Bob Moog Update - Let's all think about Bob today...

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobmoog

Via AH.

New Arp 2600 Sound Demo

Update: Just found out this sample was done by Heath Finnie, whom I posted about earlier. Small world. : )

In via Vintage Synth Explorer. Starts with effects then dives into a more full lead sound. Amazingly rich sound. Makes you wonder if the software emulations like the WayOutWare TimewARP or the Arturia ARP 1600V can do this.

And even more PolyEvolver Samples from Stefan Trippler

These are more traditional sounding. Enjoy.

Crumar Bit One/Bit 01/Bit 99

Click here for a web page dedicated to the Crumar Bit One, Bit 01, and Bit 99. Some good information there including patches, FAQ, manual, and even editing software. The Crumar bit series came out in the mid 1980s starting with the Bit One. They were six voice polyphonic, DCO based analog synths. According to synthtech earlier Bit Ones used 6 SSM2044 VCF chips and later models used 6 CEM3328 VCF chips. The thing that always confused me about the Bit series were exactly how they differed. I found this Sound on Sound article which goes in full detail. To keep this post short, the Bit One was the first version of the synth. It had a number of limitations that were corrected in the second rendition, the Bit 01 Expander Module (rack), which was then followed three months later by the keyboard version, the Bit 99 (same as Bit 01 with keys). The SOS article is a good read with tons of more information, so if you are interested in knowing more about these synths definitely check it out. There is an interesting bit in there about how the Bit 99 could have been Gordon Reid's first midi keyboard had it come out just a bit earlier. He ended up with a JX8P instead. Anyone else painfully aware every time I use the word bit in this post? I actually had more but I pulled them because it was just a... bit... too... much.

The Bit series in all it's fashionable colors (colors have no impact on sound, unless of course they influence your zen state while plugging away).

Crumar BitOne (only came in black)

Crumar Bit01 Black

Crumar BitO1 White

Crumar Bit99 Black

Crumar Bit99 White

Digitally Controlled Analog - New Flickr Shots

via Flickr

Doepfer Schaltwerk (big white sequencer), Doepfer Regelwerk (small white sequencer), JoMoX X-Base 09, Ensoniq DP/4+.

Get LoFi - blog on circuit bending

http://www.getlofi.com/

Crazy story on how I found this blog:

So I get an email today on a site focused on the Crumar Bit One, O1, and 99. I'm in a rush to head out so I pop on the site and decide to check it out later. Lots of good info but it hasn't been updated in a while, some dead links, etc. But before I head out I see a couple of sites in the sig of the email. And the thought pops in my head that I might find something I'd rather blog about there. I see SSM and think of SSM synth chips of yore. So I check it out but that's not what the site is about. I skip/miss the second link, as I have to head out. Later in the day I'm on Feedster and decide to search on my site for fun. GetLoFi comes up. I click through and wow, I find all this great stuff. I think "I need to blog this!" I then figure I should give the owner a heads up. I look for the contact info and I see it's someone that goes by circuitmaster. I think what the... I go back to the Bit 01 email and lo and behold it's circuitmaster, and the other link I never got around to... GetLoFi. The odd thing is I posted on circuit bending earlier today not knowing what GetLoFi was about, and the thing that instantly caught my attention on GetLoFi... This post on a 1-bit synth. 1-bit synth? Bit 01? : ) Really bizarre day... I think that FIZMO patch had something to do with it. Now I have to put that Crumar Bit post up. Until then, check out GetLoFi.

1-bit synth via GetLoFi:

Ensoniq FIZMO

This is one whacked out synth. I was going through my swiffer wipe down on it (dusting it), and I hit the arp, twisted a couple of knobs and this thing comes out of it. It's like a whacked out orchestra tuning up in limbo and forever stuck there in a loop. Just whacked! See my old post for more on the FIZMO and misunderstood synths. Back to dusting... Click here for a 1 minute mp3 at 1M.

Circuit Bending

Retro thing has a post up on Reed Ghazala's new book titled, "Circuit-Bending: Build Your Own Alien Instruments." I'm with James of Retrothing in not messing with the old and increasingly rare vintage synths. Circuit bending is NOT synth modding. Modding usually ads functionality to a synth maintaining it's original sound and design - think adding audio input, midi or adding PWM to a synth. It ADDS to the synth. Circuit bending usually completely alters the device by creating bridges between circuits that weren't meant to be there. In a sense it's mutilating the device into something completely different. Interesting, but not something I'd want to happen to old synths. I always cringed when Trent Reznor trashed a synth on stage, well I guess DX7s were ok. : ) Joking aside, fortunately circuit bending has been relatively limitted to toys and cheap home keyboards.

Click here for Reed's Ghazala's circuit bending page. Make sure to check out his home page for more of his work and an interesting home page. : )

From his site:
"Circuit-bending is an electronic art which implements creative audio short-circuiting. This renegade path of electrons represents a catalytic force capable of exploding new experimental musical forms forward at a velocity previously unknown. Anyone at all can do it; no prior knowledge of electronics is needed. The technique is, without a doubt, the easiest electronic audio design process in existence.

The circuit-bent instrument, often a re-wired audio toy or game, is an alien instrument: alien in electronic design, alien in voice, alien in musician interface. Through this procedure, all around our planet, a new musical vocabulary is being discovered. A new instrumentarium is being born."

For fun I searched for "circuit bent" on the bay. Check out this circuit bent SK-1 currently up for auction.

Yamaha MK-100

It's funny. Every few months my parents-in-law come up to visit for the weekend or we go down to visit them. Frequently they go "garage sailing." I always tell them to look out for keyboards with knobs especially any "broken ones" that only play one note at a time. They typically come back saying no knobs, just Casio's and Yamaha home keyboards and I dismiss these thinking good, didn't miss out on anything by skipping that trip. Well... Now I'm beginning to think maybe I am missing a few gems out there - those home keyboards that offer that little extra. I knew about the Casio SK-1, but I just recently read about the Yamaha MK-100. Not only does it allow you to adjust the OSC waveforms and Envelope patterns, but it actually has a built in analog drum machine! And... It sounds good. I'm left wondering how many other home keyboards are out there like this. Yes there is the Radioshack Concertmate MG-1 Moog, but come on, we all know that is a real synth, a Moog Rouge repackaged. : )

Click here for Sealed's Deep Synthesis page on the MK-100 with some samples, and overview section and more. Now off to check out some circuit bent stuff.

Update: How could I forget about the Yamaha DJX searies! : )

WERSI Matic CX1

More on the WERSI Matic CX1 sent my way. It's a synth, rhythm box in one. Cool little thing, isn't it?

Audio: WERSI Matic CX1 MP3

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