Buchla - Electronic Music as Performance Art | Synthplex 2019

Published on Mar 30, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Marc Doty, renowned historian of electronic music, delivers a fascinating presentation on the history of Don Buchla, including the context of experimental music in which he developed his amazing ideas. This lecture is an absolute must watch for any serious devotee of the craft of electronic music. Watching Marc tear down the notion of East Coast vs. West Coast synthesis is worth the price of admission on its own."

Rossum Electro Panharmonium | Synthplex 2019

Published on Mar 30, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We interview Bob Bliss, chief engineer at Rossum Electro, who shows us the newly unveiled Panharmonium. This unique and fascinating module breaks apart incoming audio into component frequencies in real time, and then lets you use those separate frequencies to drive various parameters, including up to 33 oscillators. It's the perfect tool to create creepy vocalizations, but can also generate complex drones, isolate instruments within a mix, and much more."

See this post for details on the new Rossum Electro Panharmonium.

1010 Music - Blackbox | Synthplex 2019

Published on Mar 30, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"1010 Music has just released their first standalone product: Blackbox. Taking the best of Bitbox, Toolbox, and FXbox, Blackbox is a sampler/sequencer/effects box optimized for real time live performance. It's a great replacement for a laptop onstage, and is also terrific for expressive realtime studio recording. Just an amazing piece of gear."

1010music Blackbox

STG Sound Labs - Suit and Tie Guy | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 31, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Welcome to 25 minutes of Bubba. He is hilarious, entertaining, energetic...and happens to know an awful lot about modular.

Bubba does a deep dive on the STG (Suit and Tie Guy) Sound Labs line of Eurorack modules. He shows us their newest products, including some still in the prototype stage. And he throws down the gauntlet to our viewers: which collection of modules do you like better to be included in a complete synthesizer product? I'm hoping the comments are going to be flowing like water.

So watch this video. Marvel at Bubba. Ignore the obnoxious rave music happening across the way at the same time. Come to Knobcon '19 in September.

And remember: bug music is the folk music of our people."

Moogseum - Bob Moog Foundation | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 29, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We visit with Lee Sebel, who tells us about the plans to build the Moogseum, a museum documenting the life and work of Bob Moog. The Moogseum will be in Asheville, NC, where the Moog Music factory and other synth manufacturers are located.

I don't know about you, but this is going to make Asheville a bucket list destination for me!

www.moogfoundation.org"

Haken Continuum - Demo | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 28, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We talk to Clifton Cameron from Haken Audio, who shows us the latest product from Haken Audio: A small ribbon controller that has as much audio horsepower as the full-size Haken Continuum, but at a fraction of the price."

Vintage Moog Modular Demo | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 28, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Electronic Musician Walter Holland shows us his gorgeous Moog Modular - a synthesizer that has been in continuous use since 1967. Previously owned by Patrick Gleeson and Don Preston, this instrument is a thing of beauty. Musician Michael Gough then shows us how it's done, tickling the ivories in an improvisation that would make the late Keith Emerson proud."

Buchla Easel and 200E - Todd Barton | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 27, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We talk to legendary electronic music composer and performer Todd Barton at the Buchla booth at NAMM 2019. He shows us the marvelous Buchla Easel and several fascinating modules from the 200E.

www.toddbarton.com
www.buchla.com

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Mark Verbos - Verbox Electronics | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 27, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We get to talk to Mark Verbos at NAMM 2019 about his stellar product line of high quality, west coast-inspired Eurorack modules. Mark shows us his two new products for NAMM 2019, a capacitive touch sensor input and a control voltage processor, as well as looking at his other wonderful modules."

Dave Smith - Prophet X | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 26, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Our trip to NAMM 2019 began with a nice chat with synth pioneer Dave Smith, Inventor of the legendary Prophet 5. Dave continues to push the synthesizer envelope constantly, and this year he shows us the Prophet X. We talk about this synth, restoring the Pro One, the digital dark ages, filters, Eurorack, and performance expressivity with his fine instruments."

Buchla - Red Panel Modules | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 26, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"When last we talked to Dave Small at Superbooth 18, he was selling Buchla 100-style modules under the name of Catalyst Audio. His modules were so good that they are now selling as official Buchla modules, as a new product line called Red Panel."

The Serge Random Source Variable Slope VCF Part 1 - Building | Tutorial

Published on Jan 18, 2019 Under the Big Tree

Audio demo below.

"In this first of a two-part series on the Serge Random Source Variable Slope Voltage Controlled Filter, we build the module from the ground up. If you are interested in building this module as a DIY kit rather than purchasing it pre-built, then this is the video for you. We go through the entire build process, discussing soldering techniques, showing general tips and tricks, as well as aspects of this specific module. We get into testing the module, using oscilloscopes, function generators, and bench power supplies, and even what to do when something goes wrong.

If you want to hear the module in action and have a tutorial on how it works, then watch part two:

http://www.randomsource.net

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Update:

The Serge Random Source Variable Slope VCF Part 2 - Listening | Tutorial

Published on Jan 18, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"In this second of a two-part series on the Serge Random Source Variable Slope Voltage Controlled Filter, we listen to the fruits of our labors. We put a sawtooth wave and some white noise into the audio inputs, add some control voltages, and magic ensues! We go through every knob on the unit in detail, listening to the lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filter outputs.

By the time we are done, you may very well put this fantastic-sounding Eurorack module on your short list. Don't say I didn't warn you."

A Visit to Noisebug - Synth Store | Interview

Published on Jan 4, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"I had a day left for my Christmas vacation before having to go back to work, and decided to spend it visiting a store that I had wanted to see for a long time: Noisebug in Pomona, California. Blake, the general manager and I chatted for a long time about all manner of esoteric synths and recording equipment, and then he was kind enough to give us a tour of the space. The results are a deep dive into a retail store that specializes in the finest quality synthesizers, whether Eurorack, 5U, Buchla, desktop, or keyboard. This is a must-see interview for the devotees of truly esoteric electronic music devices.

www.noisebug.net

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

---
Some notes from watching the video: Elby Designs Pixie (EDP WASP synth - note Tinkerbell in place of a wasp) on the obscure front. BTW, Serge paperface refers to the original Serge panels from the 70s that had printed paper on the front panels. Radiohead used Analogue Systems. The power buss differs from Doepfer based eurorack. Ran out of label space with Moon Modular! 10 Year anniversary system featured. The Kilpatrick Audio K4815 Pattern Generator in Buchla format exclusive to Noisebug is featured.

The Verbos Complex Oscillator - In Depth | Tutorial

Published on Nov 13, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"The Complex Oscillator from Verbos Electronics is a masterpiece of high quality analog design. It follows the west coast tradition of synthesis, by starting with a simple waveform and then adding color through FM, AM, and wave shaping.

In this in-depth tutorial, we delve deeply into the oscillator, exploring each knob and jack separately and with each other. I recorded the output to an oscilloscope at the same time, so you can see the waveform change as I talk about it."

The Mighty Buchla 200e Modular Synthesizer Tutorial w/ Thomas Dizmuzio

Published on Oct 16, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"Electronic musician Thomas Dizmuzio goes through the many amazing modules of his Buchla 200e in detail. This three part series is over an hour of diving deep into one of the most magnificent synthesizers ever made. Enjoy!

www.thomasdimuzio.com
www.gench.com
www.buchla.com"

Doepfer Musikelektronik Modular Synths - What's New | NAMM 2018

Published on Jan 26, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"We interview the inventor of Eurorack, Dieter Doepfer himself, at NAMM 2018. Mr. Doepfer shows us the new line of polyphonic modules that his company is producing."

Moon Modular Synths - What's New | NAMM 2018

Published on Jan 26, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"John Rice takes us through some of the Moon Modular 5U synthesizer modules, at NAMM 2018."

1010 Music Modular Synths - What's New | NAMM 2018

Published on Jan 26, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"Aaron Higgins, founder of 1010 Music, shows us his touchscreen-based Eurorack modules:

Bitbox
Synthbox
FXbox
Toolbox"

Intellijel Modular Synths - What's New | NAMM 2018

Published on Jan 26, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"Daniel Van Tijn, founder of Intellijel, show us their latest modules at NAMM 2018."

Rossum Electro-Music Modular Synths - What's New | NAMM 2018

Published on Jan 26, 2018 Under the Big Tree

"Dave Rossum, the legendary synth designer behind E-Mu Systems, shows us the first Eurorack products that his new company, Rossum Electro-Music, are releasing:

Evolution Variable Character Ladder Filter
Control Forge Programmable Universal CV Generator
Satellite Universal CV Generator
Morpheus Stereo Morphing Z-Plane Filter
Assimil8or Multi-Timbral Phase Modulation Sampler"