Zzounds 100k Giveaway

Click here for a post on Synthtopia News on Zzounds 100k Gear for Life Giveaway. Sign up and post back if you win. ; )

EMS Synthi E and AKS Spec Sheets

Andrew posted these two spec sheets on The Synthi Educational Handbook post. Click either link below for the full shot.  Good stuff. Thanks Andrew!

http://home.freeuk.com/1a/ems/synthi-e-spec-sheet.jpg
http://home.freeuk.com/1a/ems/synthi-aks-spec-sheet.jpg

Illustrated Compendium of Musical Technology

Tom of Music Thing recieved this book for Christmas this year. I haven't heard of this one yet, but it sounds good based on what Tom has to say about it. "It's my new geek bible, a 542-page encyclopedia of lore, full of diagrams and flowcharts... The ten pages on oscillators don't just explain what they do, but how they do it. " The book was written by co-inventor of the EMS VCS3, Tristram Cary.

Superwave Tarkus

MS2000 looking softsynth on KVR. Rumor is that it will be available for $50 in Feb 06.



Features:

12 Voices, 3 Oscillators + Noise Generator:
13 Oscillator Waveforms
Band-limited Wavetable Synthesis
Anti-aliased Hardsync
Pulse Width Modulation
Waveform Morphing
2 LFOs.
Mixer (OSC1, OSC2, Noise).
4 Filter types with Resonance (24LPF, 12LPF, 12BPF, 12HPF).
2 ADSR Envelopes with Time Scale function.
Amplifier (Level, Pan, EG2/Gate, Distortion).
Virtual Patch function x4 (8 Source Inputs, 8 Destination Outputs, Depth Level).
Arpeggiator (Up, Down, Alt1, Alt2, Alt3, Alt4).
16 Step Sequence x4 (Modulation x3, Gate):
29 Sequence Destinations.
Sequence Types (Forward, Reverse, Alt1, Alt2).
Independent Beat Resolution for each of the 4 Sequences.
Pre-Bend function.
Effects: Chorus, Phaser, Delay (Stereo, Cross, L/R), Equalizer.
128 preset Instruments, Sounds, Sequences and FX.

Green Waldorf Microwave

No title link. I was on a secret mission looking for green synths, and I came across this shot of the limitted Green Waldorf Microwave off of sequencer.de, so I thought I'd post it.



From Wikipedia:
"A limited edition Mean Green Machine was released at the same time as this
upgrade, being a Microwave with a new "Nextel" rubberized finish in a green
color, a certificate of authenticity, special rubber feet, and comical
silkscreening (the power switch was labeled Life, and the card slot was
labeled Food.) Normal Microwave units from now on featured the Nextel finish
in the usual blue color."

BTW, if you know of any other green synths, please share. So far I have the following:
Custom Forat Yamaha Motif
Cwejman
Green Buchla Thunder

The Synthi Educational Handbook

Update: A couple more links in the comments section via andrew:

http://home.freeuk.com/1a/ems/synthi-e-spec-sheet.jpg
http://home.freeuk.com/1a/ems/synthi-aks-spec-sheet.jpg


Click here for a 4M pdf of The Synthi Educational Handbook. I also stashed it here in case the link goes down. Via John Loffink of http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com on AH.

Love this snip from the first page:


Don't get your screws loose!

Fairlight IIx and Fostex Foundation

Two shots via Kevin Kelley of the Audio Playground. The Fostex Foundation are the grey pieces in the shot. I wasn't familiar with it before this. According to this site, it's a direct to disk recorder that came from the former NED Synclavier engineers. The Synclavier was a high end synth featuring sampling and FM in the late 70s. Before you get too excited about the Fostex Foundation, note that it's not a synth and was basically a $30k recorder when it came out. Coupled with the Fairlight and the Kurzweil Midiboard, you had quite an impressive set up indeed. The box on top of the Midiboard is the Roland MSQ-700 sequencer.

Move over Vemia

So we all know about Vemia, right? Well, somone took a look at what else was listed by the seller of the rack 808 I just posted today. So I decided to take a looksie. Umm... Umm... Just click here and scroll. No biggie? Click on the next page and scroll (might want to be sitting down). Damn....

You don't see these three together everyday. And... There is more.

Here are some shots saved for posterity including Buchla, RSF Kobol, ARP, Roland System 700, and a Korg EX800 (just never saw one with rack ends before).

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Jomox Shots

Looks like Jomox has some new shots up of the XBASE 999 and M-Resonator (pictured below).

Metalbox Modular Synthesizer

Interesting. Haven't seen these before.



"Metalbox is a line of analog synthesizer modules in Frac rack format. The modules are intended for supplementing existing systems with extended functions and sounds.

Voltage Generators and Processors

Sequential Switch - Sequencer with individual stage inputs

Pulse Divider/ Logic - Divide and compare pulses

Dual LFO - Dual multi-wave LFO

Analog Shift Register - Three stage ASR

VC Divider - Divide pulses under voltage control

Analog Logic - Compare voltages

Psycho LFO - Erratic modulation source

Gated Comparator - Unique rhythmic accessory

Audio Generators and Processors

Wave Multiplier - An amazing sounding wave-folder

Burst Generator - Clock or audio generator

Cynare - Monster percussion voice

Dual Chime -- Dual cymbal voices

Dual Drum - Dual percussive voices

Digital Noise - Versatile noise source

8008 Bass Drum - Classic analog boom"