Rare Arp Solina String Synthesizer on the 'bay

Title link takes you to the shots saved for posterity. Click here for auction.

Check out the label for Noise. : )

"On sale here is the super rare Solina string synthesizer (100 ever made,unknown how many survived) with built in string ensemble and analog Arp Explorer synthesizer.This unit was made by Arp and Solina and contains a fully blown String ensemble as seen in the String ensemble MKI and MKII (it has that awesome chorus/modulation unit known to give that great string ensemble shimmer) next to it is contains a Arp explorer synth with the 4075 filter module used in the Arp Oddysey and Axxe and a 4027-1 VCO wich is the same as used in the mighty 2600...The built in synth has it own ADSR and LFO to create a wide range of sounds...It makes really edgy sounds and the filter can split your ear drums.. What is really special about the String synthesizer is that you can send the output of the string ensemble thru the filter of the Explorer!!! You can incorporate nice sweeps plus the ADSR and the LFO into your strings... The thing that makes it so nice is that you can play funky Arp baselines with your left hand and nice string pads with your right...."

DSI Evolver Filter to Korg MS-20 Filter Comparison

Update: Thought I'd clarify my point below. I believe the intent of the comparison was simply to see if an Evolver could cover the MS-20, rather than a filter A vs. filter B comparison? It's an interesting line to cross when you think ab out it. Anyway, take my comments below as just that... comments in general.

Kind of an odd comparison as the two filters are completely different, but there it is. Title link takes you there.

Why this comparison is odd:
The Evolver is a product of Dave Smith Instruments. Dave Smith was the man behind Sequential Circuits. He is responsible for the classic Prophet 5 and Prophet VS. The Evolver is an evolution of these two synths. It has two digital oscillators containing the Prophet VS waveforms and it has two analog oscillators similar to the Prophet 5. The filter is a custom Curtis chip. The Prophets had a Curtis chip as well, but a different model. Regardless, if there is any filter to compare the Evolver to, it would be the filter on the original Prophets. They are very similar. The Korg MS-20 on the other hand is a discrete analog filter and sounds very different not only from the Evolver and Prophets, but also from the Minimoog Ladder filter and most Roland filters including those on the 303, Juno, and Jupiter series. So.... take these comparisons with a grain of salt. What you like may reveal more about what filter you like better between a Moog, SCI Prophet, or Roland.

BTW, it's commonly thought that what makes a Korg MS-20 as far as sound is it's filter. That thing can strip paint off a wall. If you want the filter without the price, check out the Frostwave Resonator. It's a clone of the MS-20 filter, I've never heard anything to the tune that it's close but not quite there like most other clones (read this as it is the same filter), and it most definitely screams. This is the Korg MS-20 filter.

Ensoniq TS10 - New Flickr Shots

Title link takes you to more.

Roth-Handle Studios

"Welcome welcome welcome to the homepage of the Roth Händle studios in Stockholm. This is a place for merging of ideas, musical visions and archaic keyboards, guitars and drum machines. Hidden away at an old parking lot in Sundbyberg it is the birth plave of many albums."

Title link takes you there. Make sure to click on the equipment link at the bottom of the page for a list of the studio equipment inlcuding pictures, information and videos. And... The have a Yamaha GX1. : )

EMS Synthis

Thought it might be fun to put up a post on the four most popular EMS Synthis. And yes you can still get a Synthi from EMS, a Synthi A or a Synthi VCS3 to be exact. Title link takes you to the history of all EMS synths. Well worth checking out if you haven't in a while, or even if you have. You can back track to the home page from there if you want to buy one. : ) This stuff never gets old for me.

Synthi A (Portabella)- click here for a larger picture


VCS3 (Putney) - click for larger picture.


Synthi AKS - click for a larger picture



And the big daddy, the Synthi 100 - click for a larger picture

How do you rate the condition of your gear?

Interesting thread came up on AH regarding common guidelines for rating the condition of used gear. A link was posted on guidelines. I thought I'd share. Title link takes you there.

Curetronic Modular

Update: Some video in via AH. Right click and save.

Yowsa! Title link takes you there. Check out the fotogalerie.

Find the smiley face sticker. : )

New Buchla 200e Modules

In via Joxer on AH. I swore I saw the 261e Complex Wave Generator before, but the AH archives come up drive. Maybe it was one of my synth dreams... Anywho. Enjoy.

Complex Wave Generator
261e - http://www.buchla.com/200e/261e.html


Quad Control Voltage Processor
256e - http://www.buchla.com/200e/256e.html

DIY 8 Step Analog CV Sequencer

Just a hop, skip and a beat away. Title link takes you to GetLoFi. GetLoFi takes you to Experimentalists Anonymous, the makers of this device. Enjoy. I like the sleak design of this unit.

Requiem for Bob Moog - by THM

Via Vintage Synth Explorer, via Future Producers. Beautiful track. Title link takes you to the post on Future Producers. Link to MP3 is the first post on the thread.

Some details from post:

"Hi, well this is probably my first full track you see on FP - I made it as a kind of hommage to Dr. MOOG - using my own Memorymoog in a pretty long synth solo at the end of the track.

Since 15 years I've been making especially trance (last years hard trance & epic trance), but lately I wanted to take some new paths and so I started experimenting with ambient kind of stuff.
Driven by the death of Bob MOOG and the Doepfer MAQ16/3 I bought last month (for easy looping sequences) I *finally* ended my first track.
Like I said it's a kind of ambient meets MOOG lead, composition and sounds almost completely maid with my own vintage analog hardware (see description below).

FYI:

* fx sounds: MOOG Memorymoog L.A.M.M., Elka Synthex, Roland Juno-60, Roland Jupiter-8, Roland JP-8080, Yamaha CS-50
* piano: Kurzweil PC88
* background choir: samples (Spectrasonics "Symphony Of Voices")
* phased chord strings (at the beginning and end of the track): Roland Jupiter-8 with heavy phaser fx
* phased solo string (in the middle of the track): Yamaha CS-50 (with slight phaser fx)
* bassdrum (with heavy reverb and fx): Roland TR-808
* drum sequence: Arturia MOOG Modular V
* lead sequence: MOOG Memorymoog (driven by my Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer)
* subbass: MOOG Memorymoog
* bass: MOOG Memorymoog

and not to forget:

* solo lead: MOOG Memorymoog L.A.M.M. - played live in one session; no MIDI trickery added (I know there are a few small glitches but nevermind)


I hope you'll enjoy it (it's a pretty long track) & please give some comments - good or bad (as long as it is constructive)."