The following is via Milano Modulare where you'll find additional pics.
"A fantastic Sunday yesterday at Synth Explosion at Trattoria San Biagio !
Thanks to all the people involved, to the friends of NONO Modular , LepLoop and 51beats for being a lively and creative part of our community and thanks to Jolin for your continued collaboration!
Here, as always, some photos from the event!"
Don't miss the STELLARIA pictured below. According to Jolin, it's: "a synthetic flower made of sensors and electronic components. Its petals are light / temperature / pressure / moisture and wind sensitive. The sound generated is then processed into a modular synthesizer to create an interactive performance."
"Arturia MiniFreak - a 6 voice hybrid synth. I think it competes very well with both a Alpha Juno as well as a Korg DW-8000 and even a DX21. It can cover a lot of 80s synthesizer patches. Great onboard effects and a fun arpeggiator as well. Well worth a look if you're on a budget. I don't like the mini keys though, but it means it's physically quite easy to haul around and it might even replace my Alpha Juno for live gigs. It's more than adequate for the occasion. I like it more than the MicroFreak which is also pretty decent although somewhat different in architecture.
Here are some custom 80s patches from my upcoming patch bank.
Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/espenkraft
Find my music here: Bandcamp: https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/
""Ghosts in the Machine" by The British Stereo Collective. ALL sounds (including percussion) were played by hand exclusively on Cherry Audio's Pro Soloist virtual instrument. No other synths were used in this recording.
Composer, artist, and producer Phil Heeks of The British Stereo Collective draws his inspiration from classic 70s/80s TV theme compilations, film soundtracks, and sound effects LPs of the era. Read more about Phil's various projects and links to his work at https://cherryaudio.com/videos/excerp..."
Introduction to Cherry Audio's Pro Soloist - Hosted by Tim Shoebridge
"To get users up and running with Pro Soloist, Cherry Audio and Tim Shoebridge of Sound Mangling have again teamed up to create an introductory tutorial video walking users through the extensive features of this iconic virtual synthesizer instrument."
Cherry Audio Pro Soloist: A detailed demo/tutorial of a prog rock and 1970s classic
"We take a detailed look at the new Pro Soloist from Cherry Audio, a recreation of the ARP Pro Soloist that became in mainstay in 1970s prog rock as well as a featured instrument in funk, electronic music, and more. We look at the features from the original, including the front-panel "paddle" presets and the unique touch sensor effects. We then take a deep dive below the hood into the enhanced features for directly editing the individual modules and parameters of the underlying synthesizer architecture (including the resonators) and explore the onboard effects section. Finally, we look at a few of the factory presets, including banks from INHALT and Vintage Vibes by James Dyson.
This instrument was developed in collaboration with Mark Barton, who was also behind the Novochord and Solovox instruments that we at CatSynth have enjoyed.
To find out more, please visit cherryaudio.com
"Pro Soloist is the latest in Cherry Audio's roster of ultimate 'what if?' virtual instruments. Featuring the precision crafted and circuit-modeled DSP designs of award-winning developer Mark Barton, Cherry Audio's Pro Soloist goes beyond emulating the treasured, preset-based monophonic analog synth originally released by ARP in 1972. Pro Soloist not only exactingly reproduces the expressive controls, 30 infamous presets, and the unique underlying architecture of this prog rock classic, it breaks it out of its cage by making it fully programmable and expanding it with full polyphony, splits and layers, a mod matrix, integrated studio-quality effects, and more."
00:00 Introduction 00:25 History of the Arp Pro Soloist 01:23 Overview of the Cherry Audio Pro Soloist 02:21 Original front-panel presets 08:35 Global controls 09:35 Touch Sensor Effects 16:00 Edit Mode 16:59 VCO 18:59 VCF 21:53 Resonator bank 23:53 Modulating the resonator bank with the mod matrix 26:45 Effects panel 34:46 Multi-layer mode 38:08 Factory Presets 42:18 Vintage Vibe expansion bank 43:44 Conclusion"
Press release follows.
"Cherry Audio releases the highly anticipated Pro Soloist, the latest in its growing line of authentic classic synth emulations. This Pro Soloist breaks out of its cage with fully programmability, expanded polyphony and dual layers, an arpeggiator, a mod matrix, studio-quality effects, and more.
PRESS RELEASE - November 21, 2023: Cherry Audio is thrilled to release the highly anticipated Pro Soloist, the latest in its growing line of authentic emulations of classic synthesizers. Featuring the precision-crafted and circuit-modeled DSP designs of esteemed developer Mark Barton, Pro Soloist goes far beyond reproducing the expressive controls, 30 presets, and the unique architecture of this 1972 classic. Most significantly, Cherry Audio breaks Pro Soloist out of its cage by making it fully programmable and expanding it with full polyphony, splits and layers, an arpeggiator, a mod matrix, integrated studio-quality effects, and more.
Early analog synthesizers were a mystery to most working musicians. In 1972, ARP Instruments released the Pro Soloist, one of the first commercially successful preset-based synthesizers. Pro Soloist featured a revolutionary electronic design and feature set, most notably its innovative "touch sensor" keyboard (now commonly known as aftertouch), where pressing a note harder introduces changes to the sound, allowing highly expressive playing. The Pro Soloist was a hit with acts as varied as Tangerine Dream, Gary Numan, Herbie Hancock, Styx, Prince, Parliament, and Vangelis. Perhaps best remembered was Tony Banks, who amplified the Pro Soloist's legendary presets in epic keyboard solos for the legendary band Genesis.
Cherry Audio has received countless requests to reproduce this oft-forgotten gem — one of those came from frequent collaborator Mark Barton (GX-80, Novachord + Solovox, Miniverse, and others). With unparalleled attention to detail, Mark has created an authentic reproduction of the analog signal path along with the 30 original presets, and together we have substantially expanded the Pro Soloist's capabilities. Cherry Audio has added a dual-layer voicing architecture, with 16 polyphonic voices per layer, that enables two different presets simultaneously, with independent panning for rich stereo timbres and complex sounds. Pro Soloist also includes a split keyboard mode and a brilliant “Last Note” option that effectively simulates polyphonic aftertouch using monophonic-aftertouch controllers.
Pro Soloist's distinctive three-panel interface makes clear that this is far more than a preset synth. Cherry Audio has precisely recreated the look and sounds of the original paddle presets in its main Performance mode panel. In Edit mode, we've exposed all of its unique analog synthesis architecture parameters, most notably, the fully-variable, five parallel bandpass filter "Resonator Bank," key to the Pro Soloist's realistic acoustic orchestra timbres. Additionally, we've revealed the LFO and ADSR/AR envelopes and elevated the sound design possibilities with a "Super Wave" oscillator and a robust six-slot modulation matrix. The Arp/FX panel rounds it out with a syncable arpeggiator and a dozen studio-quality effects for distortion, phaser, flanger/chorus, echo, and reverb.
In short, Cherry Audio has elevated the Pro Soloist from a bare-bones monophonic lead synth into a massive, polyphonic powerhouse beyond anything imagined 50 years ago.
Pro Soloist also features 450 presets created by an extraordinarily talented team of sound design veterans, including James Terris, INHALT, Drew Schlesinger, Huston Singletary, and Mark Barton. More captivating sounds are available in the Vintage Vibes Preset Pack (sold separately) by James Dyson. With additional touches such as Cherry Audio's acclaimed MIDI mapping functions, highly optimized DSP for optimal performance, and a visually immersive interface, Pro Soloist will satisfy both vintage synth aficionados and today's music producers.
A mint condition and serviced Pro Soloist can easily fetch $2,500 or more these days, and its unique architecture makes MIDI retrofits impossible. Cherry Audio is thrilled to introduce this virtual and expanded Pro Soloist at the jaw-dropping price of only $49 (list $69), obtainable now from cherryaudio.com and authorized resellers worldwide. Pro Soloist is also available as part of Cherry Audio's new and comprehensive Synth Stack 4 collection. This ultimate sonic package includes all 22 of Cherry Audio's virtual instruments to date at an unbelievably affordable price, on sale for a limited time.
Pro Soloist is available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats for Windows (7 or above, including Windows 11) and macOS (10.13 and above), including native support for Apple Silicon. A free 30-day demo is available. Visit cherryaudio.com for additional product details, system requirements, videos, and an extensive collection of awe-inspiring sound demos."
Playlist: (you can use the player controls to skip around)
1. Synthfest UK 23: Sequential - Trigon 6 Desktop
At SynthFest UK 2023, we had the opportunity to chat with Chris from Sequential, a part of the Focusrite group. Chris introduced us to the Trigon 6 Desktop, the latest addition to Sequential's synthesizer lineup. This compact desktop version of the Trigon 6 packs a powerful punch, offering three oscillators and a distinctive Dave Smith ladder filter. Designed for those seeking a space-saving solution without compromising on sound quality, the Trigon 6 Desktop retains all the features of its larger sibling, including patch recall, a versatile effects section with various modulation possibilities, and the distinctive feedback control that allows you to sculpt sub-harmonic richness.
At Synthfest UK 2023, we caught up with Calc from Sequential, and he gave us the lowdown on the Prophet X. Now, you might be thinking, Prophet X? Haven't we seen that before? Well, you're right, but this hybrid instrument has been quietly making waves in the music world. It combines digital and analog elements, with digital oscillators and a unique twist in the form of multi-sample-based instruments. Yes, you heard that right, it's not just your run-of-the-mill synth; it's a full-on sampler too, boasting an impressive 50 gigabytes of memory for your custom samples. You can treat it like a rompler, a sample player, or even use those samples as oscillators, creating a whole new realm of sonic possibilities.
Plus, it's packed with stereo goodness, allowing you to explore a wide soundstage with ease. It's not your typical synth, and that's what makes its a favourute of Calc's
"(c)2007-23 by RetroSound supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi
❤️ Support #RetroSound channel: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com
Best of YAMAHA DX7 II Synthesizer all synthesizer sounds: YAMAHA DX7 II Synthesizer (1987) drums: Boss DR-55, Korg KR-55B, Roland TR-808, Roland TR-707, Linndrum, Simmons SDS-8
Setlist 0:06 Intro 0:12 DX FM 0:21 1987 1:15 The Ring https://retrosound.bandcamp.com/track... 1:45 Sunday Afternoon 2:24 Real FM 2:44 The Flash 3:15 Waves 3:31 Emotion 4:01 Choral 4:31 Exhale 4:59 Chimes 5:40 Carrier 6:14 Cloud N°7 6:39 Change 6:59 FM Bells 7:13 Tron 7:31 FM Orchestra 7:50 The Angry Cat 8:37 Ghost Hunter 8:48 Online FM 9:10 Second Generation 9:41 Transformator 10:08 Review`87 10:35 Cretu 10:49 Desireless 11:05 Tony 11:20 Human 11:27 Mister 11:44 Genesis 11:54 Bronski 12:07 Mike
The YAMAHA DX7 II is one of my absolute fav synths ever. I prefer the second generation for the way cleaner sound and more performance. Here can you find the full DX7 II playlist with a lot single sound demos and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy. The DX7 II playlist:"
"Following on from our look at Genesis SP-12 sounds, here's a look at Tony Banks' Roland JD-800 that he used live throughout the 1990s.
In this video, we have a listen to the tour patches stored on the instrument and get a little glimpse into how Genesis did things in front of stadiums full of adoring fans.
Huge thank you to Andrew Ward for the loan of this historic instrument.
Andrew Ward: https://www.instagram.com/arpquadra/
For music from my videos, stems, sample packs and Q&As, please consider my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AlexBallMusic
0:00 Intro
0:27 Patch 1: Invisible Touch
2:51 Patch 2: Home by the sea Pt 1
4:11 Patch 3: Home by the sea Pt 2
5:33 Patch 4: Domino
6:48 Patch 5: In the cage Pt 1
7:42 Patch 6: In the cage Pt 2
8:24 Patch 7: Mama
9:46 Patch 8: Follow you, follow me
10:31 Patch 9: Watcher of the skies
11:37 Quick Fire: Carpet Crawlers, Abacab, MB
13:04 Outro"
"The sound of these Quadras is simply not to be believed, I have been fortunate in my lifetime to own virtually all of the classic synths that everyone is always trying to get....that even includes a CS80....and I have to say, the sound of this Quadra is just mind numbingly awesome...in my opinion, the only synth i have ever heard that i thought sounded better was a Memorymoog, (which I used to own two of at one point)...yes, it's an illness.
The matching case is also in gorgeous condition and it was custom made to fit the keyboard EXACTLY.....it is a REALLY nice case in fantastic shape.
Here is some slightly sentimental back story on this instrument that you might find of interest.
I inherited this from my best friend, who sadly died a couple years ago of a heart attack....the money from the sale of this instrument will be used for college funds for my two young boys, who he was very close with....i think he would be very pleased with this decision.
This Quadra was my friend's pride and joy and he absolutely babied it. We were both HUGE Genesis fans....as you probably know Tony Banks wore his Quadra out on the Abacab album, and my friend and i were thrilled to ever even locate one of these rare keyboards in the first place....they are SO rare."
"Welcome to the Synthesizers.com Composition Contest 🎵
Today, we're thrilled to present an inspiring entry by our talented contestant, Tony Obr. Tony has masterfully crafted a breathtaking composition titled "Tearing Apart the Fabric of Space and Time" using modules from Synthesizers.com to innovate and amaze the audience.
This intricate patch is filled with an array of subtle details; Tony has artfully employed one of his favorite tricks: transposing a voltage sequence from a sequencer using an LFO. The result of this clever technique brings life and variation to the pitch sequence in a way that's both harmonious and unexpected.
The following Synthesizers.com modules play a crucial role in creating the spectacular soundscape of this composition:
"The Prophet 12 was one of the first synths that caught my eye when I first got into synthesizers, but then I promptly forgot about it during the analog revival of the 2010s. I recently got my hands on one, and decided to do some digging into why this synth is seldom talked about, despite Dave Smith himself proclaiming it to be his favorite when it was released 10 years ago.
Special Thanks:
Andrew McGowan - Senior Product Designer at Sequential
Tony Anderson - Artist, Prophet 12 Owner (@TonyAndersonMusic)
Playlist:
1. Michael Whalen "If Keith (Emerson) and Tony (Banks) had a baby" on the Sequential Trigon 6.
Imagine Keith Emerson did his arrangement of the song "Abacab" by Genesis...
2. Michael Whalen "Chromatic Soloing" on the Sequential Trigon 6.
3. Michael Whalen "Jazz Jam" on the Trigon 6 synth.
4. Michael Whalen "Funky Filter Jam" on the Prophet-5
5. Michael Whalen "Big Dumb Blues in D" on the Prophet-5.
6. Michael Whalen "Jam in D" on the Minimoog.
7. Michael Whalen "World Jam" on the Minimoog.
8. Michael Whalen "Morning improvisation" on the Yamaha DX1
9. Michael Whalen "Flute Solo jam" on the Yamaha VL1.
10. Michael Whalen "Groovy Jam in A" on the ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe.
IN BRIEF The coolest French festival entirely dedicated to synthesizers. The annual meeting of synth addicts in Nantes with exhibitions, concerts, workshops, demos, and the biggest synthesizer raffle ever made in the world.
FOCUS . 10th edition of the festival. . Concert Joachim Garraud. . Concerts Olivier Delevingne / Marco Caro / Maman Küsters . More than 50 exhibitors. . Showcases Moonya / Alaskam / Nairod. . First official tribute to Vangelis organized by Frederick Rousseau. . UNAC / SynthFest Awards. . Demonstrations / DIY workshops. . Immersive 3D music experience. . Huge synth raffle.
RAFFLE The SynthFest France offers this year a particularly exceptional raffle. With more than 12000€ of prizes, this contest is simply the biggest synthesizer giveaway ever organized.
Tickets at 10€ and number of tickets limited to 2000. Raffle open online until April 19th 2023, and on site until April 23rd 2023. Drawing on Sunday April 23, 2023 at 4pm, French time. It is not necessary to be present at the draw to win a prize.
JOACHIM GARRAUD The 10th edition of SynthFest France strikes hard, with Joachim Garraud in concert, Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 9 pm. The French producer and artist will be back in Nantes, his hometown, for this exceptional evening. Joachim Garraud will present a preview of the film "Modular California Vibes", a documentary on electronic music creation on board his solar mobile studio where 4 producers will record 4 original tracks in 4 unusual places during 4 days, thanks to the sun. A debate will follow the unique screening of this film in France, to then give way to a concert. Joachim Garraud at SynthFest France, the musical event in Nantes not to be missed.
EXHIBITORS / PARTICIPANTS / PARTNERS Alaskam, Alexis Faucomprez, Algam, Aodyo, Arturia, Christophe Martin-de Montagu, Baloran, Bastl Instruments, Berhnard Rasinger, BVR instruments, Dreadbox, Eric Mouquet / Deep Forest, Erica Synths, Euterpe Synthesizer Laboratories, Expressive E, Faselunare /, Alphalab, FCpro.Audio, Francis Rimbert, Frédéric Rible, Frederik Rousseau, Fulgur audio, Ina-GRM, IRCAM, Joachim Garraud, PModular / Jérôme Bridonneau, Joranalogue, KR, Home Studio, Kiviak technologies, Kodamo, Korg, La touche musicale, La Voix du Luthier, Larix Elektro, Laurent Evain, Laurent Juillet, Les Sondiers, Matthias Puech, Marc Caro, MOK / Media Overkill, Michael Geyre, Michel Geiss, Moonya, Muse Ovations, Nairod, NRSynth, Oberheim, Olivier Delevingne, SyntheGrall / Olivier Grall, Officina del Malista, oZoé, PH Modular / Christian Foucaud, PWM, Sifasile, SynthR / Jean-Luc Briançon, Sequential, SoundMIT, Studio Playtronica, SynthFood, TouellSkouarn, Thierry Rochebois, Tinhu, Tony T-Steel / Tony Quedeville, SACEM, Vacuum – 3D project / Eliane Blaise / Emmanuelle de Héricourt, Vkgoeswild / Vika Yermolyeva, Vintage Synth @ Co, UNAC / Union Nationale des Auteurs et Compositeurs, Willow Whisper / Dalai Lama, Xodes, Yamaha, Yusynth / Yves Usson.
The Roland JD-800 is a digital synthesizer that was manufactured between 1991 and 1996. It features many knobs and sliders for patch editing and performance control — features that some manufacturers, including Roland, had been omitting in the name of streamlining since the inception of the Yamaha DX7. The JD-800 thus became very popular with musicians who wished to take a hands-on approach to patch programming. The introduction in the manual states that Roland's intention with the JD-800 was to "return to the roots of synthesis".
Technology The JD-800 employs Linear Arithmetic synthesis (introduced and made famous by the Roland D-50), which combines sample playback with digital synthesis. The JD-800 has 108 built-in waveforms, which can be expanded via PCM cards. The waveforms span a variety of categories such as analog synthesizers, acoustic instruments, and voices. Many of these waveforms are very short and are used primarily for the attack portion of a sound, while longer ones are used for the sustained part of a sound. The JD-800 was Roland's first instrument to have its core presets developed entirely in the United States, under a short-lived branch of its R&D-LA office in Culver City, California. The core sampled waveforms and factory presets of the JD-800 were created by Eric Persing.
A patch, or single sound, in the JD-800 consists of up to four tones. As every tone consists of an almost completely independent synthesizer voice, a patch could be considered a combination of up to four different synthesizers. In Single mode the JD-800 plays one patch at a time, but in Multi mode it is possible to play five different patches over MIDI, plus a "special" patch. The special patch has different waveforms assigned to the 61 different keys on the keyboard, so is used for drums and percussion sounds. The JD-800 has one effects section. In Single mode, seven effects can be used simultaneously, in series, so all tones in a patch go through the same effects. In Multi mode, three effects can be used at the same time, with all patches sharing the same effects, though any of the patches can be routed to bypass the effects.
A Guy Called Gerald Coldcut Gary Barlow Jean-Michel Jarre Rick Wakeman Tony Banks
One of my favorite tracks from Icehouse called Icehouse from the year 1980
I used the ARP Quadra Analog Synthesizer for the analog strings (original ARP Solina string ensemble) and for the lead parts.
And I used the Moog Minimoog analog synth for the bass sounds in combination with the ARP Quadra string bass section.
The ARP Quadra Synthesizer from the year 1978 is one of most incredible synths ever. Used by Tony Banks, John Carpenter, New Order, Joe Zawinul and others. Here can you find the full Quadra playlist with single sound demos and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy.
"Since it was introduced in May 2022, industry acclaim has been heaped upon OB-X8 as one of the most authentic recreations of a vintage synth ever engineered.
But what thought process is behind the million design decisions involved in a vintage recreation project like this? In this roundtable style discussion, Tom Oberheim (Founder, Oberheim Electronics), Marcus Ryle (OB-X8 Co-Designer, Oberheim Engineer 1980 - 85), Tony Karavidas (Lead Hardware Engineer Sequential/Oberheim) and the late, great Dave Smith (Founder, Sequential and OB-X8 co-designer), talk through trade-offs, design philosophies, and the overall approach that allowed them to produce this amazing instrument.
0:31 What is the OB-X8?
3:44 What gave each OB synth its sound?
6:12 How do you match to a vintage synth?
8:25 Why are Page 2 features important?
9:58 How does OB-X8 differ from the originals?
12:48 What's coming from Oberheim in the future?"
"This instrument is in an amazing condition, considering it is 44 years old. Copy owner's manual (76 pages) is supplied - a vital asset, as this synth does a LOT! Most renowned user in UK was Tony Banks of Genesis; well used on many albums......
Klassic Keys GB have had the synthesizer TOTALLY refurbed/serviced/calibrated :-
1) NEW(expensive) Mylar front panel has been fitted. That is the front section with the blue and green switches. The failure of the membrane push-button switches is always a likely occurrence. Any existing Quadra will inevitably succumb to this. It is impossible to repair them. This new panel is good for many years, if treated with normal care.
2) LEDs have been fitted to all faders. Synth just looks SO cool. The photos show it all.....
3) All electronics (especially the power supply) have been fastidiously attended to. Connectors, sockets, batteries, chips etc etc. Photos clearly show the general internal condition. It is immaculate! Synth runs @ 220Vac, via standard IEC/kettle mains cord (supplied). Klassic Keys GB will offer a 2-year guarantee to all UK customers, collection/return at our expense. Overseas customers will have a special arrangement customised to suit them; more details available on request.
4) The keys all function 100%. They are all in good condition, with only a few eeny smears and the slightest of colour mismatching, where some keys have been replaced at some point. Regulation is not perfect (if really scrutinised), but pretty good considering the age of the instrument. All contacts/bushings have been cleaned/lubed.
Sounds like? Quadra is capable of really fat sounds/splits. Its analogue! Check out YouTube videos/demos. Some show how fantastic the synth can sound, with the arpeggio/SH features being implemented. KKGB attached video is primarily to prove that the Quadra exists, and is fully working. It was created in KKGBs scruffy workshop, in mono (only), and is not designed to impress on anybody how wonderful Doug's playing skills are!
History:- Was owned by UK private collector for many years. Stashed away in a box for posterity/NOT actually played very much at all. Was imported from the USA 1998. Previous history is unknown.
Price:- UK price is £15,999. You pay for what you get. KKGB consider this unit to be the best example in the world of such a wondrous synthesizer, particularly with a new front panel (never mind the LEDs)...and a 2-year guarantee! Sale is being made via HMRC VAT margin scheme. This simply means that no VAT can be reclaimed by registered entities. Private buyers are unaffected. It can be double-boxed and/or delivered direct to your door via KKGB van, FREE as far north as Dundee/Scotland. EXPORT price is £14,500. Tell us where you are, and a speedy send-quote will appear. KKGB despatch (nearly) world-wide. We know how to do this. Look at our feedback and web site .
ARP QUADRAs are now extremely rare <>especially ones that actually work 100%. This one is a true collectors item, no mistake. KKGB are open to discussion re part-exchanging and buying price. Only decent synths/keyboards, please....no junk!"
"Instrumental (as always) cover song. Recorded at the first take (thus some timing offsets).
Gear used:
Roland JP8000: Reso lead sound.
Kurzweil PC1x: Rhodes and piano sounds
Backtrack previously recorded, track by track, by me, including Roland Promars MRS-2 (bassline) and Roland JX-8P (extra synth layers and pads).
Original song composed by Ashley Ingram, Leee John, Steve Jolley & Tony Swain.
Performed here by DX5 Jose Maria Bará."
Update: module details and pic added further below.
"On Friday July 15th at 7pm PST, Make Noise founder Tony Rolando will show off his newest Eurorack module design, alongside long-time modular artist Rodent.
Make Noise has a long history of shaking up the modular synth world with fresh, forward-thinking, and downright fun new modules and standalone instruments.
This marks Make Noise's first new release since 2021's Strega, and their first new Eurorack module since 2019's Mimeophon.
The stream will feature a module overview, Q+A, and live examples of the new design."
Initial post/details:
Make Noise will be presenting a new module at Perfect Circuit tonight at 7 PM. It's my understanding tickets for the event are full, however Perfect Circuit will be live streaming the event. I will be sharing the stream on top of the site at 7PM sharp so tune back in for the event.
Details follow:
Live Event: Make Noise First Look to New Eurorack Module
Where: Perfect Circuit Showroom 2405 Empire Ave Burbank, CA 91504
Event date: July 15th, 2022, 7 PM
About the Friday Make Noise Event
Make Noise is heading to Perfect Circuit for an exclusive first look at their latest creation. On Perfect Circuit's YouTube channel at 7 PM PST this Friday, July 15th, Make Noise founder Tony Rolando is showing off their newest Eurorack module design. Long-time modular artist Rodent will join Tony in the announcement. Tune in live for the first look at what Make Noise has cookin'. The stream will feature a module overview, Q+A, and live examples of the new design.
What Will They Reveal?
Make Noise has a long history of shaking up the modular synth world with fresh, forward-thinking, and downright fun new modules and standalone instruments. Be sure to tune in for Make Noise's first release since 2021's Strega and their first new Eurorack module since 2019's Mimeophon. This new module is top secret, so we can't share any details except we know you will love it.
"Make Noise is proud to announce our newest module, the XPO!
The XPO, or Stereo Prismatic Oscillator, is a Voltage Controlled Analog Oscillator designed for generating Sine waves, Triangle waves, Sawtooth and Spike waves, Sub-Octaves, Stereo Timbre Modulations (including Pulse Width Modulation and Wavefolding), Oscillator SYNC, Linear FM and more in the analog domain.
The XPO is designed to be the Stereo VCO complement to our Stereo Filter, the QPAS. The two modules share the core idea of complex circuits being controlled in multiple dimensions in the stereo field by a few powerful parameters. The Stereo Prismatic Oscillator also makes a particularly useful patch buddy for the STO, Mimeophon, and X-PAN.
The XPO was announced on Friday, July 15th by Make Noise founder Tony Rolando and our Sales Specialist Eric "Rodent" Cheslak at an event at Perfect Circuit."
The XPO or Stereo Prismatic Oscillator is a Voltage Controlled Analog Oscillator designed for generating Sine waves, Triangle waves, Sawtooth and Spike waves, Sub- Octaves, Stereo Timbre Modulations (including Pulse Width Modulation and Wavefolding), Oscillator SYNC, Linear FM and more in the analog domain.
The XPO is designed to be the Stereo VCO complement to our Stereo Filter, the QPAS. The two modules share the core idea of complex circuits being controlled in multiple dimensions in the stereo field by a few powerful parameters. The Stereo Prismatic Oscillator also makes a particularly useful patch buddy for the STO, Mimeophon, and X- PAN.
The Story of the XPO by Tony Rolando
I was lying awake in bed at 3 am thinking about music and synthesizers, on this early morning specifically, the voice panning of the OB8. So simple, so effective. A bank of 8 analog pan-pots is tucked into the side of the instrument to let the musician choose the exact placement of each voice in the stereo field. As you play the instrument, notes may dance around your head. This led me to think about how Oberheim and most other synthesizer designers through the 70s and early 80s primarily used Pulse Width Modulation for waveform animation. Don Buchla's wavefolding techniques had not caught on. PWM has been more or less the same for decades and there is not a whole lot of difference between PWM in one instrument to another. Some allow you to modulate further than others. A few even allow you to go all the way to 0% or 100% Width. PWM was usually generated from a Saw or Triangle core, and while I tend to prefer PWM generated from a Tri-Core, the difference is subtle. The bigger difference is the filter that follows. PWM has a way of tickling the resonance of a filter that can really make the sound come alive.
This led me to think about Stereo filtering. How could a synth sound more stereo? At Make Noise we have voice panning with the XPAN, stereo filtering with the QPAS, and stereo echo verb with the Mimeophon. Surely, this was enough stereo modulation.
Then it occurred to me, why couldn't PWM be stereo? It would be very effective at creating a stereo image since the amplitude of both Left and Right would be almost identical, while still offering dramatic stereo timbral shifts. I thought to myself, surely somebody has done Stereo PWM already. I needed to research this idea. So I wrote about it in the notepad I keep on the nightstand and I eventually fell back asleep.
I woke up the next day and I immediately saw the note, I tried to read it...
"I can proudly say that's not easy to find an opportunity like this today. Even on Reverb.com.
One of the most iconic synthesizers of Tony Banks of Genesis, the monophonic Arp Pro Soloist shaped the sound of the early Genesis and became the keyboard of choice for the solo part of the band.
Almost impossible to emulate and very rare nowadays.
Purchased used in the 80's as a Genesis fan and barely used in my smoking-free studio then put away in his flight case for a very long time.
Good overall condition but the right wooden side panel suffered a side impact that caused it to break in half. It was repaired very well and reglued (pictures n. 11 to 14). Now it does not move and it is solid. The wood side panel on the left has minor scuffs (pictures n. 15 to 17) on the top and on the front. The bottom of the synth is extraordinary clean (picture n.22). Keys are white (no yellowing on them) none are loose or wobbly. No rust on the chassis. PLEASE take a depth look at the photos with all cosmetic defects highlighted. Always stored in its flight case in a temperature controlled room."
The following is via Milano Modulare where you'll find additional pics.
