Folktek Mobius Harmonizer

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via this auction

You can find demos of one posted here.

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Folktek Resonant Garden w/ Original Box

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"2018 Folktek Resonant Garden Standalone Synthesizer With Strings, Eurorack Patchable.

The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes.

The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations.

EFFECTS

There are two Alter 1 designs and 1 Alter 2. Each Alter 1 has seven different DSP effects which is selected by touching the copper hexagon:

1; long delay (capable of near infinite feedback looping)
2; tight, notated granular delay
3; huge plate reverb
4; shimmering reverb
5; distortion and multi-filter
6; pitch delay
7; stutter glitch

Alter 2 has the following effects:

1; analog delay
2; reverb with infinite capture and lp + hp filters
3; choral
4; palindrome reverse delay - backward/forward repeat
5; time stretch
6; pitch shift (notated semi-tones
7; time stretch glitch

CONTROL

On each of the Alter sections, the following is present:

- control for the gain of the mic pre-amp or any incoming audio.
- controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock.
- all effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect.
- X and Y control various rates.
- clock control adjusts the rate which controls the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock is not for synchronization.
- mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control inputs.
- Each control level or cv input is visualized on the control panel.

ACOUSTICS

Each garden panel is equipped with a contact mic. A contact mic is designed to pick up vibration. The mic pre-amp is specifically designed to deal with the frequencies of the contact mic by boosting certain frequencies and dulling others in order to optimize the sound quality. The mic pre-amp has a gain control so the level can be adjusted according to how you intend to play."

FolkTek Resonant Garden Alter Circuits Acuostic Synth FX Sound Box

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via this auction

"The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes.

The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations."

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Folktek Resonant Garden Acoustic-Electronic Synthesizer

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via this auction

"The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense soundscapes. From its inception in 2006, the original garden has gone through many changes and refinements; micro garden, luminist garden and illuminist garden and finally this latest and likely final version. The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic preamp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways."

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Folktek Resonant Garden

Published on Oct 29, 2017 Sir Folktek

"The Folktek Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid instrument. See/read more on Folktek.com
In these first videos, the cv functions are never used and there is no external processing. Videos to come will cover the use of cv as well."

via Folktek

"The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes. From its inception in 2006, the original garden has gone through many changes and refinements; micro garden, luminist garden and illuminist garden and finally this latest and likely final version.

The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations."

EFFECTS
There are two Alter 1 designs and 1 Alter 2. Each Alter 1 has seven different DSP effects which is selected by touching the copper hexagon:

1; long delay (capable of near infinite feedback looping)

2; tight, notated granular delay

3; huge plate reverb

4; shimmering reverb

5; distortion and multi-filter

6; pitch delay

7; stutter glitch

Alter 2 has the following effects:

1; analog delay

2; reverb with infinite capture and lp + hp filters

3; choral reverb

4; palindrome reverse delay - backward/forward repeat

5; time stretch

6; pitch shift (notated semi-tones

7; time stretch glitch

CONTROL
On each of the Alter sections, the following is present:

- control for the gain of the mic pre-amp or any incoming audio.

- controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock.

- all effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect.

- X and Y control various rates.

- clock control adjusts the rate which controls the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock is not for synchronization.

- mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control inputs.

- Each control level or cv input is visualized on the control panel.

ACOUSTICS
Each garden panel is equipped with a contact mic. A contact mic is designed to pick up vibration. The mic pre-amp is specifically designed to deal with the frequencies of the contact mic by boosting certain frequencies and dulling others in order to optimize the sound quality. The mic pre-amp has a gain control so the level can be adjusted according to how you intend to play.

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micro garden by folk tek

Published on May 19, 2015 pianoloft

"some metallic and cloudy soundscapes, realised wit the microgarden by folktek, combined with a korg kaos pad 2 to catch some live samples, a shifter-delay effect of the roland sp404 and the memoryman by electrvox and line6 echo delay.
http://folktek.com"

Folktek on eBay

Space Kalimba

Published on Nov 16, 2014 Qi Meng

"Similar to Folktek Micro Garden, with kalimba interface. It can do tonal and atonal sound, perfect for playing sleepy ambience.

mengqimusic.com"

Meet the Sonic Artist Making Music with Plants: Sound Builders

Published on Sep 16, 2014 Motherboard

"In this episode of Sound Builders, we went to Los Angeles, to meet with Mileece. She's a sonic artist and environmental designer who's developed the technology to give silent seedlings a portal to their own sonic expression.

Channeling a plant's sentience into an instrument is no obvious feat. Mileece's background as an audiophile and programmer dovetailed to turn a garden into an organic medium for music. She pulls this off by attaching electrodes to leafy limbs, which conduct the bio-electric emissions coming off living plants. The micro-voltage then gets sucked into her self-authored software, turning data into ambient melodies and harmonic frequencies.

It's simply not enough for these green little squirts to just spit out noise. All this generative organic electronic music must sound beautiful, too. As a renewable energy ambassador, Mileece's larger goal behind her plant music is to enhance our relationship with nature. And if plant music can have a pleasing aesthetic articulation then hopefully we all can give a greater damn about our environment.

While some may see the paradox in an organic medium generating electronic music, Mileece does not. She sees this as a symbiotic relationship, a vital one, and one that hints to a larger relationship she's been trying to unify, which is that between humans and nature."

Folktek "Sound Field"

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via this auction
Folktek on eBay (RSS)

"Built in the style of the Impossible Box with custom lamps, keys and switches, all cloth covered cable patch cables, labeled and brass framed panels all built into the custom oak case with internal power supply. Designed to act as a standalone acoustic electronic bio-feedback workstation capable of entire lush compositions. All sections have tip connectors specific to the sound field, and/or each section features a standard 1/4" in and out to allow them to be used to process, sample, mangle or transform any external audio. The cloth covered cables included are also stackable to allow for a range of other possibilities. All CV control jacks are 3.5mm.

The central processing section is essentially a time machine - a piece designed to heavily alter captured loops in thousands of way by use of a magnetic patchbay with patchable keys. This section has 3 voltage clock and/or LFO voltage signals which can be used to synch the other sections via CV, or sent out to control external modular synthesis. Additionally, the 1/4" "tap out" can be sent to any equipment that recieves tap signals, or as a simple method to convert to a midi clock.

There are four acoustic elements - two garden panels, a stringed section reminiscent of the mobius harmonizer and a textured blank panel which can be used to capture micro sounds. Any of these acoustic sections can be sent into any of the other panels for processing/sampling, or they can be sent into the four channel mixer.

The mixer amplifies the signals and allows for volume control of each to be sent into any of the following;

the delay section provides delays from extremely tight to about 1.5 seconds with near endless repeats - like that ofthe micro garden. It also accepts control voltage from either the time machine section or any external CV to control on/off and time.

The wave reverb section provides lush waves like that of theLuminist Garden, but also switchable to provide analog delay like that of the illuminist Garden. It also features CV in to control on/off and has decay when switched off so there are no sudden stops in the wave. The time machine CV out will activate and deactivate the reverb in time if patched to the clocks.

The Filter section has mix, resonance and frequency control and CV in to control the frequency - also patchable from the time machine for synchronization.

The result is a piece that's capable of entire fields of sound and deep, rich and layered compositions.

Aside from the Impossible Box (Arius' own studio piece), this is the finest work by Mr Blaze to date.

Includes manual of operation and the cloth covered power cable runs to standard US style plug - outside the US will need a plug converter.

sounds will be added to the folktek site asap."

Update: some sound demos:

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Folktek Luminist Garden

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via this auction

"The Luminist Garden created by Arius Blaze - one of the finest and sweetest sounding folktek works. This work is an expanded version of the Micro Garden, capable of making lush choral waves and entire compositions as a standalone work. The expanded soundboard has multiple pick ups that run into the delay - which offers time settings from extremely tight notated repeats to about 1.5 seconds with near infinite undecaying feedback that essentially acts as a looper allowing one to make beats by tapping the board and plucking or rubbing the strings.

The delay runs into a very lush and unusual "wave reverb" that has the ability to act more as a wave generator, creating waves that can endlessly extend - based on the original note but with the ability to pitch shift the feedback, resulting in something like what is called "convolution". The result is rich electronic music from an accoustic source. Sweet ambience and micro musical. Stereo out, custom lamps and switch, runs on 9v DC power adapter (standard plug jack and power rating)."

FOLKTEK = Luminist Garden = Acoustic Electronic Synth Art

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via this auction

"The Luminist Garden created by Arius Blaze - one of the finest and sweetest sounding folktek works. This work is an expanded version of the Micro Garden, capable of making lush choral waves and entire compositions as a standalone work. The expanded soundboard has multiple pick ups that run into the delay - which offers time settings from extremely tight notated repeats to about 1.5 seconds with near infinite undecaying feedback that essentially acts as a looper allowing one to make beats by tapping the board and plucking or rubbing the strings."

For a direct link to the "Luminist" page of the folktek site including more information, sound samples and more photos please visit"

Folktek Family Portrait

via the Folktek Arts blog.

"Always good to take a family photo when these things all happen to be together at the same time.
Time Scape Sequencer, Harmonic Field version 2.2, Illuminist Garden, Mobius Harmonizer, Micro Garden"

Folktek on eBay (RSS)

Folktek Mobius Harmonizer #1 = as created and played by Arius Blaze

Published on Mar 21, 2013 Sir Folktek·62 videos - video by Big Pauper

"A piece by Arius Blaze based on the original feedback harmonizer (http://folktek.com/instruments/electr...) , expanded upon in interesting ways.
Though shot well (thanks to Big Pauper), both mobius videos fail to capture the broader scope of capabilities and sounds. For more sound, photos and words go to the folktek site; folktek.com
or go directly to the Mobius Harmonizer page; http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/mobius-harmonizer"

Folktek Mobius Harmonizer #2 = as created and played by Arius Blaze, video by Big Pauper


Folktek on eBay

via Folktek:

"The Mobius is a concept piece designed to allow the playing of an acoustic sound source in an electronic way. Essentially, synthesis from acoustics similar in nature to the way the Folktek Garden series generates lush waves from micro sound.

The Mobius features four strings with a fretless soundboard driven into a delay capable of extremely tight, notated delay, to about a second and a half of near endless looping. The delay travels into pitch shifting, out to an amplifier that runs an internal spring reverb and back into the delay.
The pitch shifter can subtly or drastically shift the pitch to a great degree and has six playable keys designed to shift the incoming signal. Keys are additive so playing more that one at a time results in different pitch arrangements which allow for different combinations of pitch control within the master pitch (controlled by a master pitch knob). The original signal from the delay can be mixed with the shifted signal for more harmonic dynamics or played dry all together.

The spring reverb is not an overwhelming reverb but is instead designed to add depth and resonance to the sound - creating deeper, crystalline waves or generating waves of feedback. In longer delay modes where the repeats are near endless, the reverb will swell with each repeat, which generates, for examples, gradual waves where there once were very specific strong attack notes. Play with a bow adds an entirely new sound and dramatasizes the reverb feedback. There is an independant level control for the amplifier that runs the spring reverb.

In addition, there are 1/8" CV (+5v control Voltage) jacks to control delay time and pitch to synchronize with analog/modular synthesizers.

The result is an expansive work with a rich sound capable of endless sonic possibilties"

Folktek Microgarden

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via this auction

"From Folktek:

Here is the bare-bones version of the garden; perfect in its simplicity and capable of a beautfful range of sound.

The Garden is a conceptual sound art work and a phenomenal instrument for extending micro sounds into waves or generating odd sounds based on an accoustic source.

This piece is a smaller version with a huge sound...The sound very much reflects the asthetic - an electric garden with waves growing from the sound field they're created from. The sound board and spouts of wire extending from it are picked up with high sensitivity and run through a digital delay with a very warm sound. This delay can be as tight as possible or extend to about one and a half seconds. Every sprig of string has a unique sound and the Garden can be played as a percussion piece or soundscape generator. The feedback can be adjusted to generate long perfect extentions of micro sounds to become waves then captured in long format if desired. There is as much musical potential as there is a potential for strange sounds - bits of waves can be strecthed in real time and become distant-relative abstractions of themselves.

The sound very much reflects the asthetic."

Folktek Luminist Garden By Artist Arius Blaze

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via this auction

"Here's a rare opportunity.A Folktek Luminist Garden soundboard/synth/effects whatever you want to call it.To get one if these you have to import it after a wait for it to be made then pay VAT on top once delivered in a month or two.It's signed by the artist who makes them,Arius Blaze of Folktek.This one has a 9 volt adaptor for 240v UK too to save the hassle. Just take a look and listen on YouTube to experience it. Mine is a 2010 model signed Folktek '10 on one side and Arius Blaze on the other.Be aware though,these are handmade even if advanced circuit bending,quirky,don't always do as they are told but tremendous fun and very capable in the right hands.Fully working but sold as seen,any trial welcome,possible swap outside this place for analogue or modular gear,contact me for that.This would make a great sound source for a modular too.Cash on collection or Paypal and post.UK bidders only please.Website is www.folktek.com ,Write up below from website ; The Luminist Garden created by Arius Blaze - one of the finest and sweetest sounding folktek works. This work is an expanded version of the Micro Garden, capable of making lush choral waves and entire compositions as a standalone work. The expanded soundboard has multiple pick ups that run into the delay - which offers time settings from extremely tight notated repeats to about 1.5 seconds with near infinite undecaying feedback that essentially acts as a looper allowing one to make beats by tapping the board and plucking or rubbing the strings. The delay runs into a very lush and unusual "wave reverb" that has the ability to act more as a wave generator, creating waves that can endlessly extend - based on the original note but with the ability to pitch shift the feedback, resulting in something like what is called "convolution". The result is rich electronic music from an accoustic source. Sweet ambience and micro musical. Stereo out, custom lamps and switch, runs on 9v DC power adapter (standard plug jack and power rating)."

The PPG 1003 "Sonic Carrier" - World's First Programmable Synth?

via Wolfgang Palm on Facebook
Be sure to see the video below.

"This was the first programmable synthesizer (1977)."

Programmable as in patch memory. The 1003 was a programmable monophonic synth with two oscillators, digitally controlled keyboard, and it was duophonic.

But was it the first?

Excerpts via Part 4 of the PPG Story:

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Folktek Arts Time Scape Sequencer/Garden Hybrid

via Folktek Arts

"A Hybrid remix work built on co-mission by Arius Blaze - taking elements of the time scape (with patchable keys of a time machine), sequencer synchable to the time scape, and a micro garden sized panel routed through the circuitry of a luminist (delay to wave reverb). A world of possibility and sweet sound generation built into a custom hardwood box."

Folktek on eBay (RSS)

Folktek Arts Illuminists Garden

via the Folktek blog

"This is the expanded Luminist Garden - an enormous body of sound from micro acoustics - also featuring an audio input with balance control.

Where the luminist is an expansion of the Micro Garden, this illuminists Garden takes the Luminist a step further, consequently becoming the next step in the evolution of the garden series.

The illuminists garden features an added circuit - a duplicate of the "wave reverb" in the Luminist but additionally adds options for each wave reverb to act as an analog style delay instead, adding a huge dimension of wave possibilities for sweet choral drone or added depth to acoustic micro beats. The original delay in the Micro and Luminist Gardens is still present with delays from micro-notated tight to roughly 1.5 seconds.

The 1/4" input allows you to send any audio signal in and balance it with the internal pickup of the sound board to use the Illuminist as a standalone processor or mix the external sound with that of the soundboard.

More info can be found on folktek.com, direct link"

Folktek (RSS)

Folktek Micro Garden iPhone demo

YouTube via sgnhh | January 13, 2011 |
Folktek on eBay
"Short demo of the Folktek Micro Garden for sale purposes, recorded on iPhone 4. Sound is coming from my bass amplifier. The Garden is not being processed by any external effects.

If you come across this video and would like to purchase this device, I'm selling it for $400 in the US only, shipping included. Send me a message and we can talk (currently it is for sale on a few different music message boards)."

Folktek Art The Luminist Garden

via this auction
See the Folktek label at the bottom of this post for more including video of The Luminist Garden.

"The Garden is a conceptual sound art work and a phenomenal instrument for extending micro sounds into waves or generating odd sounds based on an accoustic source. The Garden is a part of the electrocoustic section of the works of Arius Blaze. Please go here to see more: http://ariusblaze.com/electrocoustic.html

This work is an expanded version of the Micro Garden, capable of making lush choral waves and entire compositions as a standalone work. The expanded soundboard has multiple pick ups that run into the delay - which offers time settings from extremely tight notated repeats to about 1.5 seconds with undecaying feedback that essentially acts as a looper allowing one to make beats by tapping the board and plucking or rubbing the strings.


The delay runs into a very lush and unusual reverb that has the ability to act more as a wave generator, creating waves that can endlessly extend and are based on the original note but with the ability to pitch shift the feedback, resulting in something like the NI effect called "convolution".
The result is rich electronic music from an accoustic source. Sweet ambience. Stereo out.
There are sound samples on the blog page: http://folktek.blogspot.com/2010/01/luminist-garden.html, each a single take with no editing or external effects.

The feedback can be adjusted to generate long perfect extentions of micro sounds to become waves then captured in long format if desired. There is as much musical potential as there is a potential for strange sounds - bits of waves can be strecthed in real time and become distant-relative abstractions of themselves.

There has not been a single displeased buyer of the any of the Garden series - it is an extremely solid conceptual work with a huge sound.

This piece runs on supplied 9v power adapter, stereo 1/4" output to amp or mixer, custom folktek hardwood box with jointery, custom lamps and switch."