Digitone 2 Mega Tutorial - for beginners

video upload by True Cuckoo

Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:06 Hardware introduction
00:02:34 Music Examples
00:04:58 Overview Main keyboard input
00:04:45 Overview Track pages
00:06:15 Overview Blue label functions
00:06:26 Overview The knobs
00:06:42 Overview Play/ Stop/ Rec
00:07:05 Overview Select Pattern, Banks
00:08:13 Overview Song mode mention
00:08:17 Overview Arp, Transpose, Note edit
00:09:33 Overview Load, Settings, Voice control, Tempo
00:09:45 All good?
00:10:20 Selecting an empty pattern
00:10:34 The REC button
00:10:52 Keep sounds organised
00:11:25 Select a synth machine
00:12:25 Track pages, and sub pages
00:12:49 The FM Drum Machine Overview
00:13:25 Make a kick drum by exploring FM Drum
00:17:33 Make a snare drum with FM Drum and FX
00:21:05 Turn on metronome and live record
00:21:54 Live Rec quantise, to correct timing
00:22:44 Clear pattern + Undo
00:23:37 Count in/ Preroll
00:24:47 Live rec unquantised
00:25:32 Correct micro timing manually
00:26:20 Quantising afterwards
00:26:56 Load a preset
00:28:13 No means exit
00:28:19 Customise presets
00:28:34 Make pattern longer
00:29:15 Setting the tempo
00:29:32 Using quantised mishaps as opportunities
00:30:00 Let's make a bass by exploring Wavetone
00:32:11 Set the volume of a track
00:32:32 Continue exploring Wavetone
00:33:19 Explore FX
00:33:40 Explore Filter
00:34:39 Refining the bass
00:34:48 Clearing one track only
00:35:32 Modulating a hihat decay
00:37:56 Copying and Pasting sequence pages
00:38:36 Refining the timing of the modulation
00:39:15 Composing a hihat, useful page tricks
00:41:15 Parameter Locking
00:42:08 Copy Paste Parameter Locked Trigs
00:42:31 Explore Swarmer and make a chord
00:43:50 Comb filter machine
00:46:34 Refining the chord sound
00:47:13 Explore the FM tone and make a melody sound
00:54:04 Modulate a fade-in vibrato
00:54:47 Record a melody
00:55:12 Edit the Delay fx
00:55:58 Modulate the Delay send
00:57:07 Save project
00:57:25 Manage projects
00:58:54 Control All
01:02:35 The Perform mode
01:05:26 The Master compressor

Xfer Serum Takes Hyperpop to the NEXT LEVEL! 50 Presets Demo

video upload by Anton Anru

"Xfer Serum - Dreamy Decibels is a bank of presets created in the Hyper Pop, EDM, Retrowave, Darkwave, Synthwave genres, inspired by artists such as SOPHIE, A.G. Cook, Bladee and old Charli XCX.
📦 The bank includes 50 Patches: 11 Basses, 7 Leads, 10 Pads, 5 Plucks, 10 Percussion Sounds, 7 Synths.
This set offers you all the necessary tools to create bright, energetic and memorable music that expands the boundaries of traditional genres and immerses the listener in the world of neon sounds.

🌠 Get this soundset: https://antonanru.sellfy.store/p/seru...

Since the genre is quite diverse, the bank contains both metallic overdriven synths, drums and atmospheric pads, which can greatly complement and saturate your track with experiments!

👤 The author of the soundset is skendi (Arseniy Pushkov).

🎛 Macros can change tone, stereo width, modulation depth and rate, noise level, distortion, detuning, space/echo/reverb, effects mix, envelope parameters, and others.
You may control them via MIDI controller, use them for automation, or map the macros to your DAW modulators like LFO, Shaper, and others.
ModWheel adds expressiveness to the timbre.

💡 Ensure that you are using the latest plugin version. Version 1.368 or higher is required.
Installation: Open the Serum menu and click "Show Serum Presets Folder." You will see folders containing different Serum content. Open the "Presets" folder and place the new bank of presets there.
I added drum loops to some demo tracks. They are not included into the soundset.

Contents:
00:00 PD Grace / BS Synthy Shot / LD Chill Saw
01:02 PD Hyper Dreams / LD Cleany / SY Digi / BS Jax Reese
02:47 BS Lazy Active / PD Chopped / SY Digi
03:46 PD Good Times / PD Grace / LD Wavy / BS Friendly Monster / BS Crunchy
05:24 PL Beaty Orbit / LD Acid Glide / BS Synthy Shot / BS Hyper Guitar / BS Mario / PL Nostalgic / LD Chill Saw / PR Dirty Kick / PR Muddy but Metalic / PR Xeon Snare / PR Metalic Hat
07:09 BS Lazy Active / PD Blade Runner / PL Beauty Orbit
08:15 SY Sonic / PL Shadow Metallic / SY Guitar / BS Turn it Up / PR Snow Kick / PR Laser Snare / PR Flangered Hat 09:32 BS Ball / PD Good Times / PL Arcade
10:43 PD Landscape / SY Angel Wave / BS Lazy Active / LD Rhytm / LD Belly Saw / PR Laser Kick
11:48 LD Acid / SY Dirty / PL Nokia / PR Metalic Snare / SY Cosmo / PD VHS Memories / PR Metalic Hat / BS Stomp / PR Hard Kick / BS Gas Reese"

Native Instruments Partners with Akai, Novation and More

Akai Pro & Native Instruments | Seamlessly Integrated

video upload by AkaiProVideo

Akai Pro MPC3 with Native Instruments Integration - Overview

video upload by AkaiProVideo

"Discover the groundbreaking integration of Native Instruments with Akai Pro MPC hardware. This overview highlights how seamless workflows and expanded sound libraries redefine music creation for producers and performers alike.

Available today are three signature instruments — Analog Dreams, Cloud Supply, and Nacht — each crafted to inspire unique creative expressions. Additional instruments, including Homage and Sway, are set to launch later in February. Complementing these are five genre-specific Expansion sound packs: Faded Reels which is available now, with Lone Forest, Global Shake, Hazy Days, and Rare Vibrations to follow. All are expertly tailored for seamless integration with the MPC platform.

With this landmark collaboration, Akai Professional’s iconic MPC platform takes center stage, seamlessly integrating with Native Instruments’ creative tools to deliver an unprecedented toolkit for musicians, producers, and audio creators."

Zaytoven Creates on the Akai MPC with new Native Instruments Integration

video upload by AkaiProVideo

AKAI & NI's plan for MPC & MPK // New MPC 3.4 features // Expansions & Play by Native Instruments

video upload by loopop

Press release follows:

Native Instruments expands partnerships to empower millions of music creators

Expansion of the NKS ecosystem connects Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg and M-Audio and ignites new creative possibilities for musicians and producers worldwide

Anaheim, CA – January 22, 2025: Native Instruments is making it easier than ever for music producers to explore new sounds on their favorite controllers by launching its Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Hardware Partner Program, announced today at NAMM 2025. Industry leaders Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg, and M-Audio are adopting the NKS ecosystem to power seamless integration with Native Instruments software. This connects music makers to over 2,000 NKS-compatible instruments and effects from more than 250 brands.

“This expansion highlights the impact of collaboration,” says Simon Cross, Chief Product Officer at Native Instruments. “It marks an important milestone in our mission to provide musicians with an open, connected platform, making professional-grade tools, instruments, and technology more accessible to creators everywhere.”

Native Kontrol Standard: An inspiring experience for every music maker

CLICK FOR MORE »

Blue Monday/New Order (edit) - Novation Circuit version

video upload by Guinan

"It's Monday so what could be more apt than todays Hacienda club classic, Blue Monday.
As per usual this is ALL Novation Circuit Tracks playing live from the headphone jack direct into my phone. No extra synths/no effects/no extra edits.

There is a lot going on in this track so I've squeezed a bit extra out of the groovebox in using some short melodic samples in place of drum sounds on 3 pads.

If people like this I'll do a '12" remix' version with the Novation Circuit Rhythm padding out the tracks. Let me know in the comments.

Details for synth nerds (extra video after the song);
I programmed the top arpeggio line on the Circuit Tracks quickly realising I was going to run out of voices. I sampled the riff and stuck it on a pad and played it back as a pattern and saved myself a voice,
I couldn't get a bass synth sound that would double up as the main synth and as Peter Hook. Instead I played a short twangy bass guitar (one of the old wooden ones with strings and stuff :P ) through a spring reverb in my best impression of Hooky and sampled it on the Circuit Rhythm. I then transferred this onto one of the drum sample pads and put it on Drum 4 as another pattern, finally there is a choir sample the band played on an old Emulator. I simply copied the same source they used ( ;) Google It!) and made a loop on another one of the drum pads, turning it into a 3rd pattern for Drum 4.

It all needs a bit more tweaking and arranging for the full version but this was sounding good so couldn't resist letting you have a listen."

Arp Omni String Synthesizer w/ LED Sliders

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

via this listing

"Arp Omni String Synthesizer. Fully working. I recapped all of the boards except the power supply because the power supply is outputing the correct voltages. All sliders have been replaced with lighted sliders and work smoothly. Synthchaser master oscillator module installed to insure good tuning. Power cord is missing the ground pin. This was a diy project, when got this it did not work at all. After the recap and replacement of sliders it now fully works and sounds good. The next owner can play it as is but may want to consider replacing the power cord, recapping the power supply and replacing the keybushings. Cosmetically this unit is nice. There are a few scratches from normal use and storage and some keys that have marks on them but nothing major."

Pics of the inside below.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roger Linn, Creator of the Original Namesake LinnDrum on Behringer's New LmDrum

The following is Roger Linn's statement on Behringer's LmDrum, written Jan 4, 2025, saved here for the MATRIXSYNTH archives:

In December 2024, Behringer released their "LmDrum", which is described on their site as:

"If you are looking for a drum machine that can recreate the classic sound of the 80’s, look no further than the Behringer LM DRUM. This amazing drum machine features an authentic 8/12-bit sampling sound engine that captures the essence of a hundred legendary 80’s drum sounds including those designed by Roger Linn such as the LM1*, LM2*, LM9000* and more. You can even record and store your own samples using the integrated line input."

Uli Behringer kindly sent me an LmDrum in August of 2024, giving me a chance to try it out. What do I think? I think it's a bit of a head-scratcher. It is clearly intended to evoke my 1982 "LinnDrum" drum machine, borrowing its visual style, control layout, colors and logo style, as well as copying its sounds and those of my LM-1 and Linn9000 drum machines. I took it apart and it even copies much of my LinnDrum sound generation circuit, even my bad ideas like the inability to tune any drums except the snare, toms and congas.

However, it uses an entirely different operating system and user interface, one that is based on earlier Behinger drum machines. Personally, I found it somewhat confusing and difficult to use, though I was given an unfinished manual. I'd imagine they will improve both the software and manual over time. I suspect the designers found it difficult to find a balance between 1) the impression of a LinnDrum clone, and 2) the addition of modern features, given that the 1982 LinnDrum's feature set is woefully inadequate by today's standards.

It's worth noting that Uli never asked my permission to either copy my visual design or my drum sounds. Though in 2020, he did kindly invite me to collaborate on a future drum machine, and I respectfully declined because of concern about Behringer's past business ethics and legal practices.

How do I feel about the LmDrum? My feelings are mixed. On the one hand, it's not unusual for companies to borrow ideas from older products in order to inspire a new and innovative design, which I've done in past. Plus, my old drum sounds are all over the web, controlling copying is difficult, and I don't enjoy legal stuff so I've generally ignored the issue so far. Also, the value in those old sounds is probably due more to Art Wood (the drummer who played the sounds, and my friend of many years), and to artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and others, who made those sounds famous on their hits. Finally, I must admit that I've never cared much about the past, because I find the future far more exciting.

On the other hand, even if we discount the copying of the visual design, logo style and sound circuit of LinnDrum, the LmDrum copies my sounds. So I'd have preferred for Uli to ask my permission. Even if he thinks it is legal, I question whether it is ethical.

I find it interesting that the LmDrum is being sold in the U.S. for only $399. Having taken it apart and seeing how complex the copied old circuitry was to reproduce, I doubt Behringer is making any money from it. I suspect that they originally intended to sell it for much more, then discovered that while many people may say they want a LinnDrum clone, few are willing to pay more than a low price for it.

On a related topic, GForce Software has recently released their "IconDrum" software drum sound generator. Like the LmDrum, it copies the LinnDrum's visual design, logo style, and drum sounds, but has no sequencing. Unlike Behringer, GForce did say they wouldn't release the product if I objected, but they seemed like good people so I turned a blind eye. They also offered to pay me an insignificant royalty for my association with the product and perhaps to use "LinnDrum" name, but I declined because of the low compensation and because I thought it was misleading to call a product "LinnDrum" that wasn't a drum machine but rather only played my copied drum sounds.

One last comment. What's the big deal about nostalgia? I can understand that some people value analog synthesis, though I find the many types of innovative software synthesis created in recent decades to be far more capable, versatile and interesting. But even if people value vintage analog synths, why vintage digital drum machines? I ask this because an old bit is no different than a new bit. Our collective love of nostalgia brings to mind an old Douglas Adams quote from Salmon of Doubt:

"I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:
1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things."

As a guitarist, I recall having endless discussions in my youth about "good distortion". :)

- Roger Linn

Modular perc generation with the UNDULA OSCILLATOR

video upload by LARIX ELEKTRO

"The Dual undula Oscillator is a complexe oscillator, yes.
It can be a complete synth voice too, yes.
(And more…)

And it can be used as a perc generator. For very good kick drum sounds.
Thanks to the VCO topology, it can be used as a VCF, and so: 'pingable' !

Here some examples.

The module is available on our website only:
https://www.larix-elektro.com/"

FARFISA SYNTORCHESTRA vintage analog mono & poly brass and string synth

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

via this listing

Demo video previously posted here.

"A classic 70s kraut rock instrument, the very unique sounding Syntorchestra is a truly inspiring keyboard, with its polyphonic and monophonic sections.

This particular unit was serviced and most of the electrolytic caps were replaced, as well as cleaned and calibrated. It plays and sounds as it should, just check the video for a comprehensive demo and tips about this instrument.

Cosmetic is overall good, with some signs of wear here and there, mostly on the side cheeks, see pictures. Considering its age and build quality it still looks nice."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Novation Summit | Moog Sub-37 - "Arpologies"

video upload by eM

"There's just something about these two synths. They truly are a happy marriage. They have their own sounds. I know many who owns synths perhaps have tried to dial in that specific sound against others, and they may come close, but its never to that exact "nichey"/"inkling" of depth that one or the other offers. It makes synths themselves give way to its own special existence for us all to explore. Some just offer longer relationships than others, but we'll never forget them as we move on or say good bye for a while, crossing the times to reminisce on the once was sounds that could potentially be had. Sometimes though having it again may not be the same, it was well for the season which it served in. Where as now there's just no parting with what you have determined to be one to carry you through many seasons."

Instruō - Cš-L [Production Behind the Scenes]

video upload by Instruō

"Hello!

I'm uploading this video during that limbo period between Christmas and New Year.
If your seasonal routine is anything like mine then you'll be killing time between larger meals than are necessary!
This was the last test phase of the last production batch of Cš-L of 2024.
It's a sequenced patch routine that tests all the I/O and internal routing configurations.
I have done this many many many times over the past ~7 years...
It's a very familiar pattern of sounds to everyone here in the workshop!

I've thought about setting up a camera and recording processes like this for a while.
I kinda enjoy weird content like this myself... I find it fascinating watching footage of processes.
When something has been done so often it becomes muscle memory. I think there's something quite hypnotic to watching it be done.
There are various stages of the production of modules that are very repetitive. I do quite enjoy having a range of very different tasks that are part of this weird job.
Working through a Cš-L in this stage is very much muscle memory now. And the resulting sounds are so familiar I can QC check them quite efficiently.

Several years ago I had the good fortune to meet and work with the late and great Phill Niblock while I was based in Boston & NYC.
Phill, perhaps being best known for his drone compositions, worked across creative mediums.
During several concerts I was part of as a performer, there were epic projected backdrops of some of his The Movement of People Working film footage.
These films captured people working in rural environments around the world.
The jobs being done are tasks that have clearly been performed many many many times!
So much of it is very necessary work: fishing, farming, weaving, processing of crops, repairing tools.
All very necessary tasks required by small rural communities.
In comparison, I do feel a bit like what I do is quite a silly job!
...I don't really have any point here!
I was just reminded of Phill's video work, and the chances I had to get to know him and work with him a handful of times. And of course how much I've enjoyed his work which was as much about "process" as it is about an end product.

I enjoy behind the scenes content, and Instruō very much began as a behind-the-scenes–documentation of process–focussed creative project.
It's an element I am keen to revisit and explore more.
Where Instruō has grown to over the past 8-9 years is still crazy to me, and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to do this for a living.
And on top of that, being able to work with such a great team that make this company possible.
Thank you all for your continued support.
I'm very excited for 2025!
I hope you have a great new year when it comes.

Cheers!
~Jason"

Fairlight CMI IIX 1982 - Original

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

via this listing

CLICK FOR MORE »

You like more Synthwave?

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-24 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

The last video in 2024. ✨
Thank you all for your attention and support. There is such a great community here every week with nice people from all over the world that I always think to myself, why couldn't it be as peaceful everywhere as it is here? ☮

I share my passion for old synthesizers and music with you here and am always amazed at how many people are touched by it.💝 It's not about collecting clicks and commerce, it's much more important to me to give people a good time. Even if it's just a few minutes.
Your feedback gives me the motivation to keep going. And there is still a lot to come. I already have video material ready for the next 6 years. So stay tuned.
I wish you all a happy 2025, I wish you health and inner harmony. ☯

Thank you. 💌
Marko from RetroSound 🎹🎵

Today I show another track made by me. 🎹
The title called ~In Transient~ ✨

The track are made with the following gear:
PPG wave Synthesizer System incl. PPG Waveterm A
(main theme, chords, sequences, fx sounds, percussion)
Moog the Source Analog Synthesizer (bass)

RetroSound synthesizer demo videos since january 2007.
Everything is free. If you like my work, you can also support me with the purchase of my merchandise stuff or my music.
Shop: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com/
Bandcamp: https://retrosound.bandcamp.com/album..."

Motor Synth MkII and Synthstrom Deluge | downtempo synth performance

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Please support my work on Patreon: / jayhosking
A live synthesizer jam performed entirely on hardware.

Full disclosure: Walrus sent me along the R1 MkII for free. I'm a big fan of their Slöer pedal and also really like the Meraki (both of which I bought with my own money), so I was happy to give the R1 MkII a spin. It's a decent workhorse pedal with full stereo, some cool algorithms (including a sort of granular-delay-reverb thing), and an easy interface. I think the Slöer is still the better pedal if you're choosing based on character/personality, but if you need versatility and a small footprint, the R1 MkII might be for you. I look forward to exploring it more!

Once again, the incredible Miles Away leant me some of his gear to try out. This time, it's the Motor Synth MkII. It's hard to justify at the price point and with a technology that is less known in terms of longevity, and it certainly has some quirks that won't be for some. But man alive, the Motor Synth sounds absolutely incredible: warbly, rich, binaural, capable of mellow lofi ambient all the way up to overdriven bananas cyberpunk. It's incredible.

Check out Miles Away's exploration of the Motor Synth MkII here, and be sure to check out the second jam (heavy industrial electro): • Is This The Most Unique Synth EVER???... [posted here]

Here, I leveraged the mellower side of the Motor Synth and paired it with the Deluge, which is a natural fit in terms of complementary sounds. The R1 MkII was the reverb on the Motor Synth and also was a perfect fit; there's something about the R1's algorithms that makes the good for fitting in a mix. And to glue the Deluge sound together and add a little more personality, I added the Chroma Console doing saturation, doubling, delay, and tape.

Thanks for listening.

Gamechanger Audio Motor Synth MkII into Walrus R1 MkII - Main synth, played on keyboard, with reverb
Arturia KeyStep 37 - keyboard for Motor Synth
Synthstrom Deluge into Hologram Chroma Console - drums, bass, synths

Performed and recorded live, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Hohner Logan String Melody II

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

via this listing

"Iconic Hohner / Logan String Melody II analog synthesizer with classic 70s lush ensemble sounds. Fully working and in good condition, including case and pedal."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Signal Sounds favourite music gear of 2024

video upload by Signal Sounds

"To round off a cracking 2024 in the world of music tech, we asked a few of our staff and some good friends of the store to pick their favourite pieces of gear of the year.

All the gear mentioned is available to buy or pre-order here:

https://www.signalsounds.com/teenage-...

https://www.signalsounds.com/soundfor...

https://www.signalsounds.com/arturia-...

https://www.signalsounds.com/joranalo...

https://www.signalsounds.com/melbourn...

https://www.signalsounds.com/expert-s...

https://www.signalsounds.com/future-s...

https://www.signalsounds.com/ryk-modu...

Chapters
00:00 Luke
01:54 DivKid
03:21 Michael Manning
04:53 Tom Churchill
06:42 Molly
07:52 Kyle
09:22 Aleks
10:46 The Unperson"

MFB 512

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Marc van der Holst

"Sorry about that; especially the recording the sound with my phone part. If I get bored – and I get bored easily, if you were wonderinig while watching this stupid video. Again sorry. There is just one other clip of the MFB 512, far as I know, it lasts 3 seconds and sounds great and just better in every respect. Except the special FX, maybe. If this doesn't sell (on Reverb), I'll make a proper video. With real explosions and stuff, and a love story sub plot line and Indiana Jones. A costume drama. Well, a drama for sure. Cheers!"

via this listing

"This seems to be in pretty very good condition, switches knobs switch- and knobable and then do things, most of the time, sounds fantastic (eh though not so much in my stupid yt video, unfortunately, that I've linked to, that's my phone's little no good mic — go check the other 512 clip, that one's way better).

So, great, and "great price, I've seen them go for a lot more!"

Yes, you may have, BUT here's the but, but, it's not so big a but, all is probably im Ordnung, but since you never know, I don't, I never know anything:

A) these have Trigger In for syncing, no MIIDI (which I thought it had and is the reason for selling), and I have nothing to check that with atm and

B) I've tried for an hour a little less but I couldn't tell you how to replace those (very nice, I think) presets with your own programmed patterns. You can definitely do something with that left know, something sequency, but I haven't figured it out yet, and I may never, you figure it out, you're smarter than me I know.

Both things I'm educatedly guessing are highly likely fine, but since I can't tell for sure I won't tell you for sure."

CLICK FOR MORE »

When Worlds Collide | Why I don't need a lock-in amp | COLLIDE 4 Ep. 03

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

Cinematic+Laboratory+COLLIDE+4

"I didn't realize my episode 01 was about three weeks ago. It felt like three months or more. As you may know, this channel is not sponsored and I usually do my research before I buy a module. So far, it didn't work out well and since I am planning to clean-up my collection in 2025, it ended up on my 'may need to go' list.

Don't get me wrong, I think it deserves the 2024 eurorack design award. It's just me not getting along very well. It's advertised as a lock-in amp, but its main purpose is kind of useless in electronic music. So it's meant to be creatively 'abused' and 'repurposed'. Please note I am not trying to use it as a lock-in amp, I am exploring new creative ways to use it.

Instead of making sure your delicate faint source doesn't clip, you'd go for 30 dB gain compensation, turn up the resonance and then gain the filter some more. It's designed to isolate a faint sinewave hiding in a wall of noise and extract phase and amplitude. But why should we even want to do that? And then there's a simple ringmod, a relatively simple sine VCO with TZFM support and some logic. It can't process stereo signals because it will cancel out your center information.

Since I have a huge collection of modules, I always wondered about making my own 'recipe' with a separate amp, filter, frequency shifter, ring mod and quadrature VCO. I think I came a long way this time, only enforcing the idea that the C4 is 'obsolete' in my collection. So even though it's an excellent module, you'll need to double check if you can build one with separates. It wouldn't be a lock-in amp, but I truly believe I don't need one in its designated role and I will explain why.

If you do not agree, PLEASE don't just dislike this video, but share your tips and patching tricks, so the community will be able to learn how to appreciate it - including myself.

And then I hooked up the C4 with my improvised version, and a wonderful world of magic opened up. It was so good that I decided to keep the C4 after all, and follow that path. So it's an all over-the-place personal struggle video, but I think it's real and honest. We all end up struggling from time to time. However, my number 1 rule is 'when you feel a module sounds bad, you're not patching it right'. It's not always true, but it encourages me to try things.

Hainbach is a master in restoring life to old 'crap' we'd throw away as trash, and I love his work. But I am not Hainbach and he's not included in the box. I can only stumble in his footsteps. Fortunately, I can just be myself and do my own thing. Just like there's nobody like YOU either."

COLLIDE 4 | Episode 04 | Post-Collision Course

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"I felt I had to make this episode before anything else. In episode 03 I posed the question whether or not I'd need a 'lock-in amp' in eurorack. I got myself into kind of a rut after making two episodes, wondering if I made the right decision to get one. And if this happens, I need to openly reflect on that because there's something to learn from it. If it happens to me, it will definitely happen to you too, because I make these mistakes for a living.

By all means I never meant to say 'do we need a C4'. It depends on your own journey. It turns out Hainbach needs four. Blush Response definitely loved every single HP of it. For his genre and style, the C4 immediately delivers. Truckloads of it.

I was hoping to open a discussion and learn from others, but I've also seen signs of the wasp-nest cancel-culture. I've seen comments I had to delete and I permanently muted some. I do not allow any insults to me, my fellow youtubers and beloved manufacturers. To anyone. But I am too old to get angry about it, or take the insults personally. I learn from personal opinions, I learn from revising my own conclusions, and I always rectify a few episodes later, sharing any new insights. This is a good example.

I kind of promised if there would ever be an episode 04, it would be about a C8, a dual COLLIDE 4. I'll need to work some more on that, but the lab now has two. I had to pay for both of them myself, so there's no 'paid promotion' of any kind. There were no discounts. This is also why it's so much fun to run this channel. I try to be honest, but I can't be objective. I don't ever want you to buy two because I did. I want you to know what you're getting yourself into. The COLLIDE 4 is an open platform. It has no intended use except the scientific measurements of cyclic waveforms in noise. What you get out of it is what you dialed and patched in.

Thanks for your patience and resilience, and be nice to each other."

Blue Mondayish ELKA OMB5 with Custom Drum Kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"I just finished servicing an Elka OMB5 and building a custom drum kit for it so I had some fun with it.
All sounds are from the OMB5, no fx used."

ELKA OMB 5 with custom drum kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"herre is a demo of an Elka One Man Band with custom drum sounds.

The OMB5 is a nice 4 part arranger with rhythm channel, bass channel and 2 accompaniment tracks. Sounds are FM (from the elka ER/EK/EM 44) and the drums are PCM sampled from the Drumstar 80. It has MIDI in and out so you can either control and play the different part from the keyboard or from MIDI, it syncs and transmits clock as well as single input notes or sequenced notes. I like using it with external midi controller so I can play the 3 different melodic part separately (when playing from the keyboard notes always trigger the 3 part together).

Though the drum samples are actually quite good if you like 80s sounds (especialy percussion and cymbal sounds), I decided to replace some of them with some I favor more, using sounds from LinnDrum, Oberheim DX, Roland TR808, CR8000 and TR707. I also adjusted level by using compression on some other stock sounds.

The audio format used in the OMB5 (and the Drumstar 80 which drum part is derived) is the same as in those classic 80s PCM drum machines, ie 8 bit µ-Law unsigned sample. Sample rate is 25000 hz (or so) in that one.

Replacing sound is not as straightforward as in those drum machines because instead of using 1x eprom per sound there are several samples per eprom (7x 256 kbyte eproms are used in the OMB5 to accomode for 32 sounds) so you need to edit the audio file and replace the existing sample with your own but it needs to start at the exact same adress as the original one and it should have the same length or be shorter.

So basically what you do is:
read the eprom bin
convert to uncompressed audio
edit that file and edit/replace the sound you want making sure you dont change file size nor start adress of the sound
convert the uncompressed audio to µ-law 8 bit
burn the new bin file

if you're interested in getting those sound I can sell you a full 7x eproms kit ready to use. I can be fitted in the DrumStar 80 too.

here is a list of the 32 sounds, with original and replacement when there is:

CLICK FOR MORE »

EMU ESI 4000 Granulizer

video upload by Stereoping

"Another Synth Controller edition ... for #EMU #ESI Samplers! No, it can not edit LFOs and Envelopes because the ESIs do not support it in any way. But the #Granulizer makes creative use of the ESI's feature of modulating the Sample Start point by velocity. I saw this in a video of youTuber @Stereo Realist (source below) and wanted to see how far i come with a dedictad hardware device.

The Controller replaces velocity of incoming midinotes with knob tweakings while rapidly firing these manipulated notes on the ESI, like an arpeggiator with built in mididata manipulator. GRAIN LENGTH determines the duration until the Note Off event is sent. The result is a really bad but funny granular sampler.

Besides the controls for grain length, position, random position, pitchbend (cool for tuning frozen choirs or screaming cats to changing musical context) it offers some CC-knobs for realtime editing of VCA Level & Pan, VCF Cutoff & Q. Pressure can be freely assigned in the Realtime mods, e.g. to Attack.Yes, we all know: software and iPads can do this much better and cheaper but ... it's HARDWARE ! Edition's firmware and addendum (for details) available in my shop under DOWNLOADS.

0:15 - Introteaser
0:55 - Settings on ESI to get it working
3:16 - The controls demoed
5:40 - midisync for grain seeding
7:21 - Crossfading samples"

E-mu ESi Granular Synthesis: An Impromptu Guide

video upload by Stereo Realist

"Rudimentary granular synthesis on an old hardware sampler; not entirely practical in most situations, but a good way to mangle your sounds for later resampling. You could probably go even deeper on the higher-end e-mu samplers of the era since they have a lot more modulation options from what I hear, though I've never personally used one."

microKORG2 NEW SOUNDS (4 BANKS - MUSIC DEMO) 🎹🔥

video upload by FutureMusic.es

"Korg has announced with great fanfare the release of four new microKORG2 sound packs, featuring completely exclusive programming for this versatile and popular best-selling synthesizer…

[ESP] Korg anuncia a bombo y platillo el lanzamiento de cuatro paquetes de sonidos microKORG2, con programaciones totalmente exclusivas para este versátil y popular sintetizador superventas…

00:01 microKORG1 Best Selection
01:54 Templates And Tutorials
03:32 BLINKSONIC Vol1 Classics
05:16 BLINKSONIC Vol1 Acoustic Feel
07:31 BLINKSONIC Vol1 Calm
11:00 BLINKSONIC Vol1 Hybrid
15:11 BLINKSONIC Vol2 Energic
18:51 BLINKSONIC Vol2 Wild
22:08 BLINKSONIC Vol2 Weird
25:48 BLINKSONIC Vol2 Basses

CLICK FOR MORE »