Breakaway Vocalizer 1000

Via GetLoFi. Interesting. Like a digital vocoder of sorts. Well, more like vocal processor, but still it does look interesting. Click here for a list of programs and some samples. Title link takes you to GetLoFi with some more shots and a link to one for auction.

Remember to use your synths

That might sound odd, but seriously, how many of you have an extra synth or two that doesn't get much attention; just sitting there waiting for the right mood? Well, make sure to turn them on, dust them and tweak them now and then. A common problem is just plain dust setting on contacts and pots. I sometimes find the best fix for a stuck key or scratchy pot is to just use it a bit. The problem sometimes goes away. The title link takes you to a post on Vintage Synth Explorer, where a tech actually says to try using the gear a bit first. Makes you think twice about that "mint" synth on the 'bay that has been locked in storage for years. : )

Ultravox Gear P*rn

Yowsa! I posted earlier on Ultravox, well looks like the thread has updated and there are some amazing live shots of the band's performance in Live Aid '85 and Top of the Pops. I remember staying up all night to see them perform on Live Aid. It was amazing. I'll never forget when Billie Currie whips out the violin during Vienna. Wow. I remember the thing that bothered me at the time was that Midge Ure was the other half setting up Live Aid with Bob Geldof, but it seemed like he got zero credit. I heard he worked a bit on Live 8 with Bob again, but I heard zilch - just a rumor on a blog somewhere. I still need to look it up and confirm. Anyway, Title link takes you to the thread with more shots. If they go down for whatever reason, post a comment in this thread and I'll put them up here. I saved them just in case.

Howard Jones' Prodigy on the 'bay

Update: Via Synthmatic on AH

"Hi,
The Prodigy differences are as follows:

Serial numbers below 4160 have the single audio output and are difficult to
modify.

Serial numbers from 4161 to 8077 are easier to modify and have a newer
printed circuit board which accommodates the appropriate interfacing pads. They
have the single audio output.

Serial numbers 8078 and above have the S-Trig out, Kybd In/Out, OSC In, VCF
In, Sync In, Audio Out jacks.

Moog Music had two kits for the modifications. One was for serial numbers
below 8078 (9 additional jacks) and the other was for serial numbers 8078 and
above (4 additional jacks).
They both had the same overlay in the kits. you just used half of it for
serial numbers 8078 and above.
I have installed the mod for the additional 4 jacks and found it quite
simple. It looked really good too!
Below is the list of jacks from left to right on the rear panel:

[GATE OUT, GATE IN, AUDIO IN, KYBD IN][S-TRIG IN/OUT, KYBD IN/OUT, OSC IN,
VCF IN, SYNC IN] AUDIO OUT

Hope this helps.

DW"

Update: In this shot http://www.matrixsynth.com/blog/media/Moog/howardjonesprodigy/b1_3.jpg it looks like the updated prodigy with extra jacks. You can see the new faceplate.

Update: Multiple sources say the model in the Howard Jones shots is not the factory model with the extra ins and outs, but rather this is:

More pics below.

Update: via AH, there are two models of the Prodigy. The latter had additional inputs and outputs for pitch, VCF, and sync control.

This is an interesting one. In via Vintage Synth Explorer. Click here for the auction. Title link takes you to the larger auction shots saved for posterity.

So, my question is why are these two Prodigies different in the back? See the update above.

CLICK FOR MORE »

PSP Rhythm Composer Update

I posted about the PSP Rhythm Composer on 8/14. The problem with the Rhythm Composer was that it only works on OS 1.0 and OS 1.50. 1.52 and 2.0 aren't supported. Well, Make just put up a post on how to downgrade from 2.0 to 1.50 for anyone that cares to try. Title link takes you there. I'm going to pass myself and hope the recent OS 2.0 cracks will eventually lead to the PSP Rhythm Composer making it's way to 2.0. BTW, looks like PSP Rhythm Composer also got a new GUI update (pictured below). Compare to the earlier post.

Load of PPGs for sale

You don't see this everyday. Title link takes you to the post.

Analog Playground Items on the 'bay

In via AH. Analog Playground is doing some Fall cleaning. Title link takes you to some goodies including this Roland CR-78.

Bagpipe Synth

Update: Some more shots from Josue Arias. Thanks Josue!

Update: Via the comments, this is real. Very cool. Thanks Josue.

"Yes it real for sure... I trade it for some doepfer modules from the person who posted that photo in AH. Now is here in Spain.
I`ve not used it very much for now, but the thing is real strange, I think its a sort of comunnications encoder, for voice or morse messages, then there must be a similar "decoder" unit to bring back the message.
The thing is not blueish, but grey, its an effect because the ambient light. weight a ton and is fully discrete, no ICs inside. There are 5 diffrent cards inside, similar to those cards inside the EMS synthi.
The mic input is a 3/8 (?) jack like those used in the multimoog so I still not tried the mic input. there are two banana inputs that acept voltages for modulate. The "bagpipe" is a kind of sequence of pitches when you set it at low frequency. Is a good box for strange tone clusters, sequences and fx noises, not for melody ; )"

This came up on AH a while ago. I have no idea if it's real. It looks a wee bit photoshopped to me. Click through title link for a bigger shot. If anyone knows what this is, let us know.

Chromed 808

Chromed Roland TR-808 that came up in my picture collection. Not sure where I got this.

More Circuit Bending from GetLoFi

GetLoFi is on fire. The Circuit Bending world seems to be having a lot of activity lately, I can barely keep up. The cool thing is the majority of it is synth based. Check out this whacky looking sequencer. I couldn't find info on it but I'm guessing that wheel on top is what sets the pattern. Title link takes you to more.