction is for an early oscillator 1974 minimoog model D serial number 99xx. It has a new Claro Walnut wood case and has a brushed aluminum wheel box with custom clear backlit acrylic wheels. It has been recently calibrated. The keyboard has new bushings and its buss bars have been cleaned. The oscillators have been tuned and scaled. The pots and switches have been cleaned where they can. Most of the pots are sealed. That being said, there does not seem to any scratchy or glitchy pots. The filter works and sounds great. Both contour EGs (for the filter and amp) work as well as modulation from the 3rd oscillator to both the oscillator and filter sections. White and Pink noise work, external in works"

CLICK FOR MORE »

SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET-5 REV 2 - SEVERED HEADS - DEAD EYES OPENED

Published on Jun 27, 2015 Redmartian

"Showing that this rev 2 Prophet-5 works and sounds like it should."

Cowboy and the Vocoder by Redmartian

The track is now available here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/redmartian9

"The song was recording using the MMM for bass and vocoder carrier. The lead is a jupiter-6 and the drums were done using a Sequential DrumTraks. The lead and vocoder (Roland SVC-350) parts were played manually along with the bass/drums which were sequenced using midi via Logic."

Some of you might remember Cowboy and the Vocoder from these previous posts.  The story behind this track has a somewhat intersting and quirky history.  Cowboy was VoiceEncoder's dog.  VoiceEncoder is known for his vocoder videos and demos that became somewhat of an obscure synth meme.  His demos actually came up in a recent conversation I had with someone.  VoiceEncoder would often feature his dog Cowboy in his videos.  Cowboy would just be lying on a bed somewhere while VoiceEncoder talked to him through a vocoder.  Sadly Cowboy passed away on Monday, March 23, 2009 (click through for a tribute post).

The second half of what makes this track special is that it is one of the first tracks predominantly featuring the Mattson Mini Modular (it might actually be the first) [Update: according to Redmartian, "it was the first 'song' on the MMM. I did a few musical demos and orchestrated lute pieces, but this was the first 'pop song'."] It was composed by Redmartian as a tribute to Cowboy.  The lyrics are a dedication to Cowboy and the videos he was featured in.  Below are two videos for the track.  The bottom video was taken at the 2009 PNW Synth Gathering and features the Performance Music Systems Syntar in place of the Jupiter-6 for leads.   The Syntar was the first fully contained keytar synthesizer created by George Mattson, the man behind Mattson Mini Modular.

Cowboy and the Vocoder and the MMM

Uploaded on Nov 5, 2008 redmartian·73 videos

"A song written for a dog who likes to listen to the sound the Roland SVC-350 vocoder. This song features the MMM as well as a Sequential Circuits Drum Traks and a Roland Jupiter-6. (I don't have a Poly-800 .. sorry cowboy).

Here are the lyrics:

Do you know Cowboy
and the SVC-350?
Do you know Cowboy
and the Roland Vocoder?

Hey there Cowboy
I see you there
Lazy gazing
Gazing lazy
Whos my sweet boy?
You know its you.
I like to vocode and you do too.

No Poly-800 to drive the SVC
So I use an MMM as my carrier wave
No Poly-800 but Cowboy doesn't mind.
We all know its the Roland SVC-350 vocoder time.

Audio version can be found here:
http://redmartian.com/napster/Red_Mar...

Don't hate the dog or the vocoder."

SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET-5 REV 2 SN 1090

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated. SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET-5 REV 2 - SEVERED HEADS - DEAD EYES OPENED

YouTube Uploaded by redmartian on Sep 3, 2012

"Showing that this rev 2 Prophet-5 works and sounds like it should." via this auction More pics at the auction including some of the inside below. See the seller's other items for more. "This auction is for a working Rev 2 Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 analogue synthesizer. The synth was recently serviced by Greg Montalbano of Analog Synth Service and has had several updates done: Cassette Mod (allows for programs to be transfered using AFSK) Power supply mod: eliminates the +12 and -5 DC supplies for better stability +5v ROMs installed, final version, digital board modified for this (part of power mod) power supply recap, trim, digital and analogue calibration Includes a new pack of keyboard bushings (the bushings are currently good, no clacky keys) digital and analogue board power rails have been recapped battery shows 3.0v The previous owner had a remote keyboard and pedal setup for this unit. That required additional jacks be mounted in the back, including a 5 pin DIN style connector. The modification was removed by Greg and two of the jacks were used for the cassette mod. The DIN connector is still installed, but not wired. This could be used for a MIDI IN connection at some point in the future. The pitch wheel has also been modified so that it change the pitch UP by two octaves. In the video I try to demonstrate the following: All notes trigger, no double triggering factory programs load and sound as they should manual mode: near zero beat tuning between oscillator 1 and 2 unison tuning filter harmonics (the rev2/SSM is famous for this sound), slow LFO sweep poly-mod VCO 2 modulating PW of 1 (rev 2 is also famous for this as the SSM VCOs tend to be less stable than the CEMs in the rev 3)..."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Red Martian ROLAND SVC-350 VOCODER

via this auction

"Rackmount unit, one of the best sounding vocoders ever made
Controls operate smoothly, unit works great
USA 120v
owned and used by a non-smoker
Free shipping in the USA, $75 to elsewhere
Used on Red Martian - Your Computer (1993) and Cowboy and the Vocoder"


RECORD PLAY LISTENING OF ACETATE DUB COWBOY AND THE ROLAND VOCODER - RED MARTIAN
YouTube Uploaded by redmartian on Mar 5, 2010
Some of you might remember this one.
"Listening to Cowboy and the Vocoder (1 of 10) acetate dubs. b/w MMM demo number four.
The record is a thick aluminum disk with a coat of dub lacquer. It was a heated cut on a modified 1949 Presto cutting lathe using fairchild and ampex equipment for the mastering and RIAA curve."

RED MARTIAN - YOUR COMPUTER [1993] - ROLAND VOCODER

Uploaded by redmartian on Nov 8, 2008

"Recorded at Hot Traxx (Garland, Texas) in 1993. Yes, I brought everything into a heavy metal recording studio in the back of an El Camino (thanks to Brian Rogers). Here is the equipment list:
- Roland SVC-350 Vocoder
- Roland Alpha Juno (bass line)
- Sequential Circuits Prophet T-8 (additional bass and solo)
- Sequential Circuits Six-Trak (lead)
- Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 (lead)
- Ensoniq Performance Sampler (ERROR 144 - REBOOT?)
- SDF-3 running BSDI BSD/386
- Telebit Trailblazer TB+ plus (calling 'adaptex' over UUCP)
- Pascal Blin (Official French Guy)
- Drums sampled from Kraftwerk's Computer World record
- Vietnamese vocal by Hoang Oanh from Hon Vong Phu

The Telebit was sampled live in the studio because I did not have a SCSI interface on the EPS. The song was supposed to be released on an 'Analogue Heaven' compilation that never materialized and sat on DAT until 2004 when I remastered it and added Pascal Blin's vocal to fill in what I felt were empty spots. Pascal did not know what the words meant but was very concerned about pronouncing them correctly."

THE SOUNDS OF THE MOOG SATELLITE

YouTube Uploaded by redmartian on Jun 10, 2011

[This vid original went up on 6/10 8:47 PM - moving it up with the auction pics and link]
"Just a basic run through showing the Moog Satellite in working condition and the types of sounds it makes. Its a preset synth with a few adjustable parameters. It is capable of making many typical analogue synth sounds."

via this auction

"The synth has several different presets which you can then adjust filter shape, logarithmic glide, LFO speed, LFO amount, LFO shape, oscillator octave range, dampening (sustain), auto trigger (based off of LFO speed), tremolo and vibrato. The wood case is walnut is in good shape and is very smooth but shows where the sides have been glued to the top/back piece. The original slider caps were missing and have been replaced with Roland System 100M caps which fit the sliders perfectly. The sliders themselves operate smoothly and cleanly. See the video below for a basic demo of the sounds. The keyboard triggers great and the keyboard has fresh bushings. The flip switches all work and are in good shape with the exception of one which looks
like it was partially melted by a candle or cigarette. Sound wise, the synth does a surprising good job for both bass and leads. Pitch and master volume are located on the back of the instrument. There is also a Moog accessory port as well as a CV control external input for the filter." SN 2176780

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SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET-5 REV 2 PROGRAMMABLE POLYPHONIC ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER

YouTube Uploaded by redmartian on Apr 24, 2011

via this auction

"Serial number #0483 in an African Padauk wood case. SSM chips and the original John Bowen 40 presets. The color of the wood is a deep red with black grain lines. This video doesn't really show the color at all."

RECORD PLAY LISTENING OF ACETATE DUB COWBOY AND THE ROLAND VOCODER - RED MARTIAN

YouTube via redmartian.

http://redmartian.com/ via this auction

"Listening to Cowboy and the Vocoder (1 or 10) acetate dubs. b/w MMM demo number four.
The record is a thick aluminum disk with a coat of dub lacquer. It was a heated cut on a modified 1949 Presto cutting lathe using fairchild and ampex equipment for the mastering and RIAA curve."