Lemur and a Continuum - Video

Title link takes you to a great video of a Lemur and a Continuum fingerboard. Note how you can set an end point on the lemur and have it gradually move to it while you move on. Look for the scene towards the begining below; that little white dot in the purple circle will slowly move back when he lets go, modulating the sound on the way back. Pretty sweet. Via Edmund Eagan on AH.

Lemur Workshop

You've probably heard of the Lemur by now. If you haven't it's a tablet type device that you can use as a midi controller. It's pretty impressive to say the least. Check out http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_overview.php for more. The site's been updated since I was last there and they now have a few workshops including one on using the Lemur to control complex granular synthesis and one as a fantastic midi sequencer. Title link takes you there.

The Amen Break - The Winstons & 6 Seconds from 1969

Interesting documentory of the Amen Break, sampling, and a hit on Zero G. If you don't know what the Amen Break is off the top of your head, check it out, you will recognize it. Remember the history of the TB-303 documentary? This is from the same guy, Nate Harrison; you'll recognize the monotone voice. This is a really good documentary. Better than the 303 one in my opinion. Do take the time to check it out. Via humanoidalert on this Sonic State the-gas-station post. The Winstons and the Amen Break are also on Wikipedia.



The Winstons

Synth Orgy Video

Another via Michael Weeks. A Metasonix TM-1, Moog CP251, MF104 and Roland SH101s going nuts. Hmm... I wonder what they are saying to each other... Right click title link and save - it always seems to go faster that way on my end. Also saves bandwidth if you want to see it again later. Enjoy.

More Metasonix Shots

Two shots sent my way via schism of Analogue Haven. Title link takes you to bigger shots. Thanks Schism!

Metasonix Wretch


Metasonix TM6 Multimode Filter

A Moog Modular for every studio

Well, sort of. : ) Now this is kind of cool. See the modular in the picture below? Click on this PDF. Get it? I think I'm going to print out a ton of these and build my own paper modular over time. : ) Via Music Thing, via Till Kopper. Title link takes you to there. There's also a Klaus Schulz version. Very nice. Next time someone comes to my studio, I'll be like, "Dude, check out my modular. Bitchen, huh?"

Hollenangel - Yamaha CS80 showcase

I posted on Stephen Parsick's Hollenangel back on Oct 5 as an excellent showcase of the Yamaha CS80. He just posted a review and another sample on the Yamaha CS80 group. Below are links to the sample in different bandwidths. If you want to hear some Yamaha CS80 magic, check it out. Enjoy. Title link takes you to Parsicks.com.



http://www.neuharmony.com/56k/hoell.m3u
http://www.neuharmony.com/mp3/hoell.m3u
http://www.neuharmony.com/56k/hoell.mp3
http://www.neuharmony.com/mp3/hoell.mp3

Arp Odyssey and Moog Polymoog track

Update: Martin ('Liquidscreamer') did the track.

Very cool Odyssey and Polymoog track. Man I miss that sound. If Billy Currie of Ultravox and Gary Numan where morphed together, this is what it would sound like. Via Jordan Gibson on AH (track is by Jordan's mate). Enjoy.

Nord Modular Comparison Chart

A $300 Nord Modular recently came up for sale. I always wanted one but I put it on hold as I figured I'd get the G2 instead. But at $300 I decided maybe I should go for it. I checked out the Clavia site and couldn't find a comparison chart. I wanted to know if the Nord Modular and G2 were totally different in sound character or if the G2 was built off of the first generation modular. Like the Nord Lead 2 is built off of the original Nord Lead, but the Nord Lead 3 was redesigned from the gound up - totally new software. Well, I haven't found the definitive answer yet, but I have found some interesting bits.

1. Title link takes you to a comparison chart (thanks Wout!)


2. You can't upload Nord Modular 1 patches into the G2


3. The Nord Modular classic has a Filter Bank and Spectrum OSC that the G2 does not have (thanks to Vincent and fizmo)


4. Vincent who has both hasn't had a chance to fully compare them, but he said they do sound different


5. The G2 can send it's sequencer data via MIDI so you can build sequencers to control external gear. The original can't

This above is just a short list. Check out the title link for a more comprehensive list. Regarding the $300 Nord Modular I found. Looks like four others beat me to it. Oh well, another day...

Metasonix S1000 "Wretch Machine"

Metasonix S1000 "Wretch Machine" prototype. Damn, that is one sexy looking behemoth of a synth (never thought I'd ever say that). Look at that thing! It's got tubes poppin out of it. Be careful... Title link takes you to a bigger shot and a PDF with details (I copied and pasted the details below in case you don't have a reader). Via Michael Weeks of www.endmusik.com, via the floor of the VTV expo. Thanks Michael!



Specs via the PDF in case you don't have a reader:
"The Ultimate Tube Synthesizer.
Pitch sources: two independent VCOs.
Made entirely of vacuum and gas-filled tubes.
Range >2 octaves using CV, octave switching allows range from
33 Hz (low C) to more than 2 kHz.
Three waveforms: thyratron sawtooth, square, and square with
suboctave.
VCO 2 may free-run or be soft-synced to VCO 1.
Numerous patch points allow enormous flexibility.
Waveshaper: unique circuit, with soft clipper and pulse adder
(shapes waveforms from VCOs by adding small pulses to top of
waveform at discontinuity).
Made entirely of vacuum tubes.
Settings: disable, soft-clip only, and soft-clip with pulses added to
signal. Latter circuit allows simulation of noise source.
Filter: unique multimode circuit, allows its use as a lowpass,
treble/midrange bandpass or bass bandpass filter.
Continuously variable control allows mixing of filter forms in any
proportion.
Made entirely of vacuum tubes.
Range of treble resonance switchable, 400-1700 Hz.
Bass resonance tunes from ~100-350 Hz.
Filter sweep is performed with photoresistor element.
VCA: unique circuit using a pentode tube.
Made entirely of a vacuum tube.
May be modulated with the AR generator only, or with the control
voltage generated on modulation bus 2.
Modulation: two envelope generators, A(S)R and AD.
Both triggered with input gate signal. Both may be combined on
either modulation bus to create ADSR.
Two independent LFOs, triangle waveform, range <0.3 Hz to more
than 5 Hz.
Two modulation buses allow combining the A(S)R, AD, and two
LFOs as needed to effect any CV input in the audio circuit (VCO
pitch, VCO squarer waveshape, waveshaper pulser, filter tuning).
Main CV input controls pitch of both VCOs (Hz/V response).
Gate input triggers envelope generators, accepts 0-5v or 0-10v
gate voltage.
6AL7 "eye" tube displays status of LFOs and A(S)R control voltages
on three separate glowing green bar graphs.
Miniature joystick performs multiple jobs: vertical motion affects
pitch of both VCOs, horizontal motion affects tuning of filter.
Press joystick in to trigger envelopes.
Size: 6U high standard EIA rack mount, 3" depth below rack panel.
11 vacuum/gas tubes. Weight about 20 pounds with AC adapter.
Draws 12 volts AC ONLY at 3 amps.
Expected availability mid-2006, expected retail price $2500.
Optional internal MIDI-CV interface, add $300."