AnalogSuicide Visits Thighpaulsandra Part 8 - ARP 2600!

Tara Busch

SonicstateTV by tarabusch. See the write-up on AnalogSuicide. "The beautiful ARP 2600 that lives at Thighpaulsandra's Aeriel Studios. Come see!"

Thighpaulsandra's Clisto Modular

via Thighpaulsandra:

"Here's a pic of part of the modular setup I used for the Clisto EP.

Synths L-R from top
2 ARP 2600s
Synthi AKS
2 Synton Fenix
Plan B/Doepfer/Cynthia racks (all Doepfer modules modified with Plan B style knobs)
Oberheim Dual SEM/MiniSequencer Modularised with midi
STS Serge Panel
Kenton Pro 4
Roland SPV-355
Oberheim DPX-1
There's a few holes in the racks made by my sick RSF Kobol which has gone for repair and my old Serge system which is being rack mounted." follow up to this post.

Thighpaulsandra on Scream 2007: AnalogLive!

Thighpaulsandra sent the following to the Plan B list regarding his performance. I asked him if I could put it up here, and he was kind enough to give me the ok. Enjoy.

"Here's my take on my piece for Analog Live. As with much of my material truly live performance is very difficult. I have no problem with that. Some things sound better sequenced (ask T Dream) and if I can get a computer to do all my patch changes too then I can concentrate on playing. On this occasion I opted for some written material, some improvised and some sequenced. Like Peter, I too recreated some of the more module intensive events from samples of the original work. One particular three second event would have involved the use of 24 modules and some very precise tuning. As this was clearly impractical for the purposes of this show I opted to replay a sample of that event. Another sample was the use of four VCOs and four Serge Waveform Multipliers for the opening drone. As Virgin Atlantic have pretty tight baggage restrictions these days I was unable to bring my whole Serge system from the UK for this show. I played as much of the score as was possible and practical and if you noticed I always had my hands full.

As Peter mentioned [on the Plan B list] the piano was a Steinway. The piano was micd with two AKG 414s. The original score had the piano ring modulated by two Synton Fenix ring mods. In rehearsal we tried to recreate this but the ring modulators seemed to add to the monitor feedback problems from the piano so I opted to leave the piano untreated. The rest of the gear for the show was as follows:

-Waldorf Microwave - used for bass sequences, and the long chords in sections 2 and 8. This also provided the filtered chords in the improvised middle section.

EMS Synthi AKS - used for effects in sections 2 and 8
Custom EH 16 sec delay - used to reverse and pitch change the EMS in the above sections

Nord Modular - Added sharp attacks to Moog bass notes in section 4

Aries Modular - (kindly lent by Roger Cordell at Big City Music) used to recreate the two

ARP 2600s from the original score. I was seriously impressed with this synth. I checked the tuning on my strobe tuner the day before the show and it seemed very stable. Five minutes before the show I checked it again and was pleasantly surprised to find that all four VCOs were rock solid.

Moog Voyager - (thanks again to Roger Cordell) used for fast intro sequences in section 1, bass in section 4 and the nasal solo I played in section 6.

Serge Modular - (thanks to Chris Pitman) used for Peter's SLOS

Kenton Pro4 - Midi - CV convertor used to run the Aries

Doepfer and Fatar midi controllers - (kindly lent by Analogue Haven) used to control the

Waldorf and Nord in both my piece and Alessandro's.

Apple Macbook with MOTU midi and audio interfaces - played samples via NI Kontakt,
sequenced the onstage synths and provided large visual cues (because I'm almost blind) via MOTU Digital Performer for sections 2 and 8.

During my piece Gary added various Roland textures throughout but particularly amazing bell-like textures in sections 2 and 8. Peter added more to the chordal sections and descending tones on my Moog solo.

Alessandro added some great French Connection/EAR to the chordal sections and evolving Buchla to the improvised section 5.

Chas played steel on the chordal sections and bowed his waterphone device in section 5.

Thighp"

Thighpaulsandra Studio

Title link takes you to Thighpaulsandra studio gallery. There are some impressive shots there including this tastey red Synton Syrinx.

via Formication.

New Release by The zZyzx Society

"The zZyzx Society album is now available on iTunes and Apple Music, with physical CDs coming in April exclusively at steveroach.com. Along with synthesists / composers Jill Fraser and Peter Grenader, it features Coil / UUUU member Thighpaulsandra, Tool drummer Danny Carey, instrumental alchemist Chas Smith, harpist Katherine Redlus and Jennifer Irvine on cello.

Full liner notes and technical summaries of each piece are available at the 'zZyzx Album Portal' at: www.zzyzxsociety.com

See this post for an interview with The zZyzx Society.

Cymru Beats 2nd Summer Modular Synth Meet Details are In

Details for the upcoming event Saturday June 18 & Sunday June 19 are up at Cymru Beats here.

Along with all the gear to explore, there will be a screening of I Dream of Wires on the big screen, interviews, talks and performances.

"On Sunday at 11am (cinema 2) we are screening the seminal modular synthesiser cinema documentary ‘I dream of wires’. This is your chance to see it in a cinema in full digital cinema quality, surrounded by fellow electronic music lovers! Blue horizPWe will follow the film with a panel discussion with some notable modular evangelists, followed by social drinks and chat in the bar. To find out more and buy tickets for the movie, visit chapter.org

This year sees a meeting of minds for discussion, interviews, talks, performances and films. The event kicks off at lunchtime Saturday, with an afternoon to hang out, meet, look at and talk about modulars. This year we’ll start evening performances at 6pm, with some great names in the field,

such as Thighpaulsandra, Nick Batt of Sonicstate, Eden Gray – one of the rare women of Eurorack, Cardiff’s ‘Mute Group(s)’, VCOADSR from Brighton returns this year and John Biddulph (Jools Holland band) will experiment with saxophone and modular. We are also hoping to have a very special guest performer, stay tuned."

Sonicstate Live Broadcast From Cymru Beats 2016

Sonicstate Live Broadcast Episode 451


Started streaming less than 1 hour ago
performers: John Biddulph 6.pm
Eden Grey 6.45
Mute Groups 7.30
Nick Batt 8.15
VCOADSR 9pm
Thighpaulsandra 10pm

Mystery Synth Used by COIL

Anyone know what this is? It's on sequencer.de and apparently it's not a KORG. It was used by COIL.

Update: Answer in the comments including a note from Thighpaulsandra of COIL.

Below is a video with the synth:

Coil on 'Hello Culture'
YouTube via iameddiehearmeroar. I actually put this one up previously here.

SCREAM 2007: ANALOGLIVE!

"The program for SCREAM: Analoglive!, November 16th at the Redcat Theater in the Disney Music Hall in Los Angeles, is as follows:

Gary Chang: Sanctuaries: Faith (2007)

Chas Smith: The Ghosts on the Windows (2007)*

Richard Devine: Captract (2004)

[intermission]

Alessandro Cortini: Paris 1 (2006)*

Thighpaulsandra: The Aborted Ascension Of Angel Assassins (2007)*

Peter Grenader: The Secret Life of Semiconductors (2003)

*Denotes a premiere. Gary Chang's 'Sanctuaries: Faith' was part of his summer performance tour in Europe 2007. Richard Devine's 'Captract' is from his 2004 Schematic Records release 'asect/dsect' and Grenader's ' Secret Life of Semiconductors', in which only Part 4 will be presented, was originally written for and performed by the Odin Dance Company in 2003.

The performance will be heavily documented - photographed and filmed - with both posted at a future date on the EAR site and of course MATRIXSYNTH.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go here: http://redcat.org/season/0708/mus/scream.php"

Maf Lewis Films: Thighpaulsandra's Aeriel Studios Pt.5 !

Tara Busch

See AnalogSuicide for the write-up and links to prior vids.

AnalogLive!

"We're pleased to announce AnalogLive! - an all-analog live ensemble performance coming to the Redcat Theater at LA's Disney Music Hall this Fall.

Performers include Gary Chang, Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails, Richard Devine, Peter Grenader, Chas Smith and making a rare L.A. appearance -- Thighpaulsandra of the band Spiritualized, with live kinetic video sculpture by Paul Tzanetopoulos (not to mention miles of analog synthesizers).

More information will be posted in the coming weeks. For information on Redcat, go here: http://www.redcat.org"

SCREAM 2007: ANALOGLIVE! - Instrument List

Via Peter Grenader on the Plan B list:
"as of Friday all of the ensemble performers have arrived in the Los Angeles area, with Richard coming in from Atlanta and Thighpaulsandra making the long trek from Wales. We begin work early in the week in a sound stage before commencing formal rehearsals in the theater on Thursday afternoon.

As far as the equipment we'll be using, we've put together an orchestra of oscillators: Off the top of my head - three rather large Plan B systems, a Doepfer/Plan B/Livewire system, Arp 2600, two cabinets of Aries, one nine panel and a medium-sized three panel Serge fitted with a custom Plan B model 13, the largest Wiard system in the world, an EMS Synthi-AKS, the EAR Performance system, a Buchla 200e, Nord Modular, a Novation, a Waldorf Wave, two tcelectronic reverbs (a 2000 and 60000), tons of delays and a Yamaha SPX90. Controller include a C-Thru-Music Axis, a Continuum Fingerboard, a Doepfer PK88 and MAQ 16/3, Roland A-33, a Fatar workstation and an Analogue Systems French Connection.

Along with a wall of effect racks, Chas Smith will be bringing two of his own instruments: the Guitarilla and the Towers. Guitarzilla is a steel guitar made of machined aluminum and welded titanium tubing. It has a 12 string neck tuned to a diatonic scale and an 8-string bass neck. It is also fitted with a small waterless Waterphone-type instrument which is bowed. The Towers are eight 1 1/4" diameter grade 9 titanium rods with titanium plates welded on the ends which are both bowed and struck with a variety of mallets. The longest Tower is 109", standing over 10 feet tall in it's hanger, and the shortest is 55". They have been cut to form a scale which can be obliterated by the complexity of the sounds that the plates generate. They're sonically and visually majestic, bordering on astonishing. Go here for a photo:

http://www.ear-group.net/towers.jpg (pictured)

We will be performing six pieces, one each from the six players, all of which performed by the ensemble - it's not a series of solo performances. Three of the pieces will be world premiers."

click here for more info on the event.

AnalogLive! Photo Set

"It was an amazing night, as a packed house of 250 plus applauded Alessandro Cortini, Richard Devine, Thighpaulsandra, Gary Chang, Chas Smith,Paul Tzanetopoulos and Peter Grenader as they twisted sound and sight alike at the Redcat Theater in Los Angeles. Click here for the first flickr images taken from the final rehearsal and the performance itself and check back in the next few days as more are added." Previous posts on Analog Live!

Update: be sure to check out the comments in this post for some details on the show.
Update: More images via Anateur Chemist here.

AnalogLive! at the Redcat Theater - November 16th, 2007

"We're extremely pleased to announce the confirmation of AnalogLive! - a live all-analog ensemble performance at the CalArts Redcat Theater, located in the Disney Music Hall complex in Los Angeles, on November 16th.

Bringing together some of today's leading composers, performers and designers for a real-time presentation of works centered around the revival of analog synthesis, Analoglive! is a collaborative live ensemble performance from composers Gary Chang, Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails, Richard Devine, Peter Grenader, Chas Smith, and a rare Los Angeles appearance by Thighpaulsandra of the band Spiritualized, along with Paul Tzanetopoulos - involving kinetic video sculpture, electro-acoustic music via analog synthesizers and acoustic instruments.

For more information on the show, click the link below and we hope to see you there!

http://www.ear-group.net/analoglive!.html"

MATRIXSYNTH THANKS!!!

The following people have been supportive of the site in one way or another and deserve a special mention.

• Chris Randall
• Chris Carter
• Jacknife Lee
• Laurie Spiegel
• Thighpaulsandra
• Mitchell Sigman
• Velvet Acid Christ
• Peter Grenader (Buzzclick and Plan B)
• Allesandro Cortini (Modwheelmod, NIN)
• The Chemical Brothers
• Richard Lainhart
• Barry Schrader
• Nick Batt (Sonicstate)
• Cynthia
• Ken MacBeth
• George Mattson
• John Bowen
• Parallel Worlds
• Tom Whitwell

Kind Words on MATRIXSYNTH

"-the best synth site on the web,always updated,always interesting"
-Tom (The Chemical Brothers)

"You do a great job maintaining that blog. It has become essential daily viewing for myself and lots of other people I know. Your efforts are greatly appreciated."
-Thighpaulsandra (Coil, Spiritualized, Julian Cope, etc.)

"Congrats on the site...It's become an addiction, especially now that i am on tour..."
-Alessandro Cortini (NIN, Modwheelmood)

"Isnt Matrixsynth better than a big cuppa cocoa & a Christmas cookie on a cold cold Southern California morning?"
Tara Busch & Analog Suicide

"I think that the matrixsynth blog is great and keeps people well in touch with everything synth- I visit everyday to see what's going on!"
Ken MacBeth

"I know I said it before... but good job with the blog... I don't know how you do it! always something new & interesting to be seen there... but I have to stop myself from looking sometimes... because I'd never get any work done! ;)"
Mike Brown of Livewire

""I just wanted to let you know that I love your blog, and read it throughout the day. There is always something new and interesting to read about. Its also very informative, and provides a wonderful community for all synthesizer lovers like myself." =)"
Richard Devine of Devsnd

"a huge thanks to Matrix of MatrixSynth (matrixsynth.blogspot.com) for all his years of ongoing support to the synth community. This one's for you...from Bacon and I."
Shagghie

"Matrixsynth really helps to showcase all the wonderful little synth & sound setups operating today -- your blog is a large part in helping such things thrive. Absolutely - hats off!"
Tom Bugs of BugBrand

"Thanks again for a great site Matrix,

- Laurie Spiegel"

"The best synth site www.matrixsynth.com" - AtomoSynth



The Packrat by Dave

MATRIXSYNTH Swag & Hall of Fame


MATRIXSYNTH THANKS from 2007.

Maf Lewis Films : AnalogSuicide Visits Thighpaulsandra Pt.4

Tara Busch

"# The 4th installment of AnalogSuicide.com's lovely visit to Aeriel Studios in Camarthen, Wales. Feast your eyes on all things Solina & Serge! # Link http://www.analogsuicide.com"

Aeriel Studios

Aeriel Studios

of Thighpaulsandra


via Tara of AnalogSuicide.

Thighpaulsandra and Tara Busch

via AnalogSuicide where you will find more.

Synton Fenix Modular
Oberheim Two Voice
Cynthia Zeroscillator
Spot the rest
that a Serge panel under the Fenix?

AnalogLive! Day 1 Rehearsals

Some images of the gear sets and people of Analog Live!, day 1 of rehearsals. You can find more info on the upcoming event this Friday on the Redcat website.

Images of sets in order:
-The rehearsal room
-Alessandro
-Richard Devine/Alessandro
-Grenader
-Chas Smith (guitarzilla)
-Thighpaulsandra

CLICK FOR MORE »