"Small Bear is excited to announce that it’s been acquired by
synthCube and will continue to serve customers.
The Small Bear
webstore will re-open for purchases as soon as synthCube organizes the inventory
and readies it for shipping. Low-stock and out-of-stock items will be re-ordered
where possible in order to maintain the Small Bear catalog.
Tthe
combination of Small Bear and synthCube will provide expanded parts selection
for DIY audio enthusiasts, including makers of stompboxes, modular synths, amps
and more.
The combined company will continue to serve both hobbyists
and commercial accounts. Small to mid-size stompbox, modular synth and DIY audio
companies will continue to find deep inventory and competitive prices for
components purchased in bulk, with a particular focus on analog and digital
components specific to audio DIY.
For inquiries please contact
synthCube at the following email address: smallbearelec@synthcube.com"
"This demo shows how to use the step inputs and outputs to control which steps in the sequence are played. This is a classic Tangerine Dream technique to break the monotony of playing the same 8 steps repeatedly. I'm using the Swiss Daisy DSP as a virtual analog voice with delay. The controls I'm adjusting are the wet/dry mix, the envelop to VCF amount and the VCF cutooff frequency. The simplest example of using the step in/out would be to take the step out from step 5 and connect it to the step in on step 1. This would result in the first four steps being played. (i.e. a reset to change the sequence length from 8 to 4 steps). In order to quickly repatch to select the step out and step in, I have used a dual 4:1 selector switch, the Frequency Central 'Where" module: https://synthcube.com/cart/frequencyc... (no, I'm not paid for this link). The top switch selects the beginning step; the bottom the ending step. If the ending step number is BEFORE the beginning step number, the sequence skips the "ending" note and jumps (forward) to the "beginning" note. One other wrinkle, the "step out" stays high for the entire step duration. I have turned this 100% "gate" into a trigger by running it through an A/D envelope. One other note, I'm using row three to adjust volumes at each step."
"The Luna_NT was a custom build of the Noise Toaster from Music From Outer Space (MFOS). It is basically a full analog subtractive synthesizer voice, with VCO, VCF, VCA and two modulation sources: AR envelope and LFO. We go over each of the parameters of this instrument in detail and provide a basic tutorial on analog subtractive synthesis in the process.
Luna Lab Noise Research, which created this instrument, apparently no longer exists. However, one can still get the original Noise Toaster, including the PCB designed by the late Ray Wilson, as a kit from https://synthcube.com
00:19 Background on the MFOS Noise Toaster and our Luna_NT version
01:22 Basic demo including bass sounds
02:51 VCO, and modulation with LFO and envelope generator
08:17 VCF parameters and modulation
11:48 VCA and envelope-generator modulation
"For the next Weird Week video, I decided to use my KORG Volca Beats, KORG Volca Bass, and the super cool Alien Screamer from MFOS. I'm using the modulation oscillator to control the pitch of the Alien Screamer and then constantly changing the waveshaper settings.
You can see the Alien Screamer build video here:" [posted here]
"I needed to upgrade a power supply for my large format modular synth so I thought I'd document most of the process I typically go through.
Index: 0:00 Introduction 1:28 Safety Warning 1:56 Parts Description 3:50 Power Inlet Install 5:23 Main Unit Install 7:13 Banana Jack Install 8:23 Distribution Board Build 11:58 Distribution Board Install 13:03 AC Wiring 17:13 DC Wiring 19:56 Done, Comparison, and Thanks Richard Brewster 20:49 Image Of PSU Installed (improvised music starts) 21:09 Bonus Section - Building Cables (no talking) 22:50 (music continues with random video clips) 25:28 End
The main parts I used: JLR UPP custom rack panel from https://www.frontpanelexpress.com Qualtek 864-03/001 AC inlet, filter, fuse, switch Bel Power HAA-0.8-AG linear power supply MOTM-900 power distribution board from https://synthcube.com
Video gear: Canon C100 MkII camera and Canon EFS 10-18mm lens Voiceover gear: Neumann TLM-193 mic and John Hardy M-1 preamp Music gear: Modular synthesizer, Mellotron M4000D, Yamaha FS1R, Strymon pedals
As always, thank you for watching, rating, following, and commenting! 🥳 Please consider "buying me a coffee" if you found this content helpful or entertaining: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JohnLRice"
Ginkosynthese BATTLE (XF modulated by TTLFO)
"The GINKOSYNTHESE BATTLE makes playing the modular a different experience. A
journey into synthablism. I have to master a new instrument now.
The BATTLE is modulated via the XF CV-input from the TTLFO."
BATTLE * 2 mono channel audio inputs * CV controllable crossfader * Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA) * CV controllable BASS/TREBLE eq * CV output from the crossfader * Gate outputs detected from crossfader * Adjustable crossfader curve * FX loop on both channels
"Paul tests out his newly-built NLC GENiE with a noise demo.
From the NLC site: "GEneralized Nonlinear Extrapolator This module is made of 3 neuron circuits and a difference rectifier. (... )Just like a set of synaptically connected neurons, this module is noisy and unruly. It is never going to learn anything it lives in and for the moment."
More information about this design (as well as PCBs, panels, and complete modules) is available from Nonlinearcircuits here:
https://www.nonlinearcircuits.com/mod...
"Matt tests out his newly-built NLC GENiE with a noise demo.
From the NLC site: "GEneralized Nonlinear Extrapolator This module is made of 3 neuron circuits and a difference rectifier. (... )Just like a set of synaptically connected neurons, this module is noisy and unruly. It is never going to learn anything it lives in and for the moment."
More information about this design (as well as PCBs, panels, and complete modules) is available from Nonlinearcircuits here:https://www.nonlinearcircuits.com/mod...
"The is a review of the NonLinear Circuits 1088 Mogue Mixer/VCA. We compare the 1088 to the 2600s VCF mixer and VCA. The 2600 is clean an precise (at unity gain). The 1088 can be clean, but can also distort in a very musical way. Take a listen!
"This is another module from the Pharmasonic.jp SYS-700 line, based on the Roland System 700 modular synth system. This unit has the MU/Dotcom 5U panel. Eurorack versions are also available.
Synthcube.com is carrying the SYS-700 Eurorack line.
Correction: I misspoke in the video, snthesizers.com does NOT carry any of these items."
"This is a short review of the 710 Multiple Jack (1/4") from Pharmasonic.
The SYS-700 Multiple 710 is a clone of the Roland System-700's 710A & 710B.
The panel is made of 2mm PCB material with shiny black finish.
Synthcube carries the Pharmasonic SYS-700 line in Eurorack format!
"Less noisy than most of our demos and build soundtracks, but we wanted to show the character and sound of this filter for those of you who may be into industrial and other sequenced electronic music.
This is a clone of the Roland System 700 704F 24dB low pass VCF.
"This video explores expanding the ARP 2600 with an addition multi-mode filter. This is similar to what one might do with an ARP 2500 with both the 24db/oct Low Pass filter as well as the 1047 Colin multi-mode filter. I hope you enjoy the video"
"For the third installment of Build Report, we wanted to feature our favorite manufacturer, Nonlinearcircuits.
Is the Chopper a utility module, or an unpredictable jack of all trades? Yes! Really inspirational module to use, and not too hard to build if you have a bit of building experience. Soundtrack by Appliancide, with the Chopper at the heart of a complex, chaotic modulation patch.
PCBs, panels, and complete kits (featured here) available at synthCube hereL
https://synthcube.com/cart/makers/non..."
"This is from the latest V4 TTSH PCBs from Synthcube. There have been many mods done to this as well, including waveshapers, gatebooster, VCO sync, etc. Although most of the voltage control still uses the LM301, many are selected for the lowest input offset voltage as possible. Additionally the entire audio path uses OPAMPs that are closer to the original MC1439s in either fast slew rate or lowest input offset voltage where needed. VCOs, VCA and VCFs make heavy use of matched (Vbe) transistor (NPN/NPN or PNP/PNP) pairs, matched JFETs and NPN/PNP pairs selected for identical and optimal Hfe."
"Our first attempt at a build video, featuring the Pharmasonic 723 Analog Switch module. All sounds in the video are patches featuring the 723. Watch for an in-depth look at the module in a future video. Warning: Noise starts at 3:08"
"This is a clone of the Roland System 700 723 Analog Switch module, and is available assemble from Pharmasonic.
Build thread for DIY versions of Pharmasonic System 700 clones is here."
Uglysound Build Report: Zlob Triple Cap Chaos
Uglysound
"It's Matt's turn at the build desk and editing chair for installment number two of Uglysound Build Report. Soundtrack by Luer, using the Triple Cap Chaos module extensively."
"The Triple Cap Chaos(C^3 Chaos) is a 2hp analog, chaos based, noise oscillator, pseudo ring modulator/harmonics generator, and audio mangler Eurorack module available as a DIY Eurorack kit, PCB and Panel, or built.
It is a unique module, like the Diode Chaos, because it has never existed as a musical instrument until now. There is also no other module to my knowledge that can do exactly what the Triple Cap can do. The circuit(with several modifications) is based on the paper “Simple Autonomous Chaotic Circuits” by J.C. Sprott and Jessica R. Piper. As opposed to the Diode Chaos that generates control voltage this module focuses on the audio rate.
The “Emanate” potentiometer controls the coarser overall spectrum of the chaos, from lots of activity counter clock wise up to less chaos and more of a steady oscillation. The “Width, CV ATT” potentiometer can be thought of as more of a fine control for the chaos/oscillator. When something is inserted into the “CV” in the voltage normalization from the width knob is broken and the potentiometer now acts as an attenuator for the incoming cv. The Triple Cap is not a traditional volt per octave exponential VCO, and has a sort of narrow frequency range to exploit the chaotic behavior.
It expects a +5v to -5v max signal in to modulate the chaos. The “IN” jack is an A.C. coupled input for audio in, although cv and audio can work for both the “CV” in jack and “IN.” The “IN” will interfere and interact with the onboard chaotic oscillator depending on the frequency of the input, which may take some experimentation. It can create ring mod ish sounds, to added harmonics, to almost bit crushed sounds depending on the “X” or “Y” output. The “X” output is a more windy noisy sinusoidal based output and the “Y” output is more squared off and aggressive, harsher sounding output.
Some quirks about the Triple Cap: The “X” output can offset negatively or positively a little bit depending on the pot settings, but both outputs tend to stay around 10vpp. With the “Emanate” and “Width” pots all the way up the typical frequency will be around 150hz although some will reach 200hz at this setting. With the “Emanate” pot full counter clock wise “Width” pot full clock wise the frequency will be around 250hz. It is possible to send signals into the triple cap that can bring it out of the desired range causing the oscillation to cut out.
The Triple Cap has a double sided panel. meaning one side has the classic graphics and the other is Soulless with less graphics(see image gallery to the left).
Width: 2hp Panel Material: PCB/Double Sided Reverse Power Protected Current Consumption: +12v: 15mA, -12v: 10mA Depth: 37 mm or 1.46″ Ships with M3 black nylon screws Expandable: no"
Currently, it isn’t clear yet how Brexit will impact my business as of next year. Because of Brexit getting near, I’ve decided to set up another production run for Steve’s MS-22. This way, all of my friends in the UK are able to get their hands on Steve’s MS-22 before Brexit happens. I think it’s quite possible that as of next year I won’t be shipping to the UK until I have all the extra administration figured out.
Don’t wait too long to get yours, as usual, the size of the batch is limited! Any orders made before November 23rd should ship before half of December, reaching the UK before New Year with some margin.
