RIP Walter Sear

photo by adriana trujillo via ZU33

We lost another synth pioneer. Walter Sear passed away yesterday. He was currently running Sear Sound NYC. Some synth related snips via Wikipedia:

"Walter E. Sear (1930-2010) was an American recording engineer, instrument importer, instrument designer, inventor, composer, tuba player, movie producer, synthesizer pioneer, and vintage recording equipment guru. Since 1970 he ran the legendary Sear Sound recording studio in New York City, which is known for its vast collection of vintage analog recording gear and is patronized by bands such as Sonic Youth, Steely Dan, Wynton Marsalis, and Paul McCartney...

Sear started out his long and varied career as a classical tuba player. After 4 years at the Curtis Institute of Music, he landed a job as principal tuba of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He later was a freelancer in New York City, playing for 6 years with the Radio City Music Hall pit orchestra as well as The Symphony of the Air, The Goldman Band, Sound of Music and numerous commercial studio dates...

In the late 50's he became friendly with Robert Moog after buying parts from him for a homemade Theremin. In the early 60's, Sear used his music industry connections to become Moog's sales agent and business partner. He encouraged Moog to make his synths more practical, eventually leading, in the late 60's, to the development of portable synthesizers which could be used in live performance. Sear also became known as a performer and composer on the Moog synthesizer for various movie soundtracks including Midnight Cowboy...

He built his first recording studio in 1964 as one of the first commercial electronic music studios. Sear Sound is the oldest recording studio in New York City, and boasts over 285 vintage and contemporary microphones, four rebuilt Studer recorders used by the Beatles at Abbey Road, and one of the earliest Moog synthesizers, built by Sear with Moog[2][3]."

Tory Starbuck plays with enhanced Moog Prodigy Synthesizer. Feb 2014

Published on Feb 10, 2014 Tory Starbuck·56 videos

"Tory experiments with sounds because it is fun, the way that some people like chasing, roping and tying up a small threatening calf dressed as a cowboy in front of a large cheering, drunk crowd."

Clavia Nord Stage 2 - "12 Guitars" Soundset

Published on Aug 14, 2019 chronosproject

"Imagine, you now having a guitar inside your Nord Stage 2 synth!

Thanks for samples option - you can download samples of real instruments inside your keyboard.

And it sounds really amaizing with pitch bend, aftertouch & modulation controllers applied.

We made 12 realistic guitar presets using powerfull Nord engine & effects
covers all today modern music styles.

BUY: https://sellfy.com/p/pmamz3/

1.Acoustic Delay
2.Acoustic
3.Electro Wah
4.Hard Guitar
5.Reggae Guitar
6.Cowboy Guitar
7.Tremolo Guitar
8.Electro Phaser
9.Soft Electro
10.Poly Electro
11.Mod Rock Guitar
12.Electro Solo"

Korg ARP 2600 - Patch Book Sounds + Reason 11 VST FX [No Talking]

Marshal Arnold

"Korg ARP 2600 - Patch Book Sounds + Reason 11 VST FX [No Talking]

So I downloaded the Korg ARP 2600 patch book and setup several patches to demo. I used the Reason 11 VST for effects, specifically I used the RV7000 reverb along with the DDL-1 Delay. Some patches also use the ARP 2600's spring reverb.

Patch list:
0:00 - Octabass
1:23 - String Sweetener
3:28 - Cowboy Harmonica
5:58 - Flute
8:53 - Heavy Metal Fuzz
11:07 - Trombone/Tuba
13:35 - Outro

You can download the Korg ARP 2600 Patch Book here:

https://cdn.korg.com/us/support/downl..."

__//Liz Cowboy Style\\__

flickr by R▲▲S

full size

"**Jason Forrest Band**

Keytar & liz = sexy!!!"

Lorre Mill Cowboy Callosum Double Knot

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

via this auction

"If you’re looking at this you likely know what this is. Two double knots with a neat little mixer section in the middle. I believe there were only a dozen or so made. I’ve also got a case for it from Analog cases that I’ll include. It’s not an official case but it fits good enough (I think the case is made for a keystep)."

RED MARTIAN: RETRAILING (Featuring Ichabod) - Release Event in Seattle Tomorrow!

Published on Sep 18, 2015 Redmartian

Red Martian is having their album release event at the Seattle Living Computer Museum this Saturday. You might remember their recent performance there where they covered Kraftwerk. The track above was composed on Ichabod when Stephen Jones of Red Martian was helping George Mattson test Ichabod during its construction. Note Ichabod will not be at the event as it currently resides with Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, but you are sure to see a great live performance with synths.

Video Description:
"A new album of 13 electronic pieces. The first 100 will be given away as gifts at SRGE: Arcade Armageddon September 19th, 2015 at the Living Computer Museum. Red Martian performs at 8:30pm on the main stage.

Track listing:
[Tracks 09 and 10 were composed on Ichabod, 03 on the Syntar, 04 on the MMM, and 07 on the Solaris.]

01 cowboy and the vocoder [see this post - great track with a sad story]
02 nedan omloppsbana
03 närmar snöblandat regn
04 av död (delorean)
05 retrailing
06 flytta hav av is
07 känner mig så låg
08 風の谷のナウシカ
09 utan hjärta *
10 bedövande en översvämning *
11 ひょろり
12 se io m'accorgo
13 ett vykort

improvised live on the custom Mattson Mini Modular named Ichabod."

Osmose // The 7 Stages of Ownership

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Don't be scared - The Osmose isn't like other synths... but its nothing to be afraid of! In fact it feels like we're entering a new more enlightened era. One where we can show more emotions... let's not call it a woke synth though, I could get in all sorts of trouble ;) Would it wear a pink cowboy hat if going to watch barbie? who knows - but it does display A LOT of emotion and dynamics.

Just for fun I've swapped the 7 stages of grief to the 7 stages of enlightenment - because you do go through a process as you play with it. I haven't whitewashed over the negatives either as its all part of the journey. The software can be a b*tch at first, and its so frustrating that a few tweaks to the manual would've saved me a day or so of headscratching.

Overall though... phwoar!!

There are free patches and samples and stuff to buy here: https://starskycarr.com

0:00 1 Shock - overview of the hardware
2:11 2 Realisation - whats MPE and how does it work
12:22 3 Conceptualisation - how to use it & controlling the sensitivity
15:21 4 Understanding - getting to grips with the Haken Editor
24:58 5 Rejection - some minor issues and some bigger ones
32:29 6 Acceptance - integrating into your studio
33:12 7 Enlightenment - Sunny Uplands of Synthershire"

My Vocoder

YouTube via VoiceEncoder. Hmm.... His voice sounds familiar. :) Go Cowboy!
"Roland SVC-350 Vocoder using Korg Poly-800 Synthesizer as the carrier input."

My Vocoder 2


Roland Vocoder and Korg Synthesizer

"Roland SVC-350 Vocoder and Korg Poly-800 Synthesizer"

Knobcon Guest of Honor Announced & Discount Tickets

via Knobcon news where you can find discount tickets.

"We are pleased to announce our guest of honor for this year is Gil Trythall.

Gil TrythallGil was responsible for one of the most unique contributions of the Moog records craze of the late 1960s. His Switched-On Nashville album is singular among Moog-driven pop records due to both its country and bluegrass source material and the total focus on the Moog synthesiser itself, in contrast with its contemporaries’ method of combining the system with traditional session instrumentalists. But he didn’t stop there. His textbook, Principles and Practice of Electronic Music, is one of the few books that elegantly bridges the worlds of tape music and voltage control synthesis.

Join us Saturday Evening for our annual Golden Knob banquet featuring our esteemed guest of honor Gil Trythall. Enjoy live music by the Knobcon Supper Club All Stars featuring Ed & Judy Howard and Cory Flanigan.

The $50 admission is an add-on to your Knobcon ticket and includes a catered buffet with vegetarian options, and each ticket is an entry into the door prize drawings."

Update via Suit & Tie Guy in the comments:

"Here's a great track from Switched-On Country (Nashville Gold). It's a cover of 'Folsom Prison Blues' which also happens to be the earliest known recording of Moog through a talkbox. I'll leave the details to his appearance at Knobcon!:"

Folsom Prison Blues - Gil Trythall (1970) Moog Synthesizer

Published on May 24, 2009 minutegongcoughs

"FOLSOM PRISON BLUES - GIL TRYTHALL (1970)

If 'The Ledge' Legendary Stardust Cowboy is 'Cow Punk' then Gil is Stetson Techno.

This is a strange odyssey take using the Moog Synthesizer. Gil was a techno expert tutor."

Nord Stage 4 + RK008 + Analog Rytm = DAWless powerhouse!

video upload by Jeremy Parker

"So I recently picked up a Nord Stage 4 as an upgrade to my Electro 2 from 16 years ago, as my main compact gigging keyboard. What I didn't realize was how powerful the multitimbrality could be when paired with a sequencer, like the Retrokits RK008, which I'm borrowing from my good friend "Cowboy" Ben Alman for our @TheEntireRobot gigs. I fairly quickly set up the sounds on the Nord and then played in some quick parts for an A and B section into the RK008. I'm reserving tracks 1 and 3 on the RK008 for my MiniKorg and Moog Minitaur, once I get the MIDI hooked up for those, so that will be next. I used 6 layers on the Nord, but technically I could have done 7 if I split up the organ into two separate manuals, etc. Anyway, this is a promising rig!"

ARP 2600 SYNTHESIZER PATCH BOOK

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

See the seller's other items for more.

"IT HAS THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS AND 100 SOUND PATCHES IN IT:

* Basic Instruments:
- Marimba Roll
- Trumpet & French Horn
- Trucker Bass
- Octabass
- Wonder Clavinet
- String Sweetener
- Tubular Chimes
- Violin
- English Horn / Oboe
- Fanfare Trumpet
- Monster Organ
- Thereminovox
- Cello Section
- Cowboy Harmonica
- Classic ARP 2600 Patch
- Electric Mouth-Harp
- Licorice Schtuck
- Big Bass Drum
- Trombone / Tuba
- Flute
- Okie Guitar
- Jazz Guitar

* Advanced Instruments:

CLICK FOR MORE »

1983 RadioShack Catalog

via Erick

"www.radioshackcatalogs.com

Go to page 54-55 to see the catalog entry for the MG-1 and the Casio VL-1 (well, Radio Shack's version of it)."

click the image to read the text.

Note Elton John in cowboy hat on the top right.

Rhodes MKIII EK-10 Rescue!

video by Jeremy Parker

"Here's my in-depth look at the Rhodes MKIII EK-10 and the recently finished restoration I did. Here are some links to the companies / resources that made this possible:

Vintage Vibe: https://www.vintagevibe.com/​
Fender Rhodes Super Site: https://www.fenderrhodes.com/​
The Electric Piano Forum: https://ep-forum.com/smf/​
Retro Synth Ads blog: http://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/​
Great Synthesizers online magazine: https://greatsynthesizers.com/en/​

0:00​ Intro
1:01​ History
3:08​ Demo & Features
6:51​ Mechanical & Cosmetic Work
14:18​ Electronics Repair
15:46​ Sustain Pedal
16:15​ Outro"

Here's a collaboration featuring the MKIII EK-10:

"Tough Cookies" w/ Dan Abreu, Steve Langone, Ben Alman
video by Jeremy Parker

"Here's my latest funky composition, 'Tough Cookies', featuring the talents of Dan Abreu on sax, Steve Langone on drums, AND 'Cowboy' Ben Alman on bass. After I restored my Rhodes MKIII EK-10, I just had to write a tune to feature it. The name 'Tough Cookies' is something I say to my daughter a lot. :) We hope you enjoy this tune as much as we did recording it!

Please check out Dan on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzvc...​ and website: https://danabreu.com/​​"

Exotic Moog - New Flickr Shot

Shot by kevinfmason.



Exotic Moog by Martin Denny
Track Listing:
Cast Your Fate To The Wind
Let It Be Me
Quiet Village
I Talk To The Trees
The Enchanted Sea
Midnight Cowboy
Deulah
Let Go
Love Me Tonight
Was It Really Love
A Taste Of Honey
Yellow Bird