Korg X3 - New Flickr Shot

Deep Synthesis Updates

Following updates to Selead's excellent synth site:

Roland MT-32 - new samples, and comparison to the Roland TR-626
Sony DPS-V55 - new page, samples of the Sony Multi-FX unit
Roland TR-626 - new page with samples
Akai SG01k - new page with samples, layering, and an Emagic SoundDiver editor
Korg DW-8000 - new page with samples with modulations, sequences, etc.

Sealed's synth site is quickly moving up my list. With the excellent sound samples and broad content it's becoming more and mroe valuable each day.

Buchla 200e Analog vs. Digital

Update. Some notes worth posting via the comments:

Rick: "correction the new 261e Osc uses digital sine generation with pure analogue waveshaping.. where as the 259e uses digital generation and waveshaping in the form of "non-linear digital waveshaping"... read about this process..no other manufacturer offers this. FYI the Buchla 500, 300, 400 and 700 all used digital Oscillators with analogue output stages as is done in the 200e.. this is nothing new for Don.. it dates back to the early 70's instruments. in most cases the ear cant precieve the difference between an analogue or digitally generated sine tone...mine can't anyway."

Orth: "Well, after reading the FAQ, maybe we should just say that the Buchla is beyond traditional definitions of analog v digital. I mean jeez, that monster is something else at that point. a/d/a/d/a/d/a/d/a/d/a "

There's been some interesting discussion on the Buchla 200e on AH, including it's high price tag. You can pick and chose modules, but the listed systems start at $9300 and go on up to $27,400. See for yourself. What I actually found most interesting is that the system is a digital and anlog hybrid with fully digital oscillators. Buchlas are considered to be the holy grail in the synthesizer world along with just a few select others. Their sound and flexibility are considered to be worth it's high price. What's interesting to me is that one of the most common arguments you hear in the analog vs. digital debate is how analog sounds warmer and somehow better than digital. Some even argue that DCOs, digitally controlled oscillators, aren't truly analog and do not sound as good as their counterpart VCOs, voltage controlled oscillators. Yet Buchla went with digital. It's interesting when you consider the quality and pricetag of a Buchla. The title link takes you to the 200e faq which explains why.

JH Synthi Clone

JH of oldcrowes.net built himself an EMS Synthi Clone. Title link takes you to his page on it with more info.

Also make sure to check out this sample. Beautiful design and brilliant sound.

Airport 71 - The Buddy System

Via moogplayer on VSE. Great song showcasing the Roland VP-330 and Monomachine. Reminds me of an band I used to go see called The Dismemberment Plan. Great stuff.

"Song breakdown:

starts with VP330 human voice sounds + Monomachine

part2 gets into really lush strings + Monomachine bass line

part3 has vocoder all over it + Monomachine lead

all this with bass and real drums

and hey it was recorded in our garage!!!"

Akai S612 Sampler to AX60 Demo

Via Architecture on VSE. Finally get to hear what the combo can sound like.

The Akai AX60 has a 13 pin connector that could be used to feed in the audio of the Akai S612 sampler. You could sample whatever you wanted on the S612 and use it as an extra oscillator processed through the AX60. The S612 had it's own analog filter and LFO to process the sample as well.

Akai S612


Akai AX60

FM3 Buddha Machine

Update: Via Tom of Music Thing in the comments:
samples here:
http://www.fm3.com.cn/work.htm

Via Boing Boing. Apparently Brian Eno puchased a few of these. If anyone finds any samples, please share.



"Fm 3 is opening a new special series of Staalplaat. The Buddha Machine is a small soundbox made in China which comes with an integrated speaker, a volume control, minijack-out and and a switch to choose between 9 different loops which are stored on a small chip and can be directly plaid by this mini soundsystem. A number of other artists will continue this series soon.
Limited to 300 copies."

Pedal Collage - New Flickr Shot

Electro Harmonix Bass Synthesizer

Prophet 10 Demos

Via Micke on VSE. Title link takes you there.

Moog Breakbeats

So that's where this shot came from.