"It’s a great deal, 3 oscillators for about 220 US dollars. I got it used for 170. I would compare this to an alpha juno oscillator on steroids. Since the junos don’t do sync sounds it gets hard to compare there. The saw is ok, but it’s the pwm that really shines on this. When using all 3 oscillators, it always sounds like a polysynth in unison. This oscillator shines when played down low or in the mids."
Click here for the full review plus demo on VAC. Funny, it does sound a bit like my Roland alpha juno at times.
"I’ve been in space for the past 4 weeks, and my ship has picked something up out of the void.
Meet Pluto, an insanely versatile, portable, duophonic modular synth from Modern Sounds. In this video I’ll give my immediate impressions, and build a small patch to showcase a mere fraction of what this travel-sized modular experience is capable of.
A more in-depth tutorial is on its way!
Learn more about Modern Sounds here: https://www.modernsounds.co
0:00 Intro
0:35 Unboxing
0:46 Pluto Design
1:34 Clock Division
2:08 First Jam
3:18 Conclusion"
Unlocking the Voices of Pluto
video upload by
"Let's dive into Pluto! This is an incredible battery powered modular synthesizer that features two simultaneous four-step sequencers and a whole bunch of sonic capabilities.
This video will focus on the sounds of this synth, and all of the different voices you can get out of it.
0:00 Intro
0:57 Voice Basics
1:15 How to Play the Voices
1:41 Voice Types
3:20 Modulation
3:48 Effects Section
4:53 Conclusion"
Playlist with 30 videos starting with:
"An ambient journey on the Yamaha TG77 synthesizer. With it's layering capabilities and long looping envelopes the TG77 shines on complex evolving soundscapes. All sounds from the TG77, played in one take and routed through the Lexicon PCM80 effects unit. PCM80 effects designed by Italo De Angelis. Recorded on New Years Day in Bali 2020 (March 25th), otherwise known as Nyepi or 'Day Of Silence'. Hope you enjoy!"
"Only about 600 of these were made and are somewhat difficult to find. This is the Technics Wsa1 acoustic modeling synthesizer! A very unique workstation from the 90s that was light-years ahead of its time. This was very similar to the mythical Yamaha VP1 which is basically a unicorn of a synthesizer since there were only 3 sold.
Sounds:
The wsa1 was an acoustic modeling synthesizer that emulates acoustic nuances and features resonators and drivers to drastically change different sounds. The keyboard really shines with pads and orchestral sounds.
The soundcloud link below demonstrates some sounds from it. All sounds came from this keyboard plus some reverb and chorus.
Features:
I can't fully describe what this thing can do but it features a built in sequencer that can be manipulated in real time. With 64 note polyphony almost anything is possible. Has multiple editing parameters.
The wsa was released in 1995 with a hefty price tag of $5,000! But now they go for less but are pretty uncommon since they are fairly unknown.
Condition:
Every button and knob is working as a new one."
"Please support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jayhosking A live, semi-improvised synth jam performed entirely on hardware.
I had the MiniFreak and Erebus set up for an exploratory livestream on my Patreon, and totally stumbled across this combination of MiniFreak drone and Erebus bass with fifths. I'd also been tinkering with modifications to my eurorack drum setup, so I decided to quickly integrate the two together and capture something loose and fun. This came together extremely fast and I love how easy it was to get into the flow.
The MiniFreak and new Erebus are both brand new to me, and early impressions with both have extremely positive. I try a lot of gear and expect that I won't connect with much of it, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself saying, "Oh, yeah, this is great" for both of them.
The MiniFreak shines in its oscillators (especially those from Noise Engineering!) and its robust effects section, with three effects slots and far better sound than most integrated effects on big fancy flagship synths. There are so many bread and butter sounds the MiniFreak can give you, but it can also give you some wonderfully weird and warbly unique sounds that I haven't been able to get from a hardware synth.
The Erebus is exactly what I want in a desktop mono synth: small profile, huge sound, what-you-see-is-what-you-get settings, flexibility in sound design, great bass, and fun to explore. This one seems like a no-brainer if you're on the market for a desktop mono synth for a hardware setup, especially if you need something to contrast against Moog monos. Thanks so much to Michael for building this Erebus for me! (They have/had both DIY and pre-built kits.)
And then there's my eurorack drum machine, which continues to be my favourite way to add drums to a track. Two recent additions include the Mystic Circuits IDUM (to add a lot of hectic variety to the drum sequence) and the WMD Fracture (which is my new favourite clap/perc module). Really liking where this drum machine is going, though I'm going to try at least one more configuration.
All in all, this one really captured a moment in time and was a blast to explore. I may leave this setup on the table for a little more exploration.
Thanks for listening.
Arturia MiniFreak - Drone pad Dreadbox Erebus with Source Audio Ventris - bass Eurorack drums: - ALM Busy Circuits Pamela's New Workout - clock and many LFOs - Prok drums (3) - kick, snare, hats - WMD Fracture - clap/perc - Mutable Instruments Grids - drum sequencing - Mystic Circuits IDUM - drum sequencing spice/character/glitch - Intellijel Mixup and Duatt - drum mixing - Happy Nerding FX Aid XL - drum colour/compression - Endorphin.es Golden Master 1U - compression & EQ - Intellijel Mixer 1U - final drum mix out
Performed and recorded live, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.
"The rare, more playable predecessor to the TetraMAPS, the MAPS has 16 banks of 8 sequences, able to run multiple concurrent sequences, chaining sequences to other sequences, modulating sequences by each other, and sending the sequencer output to any of three cv+gate pairs as well as up to 32 channels of MIDI.
Sequences can run at different speeds from each other, sync'd to external trigger, external clock, each with different step lengths.
While you could use it for some drum applications, where this really shines is leads and melody (or bass and acid, for that matter). Unlike most sequencers, you can trigger the same sequence to play from different start points simultaneously, leading to polyrythms that are more difficult to achieve with most other gear. You can also start and stop those layered sequences very smoothly live."
via Lace: "The sequential Drumtraks uses common B20k potentiometers (pots). You can buy a replacement pot from your local electronics/hobby store. In this case we used a B20k pot. You simply take off the black caps of the face side, then unscrew the top inside motherboard. The pots are bolted directly to the motherboard. Unbolt them first then de-solder them, their design makes it hard to use a solder sucker so you may need to heat all three pads by quickly passing your soldering iron over them, and wiggle out the pot while the lead is molten. Just be careful not to be too hard, take the time. You can clean the pads properly once the pot is removed. There's plenty of space between solder pads.
Bend the pins upward on the new pot then bolt in place and solder it once it is secured. Screw the motherboard back in, be careful to make it fit. Don't force anything. Close the lid and put the front screws back in. Put on the caps and you're done. Weee. Sequential knobs are tough to find. If you need sequential looking caps, Futurlec sells the closest approximation I have found so far. They have 4 sizes, black and silver aluminium and other styles like roland/boss 80's looking plastic caps, with colored tops. Good for DIY/repairs. On the final shot you see four of their black aluminium pots mounted on the drumtraks.
Drumtraks manage to always sit nicely in a mix. The sounds seem basic on their own, but when played against each other in a live pattern the result shines. It's definitely a machine you want to make a pattern with and record, rather than sample.
I made a down tempo track called "ballad of sin" for the b-side of my next 7" release with the drumtraks and the CZ5000, you can hear both dry together at the beginning. The pumping reverb and effects on my voice are the compressors in the tascam DM4800 being over driven. Regardless of what goes on around, the Drumtraks just sits in there and pushes the whole track through like a John Deere tractor. The beat I made is simple yet the machine's tone makes it very compelling. That's not an easy task for a 27 year old 8bit digital drum machine with no effects."
Ballad of sin by lacedj "A chill out down tempo track I wrote after a shitty weekend of stress at the club. I used the Casio CZ 5000 with pitch modulation to get the wide moving chords, and the sequential drumtraks for the main basic beat. The beat sample is a reconstruction. The voice sample is my voice treated and detuned in ableton."
"The Jupiter 4 is recorded in mono, which makes the internal chorus very subtle. Reverb is added in Cubase to make the sound wider. There is no clipping in the recording chain. If you hear anything close to distortion, it’s all in the sound coming out of the Jupiter 4.
The Roland Jupiter 4 has been rediscovered and established as the most full of character among the Roland polyphonic synths. Although limited in number of voices and straight forward sound architecture, it shines with an unique sonic print which no other synth can emulate. There are lots of great video demos and information on the web, so that no detailed description will be provided here. But it’s important to mention some unique features which will be showed extensively in this video series:
- The Jupiter 4 filter goes into self oscillation. Big guys like Yamaha CS-80, Jupiter 8 or Oberheim OBX-a can’t. - The LFO is fast enough to get into audio range. - There is a very noticeable internal saturation when the VCA slider is raised.
Don’t expect nice bass sounds and classic analog leads. The Jupiter 4 is perfect for that, but this has already been done before in many records and internet demos. What you are about to hear is the extreme side of the sound. Be prepared for drones, massive low frequencies, cracking saturation, ultra fast notes and unusual scales. Many sounds will remind you of modular synthesizers, but they were all created by direct recording of the Jupiter 4. :-)
In fact, the VCO is switched off and you will be hearing only the self oscillating filter in almost 80% of the video series. Only in the last videos you will hear the VCO. That means that 80% of the sounds you will hear couldn’t be made with other classic polyphonic synths, unless the filter self oscillates.
Luckily this Jupiter 4 was modded with CV and gate inputs and outputs per voice (and then some). Using this level of control per voice you can use the Jupiter 4 as a vintage monophonic synth, or drive individual voices differently. For example, applying vibrato or slide per voice. In this video series, only three voices were used.o
The amazing sound of this Jupiter 4 can break the traditional boundaries specially when driven by the Temporal Modulation Synthesis sequencer Flux, made by IOLabs: https://www.tmsynthesis.com/ Flux is the most advanced tool for rhythm creation ever made. Ever. Trying to explain Flux is few words is not possible. Please look for information on the web."
"Although this video is very short, I feel the accompanying track I made does a great job of showing where the Roland JX-8P shines. The pads are heaven and the bell like leads are like no other. This is one of my favorite synths and, IMO, is hugely underrated. All patches were programmed by myself using a free VST editor I had found online but can't locate anymore (glad to share the .dll if anyone is interested)."
"This is my last video with the V-Synth GT. It's already gone now...
I'm just showing some custom made FX patches with it, using samples and internal synthesis. I think that it really shines with these... it's really easy to get this kind of sounds out of it and you can get lost a lot hours having fun with these drone FX sounds."
"Well, the Pulsar 23 does a good job being a drum synthesizer/machine, but this time it shines at being a spaceship AND time machine. It can instantly sound like 60ies electronica, so it took me back to my favourite retro science fiction fantasies and influences.
Plain Pulsar 23, no overdubs, no external fx.
Thanks for tuning in!"
What happens when you apply 1950's era Soviet technology to a modern analog synth? You get the new SSL 1530 Tube VCA / Timbral Gate module - a wild blend of vacuum tube warmth and distortion, along with an incredibly useful VCA that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
The 1530 uses miniature pencil-sized vacuum tubes that were developed and refined by the Russians over 60 years ago. They are exceptionally low current and low voltage devices - so there's no need to generate the traditional high-voltage power supplies that are required for most other vacuum tubes. Very cool stuff!
While it’s a surprisingly good VCA, it really shines when it’s over-driven - rounding and folding the input waveforms like nothing else available. In some modes, it’s prone to whacky self-oscillation that can be made to lock onto the harmonics of the input waveform in cascading howls. Totally adjustable and controllable.
In conjunction with and licensed by Ken Stone (CGS), Synthetic Sound Labs has further expanded on Ken's designs to include several other circuit enhancements to make your Russian dreams "Come True".
SSL has added LEDs behind the tube to visually emulate the warm glow of the filament, and pulsating blue LEDs that simulate tubes as they are being driven by control voltages. A custom acrylic window shows off the effects in true retro fashion.
SSL uses quality fiberglass-epoxy printed circuit boards, precision automated robotics and meticulous hand-crafted assembly assure years of trouble-free service.
Synthetic Sound Labs has been in the analog synthesizer business since 1973. The 1530 is yet another in SSL’s growing line of new synthesizer modules. Proudly made in the USA.
Pricing is $295 US. Available directly from SSL and through NoiseBug, Pomona, CA.
1530 Specifications at a glance:
Model 1530 Tube VCA / Timbral Gate
Function Tube VCA / Timbral Gate - MU format Module
Controls - DRIVE 1 – Drive 1 attenuator - DRIVE 2 / FB – Drive 2 and normalized feedback attenuator - INIT GAIN – Manual CV gain input - CV AMT – CV Input gain attenuator
Inputs - DRIVE 1 – Variable gain Signal input - DRIVE 2/FB – Variable gain Signal input – Input switch selectable feedback from output - CV IN – Controls output gain. Attenuation control
Outputs - OUT – Audio Output (AC Coupled)
Panel High quality 0.062” aluminum. Durable black Metalphoto finish with natural aluminum graphics.
Power - Current draw: +15V @ 30 ma. and -15V @ 22 ma. - Synthesizers.com 6 pin Molex standard.
Size 8.75” H x 2.125” W x ~1.25” D (1 Moog Unit / MU)"
"Live electronic music featuring Seattle artists Rascal Rae and Ea5e95.
Rascal Rae likes pushing buttons and musical boundaries within the world of electronic music. They enjoy playing live with an ever-evolving cast of hardware devices to deliver joy on the dance floor through their whimsical approach to music production and performance. Known for their Digitakt chops, Rae's love of sampling shines through no matter what musical styles they're playing.
soundcloud.com/thatonerae
Instagram: @rascal_rae
Ea5e95, member of an international art collective from the 2000's called OKIZOO. Japan based under music and creative expression expression crew. Emcee, Dj and now producer/artist. Art, love and life is way. Influences include Jazz, triphop, underground hiphop, and many others
soundcloud.com/jQWnCA3CFSr1Y5oY8
"The main voice is monophonic, with simple preset accompaniment rhythms (with 15 options for the rhythm's voice) controlled by the 'Gling' safe-note system. This heavily limits its potential as a solo instrument, not only because the beats are laughably thin but because the accompanying voices are fixed in their patterns.
There are 100 preset melody voices, mostly the standard Yamaha PortaSound two-op noises, but there's also a surprising amount of useable sound effects and slow, evolving (but moving in very obvious digital steps) pads. It's charming in its own incredibly lo-fi way.
The real area where it shines, though, is the step sequencer. It's visualized on an LCD screen in full stave notation with rock-steady tempo, adjustable to insane degrees! Notes can be edited in or out of the sequence at will. If this thing had MIDI out it would have become a cult classic."
Each artist utilized Strega in their composition, and its unique character and voicing shines throughout the project. [see below for the complete Imaginative Listening Project video]
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"It has 2 oscillators, which can be triggered by an audio signal via the front jacks (there are no jacks of any kind on the back). The unit is supposed to replicate a kick drum, and it comes reasonably close, in a 1970's washed out fashion. It does not kick hard, but it does have a long decay setting. It also makes those disco bloops and bleeps you've heard so much of. Where this thing really shines though, is in making noise. It has a long 'sweep' knob, coupled with a tone 'tone' and 'decay' knob that can make a sound fo from gowl to scream in a very guttural way. If you're familiar with Wolf Eye's, they use it on just about every track."
via this auction
"extremely rare electronic synthesizer instrument by Frank Evantoff called the Sonica. Look at the marks from the carving tools the craftsman used to make the instrument. They neatly hold the battery! Only 650 of these strange instruments were made since their they began manufacturing them in 1979. Shaped like small lute with a guitar like neck and speaker inside that was the voice for the Serge designed oscillator inside ( Look for Serge's name on the hand printed circuit board! ). They player could sound notes by touching the frets on the neck that produce at between sitar and violin. It has very minor dings (see photos). Comes with case and original user manual/warranty certificate.
After Mattel had used the concept for the "Magical Music Thing," Frank Evantoff developed a more precise keyboard and incorporated it into this new instrument, which he called The Sonica. In 1979, the first Sonicas were produced, a collaboration with Larry Heller. There were 650 eventually built, but very few are seen nowadays. Serge Tcherepnin of Serge synthesizers (analog modular) did the oscillator design, and the oscillator inside the Sonica is indeed a Serge oscillator! The bodies have an interesting gourd/phallic shape, and were carved wood. The neck is incredibly comfortable, and easily fits into the hand, facilitating the sliding action used for playing the Sonica.
The sound of the Sonica can best be described as somewhere between a sitar and violin. When run through a simple delay, an amazing array of soundscapes are derived. The front panel features a Key/Pitch Knob, and an On/Off Volume Knob. It boasts 15 keys with additional half step notes. It also features three buttons. Analog “Slider,” which is a tremolo type effect, Analog “Tone,” which is actually a tonal boost, and “Half-Step,” which raises the note an octave. It features a built-in speaker, with an 1/8 inch output to connect to an amplifier or recording device. It runs on one 9-volt battery which is installed by accessing a plate on the backside of the device. The Sonica really shines when sent through a tube amplifier, producing a crystalline sound unlike anything I’ve heard before."
Follow-up to this post where you'll find additional videos.
"Welcome to Part 3 of my Pluto tutorial series! This video is going to take us beyond the confines of this tiny device, and get other external gear involved."
0:00 Intro
0:30 Audio Out
0:45 Audio In
1:21 CV Output
1:47 MIDI
2:42 USB-C MIDI
2:52 Sync In & Out
3:08 Firmware Updates
3:24 Configuration Mode
3:43 Conclusion
Update via cw8cka in the comments: "Pink Floyd’s quintessential 1973 album, Dark Side of the Moon, has been a perpetual presence on record sales charts even since its release. A recent chiptune album, created by software programmer Brad Smith, takes a fresh look at the classic and capitalizes on its huge popularity, while succeeding in bringing something new to the table.
Chiptune, for those not familiar with the genre, is a form of electronic music in which music is created in a way emulating the production of music on early 8-bit video game systems such as the Nintendo NES. Composers are limited to the use of a square sound wave and only three oscillators. Despite these limitations, many chiptune albums have shown, especially Smith’s Moon8.
Smith spent nearly two years working on Moon8 in his spare time using the popular chiptune software, FamiTracker. He originally undertook the project for the amusement of a friend, and presented it at a small party. He then uploaded the work to Youtube, with no video other than a still frame depicting the original Dark Side of the Moon cover re-imagined in an 8-bit art style. Despite the lack of visual interest or marketing, the videos are on their way to viral success. In one short month, most of the Youtube videos already boast over a third of a million views.
Moon8 is a loving recreation of its source material, very rarely deviating from the original. The guitar voices, dynamic shaping, echoing vocal lines, and sliding pitch shifts present in the original songs are all executed with near perfection. Unlike many chiptune works, the album is completely listenable. I had no trouble sitting down for 45 minutes with my headphones on and playing the duration of the album. There were no headaches, and no uncontrollable urges to tear out and eat my own hair. Many chiptune composers could learn a lot from Smith’s style.
The moments in which it seems most impossible for Smith to recreate Pink Floyd’s work are the moments in which his work shines the most. Two of the most popular songs on the original album feature the heavy use of sound effects: Time, and Money. Certain effects in the sound collages that open these tracks are obviously impossible to render on the NES, but Smith reacts brilliantly. A sonically detailed effect of coins jangling together is represented instead by its comically simplified Super Mario equivalent. This nod to the video game background of the chiptune genre is cute and entirely appropriate. The cacophony of acoustic sounds from antique clocks that opens Time would also impossible to recreate on the NES. The listener is instead greeted with an equivalent cacophony of sounds resembling the alarm functions digital watches, cheap digital alarm clocks, and cellphones.
Moon8 is available for free download in a variety of formats on Smith’s website, http://rainwarrior.thenoos.net/music/moon8.html. The mp3 version consists of only two files, one corresponding to each side of the album’s original vinyl release, a move the speaks greatly to Smith’s great respect for the work he has made his own. Moon8 stands as a tremendous tribute to Pink Floyd, rather than the satirical mockery we can easily imagine it as."
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Two separate listings. Pics and descriptions for each follow.
via this auction: "This Moog Melodia is in as close to mint condition as you could hope for, I even have the original box post marked 1961! All original parts including the hard to find original antenna (usually this part would get lost through the years) This theremin works perfectly and sounds amazing as you would expect from a vintage Bob Moog design. This was the first of his discrete transistor kits. In my opinion this one has better quality wood for the cabinet as compared to a few others I have owned in the past.
The Melodia is a Moog Theremin that was originally made available in 1960-61 in both kit form and assembled. It could be assembled with a few hand tools and featured a walnut cabinet .The Moog Melodia theremin has a five-octave range, extending from two octaves below to three octaves above Middle C. This one is in almost new condition and fully operational.
P.S. It is configured to use 4 AA batteries as the original 6v that was clipped in the center is no longer manufactured. You can see the addition of the battery case on the under side of the lid above the circuit area."
"It’s a great deal, 3 oscillators for about 220 US dollars. I got it used for 170. I would compare this to an alpha juno oscillator on steroids. Since the junos don’t do sync sounds it gets hard to compare there. The saw is ok, but it’s the pwm that really shines on this. When using all 3 oscillators, it always sounds like a polysynth in unison. This oscillator shines when played down low or in the mids."
