MATRIXSYNTH

Inside the RSF Kobol

Title link takes you to one more image sent my way via MM.

Previous Kobol posts

Leketøy for voksne

flickr by Lars-Erik Dahle.

MOOG Little Phatty

The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star. YouTube via Barisaxman89.

This is actually one of two videos. Title link takes you to Failed Muso where you will find the second video, a current live version of this song that is simply amazing. Note the lead singer is the legendary producer Trevor Horn. This original video featured a MOOG Minimoog and the current live version features the MOOG Minimoog Voyager. Pretty cool. Anyone spot the others synths? : )

Marion MSR2

No title link, just this shot pulled via this auction.

"Up for auction is a used MARION #MSR2 modular synth rack mount. Marion was founded by Tom Oberheim in 1993. It is similar to a Matrix6R. The unit turns on but is untested. It comes from a user who kept his equipment in good working order so I expect it to function well. No manual is included."

I didn't realize it was toted as a "modular" synth. The Oberheim Matrix-6 and of course Matrix-12 are sometimes alluded to as modular-like in that they have extensive modulation capabilities via their "matrix modulation." I wonder if the MSR2 is straight forward enough to program without a manual. The one thing I liked about the Matrix-6 was its relative simplicity. Everything was only one layer deep - no submenus. Everything logically flowed from left to right and all parameters were printed on the surface for easy reference. Some of the trigger modes and modulation sources such as the Ramps and Tracking Generators could use the manual to full grasp them, however in general it's a pretty straight forward synth and you could get away without the manual and just explore. The Matrix-6 was my first and favorite synth. Hence the Matrix in Matrixsynth. I never picked up an MSR2 to compare.

Via Jimmy.

Update via Jimmy in the comments: "It was "Modular" because it had room for two voice cards - the 8-voice analog matrix-style, and another that was planned - though none were ever produced."

I remember this now. I did a little searching and found this great SOS article on the MSR2. According to Tom Oberheim in the article, "'The MSR2 is a modular synthesizer comprising a 1U mainframe and two plug-in cards, or modules. The card modules utilise a simple connection system which provides MIDI, DC power and audio out. Effectively, each module card is a complete synthesizer, so there's no limitation as to what we can do in the future, and we plan to make the architecture open to third-party developers. Not only can we build synthesizer boards using different synthesis technologies, we could also build boards for effects like reverb, or we could put in a hard-disk recorder for specialised applications.'"

Beepworld - MIDI303

"MIDI303 Interface for TB-303, TR-606, SH-101 and many other Synths .."

Title link takes you there.

Analog Haven Videos on Sonic State

Videos currently include:

Analogue Haven Synth tour
EAR Research modular
Future Retro XS
JoMox new stuff
Livewire Modular
Memotron digital Mellotron
Surfin Sequencer
Cynthia Industries Zeroscillator

Title link takes you there.

Also be sure to check out the rest of Sonic State's NAMM coverage.

MOOG Little Phatty Goes Accordion

Title link takes you to the video on Sonic State.

Dave Smith on the BoomChik and Evolver

Title link takes you to a video from this years' NAMM show on Sonic State. Dave calls out it is not an MPC style drum machine but rather a more traditional box with the focus being on new sounds.

Yamaha YC45D

I originally posted this on MATRIXSYNTH-B, and figured I'd put it up here as well. Click here for shots pulled via this auction.

The Yamaha YC45D is an organ, however I'm wondering if it had any synth-like capabilities, particularly in the bass section. You can find the manual here. If anyone knows more about the YC45D, feel free to comment.

I love this image from the manual.

via Loscha.

Update via Kitana in the comments: "The famous "Bionic" sound effect for the Six Million Dollar Man television show was made using a Yamaha YC45D Organ and a Morley Electrostatic Delay Line.

- SynSynth"

The Casio PT-1

No title link. Just this shot and details pulled via this auction.

"This is one of the cutest little synthesizers Casio ever made. It dates from 1981, and is the big brother of the Famous VL-1. You will know the sound of the PT-1 and VL-1 from famous songs like "Da Da Da" by the German group "Trio" (recycled into many different advertizing jingles over the last 26 years - most recently in Australia as "Sa-Ka-Ta"). It was also used in countless songs as a novelty fill in sound (The Bloodhound Gang have used their PT-1 on most of their albums).

This casio has been lovingly looked after, and is in a lot better condition than when I got her, she's been cleaned inside and out, and the key and button contacts were cleaned about 6 months ago, so, it works reliably. The batteries have never leaked, although, sadly, I received it with no battery cover, so, it has never had one to hold in it's 4 x AA power source - but this is not a problem as the batteries stay in. There is also a slider cap missing from one of the controls on the front. You can move this around to be which ever control you need it to be.

The PT-1 has all the famous beats of the VL-1, and most of the same sounds. It also has little letters in the plastic under the keys to let you know which notes you are playing (C D E F G). I don't know of any other small casios that have this feature. It's not very useful if you are an experienced player, but, again, cuteness. The PT-1 has an interesting set of capacitor filters and single transistor gates which drive the percussion section and melody tone generator, and, although the heart of the synthisizer is Digital (using Walsh Tones), there are a great many things which can be modified and changed to alter the sound (to make it harsher or smoother, depending on your tastes). The "bends" which can be accomplished (routing the drum tones to the pitch of the main instrument to make arpeggios and such) are varied, and don't require too much experimentation to get good results."

via Loscha