Saturday, January 07, 2006
Akai HS-1000
Part 2 of DVDBORN's "Synths That Never Were." The first was the Oberheim OB-8k. Title link takes you there.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Synthi-E
Music Thing has a post up on a Synthi-E up for auction. I immediately when to grab the shots and then realized that I already had back on 8/19/05. See this post. I was wondering how long it would be before I saw one of my pulled auction shots back on the bay. This is the first! : )
Update via the comments:
"the auction is in fact the same seller (myself) as the first one listed, thanks (electroman)"
Update via the comments:
"the auction is in fact the same seller (myself) as the first one listed, thanks (electroman)"
New Plan B Modules from EAR
Four new modules. Also, Analogue Haven is now the official US distributer.
The Model 14 Dual Voltage Processor
The Model 16 Spectral Multiplexer
The Model 19 VC Gate Delay
The Model 23 Dual analog Shift Register
The Model 14 Dual Voltage Processor
The Model 16 Spectral Multiplexer
The Model 19 VC Gate Delay
The Model 23 Dual analog Shift Register
Roland SH-5 Patch Sheet
Update: New patch sheet with numbers added around knobs for more precise editing.
Title link takes you to a pdf of a Roland SH-5 patch sheet made by Francois P. He'd been looking for a patch sheet for some time and finally decided to make his own and offer to others for use. Very nicely done I might say; and very cool of him to share. Thanks Francois!
Title link takes you to a pdf of a Roland SH-5 patch sheet made by Francois P. He'd been looking for a patch sheet for some time and finally decided to make his own and offer to others for use. Very nicely done I might say; and very cool of him to share. Thanks Francois!
Mungo Enterprises
Moogulator put up a post on Mungo Enterprises. Of all things they make an Ensoniq ESQ knob box that looks pretty impressive (picutured below). They also list a Sync box, TR606 Mods, MIDI Retrofits and Misc Projects on their site.
Roland SH-201 and Novation Remote 61
The Remote 61 is real. The Roland SH-201 we have yet to see. "Know the SH-32? Put a 49 keyboard, black finish and external audio input on it and you'll get an idea." Title link takes you to Music Things post.
Novation Remote 61
Novation Remote 61
The Mutronics Mutator
Niall on AH put up a shot of the inside of his Mutronics Mutator. I realized I haven't put up a post on the Mutator, so why not. Title link takes you to the Mutator site with samples and more.
"The Mutator is a stereo analogue filter and envelope follower with full control facilities. It contains two independent voltage controlled filters similar to those found in analogue synthesizers, which can be used to treat any external sound source. Each filter can be controlled from its own associated low frequency oscillator (LFO) and/or its own envelope follower section, which extracts the envelope contour of an input signal and applies it to control the cut-off frequency of the filter."
Note that chip in the middle is an SSM2045. I checked Synthech and Sequencer.de to see what other synths might have used the chip. I only found it on Sequencer.de for the Solton SM100 used as a VCA/VCF. If you know what else the chip was used on, feel free to comment. Click here for a full shot of the above.
Update via the comments:
"Someone who was there at the time said...
Little-known fact:
Contrary to the information given by the Mutronics website, the Mutator was conceived, designed, and the first production runs hand-built and tested by a British guy called Nigel Bradbury who started Mutronics with London-based studio-owner Mark Lusardi in the mid 1990s.
With his partner and their new-born daughter remaining in their home-town of Oxford, Nigel worked on the Mutator in London for £50 a week, almost all of which was taken up by the rent for his grimy week-day accommodation and bus transport back home at the weekends. Eventually it became uneconomic and uncomfortable for him to continue spending so much time away from his family, and Nigel parted company with Mutronics with nothing but a second-hand Mutator (previously owned by Duran Duran, no less) to show for his hard work and creativity.
His part in conceiving and creating what is probably the best analog filter unit available remains unmentioned on the Mutronics website and promotional materials, and some people feel he was unfairly treated by his business partners. To this day he refuses to discuss this period of his life.
Nigel currently designs medical electronic equipment in Oxfordshire."
Update: more updates in the comments.
"The Mutator is a stereo analogue filter and envelope follower with full control facilities. It contains two independent voltage controlled filters similar to those found in analogue synthesizers, which can be used to treat any external sound source. Each filter can be controlled from its own associated low frequency oscillator (LFO) and/or its own envelope follower section, which extracts the envelope contour of an input signal and applies it to control the cut-off frequency of the filter."
Note that chip in the middle is an SSM2045. I checked Synthech and Sequencer.de to see what other synths might have used the chip. I only found it on Sequencer.de for the Solton SM100 used as a VCA/VCF. If you know what else the chip was used on, feel free to comment. Click here for a full shot of the above.
Update via the comments:
"Someone who was there at the time said...
Little-known fact:
Contrary to the information given by the Mutronics website, the Mutator was conceived, designed, and the first production runs hand-built and tested by a British guy called Nigel Bradbury who started Mutronics with London-based studio-owner Mark Lusardi in the mid 1990s.
With his partner and their new-born daughter remaining in their home-town of Oxford, Nigel worked on the Mutator in London for £50 a week, almost all of which was taken up by the rent for his grimy week-day accommodation and bus transport back home at the weekends. Eventually it became uneconomic and uncomfortable for him to continue spending so much time away from his family, and Nigel parted company with Mutronics with nothing but a second-hand Mutator (previously owned by Duran Duran, no less) to show for his hard work and creativity.
His part in conceiving and creating what is probably the best analog filter unit available remains unmentioned on the Mutronics website and promotional materials, and some people feel he was unfairly treated by his business partners. To this day he refuses to discuss this period of his life.
Nigel currently designs medical electronic equipment in Oxfordshire."
Update: more updates in the comments.
Fizmo Fixed and More on SYNTHWIRE
If you haven't checked out SYNTHWIRE lately make sure to drop by. Lot's of good posts have been coming in. XCerveau put up a post on the Moog 1130 Drum Contoller, Carbon111 put up a post on the Nord G2 Engine Controller, and he fixed his Fizmo! BTW, SYNTHWIRE is a community blog meant for you to post your stuff or other synth related stuff. If you want to start posting feel free to shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list. Invite link on the right pane of SYNTHWIRE.
The Thummer
Here's an interesting looking controller via Music Thing. Looking at the site I oddly found no mention of MIDI, only USB. See quote below. If that's the case, no using this to control my synths. : (
"Does the Thummer(tm)-Brand Jammer Produce Sound?
No, it does not produce any sound by itself. It must be connected to a personal computer (Mac, Wintel, or Linux) — via the prototype's included USB cable — to interpret its player's actions and generate musical sounds. This is very similar to an electric guitar, which needs a separate amp to produce useful sound. Future versions of the Thummer(tm)-brand jammer may include internal music synthesizers, but even then, the Thummer(tm)-brand jammer is so small that it has no room for high-quality speakers, so it would still require an external amp (or headphones)."
Thumtronics
"Does the Thummer(tm)-Brand Jammer Produce Sound?
No, it does not produce any sound by itself. It must be connected to a personal computer (Mac, Wintel, or Linux) — via the prototype's included USB cable — to interpret its player's actions and generate musical sounds. This is very similar to an electric guitar, which needs a separate amp to produce useful sound. Future versions of the Thummer(tm)-brand jammer may include internal music synthesizers, but even then, the Thummer(tm)-brand jammer is so small that it has no room for high-quality speakers, so it would still require an external amp (or headphones)."
Thumtronics
Metasonix Wretch Samples
Michael Weeks of www.thewretch.com and www.endmusik.com just sent me links to samples and shots of the Metasonix S1000 Wretch. He is working on the manual for the Wretch and has a protype in his studio. Very cool of him to send this our way. Thanks Michael! Links and some info below.
"A full multi-part demo, with all synths the S-1000, and all drums
processed through the waveshaper and filter: http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000MultiDemo.mp3
Also in the directory - http://thewretch.com/metasonix/ , there are
several other demos of more extended tweaking, just single patterns, or
pattern chains, from a future retro mobius with live knob tweaking.
And there are some other demos of just the filter section, as it is the
same circuit being used in the TM-6.
And of course - mandatory synth pron - some nice close up arty photos
of tubes!
http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000Closeup1.jpg
http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000Closeup2.jpg
http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000Closeup3.jpg
take care,
Michael Weeks
www.endmusik.com
www.thewretch.com"
"A full multi-part demo, with all synths the S-1000, and all drums
processed through the waveshaper and filter: http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000MultiDemo.mp3
Also in the directory - http://thewretch.com/metasonix/ , there are
several other demos of more extended tweaking, just single patterns, or
pattern chains, from a future retro mobius with live knob tweaking.
And there are some other demos of just the filter section, as it is the
same circuit being used in the TM-6.
And of course - mandatory synth pron - some nice close up arty photos
of tubes!
http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000Closeup1.jpg
http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000Closeup2.jpg
http://thewretch.com/metasonix/S1000Closeup3.jpg
take care,
Michael Weeks
www.endmusik.com
www.thewretch.com"
Oberheim OB-8k
Awesome. DVDBORN has a post up on the Oberheim OB-8k. If I remember correctly it was supposed to be a Gibson Oberheim midi controller with a Matrix-6 synth engine built in. The interesting thing is all of the Gibson Oberheim midi controllers at the time were the off-white cream beasties. What I envisioned was something like the Oberheim MC3000 with sliders but I never saw one. Well it looks like DVDBORN somehow found a shot. Title link takes you to the post with a much bigger version of the OB8-k prototype below. Amazing find.
Oberheim MC3000
Oberheim OB-8k Prototype (title link takes you to bigger shot)
Oberheim MC3000
Oberheim OB-8k Prototype (title link takes you to bigger shot)
Visual Analyser
Interesting. I'd love to have an oscilliscope but the price of one always set me back - you can buy a synth for the price of an oscilliscope. I just ran into Visual Analyser. I haven't checked it out yet, but it does look cool. Title link takes you there.
VA is a real time program which simulates a set of electronic instruments, Such as:
VA is a real time program which simulates a set of electronic instruments, Such as:
- Oscilloscope (dual channel, xy, time division, trigger)
- Spectrum Analyser with amplitude and phase display (linear, log, lines, bar, octaves band analysis 1/3, 1/6, 1/9)
- Wave-form generator with "custom functions", triangular, square, sinus, white noise and pulse generation (NO ALIASING)
- Frequency meter (in time and frequency domain) and counter
- Volt meter with rms and peak to peak display
- Filtering (low pass, hi pass, band pass, band reject, notch, "diode", DC removal)
- Memo windows for analysis and file saving of time and spectrum displays
- A TRUE software digital analog conversion (for complete signal reconstruction)
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Analogue Haven Winter NAMM 2006
If you are forunate enought to go to NAMM this year, this is the booth to check out.
"Analogue Haven will exhibit from January 19th until the 22nd at the NAMM show in Anaheim, California. Our booth is # 1787 which is located in Hall E. For details including a floor layout please visit the NAMM show's website.
The following manufacturers and gear will be presented at our booth:
Doepfer - Dieter Doepfer and Sibille Heller - Super Suitcase with all A-100 modules including new A-188-1a/b BBD delay, A-101-9 Universal Vactrol, Switched Capacitor Filter, Zero-Thru Quadrature VCO, Touch Sensor keyboard, R2m Ribbon Controller, PK88 and LMK Professional Controller Keyboards, D3m with D3c drawbar controller, all OEM/DIY products, midi-cv and midi-sync interfaces, midi controllers and MAQ 16/3 midi/analog sequencer.
EAR Group - Mike Brown and Peter Grenader - Livewire and Plan B modules.
Eowave - Emmanuelle Gallin and Marc Sirguy - Eowave Bugs and Persephone.
Future Retro - Jered Flickinger - Revolution, Mobius, XS Expander.
Manikin Electronic - Thorsten Feuerherdt - Memotron and Schrittmacher.
Metasonix - Eric Barbour - S-1000 Wretch, TM/TX series pedals.
Modcan - Bruce Duncan - Series B system with all modules including new Analog Sequencer 54b and Clock 53b.
MOTM - Paul Schreiber - Frac Rack series modules with demonstrations from Robert Rich.
Vermona & HDB - Thomas Haller and Denny Schreckenbach - all gear including DRM, Perfourmer and Retroverb
Other gear being shown by us include:
Analogue Solutions - Vostok and possibly Concussor drum series.
Anyware Instruments - SemTex XL.
Cwejman - Eurorack module prototypes and possibly S1mk2.
Elektron - possibly Machinedrum UW.
Infection Music - Zeit.
Jomox - M-Resonator.
Macbeth Studio Systems - M5.
Sequentix Music Systems - P3.
* plus additional special guests"
"Analogue Haven will exhibit from January 19th until the 22nd at the NAMM show in Anaheim, California. Our booth is # 1787 which is located in Hall E. For details including a floor layout please visit the NAMM show's website.
The following manufacturers and gear will be presented at our booth:
Doepfer - Dieter Doepfer and Sibille Heller - Super Suitcase with all A-100 modules including new A-188-1a/b BBD delay, A-101-9 Universal Vactrol, Switched Capacitor Filter, Zero-Thru Quadrature VCO, Touch Sensor keyboard, R2m Ribbon Controller, PK88 and LMK Professional Controller Keyboards, D3m with D3c drawbar controller, all OEM/DIY products, midi-cv and midi-sync interfaces, midi controllers and MAQ 16/3 midi/analog sequencer.
EAR Group - Mike Brown and Peter Grenader - Livewire and Plan B modules.
Eowave - Emmanuelle Gallin and Marc Sirguy - Eowave Bugs and Persephone.
Future Retro - Jered Flickinger - Revolution, Mobius, XS Expander.
Manikin Electronic - Thorsten Feuerherdt - Memotron and Schrittmacher.
Metasonix - Eric Barbour - S-1000 Wretch, TM/TX series pedals.
Modcan - Bruce Duncan - Series B system with all modules including new Analog Sequencer 54b and Clock 53b.
MOTM - Paul Schreiber - Frac Rack series modules with demonstrations from Robert Rich.
Vermona & HDB - Thomas Haller and Denny Schreckenbach - all gear including DRM, Perfourmer and Retroverb
Other gear being shown by us include:
Analogue Solutions - Vostok and possibly Concussor drum series.
Anyware Instruments - SemTex XL.
Cwejman - Eurorack module prototypes and possibly S1mk2.
Elektron - possibly Machinedrum UW.
Infection Music - Zeit.
Jomox - M-Resonator.
Macbeth Studio Systems - M5.
Sequentix Music Systems - P3.
* plus additional special guests"
Leap Sounds on CDM
This year we had what's known as a leap second, and extra second at 23:59:60. Did you remember to adjust the count to 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,1! : ) Create Digital Music asked readers to submit one second pieces of music in celebration of the leap second. Pretty cool. Title link takes you there.
User Written SE-1X Manual
Now this I haven't seen before. Jfm3 purchased a second hand SE-1X without a manual. When he went looking for a manual to dowload off the net he couldn't find one. So... He wrote his own and put it up for everyone under a Creative Commons license. Way to go! And I thought my little bits here where a bit of work. Title link takes you to the pdf. If you have any feedback on the manual feel free to comment. Below is the Preface.
1 Preface
In November of 2005 I bought an SE-1X second hand on eBay. I was pretty shocked to and that I couldn't download a PDF file of the manual for free. In fact, the charge was relatively high. I posted an admittedly in ammatory message to the Studio Electronics Yahoo! E-group about wanting a manual, I got an angry reply back saying that manuals were expensive to produce, and that it was unreasonable for me to expect
them for free over the Internet. I resolved to write my own manual for the SE-1X and release it under a Creative Commons license. This is that.
Amazing.
1 Preface
In November of 2005 I bought an SE-1X second hand on eBay. I was pretty shocked to and that I couldn't download a PDF file of the manual for free. In fact, the charge was relatively high. I posted an admittedly in ammatory message to the Studio Electronics Yahoo! E-group about wanting a manual, I got an angry reply back saying that manuals were expensive to produce, and that it was unreasonable for me to expect
them for free over the Internet. I resolved to write my own manual for the SE-1X and release it under a Creative Commons license. This is that.
Amazing.
Simmons SDX
Simmons SDX sample based drum system circa 1988. Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Thanks Matt!
Some details from the auction:
"This is the mother of all drum machines. I purchased this machine 3 years ago and have had a blast with it. Although this machine was released by Simmons in 1988, it still reigns as one of the top drum machines in history. It is also good to note that there were only about 250 of these made EVER. The serial number on this machine is 000074, and I have heard of two other machines, one having a serial below mine, and another right above 200. I have personally conversed with Danny Carey of Tool, who owns two of these machines, and he swears that they are among the best in history.
Simmons SDX console with 4 mb of internal RAM (see picture for buttons and layout of the actual board).
7 white-backed trigger pads (1 HexaBass, 5 Zone-Intelligent Pads, 1 Cymbal pad)
1 hi-hat trigger pedal
71 floppy disks contained tons of samples from drum kits to organs to synths, etc
10 guitar cables (one has the alternate connection in the picture below...the 4 pin cable"
Update via the comments:
"bruce mason said...
I own 3 SDX consoles and a few pads .the pads are not based on normal triggering systems but have a thin layer of plastic film with a 3 way spiral circuit [a little like an electric cooker ring but hexagonal and with three lines running in parallel]..on top of this there is a black film with small raised dots which keep it from contacting the circuit until it is struck.when you hit the pad contact is made and a voltage resistance is created across the spiral circuit.this is how sdx calculates the position of the strike as well as the force.depending on these values it selects from a 3x3 matrix of samples..a central area...an area close to the rim and one in between..the width of these zones is programmable..each zone is 3 deep by velocity.also the pitch/ filter brightness/pan position etc/etc/ of the whole drum [1 to 9 samples] can be defined bey velocity and position creating an amazing warping of sounds if desired.absolutely without peer for the weird stuff.analog filters.digital samples.eats the competition alive.the only other serious choice is the ddrum3.end of opinion."
Some details from the auction:
"This is the mother of all drum machines. I purchased this machine 3 years ago and have had a blast with it. Although this machine was released by Simmons in 1988, it still reigns as one of the top drum machines in history. It is also good to note that there were only about 250 of these made EVER. The serial number on this machine is 000074, and I have heard of two other machines, one having a serial below mine, and another right above 200. I have personally conversed with Danny Carey of Tool, who owns two of these machines, and he swears that they are among the best in history.
Simmons SDX console with 4 mb of internal RAM (see picture for buttons and layout of the actual board).
7 white-backed trigger pads (1 HexaBass, 5 Zone-Intelligent Pads, 1 Cymbal pad)
1 hi-hat trigger pedal
71 floppy disks contained tons of samples from drum kits to organs to synths, etc
10 guitar cables (one has the alternate connection in the picture below...the 4 pin cable"
Update via the comments:
"bruce mason said...
I own 3 SDX consoles and a few pads .the pads are not based on normal triggering systems but have a thin layer of plastic film with a 3 way spiral circuit [a little like an electric cooker ring but hexagonal and with three lines running in parallel]..on top of this there is a black film with small raised dots which keep it from contacting the circuit until it is struck.when you hit the pad contact is made and a voltage resistance is created across the spiral circuit.this is how sdx calculates the position of the strike as well as the force.depending on these values it selects from a 3x3 matrix of samples..a central area...an area close to the rim and one in between..the width of these zones is programmable..each zone is 3 deep by velocity.also the pitch/ filter brightness/pan position etc/etc/ of the whole drum [1 to 9 samples] can be defined bey velocity and position creating an amazing warping of sounds if desired.absolutely without peer for the weird stuff.analog filters.digital samples.eats the competition alive.the only other serious choice is the ddrum3.end of opinion."
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
The Hitchhiker's Synth to the Galaxy
Meet Deep Thought, an Oakley Based Analog Modular currently up for auction. Title link takes you to the shots. More on the synth pulled from the auction below. Via this post on VSE.
"I designed and built this Synthesiser myself, with Oakley Sound System modules and a lot of ear-bending with Tony Allgood (Oakley).
It has taken me an absolute age to build, and the Schaffer Front panel cost me 450 Euros alone. I also designed that. The patch panel uses the same principle as the Synthi AKS patch bay, in that voltages are summed on the rows, with patch pins having resistors in, with summing amplifiers on each row. This means that (say) the outputs of two LFOs can effectively be mixed on the bay and output to one of the pre-routed destinations. The Synth, which I called DEEP THOUGHT, (after Hitch hikers Guide to the Galaxy and took nearly as long to build as finding the ultimate answer- Oh and I was 42 when I started this thing!), was designed to have a fixed internal routing, but I got frustrated by those limitations, so I built a jack-panel into DEEP THOUGHT's top, where the internal routing came out to. This means it is not hard wired on the inside anymore, so you have to route it on the top for the synth to work. This gives much greater flexibility. I think I should have kept the internal hard-wiring and used the jacks as by-pass switches, but anyone with any savvy can do that.
Every module works. I have used screened cable for audio inside too. The power supply is well beefy enough to power the synth without it breaking into a sweat. In fact the supply is bolted to a huge piece of car-panel sheet metal, so you can have DEEP THOUGHT on all day, and it barely gets warm.
The synth is basically configured as a Stereo Pair of twin VCO/ twin LFO synths, but since the wiring is now so open, it can be whatever you like, within the limits of the wiring.
Each of the VCOs (4 of them) are Moog style Oscillators, with Oakleys proprietary tuning stability. Terrifically stable, and you don't need them to warm up for hours before they are useable. Really powerful sound, especially in unison! Wow. The pulse width is continuously variable and I have used a dedicated LFO for each pulse width modulation on each oscillator, which gives this synth a total of 8 LFOs. the PWM LFOs do not output to the patch-panel, though, since they are dedicated. The waveforms are Pulse, Saw, Triangle and Sine.
The two filters on the synth are a juicy Moog style ladder filter (left) and a precise State Variable filter (right). Control voltages for each are accessible from the patch-panel.
The patch panel has an led on each row output to indicate the activity on that row, and it's a great way of keeping tabs on what is going on in a complex patch-and the patches can get preettty complex!
The sample-hold clock is controlled from the patch-panel, as is its' sample signal. The output of it comes back to patch panel, and can be routed to, say, filters cvs etc
There are two PHASERS, one for each output, if you configure the synth in STEREO mode, of you can stack them or put them in serial. They have varible Q and a built in LFO for sweeping, as indicated by a cute bi-colour LED. DEEP THOUGHT is scattered with bi-colour LEDs, actually, and it's great in the dark (but get the patch done first!)
There are four VCA/EG combinations at the bottom of the synth. Two are hard-wired to the outputs, the other two are accessible from the patch panel. Each filter has its' own ADSR type envelope, hard wired internally, and dedicated to each filter.
The midi interface is configured for channel one, and also has the master tune facility, so once your VCOs are where you want them, you can just shift all four to match your others synths, and they keep there relative pitch tracking perfectly. There is also a cool retrigger/glide function.
The Noise unit features White and pink noise and an exceptionally useful INFRA RED output, which is a very low frequency random CV which outputs separately to the patch-panel.
If you use a Sequencer like Logic, you can control DEEP THOUGHT (via the midi interface) by use of HYPERDRAW in LOGIC so you can use modulation sweeps, velocity contours, and CC102, which can be assigned by you in LOGIC (or CUBASE, I'm sure) for any use. In fact, since the outputs of each of those HYPERDRAW curves manifest themselves as variable control voltages at the patch panel, you can assign them to whatever you like! Programmable filter sweeps are the obvious 1st choice!
The patch-pins are new genuine EMS ones, with a few non-resistance pins-just shorting type.
All the boards were built from the ground up by me, using quality components from RS and Rapid. It has cost me thousands of pounds and too many hours to count.
There's such a lot of meat on this synth that it's almost impossible to be sure I've remembered to mention everything, but anyone seriously intending to buy it, will know from the pictures just what it can do. Any (sensible) questions I will attempt to answer.
Mechanically, the big steel backplate just screws off, and it and the power supply just unplugs from the internal wiring (via coded suitable sturdy plugs), so the internal wiring is easily accessible for maintanance or modification.
So, to the niggles-:
1) I didn't wire the LEDs so they all shine red for positive voltages! So they vary from RED to GREEN, on positive (or negative) voltages and a couple of the patch LEDs glow with nothing plugged into the row, (which is the earthing issue I spoke of elsewhere), but those rows DO sum correctly anyway, and the LEDS do reflect what's on those rows when plugged into, so it isn't a serious issue.
2) The bypass switch on the right hand PHASER is wired wrong and doesn't bypass, and I just don't have the time to sort it. Should be a brainless fix, though.
3) The patch-panel had to be mounted so that the end collumn (EXTERNAL OUT) is shorted and doesn't work. This could easily be sorted by finding a different mounting for the patch-panel on the Schaffer panel. The patch-panel on that collumn works in itself-it's just the mounting screw! However, there is a spare socket on the top which could be wired for EXTERNAL OUT if you want.
4) a couple of pots are starting to sound a bit scratchy and could do with spraying, but still perfectly functional.
5) This thing is HEAVEY, 25Kg. The steel backplate is the big culprit, but those lovely FRENCH POLISHED (by me!) side cheeks are REAL solid HARDWOOD MAHOGANY!! So THEY weigh too. "
"I designed and built this Synthesiser myself, with Oakley Sound System modules and a lot of ear-bending with Tony Allgood (Oakley).
It has taken me an absolute age to build, and the Schaffer Front panel cost me 450 Euros alone. I also designed that. The patch panel uses the same principle as the Synthi AKS patch bay, in that voltages are summed on the rows, with patch pins having resistors in, with summing amplifiers on each row. This means that (say) the outputs of two LFOs can effectively be mixed on the bay and output to one of the pre-routed destinations. The Synth, which I called DEEP THOUGHT, (after Hitch hikers Guide to the Galaxy and took nearly as long to build as finding the ultimate answer- Oh and I was 42 when I started this thing!), was designed to have a fixed internal routing, but I got frustrated by those limitations, so I built a jack-panel into DEEP THOUGHT's top, where the internal routing came out to. This means it is not hard wired on the inside anymore, so you have to route it on the top for the synth to work. This gives much greater flexibility. I think I should have kept the internal hard-wiring and used the jacks as by-pass switches, but anyone with any savvy can do that.
Every module works. I have used screened cable for audio inside too. The power supply is well beefy enough to power the synth without it breaking into a sweat. In fact the supply is bolted to a huge piece of car-panel sheet metal, so you can have DEEP THOUGHT on all day, and it barely gets warm.
The synth is basically configured as a Stereo Pair of twin VCO/ twin LFO synths, but since the wiring is now so open, it can be whatever you like, within the limits of the wiring.
Each of the VCOs (4 of them) are Moog style Oscillators, with Oakleys proprietary tuning stability. Terrifically stable, and you don't need them to warm up for hours before they are useable. Really powerful sound, especially in unison! Wow. The pulse width is continuously variable and I have used a dedicated LFO for each pulse width modulation on each oscillator, which gives this synth a total of 8 LFOs. the PWM LFOs do not output to the patch-panel, though, since they are dedicated. The waveforms are Pulse, Saw, Triangle and Sine.
The two filters on the synth are a juicy Moog style ladder filter (left) and a precise State Variable filter (right). Control voltages for each are accessible from the patch-panel.
The patch panel has an led on each row output to indicate the activity on that row, and it's a great way of keeping tabs on what is going on in a complex patch-and the patches can get preettty complex!
The sample-hold clock is controlled from the patch-panel, as is its' sample signal. The output of it comes back to patch panel, and can be routed to, say, filters cvs etc
There are two PHASERS, one for each output, if you configure the synth in STEREO mode, of you can stack them or put them in serial. They have varible Q and a built in LFO for sweeping, as indicated by a cute bi-colour LED. DEEP THOUGHT is scattered with bi-colour LEDs, actually, and it's great in the dark (but get the patch done first!)
There are four VCA/EG combinations at the bottom of the synth. Two are hard-wired to the outputs, the other two are accessible from the patch panel. Each filter has its' own ADSR type envelope, hard wired internally, and dedicated to each filter.
The midi interface is configured for channel one, and also has the master tune facility, so once your VCOs are where you want them, you can just shift all four to match your others synths, and they keep there relative pitch tracking perfectly. There is also a cool retrigger/glide function.
The Noise unit features White and pink noise and an exceptionally useful INFRA RED output, which is a very low frequency random CV which outputs separately to the patch-panel.
If you use a Sequencer like Logic, you can control DEEP THOUGHT (via the midi interface) by use of HYPERDRAW in LOGIC so you can use modulation sweeps, velocity contours, and CC102, which can be assigned by you in LOGIC (or CUBASE, I'm sure) for any use. In fact, since the outputs of each of those HYPERDRAW curves manifest themselves as variable control voltages at the patch panel, you can assign them to whatever you like! Programmable filter sweeps are the obvious 1st choice!
The patch-pins are new genuine EMS ones, with a few non-resistance pins-just shorting type.
All the boards were built from the ground up by me, using quality components from RS and Rapid. It has cost me thousands of pounds and too many hours to count.
There's such a lot of meat on this synth that it's almost impossible to be sure I've remembered to mention everything, but anyone seriously intending to buy it, will know from the pictures just what it can do. Any (sensible) questions I will attempt to answer.
Mechanically, the big steel backplate just screws off, and it and the power supply just unplugs from the internal wiring (via coded suitable sturdy plugs), so the internal wiring is easily accessible for maintanance or modification.
So, to the niggles-:
1) I didn't wire the LEDs so they all shine red for positive voltages! So they vary from RED to GREEN, on positive (or negative) voltages and a couple of the patch LEDs glow with nothing plugged into the row, (which is the earthing issue I spoke of elsewhere), but those rows DO sum correctly anyway, and the LEDS do reflect what's on those rows when plugged into, so it isn't a serious issue.
2) The bypass switch on the right hand PHASER is wired wrong and doesn't bypass, and I just don't have the time to sort it. Should be a brainless fix, though.
3) The patch-panel had to be mounted so that the end collumn (EXTERNAL OUT) is shorted and doesn't work. This could easily be sorted by finding a different mounting for the patch-panel on the Schaffer panel. The patch-panel on that collumn works in itself-it's just the mounting screw! However, there is a spare socket on the top which could be wired for EXTERNAL OUT if you want.
4) a couple of pots are starting to sound a bit scratchy and could do with spraying, but still perfectly functional.
5) This thing is HEAVEY, 25Kg. The steel backplate is the big culprit, but those lovely FRENCH POLISHED (by me!) side cheeks are REAL solid HARDWOOD MAHOGANY!! So THEY weigh too. "
Kjaehus Spectra Softsynth
Interesting additive and subtractive synth with resynthesis capabilities. Title link takes you to the site with samples and specs. Via Sonic State News.
"features a 250 partial additive engine with up to 8 detune-able oscillators per Voice. Up to 100 harmonies can be made on a timeline for re-synthesis and harmony morphing. An audio analyzer is available to convert wave files into harmonies. The subtractive part includes 12 analog modeled filters with resonance, two of those to self-oscillation."
"features a 250 partial additive engine with up to 8 detune-able oscillators per Voice. Up to 100 harmonies can be made on a timeline for re-synthesis and harmony morphing. An audio analyzer is available to convert wave files into harmonies. The subtractive part includes 12 analog modeled filters with resonance, two of those to self-oscillation."
Bob Moog Interview on Robotspeak
If you haven't seen this one, do check it out. Amazing interview that touches on Buchla, Mortin Subotnik, Krause, Leon Theremin, the KGB and more. Some fascinating bits of history I never knew. Intriging and quite funny at times. There is also a great intro that captures images of what Bob meant to a lot of us.
"Sometimes I like to imagine what it would be like if Bob Moog were my grandfather. We’d hang out on the front porch of his modest North Carolina home and discuss our relative preferences for saw waves over square ones. It’s a fantasy that warms my geek heart — the king of analog synthesis, the gentle genius beloved by electronic musicians the world-over, adopting me into the Moog clan and giving me handmade theremins for my birthday."
"Sometimes I like to imagine what it would be like if Bob Moog were my grandfather. We’d hang out on the front porch of his modest North Carolina home and discuss our relative preferences for saw waves over square ones. It’s a fantasy that warms my geek heart — the king of analog synthesis, the gentle genius beloved by electronic musicians the world-over, adopting me into the Moog clan and giving me handmade theremins for my birthday."
The Webcor
Now this is an interesting little piece. Title link takes you to the shots saved from the auction. Text below - not going to let this one slip away into the ether. Check out the radio dial. Talk about a one piece band; just turn the radio on and play away. : ) Via Music Thing.
"HERE is one of the must bizzar O & interesting instruments I ever found at any point of my life. I call it my...Funky comodina!
I came across rheem keyboards, farfisa, rare technics synths, but the organ keyboards are always the winners on oddities, and today I present you the mother load of all oddity’s
"The music machine” by WEBCOR this little organ is probably the first workstation ever build, has a mixer build in has a tape recorder deck, radio FM AM, on board yes ...As I told you,crazy! The mic is also included and it is camouflaged on the tip of the antenna, a super SPY accessorius, on board rhythm section with 5 presets, really "fat" with a really "heavy" bottom and cool "crispy high hats"
Absolute beat box master. The organ section has a vibrato which sounds teremining hunting.The tape sounds fantastic, build in neve "like it" vumeters so cool, build in mic /aux mic in /headphones output, treble/bass EQ section ,and one of the coolest things is a real workstation! aspire to have a phono/mag preamp section, this is to much for a little organ build on the end of the sixties, yes you are right!!! Is made in JAPAN, rare because this is a Chicago base all American company, which used to make electronic bits for "Hammond" when they just start to make organs. WEBCORD which is famous for his wire tube decks have the expertise to make organs, why not a organ to have "all" including a radio, and if that’s not enough put a microphone a tape deck and not the last a input phono /line in preamp!!
Hey don’t forget the headphones, if you want to record the mic,organ and the rhythm section just hit record on your deck if you wanna use the deck to record the radio? Presto!
Each section has a Vol control AKA mixer then if you want to add some EQ, you have your treble & bass controls. A matrix switch which works like the UREI 1176 ratio switch control.
The 5-matrix drum machine works the same way and is interactive as the other matrix. The keyboard is in great shape and is an absolute electronic jewel, very rare, and I have never see a synth like this one before it is amazing, big booty octave section, is made in a very jetsons eames plastic. "
"HERE is one of the must bizzar O & interesting instruments I ever found at any point of my life. I call it my...Funky comodina!
I came across rheem keyboards, farfisa, rare technics synths, but the organ keyboards are always the winners on oddities, and today I present you the mother load of all oddity’s
"The music machine” by WEBCOR this little organ is probably the first workstation ever build, has a mixer build in has a tape recorder deck, radio FM AM, on board yes ...As I told you,crazy! The mic is also included and it is camouflaged on the tip of the antenna, a super SPY accessorius, on board rhythm section with 5 presets, really "fat" with a really "heavy" bottom and cool "crispy high hats"
Absolute beat box master. The organ section has a vibrato which sounds teremining hunting.The tape sounds fantastic, build in neve "like it" vumeters so cool, build in mic /aux mic in /headphones output, treble/bass EQ section ,and one of the coolest things is a real workstation! aspire to have a phono/mag preamp section, this is to much for a little organ build on the end of the sixties, yes you are right!!! Is made in JAPAN, rare because this is a Chicago base all American company, which used to make electronic bits for "Hammond" when they just start to make organs. WEBCORD which is famous for his wire tube decks have the expertise to make organs, why not a organ to have "all" including a radio, and if that’s not enough put a microphone a tape deck and not the last a input phono /line in preamp!!
Hey don’t forget the headphones, if you want to record the mic,organ and the rhythm section just hit record on your deck if you wanna use the deck to record the radio? Presto!
Each section has a Vol control AKA mixer then if you want to add some EQ, you have your treble & bass controls. A matrix switch which works like the UREI 1176 ratio switch control.
The 5-matrix drum machine works the same way and is interactive as the other matrix. The keyboard is in great shape and is an absolute electronic jewel, very rare, and I have never see a synth like this one before it is amazing, big booty octave section, is made in a very jetsons eames plastic. "
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Octopus by Night
Gabriel Seher of Genoqs sent me this absolutely beautiful shot of the Genoqs Octopus. My new wallpaper, btw. Title link takes you to the main Genoqs site with updates - read: even more shots. The cream white Octopus on the front page has to be seen - it really is a work a work of art. It's great to see design like this. It accentuates the wonder and inspiration a tool like this can bring to your music. Absolute beauty.
Click for bigger image.
Click for bigger image.
The Syntha-sound!
Ok, where do I get me one of these. Check out the overlay. Via Machinesound. Title link takes you to the post with a link to the Eboard Museum in Viktring, Austria. Tons of gear shots worth checking out there. Man I want one of these because, you know... according to that cover, it "sounds like FUN!"
New Yamaha CS-80 Shots
DVDBORN put up some nice shots of the Yamaha CS-80. Title link takes you there.
EMS Synthi Page
Interesting EMS Synthi page popped up on AH. Title link takes you there. Included are shots of an EMS VCS3 with silver knobs, Synthi 100 and info sheet (pictured below), Synthi demo record and sleeve, and an typed letter response to an order inquiry with a reference to Pink Floyd. Note the reference to the BBC in the sheet below. My guess is it's the Synthi 100 that made its way into the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop.
Ultimate Casio SK Site
Title link takes you to a Casio SK site posted in the comments of my Brothers Separated at Birth post. Didn't realize how many different models were out there. The page has images, samples, info and of course circuit bending.
The Beefy SK-60
The Beefy SK-60
MIDI Music - 1986
Click here for an episode of Computer Chronicles from 1986 on MIDI Music. Amazing how far we have come. $100 for a singe CD-R. : ) Links to video stream on on the left pane when you get there. Via this post on VSE.
Computers and music, MIDI machines and interfaces, and music composition software.
Guests: Chris French, Music Software; Bob Moore, Hybrid Arts; David Schwartz, Compusonics; Chris Potter, Mimetics; Curtis Sasaki, Apple; Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Gary Leuenberger, Midi Revolution
Products/Demos: Casio SK-1 Synthesizer, Atari ST, Activision's Music Studio, ADAP Sampler, DSP-1000, Apple II GS, Ensoniq Sound Chip, Soundscape, Commodore AmigaEZ Track, Kidnotes
Computers and music, MIDI machines and interfaces, and music composition software.
Guests: Chris French, Music Software; Bob Moore, Hybrid Arts; David Schwartz, Compusonics; Chris Potter, Mimetics; Curtis Sasaki, Apple; Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Gary Leuenberger, Midi Revolution
Products/Demos: Casio SK-1 Synthesizer, Atari ST, Activision's Music Studio, ADAP Sampler, DSP-1000, Apple II GS, Ensoniq Sound Chip, Soundscape, Commodore AmigaEZ Track, Kidnotes
Monday, January 02, 2006
The Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music
Interesting. Never heard of this double LP before. Via gm on AH.
"Excellent 2-LP boxed set as in introduction to and survey of electronic music, circa late 1960s.
All work realised on the Moog Series III Synthesiser.
Apart from the first and last track listed, each section is broken down into various examples. "
"Excellent 2-LP boxed set as in introduction to and survey of electronic music, circa late 1960s.
All work realised on the Moog Series III Synthesiser.
Apart from the first and last track listed, each section is broken down into various examples. "
Octave CAT Demo Disk
Octave CAT demo record up on the bay. But before you bid, check out the free dowloadable copy and more on Audio Playground, posted back on 11/09/05. Title link takes you there. Also check out the Serge Musician's Tape, posted on 10/13/05.
ARP and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Nice video of Philip Dodds (head of engineering for ARP) and the ARP 2500 in the film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Click here then here for a couple of interviews with Dodds on the Rhodes Chroma site that mentions how he ended up in the actual film and a "close encounter" with George Lucas who came to check out the set after completing the post production of Star Wars. Amazing bit of synth history. If you haven't actually seen Close Encounters of the Third kind, rent it. It's a great sci-fi film of the era.
Brothers Separated at Birth?
Update: More keeps coming in the comments. Make sure to check em out.
Update: And the twin via the comments of the post:
Casio Rap-Man
Interesting Flickr shot of the Casio SK1 and the Realistic Rap-Master with a cpation states the Rap-Master was a copy of the SK1. Who knows... I bet some circuit benders out there would. If you know, feel free to comment.
Update: And the twin via the comments of the post:
Casio Rap-Man
Interesting Flickr shot of the Casio SK1 and the Realistic Rap-Master with a cpation states the Rap-Master was a copy of the SK1. Who knows... I bet some circuit benders out there would. If you know, feel free to comment.
Yamaha CS2X - New Flickr Shots
Title link takes you to a couple more. Love the blue knobs, and I actually like how these shots are blurry. Adds a little warmth to the crisp digital of the synth.
DVDBORN
David Vanenborn sent me an email announcing a new synth blog he just set up inspired by Matrixsynth! Very cool. I am flattered. It looks like he is off to a great start including a post on the Fairlight CMI Demo Tape with an mp3 sample. Definitely worth checking out. Pictured below is the first shot on his first post. Title link takes you there. Update: DVDBORN added to my blogroll on the right.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Analog Synthesis in Nuts and Volts Magazine
Title link takes you to Nuts and Volts magazine. This month's issue has an article on Analog Music Synthesizers by Thoms Henry. There are also more articles by Thomas Henry available in pdf format on the site via this link. Enjoy. Via John L Marshall who gracefully hosts the Pacific Northwest Synthesizer meeting each year. Thanks John!
Stefan Trippler 2006 - Mono Evolver Keyboard Sample
Title link takes you to Stefan Trippler's motto for 2006 expressed via one of two prototype Mono Evolver Keyboards. Right click and save. Enjoy. : )
Chamberlin Rythmate Videos
Title link takes you to Roth Handle studio's Chamberlin Rythmate page with info, shots and video. Via Mattias on AH. We finally get to see and hear Mattias as well. Nice grin. : )
Cockos Incorporated
I previously posted on Ninjam, an online jamming program with latency in mind. Now Cockos (nice name btw), has come out with Reaper a "multi-track audio prototyping and recording environment." Title link takes you to the Cockos site where you can also find Jesusonic, a realtime programmable effects processor as well as some non-music utilities. Interesting bit is I didn't realize this software was from Justin Frankel, the man behind Winamp. Thanks to Music Thing.
Aliens Project Toy of the Month - EMU XL-1
The Aliens Project January 2006 toy of the month is the EMU XL-1. Title link takes you there. Includes a couple of shots and sixteen samples. Via Machinesound.
Bob Moog Inteview - June 2004
Happy New Year everyone! Hope it was a great one. On to 2006! Title link takes you to a Bob Moog interview from the 2004 issue of Music Mart. It's a good one. Via Giles Ward on AH.
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MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH
© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH
