Moog - Spectravox - Sound Demos

video upload by NOISEBUG

https://www.noisebug.net

See the announcement post here.

"The long wait is finally over. The Moog Spectravox has finally been released and we couldn't be more excited!

Spectravox, the newest member of the Moog semi-modular family, is a groundbreaking tool for sculpting sound. An analog spectral processor based around a 10-band filter bank, Spectravox creates lively drones and colorful tonal sweeps on its own and adds resonant depth and psychedelic spectral movement to any external sound. Hook up a microphone and Spectravox becomes a 10-band analog vocoder with innovative integrated modulation of all of its filters. An exploration and expansion of the topology of the vocoder and filter bank, Spectravox is a highly flexible instrument and signal processor with a comprehensive patch bay for integration into studios of all sizes.

Synthesists have delighted in playing with the spectrum of sound since the Moog 907 Fixed Filter Bank appeared in the 1960s, creating lush vowel tones and multicolored timbral animation with hands-on level control of each frequency band of a sound. Unlike earlier fixed filter banks, however, the unique filters of Spectravox are no longer fixed in place and will jointly shift around the frequency space, allowing for the creation of otherworldly voltage-controlled spectral animation and vibrant phaser-like sweeps. With 10 filters whose variable resonance can morph from soft precision to shimmering choral effects, Spectravox reshapes the sounds you love into surprising new forms and brings a new world of sonic possibilities to your studio.

Spectravox is a fascinating standalone sculptable synthesizer voice thanks to its built-in carrier sound source of a thick analog Moog oscillator and white noise generator. With its combo XLR/jack program input, Spectravox becomes a fully featured 10-band vocoder with a secondary filter bank for analyzing the spectral makeup of incoming sounds. In VOCODER mode its 10 analysis filters map the timbral characteristics of any external sound onto any other sound you can imagine. Shape the warm analog oscillator of Spectravox with the dynamics of your voice, or use a drum machine to animate guitar chords in a mesmerizing broadband percussive space.

Spectravox uses the pioneering vocoding work of Bob Moog and Wendy Carlos in the late 1960s as its inspiration—work which was based on Homer Dudley's original designs from the 1930s and which was used to prominent effect in Stanley Kubrick's 1972 film A Clockwork Orange. Innovating further from these early designs, Spectravox uses 10 state-variable filters for its filter bank, all 10 of which are capable of being shifted with its internal triangle wave LFO or external control voltage. With the ability to emphasize vowel sounds via the Hiss and Buzz functionality of the Moog 16 Channel Vocoder, Spectravox is both a major step forward for analog filter banks and a loving exploration of early music technology history.

Scramble the frequency spectrum and create wonderfully unpredictable textures with patch points for each filter in the filter bank and included patch cables. Add analog warmth and subtle phasing to digital synthesizers and sound sources. Integrate Spectravox with other Moog semi-modular instruments or Eurorack modules with an extensive patch bay providing control over almost all of its parameters. Spectravox is a boundary-pushing instrument that invites you to explore creative new ways of shaping and sculpting sound."

New Moog Spectravox - Semi-Modular Analog Spectral Processor

Moog Spectravox | Jamie Lidell | Awake & Alive video upload by Moog Music

Follow-up to the previous version.

"Experience a captivating musical performance featuring Jamie Lidell's "Awake and Alive," an original composition showcasing the Moog Spectravox. The performance features Aaron Steele on percussion and Luke Schneider on pedal steel.

The Spectravox, Moog's latest semi-modular addition, is a groundbreaking tool for shaping sound. This analog spectral processor, built around a 10-band filter bank, generates lively drones and colorful tonal sweeps, enhancing external sounds with resonant depth and psychedelic spectral movement. With a microphone connected, Spectravox transforms into a 10-band analog vocoder, featuring innovative integrated modulation across all filters. Pushing the boundaries of vocoder and filter bank technology, Spectravox offers immense flexibility as an instrument and signal processor, complete with a comprehensive patch bay for seamless integration into studios of any size."



Playlist:
The Moog Spectravox is a Vocoder, a Spectral Processor and Much More - Reverb
Moog Spectravox is in production! // Review, tutorial and 10 patch ideas - loopop
Moog Spectravox: Overview + Explorations - Sarah Belle Reid
Spectravox x Subharmonicon - A Brief Explainer - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Moog Spectravox - Accidental Arpeggios feat. Moog Subharmonicon - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Moog Spectravox Sound Demo (Machine Talking) - Limbic Bits
Moog Spectravox Sound Demo (no human talking) - Bonedo Synthesizers



The Newest Member of the Moog Family

Spectravox, the newest member of the Moog semi-modular family, is a groundbreaking tool for sculpting sound. An analog spectral processor based around a 10-band filter bank, Spectravox creates lively drones and colorful tonal sweeps on its own and adds resonant depth and psychedelic spectral movement to any external sound. Hook up a microphone and Spectravox becomes a 10-band analog vocoder with innovative integrated modulation of all of its filters. An exploration and expansion of the topology of the vocoder and filter bank, Spectravox is a highly flexible instrument and signal processor with a comprehensive patch bay for integration into studios of all sizes.

A Groundbreaking Tool for Scultpting Sound

Synthesists have delighted in playing with the spectrum of sound since the Moog 907 Fixed Filter Bank appeared in the 1960s, creating lush vowel tones and multicolored timbral animation with hands-on level control of each frequency band of a sound. Unlike earlier fixed filter banks, however, the unique filters of Spectravox are no longer fixed in place and will jointly shift around the frequency space, allowing for the creation of otherworldly voltage-controlled spectral animation and vibrant phaser-like sweeps. With 10 filters whose variable resonance can morph from soft precision to shimmering choral effects, Spectravox reshapes the sounds you love into surprising new forms and brings a new world of sonic possibilities to your studio.

10-Band Analog Vocoder

Spectravox is a fascinating standalone sculptable synthesizer voice thanks to its built-in carrier sound source of a thick analog Moog oscillator and white noise generator. With its combo XLR/jack program input, Spectravox becomes a fully featured 10-band vocoder with a secondary filter bank for analyzing the spectral makeup of incoming sounds. In VOCODER mode its 10 analysis filters map the timbral characteristics of any external sound onto any other sound you can imagine. Shape the warm analog oscillator of Spectravox with the dynamics of your voice, or use a drum machine to animate guitar chords in a mesmerizing broadband percussive space.

Electronic Instruments for the Musician

Spectravox uses the pioneering vocoding work of Bob Moog and Wendy Carlos in the late 1960s as its inspiration—work which was based on Homer Dudley's original designs from the 1930s and which was used to prominent effect in Stanley Kubrick's 1972 film A Clockwork Orange. Innovating further from these early designs, Spectravox uses 10 state-variable filters for its filter bank, all 10 of which are capable of being shifted with its internal triangle wave LFO or external control voltage. With the ability to emphasize vowel sounds via the Hiss and Buzz functionality of the Moog 16 Channel Vocoder, Spectravox is both a major step forward for analog filter banks and a loving exploration of early music technology history.

Scramble the Frequency Spectrum

Scramble the frequency spectrum and create wonderfully unpredictable textures with patch points for each filter in the filter bank and included patch cables. Add analog warmth and subtle phasing to digital synthesizers and sound sources. Integrate Spectravox with other Moog semi-modular instruments or Eurorack modules with an extensive patch bay providing control over almost all of its parameters. Spectravox is a boundary-pushing instrument that invites you to explore creative new ways of shaping and sculpting sound.

Robert Moog & Wendy Carlos Interviews on the Moog Synthesizer

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"Rare little interview CNN did with Robert Moog in the ’90s, when he was living in North Carolina, designing machines as a free agent, having left the synth company he founded. This month would have seen Moog’s 90th birthday, had he not passed away in 2005.

I’ve always loved the man’s humility and straightforwardness. Big love to him and all those who knew him."

Wendy Carlos Interview

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"Wendy Carlos interviewed on a radio programme presented by Glenn Gould in the late 1960s, inter-spliced by an interview with Canadian writer and senator Jean Le Moyne, who talks about, in Glenn Gould’s words, “the human fact of automation and its sociological and theological implications”.

No copyright held, just posting so people can hear this old piece of audio."

SYNTOVOX 221 VOCODER

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

via this auction

"Vocoder built by the dutch high end synthesizer company Synton. Distributed in the USA by [Bob] Moog's Big Brair company.

This is the flagship vocoder from Synton, and is among the best vocoders of all time. It shares company with the EMS 5000 and the Sennheiser VSM-201 vocoder.

It's really rare, only 20 pieces was made.

One of the ultimate best vocoders in the universe, if not THE best. This is what Wendy Carlos said (on the web )- 'Question #4 -- What kind of vocoder do/did you prefer? Felix Visser made the best ones, for his long-gone (alas!) Synton company, all during the 80's. Some other fine devices exist, as the EMI/Synthi big one, and Sennheiser's expensive one, those and dear Harald Bode's design that Moog's good 16-band one was similar to. The ultra-basic analog units were generally mushy-sounding. Synton's had the best intelligibility on spoken words for their original 32-band device, .......' This is Felix's own machine, serial number 010, and was actually used extensively by Wendy Carlos - there's a typed note to her on the power supply saying it had been changed to 115V for her. It has now been changed back to 220V by Felix Visser. Unlike some models, it has a complete case. It will be sold fully working, and with a signed cerificate of provenance.

Synthovox 221 is a 20-channel vocoder system which has made its way to numerous recording studios, radio stations, composers and scientific institutions for its outstanding quality and its unexcelled intelligibility.

It includes 54 dB/octave filter, a feature not found in any other vocoder on the market. It also offers the versatility of a build-in pulse generator for direct speech sythesis and several control units for pitch modulation.

It features matrix patching for format shifting and a highly precise voiced/unvoiced detector system. And it offers extreme flexibility by the multiway connector which gives access to the analyzer and synthesizer sections and the control terminals of the voiced/unvoiced detector.

The Intelligible Machine has set standards in vocoder techniques.

High end model, attenuator per channel.

Only about 20 of these were made. Users include Wendy Carlos (who owns a 221 & SPX 216), various electronic studio's in Europe. Best suited for studio use due to complex control.

The 221 has a 50-pin connector on the back which provides CV in and out for each channel, and other functions as described above."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Paul McGowan of PS Audio Explains the Moog Synthesizer

video upload by Paul McGowan, PS Audio

"The classic Moog changed the world. Paul helps us understand what all the wires and modules actually do."

https://www.psaudio.com

Fascinating bit at 1:50. Paul McGowan actually created his own synthesizer, The Infinitizer. Curious if there are any images of it out there. He almost sold one to Wendy Carlos. It gets a mention in his book 99% True: Almost a National Bestseller which you can find on Amazon here (note this is an affiliate link - see the site's privacy policy for more info).

Update: I asked Paul if he had any pics of The Infinitizer. Unfortantely he didn't, and he no longer has any of the parts, but he did send over the following additional info:

"I don’t have any photos of the Infinitizer, unfortunately. I remember a very sad day back in 1995 or so when I was cleaning out my lab and had to own up to hauling it off to the dump (it was a mere skeleton of PCBs, a keyboard, and lots of wires and didn’t work)."

"The idea was to make 10 synthesizers into one unit that was easy to use. This meant it would be the world’s first polyphonic synth, since musicians only have 10 fingers.

I designed a complete analog chain of 10 modules (the usual: VC filters, oscillators, envelope generators, amplifiers, etc.). Then, I hired an engineer out of Vandenburg Air Force Base who was a whiz at this new thing called “digital”. He designed for me a multiplexed keyboard that constantly scanned all the keys looking for ones that were pressed. The keys were all internally numbered and when pressed, the multiplexer would find an available VC oscillator and assign that number to the oscillator. Because we know the number of the key, the appropriate voltage was sent to that oscillator and it produced the appropriate frequency for that key. In order to have the entire keyboard voltage move up and down (like if you wanted to bend the notes or modulate the frequency with a LF oscillator) the master voltage (that got divided by the individual keys assigned to it) could be accessed as one might normally do through the patch bay.

I also wanted to have the keys pressure sensitive so for that, I invented the use of conductive foam under each key (and that too could manipulate the master voltage to the oscillator banks) and could be assigned to modulate any of the other modifiers too. My patch bay was a switch matrix and pots kind of like ARP used to do.

It was a very cool device which I wrote about extensively in my memoirs, 99% True."

-------

As for the first non organ based poly synth, currently that honor likely goes to one of the following depending how you define it:

1975 - Buchla 502 - six voice polyphonic with minicomputer and ability to save patches to tape drive. Development on the 500 series began in 1969.

1975 - Oberheim FVS - four voice polyphonic with Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer. Not sure if the 502 or FVS was released first.

1977 - Yamaha - CS50/CS60/CS80 - first single enclosure polyphonic keyboard synthesizers, with the CS80 to be the first synth with poly aftertouch

1978 - Sequential Circuits - microprocessor control the SCI prophet 10 (briefly) and the P-5 --- again based on existing E-mu tech stuff

via The First Synth to...

Deutsches Museum: Der erste Moog-Synthesizer in Deutschland

video upload by redaktion42

"Robert Moog gehört ein Denkmal gesetzt. Für mich hat er mit seinen Erfindungen die Musikwelt revolutioniert. Bands wie meine Liebslingsband Emerson, Lake and Palmer wären ohne Robert Moog und seinem Moog-Synthi nie möglich gewesen.
Ich kam neben ELP auch über Wendy Carlos zum Moog und träumte immer davon so ein Wunderwerk an Elektronik zu besitzen. Nun, heute habe ich die Smartphone-App vom Moog, die ähnliches leistet, aber natürlich nicht an die Faszination des Moog herankommt. Im Deutschen Museum München traf ich auf den ersten Moog, der in Deutschland gespielt wurde. Er wurde von Eberhard Schoener gestiftet."

Googlish:

"Robert Moog deserves a monument. For me, he revolutionized the music world with his inventions. Bands like my favorite band Emerson, Lake and Palmer would never have been possible without Robert Moog and his Moog synthesizer.
In addition to ELP, I also came to Moog through Wendy Carlos and always dreamed of owning such a marvel of electronics. Well, today I have the Moog smartphone app, which does something similar, but of course doesn't come close to the fascination of the Moog. In the German Museum in Munich I came across the first Moog to be played in Germany. It was donated by Eberhard Schoener."

1969: Introducing the MOOG SYNTHESISER | Tomorrow's World | Retro Tech | BBC Archive

video upload by BBC Archive

"Derek Cooper introduces the Moog synthesiser, an instrument that can produce a variety of noises and arrangements, both mimicking real instruments and creating new sounds - all electronically.

This clip is from Tomorrow's World, originally broadcast 30 September 1969."

Also see 1970: WENDY CARLOS and her MOOG SYNTHESISER | Music Now | Retro Tech | BBC Archive

How the TRON Music was made

video upload by Alex Ball

"Back by popular demand, another filmscore breakown. This time we look at Wendy Carlos' 1982 score to Tron.

0:00 Intro
0:49 Wendy Carlos
2:04 Tron - The Instruments
4:44 The Recording Rig
6:39 Cue Breakdown - Tron Theme
9:10 Cue Breakdown - Tron Scherzo
10:22 Cue Breakdown - We've Got Company
11:40 Use of Choir
12:49 Other Music
13:46 Summary & Thanks

Wendy Carlos official page: https://www.wendycarlos.com/+tron.html

D.A Wilson: https://hideawaystudio.net/
Synergenesis: https://hideawaystudio.net/2014/09/26..."

1970's ARP Demo featuring Tom Piggott & Conversations with Tom Piggott & Greg Phillinganes

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"PLEASE NOTE: The beginning of the video is glitchy... both the sound and video will resolve at between 1:30 and 2:07.

Originally aired on WOVB-TV, in association with The Ohio University Telecommunications Center, this is one of several UMATIC demo tapes found in a box when d'ARP (Dina Pearlman-Ifil, Alan Pearlman's daughter) was going through her father's effects.

Tom Piggott was one of several educators that worked at ARP Instruments in the 1970s. He worked closely with Al, helping write the classic: 'Learning Music with Synthesizers' David Friend, Alan R. Pearlman, Thomas D. Piggott)."

A Conversation with Tom Piggott


"d'ARP had several conversations with Tom over the past few years. This interview highlights some recent footage.

Tom Piggott has been a product specialist and clinician for numerous companies, including ARP, CRUMAR, SYNERGY and more, and worked with Peter Nero, Stevie Wonder, Nyle Steiner, Linda McCartney, Vangellis, John Entwhistle, Klaus Schulze,T Lavitz, Wendy Carlos, Dr. Richard Boulanger, Mike Bergeman, Donald Fagan, Edgar Winter, Tom Coster, Jimmy Page, Roger Powell, Jerry Kovarski, and many others.

Tom Piggott was one of several educators that worked at ARP Instruments in the 1970s. He worked closely with Al, helping write the classic: 'Learning Music with Synthesizers' David Friend, Alan R. Pearlman, Thomas D. Piggott)."

A Conversation with Greg Phillinganes


"D'ARP has a conversation about ARP Synthesizers with Greg Phillinganes, who has recorded or toured with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Anita Baker, George Benson, Karen Carpenter, Eric Clapton, Donald Fagen, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, Richard Marx, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Nicks (whew!)!"

Digital Keyboards Synergy From 1982

video upload by Bata

"Messing around with some sounds on the DK Synergy. This is the MK1 version so no MIDI and no connectivity to the old Kaypro computers that work with the MK2. I have a couple cartridges for it with extra sounds one programmed by Wendy Carlos called Bells/Whistles and one called VCart2 which has some drum sounds and other things. I play a few of those sounds here along with some of the stock presets. It has a cool but weird 4 track sequencer so it's possible to sequence 4 different sounds and play a 5th over top. No way to sync it with other gear though."

Lisa Bella Donna's hidden sonic sanctuary

video upload by EarthQuakerDevices

"Join us as we take a detailed tour of Lisa Bella Donna's legendary home studio, Appalachian Recordings, deep in the Appalachian mountains of the eastern United States. Lisa is a longtime friend of Jamie Stillman’s since before the inception of EarthQuaker Devices in the early 90s, when they would play punk house shows together. Lisa is a renowned recording artist, composer, sound designer, modular synthesist and educator.

In this incredible episode of Show Us Your Junk, Lisa talks about her early inspirations that led her to start playing music, and eventually using electronic synthesis to craft the unique voice that she envisioned. After hearing Black Sabbath's “Paranoid” and Wendy Carlos's “Switched on Bach” and “Sonic Seasons,” it became clear that music was her destiny. Her stories include recording and editing commercial jingles in the 80s, selling her car to put a down payment on an Arp 2600 synthesizer, and discovering the rich characteristics of recording to 8-track tape.

While this studio packs in a ton of rare gear, Lisa claims she doesn’t consider herself a collector. “My choices are very utilitarian; pretty much everything in here is here for a purpose, and it’s part of the big picture - the great stream of what my albums become,” she says. Some of her staple instruments include the ARP 2600, ARP Odyssey, ARP Omni, Mini Moog, and Fender Rhodes. EQD pedals she frequently uses include the Rainbow Machine, Arpanoid, and Grand Orbiter, but her favorite EQD pedal is the Avalanche Run. She loves it so much that she had a custom rack mount version built, which is patched directly to her main console. “It's one of my favorite reverbs still - one of my most used for sure.”

Lisa has an interesting perspective when it comes to connecting music to visual concepts in nature and her environment. “When I compose music, I see it just as much as I hear it. I look at my arrangements as landscapes or deep woods mountain paths with all the textures and colors of the elements that surround it,” she says. This all makes sense when you see the picturesque plot of land in which she chose to settle down to build her studio and raise her daughter.

Shot by Chris Tran, Jeff France, David Whited, Dannesh Moosa
Edited by David Whited
Additional footage shot by Tristan Whitney Weary
Music by Lisa Bella Donna, EYE, Deadsea

Music Provided by Lisa Bella Donna
'Turning Points'
'Twi Spirit, One Life'
'Kohoutek'
'Emerald's Run'
'Ascension'
'Pure Stereo Time Machine'
'Falling Leaves'

Special thanks to:
Moog Music Inc.
Waves Audio
Antonus Synthesizers
Hologram Electronics
Lower West Side Studio / Canada
Behind The Sky Records
SFI Records

Check out more of Lisa Bella Donna's work:
https://lisabelladonna.bandcamp.com/
https://lisabelladonna.com/"

Moog's Model 10 Returns to Production

Moog Model 10 | Hannes Bieger video upload by Moog Music Inc

"Hannes Bieger is no stranger to the power of Moog large-format modular systems. The Berlin-based producer, mixing engineer, and live artist—who has been creating and recording ground-shaking techno and house music with his System 35 for years—recently discussed how his experience with modular instruments has shaped his style and process.

'What I love about modular is how you can incorporate ‘happy accidents’ in the workflow, especially when tossing around patterns on the analogue sequencers,” Hannes shared. “I love the physicality of the process, actually standing in front of this big instrument rather than sitting in front of a computer screen. Finally, there is a sonic world difficult to achieve with conventional synths. I love, for example, how I can create stereo sounds with a pair of VCAs and AM modulation as a part of the actual synthesis, not with external effects.'

Hannes shares more about how modular instruments like the Model 10 (now back in production!) and System 35 have shaped his style and process in a new interview on our website. Check out the full interview at moogmusic.com!

More about Hannes Bieger: http://hannesbieger.com"

Model 10 Returns to Production!
One of our most beloved legacy instruments, the Model 10 modular synthesizer, is officially back in production at our factory in Asheville, North Carolina. This re-issue of the instrument follows a limited-time production run in 2019 that helped introduce these systems to a whole new generation of synthesists.

Today's Model 10 is a faithful recreation of Bob Moog’s first compact modular synthesizer model, all the way down to its hand-soldered electronic circuits. Each system is built to order and now includes a host of updates that allow this machine to be more easily integrated into modern studios across the globe.

The fully analog instrument is made up of 11 discrete analog modules, including the 907 Fixed Filter Bank, revered for its vast sound shaping and timbral possibilities, and three 900 Series oscillators, the foundational sound behind works like Wendy Carlos’s Switched-On Bach and Isao Tomita’s Snowflakes Are Dancing.

The predecessor to the Model 15, the Model 10 design focuses on purity of sound and simplicity to provide the enormous sonic depth and dimension found only in a vintage Moog modular synthesizer. This powerhouse breaks down the fundamental building blocks of sound, gifting the operator the ability to explore new frontiers of self expression—a tradition of electronic experimentation that has continued to evolve since the dawn of modular synthesis.

Bach Well Tempered Clavier book 1 - Prelude and Fugue in C Minor - Synth

video upload by Dor Heled

"A 'switched on' version of Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier book 1 - Prelude and Fugue in C minor, inspired by Wendy Carlos
Played on Dave Smith Prophet Rev2

Read the full blog post about Wendy Carlos - Switched On Bach : http://www.dorheled.com/ablog"

1970: WENDY CARLOS and her MOOG SYNTHESISER | Music Now | Retro Tech | BBC Archive

video upload by BBC Archive

"Electronic music composer Wendy Carlos - whose debut album Switched-On Bach has introduced a new audience to classical music - explains the fundamentals of electronic sound using her Moog Synthesiser, and demonstrates some of the techniques she employed to adapt Johann Sebastian Bach's compositions for the electronic age.

This clip is from Music Now, originally broadcast 8 February, 1970.

You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of tv to educate, entertain and enlighten you with classic tv clips from the BBC vaults."

Also see Wendy Carlos Interview 1989 BBC Two including the GDS Digital Additive Synthesizer & TRON. You can find additonal posts mentioning Wendy Carlos here.

Lockdown Modular Sessions - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (4k Final Mix)

video upload by John Belew

This one was sent in via John L Rice. One more below. "I've always wanted to do this one since I was young. I blame the Exploratorium commercials during Captain Cosmic on KTVU with Wendy Carlos music. Now that I'm stuck at home, here goes. One of my favorite Bach pieces, almost impossible to play live and just as difficult to mix. Keep creating people!

Details for the eurorack nerds out there ... I pulled out Yarns for this one, but even with the two A4 CV outs, I was only able to do 6 parts. Cello is Klavis and the sub going through Evolution with a touch of distortion so it pops, Viola is Klavis through a Wasp with heavy S/H on the cutoff. Lead violin is the E352 going through an SEM (very Depeche Mode sounding) with the remaining violin parts coming from Chord2 in poly mode going through Belgrad with just enough input clipping that it sounds like a harpsichord at times. Listen to it on real speakers, the voicing really comes together in the third movement. And yes, I added a kick to the first movement, it just seems to work for me.

Lesson learned is how powerful ADSR's are (thanks Peaks x2) instead of just AR's on the Quadra. Recorded the individual tracks on a Zoom L-20, then fine-tuned the mix in Reaper. It's got the right level of rumble to my ears, but I wish I was better at EQ'ing and mastering."

Modular Classical Sessions - Excerpts from String Quartet No. 8 by Shostakovich


"Excerpts from Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110, my second project voicing and interpreting some of my favorite classical pieces in eurorack (See the first, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3" above.

And Generative Modular Installations by John Belew:

Door #16: Jingle Bells - Synthmas '21

video upload by Synthfluencer

"Ho-Ho-Ho! This is Synthmas '21, the virtual calendar presenting a Christmas carol played by synthesizers - every day from 1st to 24th of December.

The song:
This well known winter's song was made by american composer James Lord Pierpont around 1850. The song is actually about a horse sleigh race and has no context to Christmas.

The gear:
Before technology made digital multi track recording available there was tape recording. And before polyphonic synthesizers where were mono synths. In this arrangement I walk on the paths of history doing a multi track recording track by track on a loop station. All sounds come from the Yamaha CS-5 mono synthesizer. The challenge of multi track recording is timing. The loop station BOSS RC-202 represents state of the art technology that helps to synchronize the tracks. I can imagine how much work it was to record albums like "Switched on Bach" by Wendy Carlos when everything had to be done by hand and ear.

PS Sorry for the bad video quality

Trailer material: Pexels.com (image @seurafrancis99, video @cottonbro)"

Discovering Electronic Music (1969-1983)

Discovering Electronic Music (1969-1983) video upload by Fran Blanche

Note this is new cleaned up, single video, version of Discovering Electronic Music first posted here back in 2009.

"This film by Bernard Wilets was originally produced around 1969-70, but this reel that I present is the updated version from 1983 which includes new added Fairlight sequences with Rory Kaplan. The original sections are VERY 1969 and the color of this print is still remarkable. Great footage of Moog modular synths right in their heyday and lots of screenshots of waveforms and such. Is it coincidental that so much Bach is being played on the Moog? Calling Wendy Carlos! The film features several people who went on to make their names in electronic music, including Rory Kaplan, Douglas Leedy, and Jean-Claude Risset. This reel was transferred from my own 16mm archive print using my Eiki Telecine. The Eiki has a 5 Blade Shutter that projects a 24fps print at 30 frames per second for a flickerless NTSC transfer. A special diffusion plate eliminates the 'hot spot' of the projector, and the sound is pulled right from the optical track. Enjoy!

Join Team FranLab!!!! Become a patron and help support my YouTube Channel on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/frantone
#Moog #Music #film

- Intro music by Fran Blanche -"

This one was sent my way via John L Rice.

Mulogix Slave 32 Vintage Synth - Only 25-30 Ever Made SN SC 012

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

via this auction

You can find some info and demos of the Mulogix Slave 32 in previous posts here. It was used by Wendy Carlos.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The History of The Cat Synthesizer | Exclusive Creator Interview | Performances | Cats | Slime

video by Fortress of Sound

Update: Moving this up for the interview with Carmine Bonanno, creator of The Cat, and it's pretty much the stand out video of the day. Silver Apples gets a mention, followed by Wendy Carlos, Moog, and of course ARP. So, the real queestion is, was Carmine the first synth cat?
P.S. Cool posters and shirt!

"A deep dive into one of my favorite monophonic synthesizers ever, The Cat by Octave Electronics. Featuring demos, performances, an exclusive interview with the inventor, Carmine Bonanno, and more!

Chapters:
00:00​ Introduction
00:30​ Multi-Track Song
01:20​ Feature Breakdown
02:42​ Slime
03:13​ Demo Dungeon
06:55​ The Cat is untamable
07:45​ Carmine Bonanno Interview & History
16:07​ This Cat can Purrr
17:05​ The Beards & The Bees featuring Spaceman
17:50​ The Bad & Key bushing/contact repair
19:20​ Behringer Copy Cat
19:41​ Does it Tuba?
20:30​ Outro
21:00​ Multi-Track Song Outro Jam

Thanks for watching, and comment below what you'd like to see next!

You can support my channel by buying my music @
https://variar.bandcamp.com/

This video would not have been possible without these resources!

https://electronicmusic.fandom.com/wiki/Cat
https://electronicmusic.fandom.com/wiki/Bonanno,_Carmine
https://www.vintagesynth.com​
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page"

Additional Fortress of Sound posts

Cosmic Tape Music Club Podcast hosted by The Galaxy Electric - E3 Wendy Carlos

video by The Galaxy Electric

New podcast from supporting members, The Galaxy Electric.

Don't miss 14:05 on Wendy Carlos metting Bob Moog at the AES conference. You can explore more on her webiste here: http://www.wendycarlos.com.

"Thanks for joining us for Episode 3 of the Cosmic Tape Music Club monthly Podcast! Join your hosts Jacqueline and Augustus of the experimental pop band The Galaxy Electric as they get cosmic on the topic of Wendy Carlos. Wendy is a genius as well as the self proclaimed "Original Synth". She is a platinum selling artist, a Grammy winner, and an Ivy League school grad. We share all sorts of facts including winning a science fair by building a computer from scratch, melding the worlds of classical music and synthesizer, the Moog Modular, scoring for Kubrick, digital audio pioneering and much much more!

https://cosmictapemusicclub.podbean.com/​ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...​

Chapters:
Intro 00:00​
Early Beginnings 2:09​
College 6:55​
SOB 11:24​
AES Conference Moog sighting 14:05​
Rachel Elkind 19:39​
Clockwork 26:35​
Gonna let it Shine 29:40​
Tron 31:27​
Inspiration to Tomita 36:51​
Stevie Wonder popped by 38:50​
Vocoder your Moroder 39:47​
microtuning 42:48​
Digital is King 46:16​
Sticky Shed 48:26​
Astrophotographer 53:59​
Outro 59:38​"