"Christmas Time Is Here" feat. Steve Langone

video upload by Jeremy Parker

"The classic Vince Guaraldi composition on Hammond organ this time, and with special guest, Steve Langone on drums.

https://www.stevelangonedrums.com/"

The Alan R Pearlman Foundation's Year In Review

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"The Alan R Pearlman Foundation has been busy this year of challenges and changes. This review includes clips of our projects including ARPs for ALL, The ARP Synthposium, now starting to be an annual event and a sneak-peak of never-before seen video from The Lost ARP tapes.

Music by permission of Vince Puppillo of EMEAPP for The ARP 2600 Synthposium that took place in September 2021

https://bit.ly/arp-foundation-donation"

DX5 playing Yazoo "Don't Go" (updated)

video upload by DX5

See DX5's original cover including how it was created here.

"Extracted from the live streaming aired on October, 2th. This is an update of the version done twelve years ago, with improved lead sound. (There is some color saturation in the picture due to the analogue video capture device used for live streamings)

Gear used:
Roland JP8000
Emu Emax II (containing Simmons SDS 8 toms previously sampled by me)
Backtrack previously recorded in Pro Tools, track by track.
Original song composed by Vince Clarke.
Performed here by DX5 Jose Maria Bara."

Alan Pearlman - Philip Dodds & Close Encounters (Bright Sparks Outtake)

video by GForce Software

"In an outtake from the Bright Sparks Documentary, ARP founder Alan R Pearlman talks about Philip Dodds and the story behind the use of the ARP 2500 on Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.

Originally released in December 2015 to critical acclaim and created to compliment the I Monster album of the same name, Bright Sparks documents the human stories of eight musical instrument pioneers, - Robert Moog (Moog), Alan R Pearlman (ARP), Don Buchla, Harry Chamberlin, The Bradley Brothers (Mellotronics), Adrian Wagner (Electronic Dream Plant), Peter Zinovieff (EMS) and Ken Freeman.

'An engrossing and fascinating documentary that pays tribute to the modest but amazing innovators who changed the face of electronic music' Vince Clarke

https://www.gforcesoftware.com/blog/b... www.imonstermusic.com
Alan Pearlman Foundation: https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org"

You can find additional Bright Sparks Documentary posts here.

Update: see this post for the actual order invoice for the 2500.

Sequential Prophet-5 Depeche Mode Puppets Cover Analog Synthesizer Rik Marston

video by Rik Marston Official

"Sequential Prophet-5 Depeche Mode Puppets Cover"
Synthesizer Demo By Rik Marston
Original song by Depeche Mode / Vince Clarke

I have been playing Depeche Mode covers for years but the
timing on this cover was harder than I thought! Sorry about that!
Anyway all sounds are from the Sequential Prophet-5 multi-track
recorded & the drums / sequencing are from the Korg Kronos.
I'm using the "Tee Are Oh Eight Kit" from Uber Analog Volume 3,
my exclusive Roland sample pack for the Korg Kronos!
my
universe! And it's a great way to connect with me, too! :)"

Rik's Links:
Ahnyxian Sound Design: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhnyxianSou...
Music: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/rik-marston/

Casio CZ-1000 | The Cosmo Synthesizer. Everyone had one of these!

video by Espen Kraft

"The Casio CZ-101, a big hit for Casio in the mid 80s. And the full-size keys, the CZ-1000.
Used by Vince Clarke among others. A best selling synth from Casio back in the day."

ARP's Dennis Colin - Ladder Filter & Hyperphase Pedal (Bright Sparks Outtake)

video by GForce Software

"An outtake from the Bright Sparks Documentary where ex-ARP engineer (and the creator of the SEM filter) Dennis Colin talks about how the Ladder Filter was the inspiration for his lauded and obscenely rare Hyperphase pedal.

Sadly, Dennis passed away just after we filmed him at his home in New Hampshire, but his legacy lives on in the ARP 2500, ARP 2600, Aries 300 and the legendary Oberheim SEM filter.

Originally released in December 2015 to critical acclaim and created to compliment the I Monster album of the same name, Bright Sparks documents the human stories of eight musical instrument pioneers, - Robert Moog (Moog), Alan R Pearlman (ARP), Don Buchla, Harry Chamberlin, The Bradley Brothers (Mellotronics), Adrian Wagner (Electronic Dream Plant), Peter Zinovieff (EMS) and Ken Freeman.

'An engrossing and fascinating documentary that pays tribute to the modest but amazing innovators who changed the face of electronic music' Vince Clarke"

You can find additional posts featuring Bright Sparks here.

Saturday night session: Rhodes Mark 1 Stage piano and Sequential Prophet 10

video by MIDERA

"First - let me apologize, the video is pretty bad/bright. Maybe just don't watch the video. Tab over and do something else while you listen...

Anyway, I rearranged my studio (you probably wouldn't notice) and installed the Avion Studios Retro Flyer preamp into the Rhodes (with - I must admit, a lot of headaches, most likely due to my own incompetence). Needless to say - it's all hooked up and the tremolo you're hearing is coming straight from the Retro Flyer preamp.

I thought I might enjoy the Prophet 10 on top, but I'm not so sure about it. I've actually still had a lot of trouble fitting this into my studio. I think I just do way better with FX riddled synths. I'm not sure what it is. The Prophet hasn't made its way into any of my music really.

In the first piece (made up) - I use both of them. Maybe some sort of slow funk? I'm just not much of a pianist to really claim how to make this sort of music, but hey, it was kinda fun and that was the point.

The second track is something I made back in 2011, on a rainy day in April. I recall I wrote it when I was feeling very sad about my Dad having passed the year before. I really enjoy playing this, but I do really like the original, which you can listen to here: [embed below]

The third track is The Great Pumpkin Waltz by Vince Guaraldi.

The final track was just me messing around, I didn't have any idea what I was playing when I sat down, and that becomes obvious pretty immediately...

0:00​ Rhodes and P10
6:18​ Beneath the weight of grief
8:08​ The Great Pumpkin Waltz
9:38​ Improvisations"

Midera · Beneath the weight of grief

Exclusively Analog ARP Style Sequencer Built for Vince Clarke

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

via this auction

"ARP 1601/ 1623 type sequencer clone built in England by Exclusively Analog. Very versatile sequencer with 16 steps and the following features:

- 16 Steps ( can be limited to any range of steps like 8, 12, 4, etf
- Each step has on, off, and reset
- Clock Divider
- Q-Scale for preset scales
- Sequencer mode in forward or Random
- Clock in / Clocked Gate
- Gate and CV
- EuroRack compatible
- Wooden Box

Note: Sequencer was built for and used by Vince Clarke from Depeche Mode and Erasure."

I'm guessing the design was built for Vince Clarke and not this specific unit? If it matters to you, check with the seller.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vince Clarke's KORG MS50 Modular Analog Synthesizer Expander

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

via this auction

"We got this unit from our friend Vince Clarke of Erasure, Yaz, Depeche Mode, etc.
Here's the story behind this particular MS50, as we told it on Instagram when we got this unit in:

JUST IN: Vince Clarke’s (Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure, etc) Tone Tweakers serviced Korg MS50. For sale soon (on our website). History: many years ago, Vince swapped us his first MS50 (which needed servicing) for one of our fully serviced MS50s. He hadn't really used it though, so yesterday he asked us if we wanted it. Duh! 😂 Although we encouraged him to move it across the studio so he could use it with his vintage MS20, he wasn’t into it, so we snagged it and bagged it. It's still working quite well after all these years, thanks to us servicing it before we delivered it to his old studio in Maine, but we still intend to service it again prior to sale. Vince and Andy Bell are still releasing albums as Erasure. Also check out Vince’s record label Very Records. Use google to find them, since we can’t post links here.

This MS50 was fully disassembled, cleaned, and electronics were completely overhauled, sparing no expense, so it works like new again and is better than the rest. All pots and jacks were cleaned. Replaced some capacitors. Performed a slight power supply modification. Recalibrated. This process required approximately 6 hours of skilled labor. We didn't need to do it since it worked fine when we got it - we WANTED to do it to hopefully extend the life of this beautiful instrument so it outlasts all others of its kind.

If this unit fails to sell for its current price, we may be open to counter-offers… or we may just keep it along with the other MS50 in our studio."

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Sequential Prophet 10 REV4 | The surface

MIDERA

MIDERA Prophet 10 posts

"Warning: This video contains FX and may not be suitable for synthesizer purists.

Finally got this home. I have a lot to say about it... I was really underwhelmed when I first started playing with it. I'm used to spending a few hundred dollars on gear that sounds great. this time, i paid far more. the build quality is amazing, but the sound isn't something THAT much better than what else i have. I’d say more but I’m way too tired...

Ok - I have had more time to think about it. Here are some of my thoughts from the next day: For me to be blown away by the sound of a synthesizer, I want to hear it 'push air'. Only a few synths have really done that for me, the OB-Xa and the Polaris. I do not hear that from the Prophet 10. That doesn't mean it doesn't do it, or that it's a bad synth if it doesn't, but that's usually the first thing that makes me go 'wow' and I didn't hear that here.

I didn't play ANY presets. I threw it into the front panel mode because I'm more interested in what I can do with a synth than what others have done with a synth. Maybe that was a mistake? I tried desperately to come up with cool sounds, but I feel personally like I failed (whereas, I felt like I immediately connected with the Moog Matriarch). The Matriarch, however, had a sequencer and arpeggiator which made interacting with the unit far more immediate for me - I made 9 videos within 9 days with that, and I could listen to those videos over and over. I liked what I did. I tried to not use FX... but I didn't like anything I came up with (on the Prophet).

The reality is, I think I hit my limitations here. I am not a great sound designer, I rely on FX. I am also not a good pianist. While I am very good at playing some Vince Guaraldi jazz music - I can't do much of anything else. This synth is among the pinnacle of synthesizers, and I am not capable of bringing out the most. This speaks to the reality - I need to improve my skills, both sound designing and music theory. I could have come up with these lame sounds on any synthesizer I have. In fact - when I first played this, I complained to my friends that it sounds no different than my Virus TI, which I think says a lot about the Virus, but also says a lot about me. My capabilities are the limiting factor.


Eventide blackhole VST and Strymon DIG used for FX."

---
Update: See this post for a change of opinion. I actually posted the above because I thought it sounded pretty amazing.

Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020 (a synthposium) Part Two - Educators

Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
Update: video is back

Moderator: Chris Myer

Panelists:
Asha Tamarisa, Bates University
Hans Kulk, Willem Twee Studios
Jim Michmerhuizen, Boston School of Electronic Music
Kristin Warren & Jim Moses, Brown University
Vince Pupillo Jr. & Vince Pupillo Sr, EMEAPP (Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project)

Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020 (a synthposium) posts

EMEAPP's ARP 2500

Playlist:

1. DON SLEPIAN gives a tour of EMEAPP's ARP 2500

DON SLEPIAN gives a tour of EMEAPP's ARP 2500. Make sure to watch Don perform on this system in the two accompanying videos. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of ARP Instruments and the ARP 2500 modular synthesizer.
SHOW LESS

2. DON SLEPIAN, on the EMEAPP ARP 2500, ARP Quadra and dual ARP 2600s. Performance ONE.

Electronic music pioneer, DON SLEPIAN, on the EMEAPP ARP 2500, ARP Quadra and dual ARP 2600s Performance ONE of TWO, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ARP Instruments and the rare ARP 2500 modular synthesizer, Don Slepian visits the Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project for a hands-on live performance. Be sure to sign up for a FREE membership at www.emeapp.org.SHOW LESS

3. ARP 2500 modular synth performance celebrating 50 years of ARP Instruments, feat. VINCE PUPILLO, Jr.

ARP 2500 modular synth performance celebrating 50 years of ARP Instruments, feat. VINCE PUPILLO, Jr.

4.

Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020 Online Event This Saturday, September 26

via The Alan R Pearlman Foundation:

ALAN R. PEARLMAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES “FIFTY YEARS OF ARP: THE 2500 in 2020” SYNTHPOSIUM EVENT

Celebrating five decades of the 2500 synthesizer with interviews, panels and more

STONE RIDGE, NY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020– The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation has announced “Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020”, a virtual event to be held on September 26th at 12PM EST on Zoom via Eventbrite. The event will be free for all participants with a suggested donation. Registration and other information can be found here.

The event will focus on the ARP 2500, the groundbreaking synthesizer made famous in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It will feature panel discussions and interviews with original ARP engineers, software developers, artists, composers, producers, educators, and others. Participants will be able to interact live with panelists via Zoom.

"We are beyond thrilled for this deep dive into the iconic ARP 2500,” said Dina Pearlman, ARP Foundation founder and daughter of Alan R. Pearlman. "We’ve assembled an amazing collection of engineers who made the original 2500s, artists who have used them, and ARP historians and organizations that work to preserve them."

The Foundation continues its work with contributors, collaborators, vendors, manufacturers, venues, and owners of rare original ARP synthesizers. Among their goals is the creation of installations where students can utilize ARP synthesizers as part of their music curriculum, and to explore the endless possibilities of electronic music.

For more information about the Foundation, visit www.alanrpearlmanfoundation.com.

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Bob Moog Foundation 2020 Trifecta Raffle: The Moog Source

moogfoundation

"The Moog Source: Grand Prize of our 2020 Trifecta Raffle!

The Source was first Moog to offer patch memory storage and a data wheel to edit the parameters. The Source's rich sound has been used by Tangerine Dream, Jan Hammer, Depeche Mode, Devo, Vince Clarke, New Order (especially on the track “Blue Monday” for which provides the throbbing bassline throughout the song), Ultravox, Josh Wink, Front Line Assembly, Moog Cookbook, Kitaro, Imperial Drag, The Cars, Phish, The Rentals, King Crimson, Blur, Gary Numan, and Toby Smith (of Jamiroquai)

Read more about this synthesizer, as well as the Rogue and Source being offered in our Trifecta Raffle, and purchase your tickets here: http://bit.ly/2020TrifectaRaffle

All three synthesizers have been expertly restored and are in excellent technical and physical condition.

The raffle is a fundraiser for the important work of the Bob Moog Foundation. Proceeds benefit our hallmark educational project, Dr. Bob's SoundSchool, the Bob Moog Foundation Archives, and the Moogseum. Find out more here: www.moogfoundation.org.

The raffle is open internationally.

Big Moog Love to @MaryFrances-MamaFunk for exploring these synths with us!"

Blinds & JP-BOOO for Korg Prologue - Minilogue XD - NTS-1 - Edouard Digital | SynthFest 2020

Published on May 28, 2020 SynthFest France

https://edouard.digital

Blinds

"Apply PWM to any waveform!

The KORG prologue, their flagship analog synthesizer, has been the first to offer customizable digital oscillators and effects in addition to the analog ones, in Summer 2018. Then in Winter 2019, KORG has introduced the minilogue xd, bringing the same excellent features to the more affordable minilogue. Then in Winter 2020, KORG has introduced the Nu:Tekt NTS-1, an affordable and portable DIY one-voice version of the -logue family’s digital oscillator. Using the Sound Librarian software, you can upload new digital oscillators to those devices and multiply their possibilities.

MULTI Engine Type Display
While many great sounds come from the classic waveforms available in analog oscillators (the sawtooth, the triangle, the square), they are always the same and are mostly static. Digital oscillators have the power to enhance your sounds, adding interesting harmonics and textures, and even be the centerpiece."


JP-BOOO / JP-8000 Supersaw Oscillator

"Amazingly phat and powerful oscillator for the prologue, minilogue xd & NTS-1

In early 1997, Roland introduced a cult synthesizer, that was seen as a modern digital incarnation of the classic analog Jupiter-8 from 1981. Offering a very intuitive interface with 40 knobs and sliders, and a large breadth of sounds, it soon became a classic itself as it was used by The Prodigy, Nicky Romero, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, BT, Paul Van Dyk, Faithless, Dash Berlin, Pet Shop Boys, The Crystal Method, Orbital, Ken Ishii, Vince Clarke, Goldie, Dave Holmes, Groove Armada, ATB, Überzone, Ferry Corsten, Scooter, Konflict, William Orbit and Garbage.

Though it was a virtual analog—or analog modeling—synthesizer, it was digital at heart, with a lot of grit that made it perfect for all styles of electronic music. But there is a more specific reason why it became so famous and appreciated: the first of its two oscillators offered a revolutionary brand new mode, named Super Saw. Instead of the classic sawtooth, square and triangle waveforms, the oscillator would generate seven detuned sawtooth waves played at the same time on each of the voices. It allowed the creation of both harsh “fat” leads when used raw, and smooth “creamy” pads when filtered, and it quickly became the defining sound of the trance genre, and a staple of electro, techno, drum’n’bass and house....

Not everyone can buy that vintage synthesizer, as they run in the range of $700 to $900. Adding JP‑BOOO 👻 to your KORG prologue, minilogue xd or NTS-1 is incomparably easier and more affordable!

On both the prologue and the minilogue xd, you can use the Shape knob to change the Detune and Shift+Shape to change the Mix. On the NTS-1, you can use the A knob to change the Detune and the B knob to change the Mix.

Thanks to JP‑BOOO 👻, you can now use a realistic oscillator inspired by the Super Saw, along with the analog oscillators and filters of the prologue and minilogue xd, and with your favorite effects and custom modulations on the prologue, minilogue xd and NTS-1.

If you have a prologue 8, you will have 8 voices, as many as there are on that cult synthesizer, and if you have a prologue 16, you will have twice as more!"

Simmons SDSV with Vince Gutman Click Defeat Mod & Simmons SDSV #666 with MIDI

Published on Mar 26, 2020 The Simmons Guy

"Quick demo of the Vince Gutman Click Defeat Mod on Simmons SDSV Electronic Drum Synthesizer."

Simmons SDSV #666 Test Drive B

Published on Mar 26, 2020 The Simmons Guy

"Demo of Simmons SDSV #666 with MIDI"

Simmons SDSV Hi Hat Controlled by Simmons MTM

Published on Mar 26, 2020

"Quick demo showing how Simmons MTM controls Simmons SDSV HiHat operation using Mod Wheel for Open/Closed."

impOSCar Programmable Music Synthesizer VST w/ Original Box

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

via this auction

"impOSCar Programmable Music Synthesizer VST GForce PC Mac software

The original OSCar synth was used by artists such as Vince Clarke (Yaz, Erasure), Ultravox, and Stevie Wonder, to name but a few. This software version gives you access to those same vintage tones at a fraction of the price!"

Just be sure it's compatible with your OS/system.

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The Price Of Nothing & The Value Of Everything by Circuit3

New release from supporting member, Circuit3.

Available for on vinyl, CD, and download on BandCamp here.

"The album sounds great! Glad current artists are keeping the faith with quality songwriting" - Martyn Ware (The Human League, Heaven17)

"if the idea of a dystopian Howard Jones album fashioned from the roots of Synth Britannia appeals, then ‘The Price Of Nothing & The Value Of Everything’ is for you . . . this album is melodic vintage synth ear candy with a dose of gloom. 'I'm keeping the flame alive for those sounds and hopefully developing my songwriting along the way' – well, as far as CIRCUIT3 is concerned, he has achieved that!" - The Electricity Club

“the signature sounds, drum machine rhythms and lyrical stylings of that era are handled with exceptional care, with the fragile mystique of a track like ‘Face In The Crowd’ sounding like a newly-discovered tape of a Reset Records session left in a dusty corner of Vince Clarke’s Splendid studio space” - Mat Smith (Furtherdot.com)

https://circuit3.bandcamp.com

Data Run [Cover] - Boutique / Circuit / Crave / MC-101 / PRO-1 / TR-8

Published on Jan 24, 2020

"This track was the theme tune to on of TV-am's early Saturday morning show, Data Run - 1983-84

Music by Vince Clarke, Sung by Alison Moyet, all I can find on the web is a couple of 40+ second videos of this track, I thought it was deserving enough to be fleshed out a little...

Thank you to kvfive for help with some of the audio samples.

As always, the track is played 'live' in one take - with no DAW, editing or post production.

Recorded live 24/01/2020

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