The Best Thing at the Messe

Title link takes you to the video on Sonic State. This is pretty cool.

Ableton and Cycling '74 Partner

Cycling '74 and Ableton to Codevelop New Products

The world of creative media software tools is about to get a lot more interesting. A new strategic partnership between Ableton and Cycling '74 promises exciting developments on the horizon for digital media creators, producers, and performers. Ableton CEO and cofounder Gerhard Behles and Cycling '74 CEO David Zicarelli are pleased to announce this unique alliance between the two dynamic and innovative audio/video software companies.

"We've been excited by the idea of bringing the worlds of Ableton and Cycling '74 together for a long time," says Behles, who has been a fan of Zicarelli's company for many years. "In our own musical work," Behles says, "we have been avid users of Cycling '74's products since long before Ableton existed."

Behles and the rest of the Ableton team have long been inspired by Cycling '74's commitment to empowering creative people. "Cycling '74 represents the idea that artists should be free to create the tools to match their unique creative vision—that the making of the tools can become part of the creative process," says Behles. "That's an inspiring thought, and we admire the Cycling '74 team for delivering on this fascinating promise."

Zicarelli was first introduced to Ableton through musician, composer and conceptualist Robert Henke. "Robert was a big Max user," says Zicarelli, referring to Cycling '74's graphical development tool for music and multimedia. "He introduced us to the people at Ableton, and he suggested almost immediately after Live was released that he would love a way for the companies' products to work together." Zicarelli found Henke's suggestions hard to resist. "Robert can be very persuasive when he talks about what he would love to see."

Zicarelli expresses admiration for the care and sheer effort that has gone into the creation of Ableton's flagship product, Live. "One of the things we've come to appreciate about Live," says Zicarelli, "is that its ease of use comes out of incredible attention to detail. Ableton works very hard to make it seem as if the software just works. That has been very inspiring to try to apply to our own product development."

Behles describes the creative vision and hopeful spirit behind the collaboration: "We feel the Cycling '74 approach to designing software for the creative community perfectly complements Ableton's. By integrating the technologies in a meaningful way, both companies can stay focused on their key strengths, avoid diluting their product philosophies, and bring the best of both worlds to the creative user."

Modular Synth, Closeup

flickr by Overand.

microq

flickr by still_burn_his_lips

Nord Wave PDF

Title link takes you to the pdf on Clavia's website. I mirrored a copy here.

Superbooth Tour on Sonic State

Title link takes you to the video.

Unfortunately it sounds like this is the 6th and final Superbooth according to Andreas, the host of the tour (pictured). At the end of the video he states he will be taking next year off and should be back the following year.

Superbooth website

Broker/Dealer - Opening Night Music Video

YouTube via ghostlyintl. Sent my way via moni. Make sure to watch this one through. Massive gear p*rn towards the end.

all this synth to video hype

Via loscha:

"A lot of digital cameras these days have Video Out jacks on them. I've been experimenting, running mine though effects units, filters and so on. It still sounds a little bit too much like when you accidentally plug the audio to the video out on your DVD unit, but, I'm working on that.

A keen Lynch fan reference in that title....."

Title link takes you to the mp3.

Apparat Organ Quartet - Konami

YouTube via ProphetV. Anyone know more about these guys? I found it on Wiel's Time Capsule where you'll find another video. Apparat Organ Quartet page

Update via the comments:
"The band doesn't have a webpage but they are on MySpace and there is also stub on wiki about them."

KORG DSS-1 Sample

Title link takes you to a KORG DSS-1 track - "Don't know yet." It was performed by Henry and mixed by daddio of tapewarm. There are some very interesting textures. The DSS-1 always fascinated me. You could draw your own waveforms on in by adjusting a slider over time. I remember playing with one once and was fascinated by the waveforms I could come up with. It's also said to have the best filter.

Custom Synth KORG Poly 61

Just saw this when I put up the previous post.

Restoration Decals

via this auction. Note these are from Custom Synth, makers of this white Polysix and more.

Sayer's Studio

Title link takes you there. Be sure to check out the history page. It's an interesting read on how he first got into synths and how his skills and studio developed. There are a ton of studio shots on site.

via daddio.

Making Beats In The Studio With Charles

YouTube via drewtoothpaste.

Remember Charles and his licking problem? Here he is with drewtoothpaste and the Akai MPC2500.

MusoTalk 60 - Waldorf Microwave

YouTube via musotalk.

Description Babblefished: "The best bass Synthesizer with the fastest envelopes under the sun is for me the whale villages Microwave. These “Studio legend” comes from the Eifel and from there the world conquered. Shortly there is interview as remuneration for the VST table reserved for regulars with the acoustic threatening window blind to the Microwave with tungsten a Franke of Waldord Music. Further information on www.musotalk.de"

Analog Notes

Title link takes you to Analog Notes, a great resource site for modular synths. The following is just an excerpt from the site.

"Modular analog synthesizers are musical instruments that are typically made up of discreet analog electrical circuits. These circuits may be mounted on individual panels, or may be grouped together in various chassis configurations.

While some manufacturers produce modules in sizes that no others make, there are three physical and electrical formats that are used by more than one module manufacturer - "Euro-Rack", the format used by Analogue Systems, Analogue Solutions, Doepfer and Plan B (with minor differences), "Frac-Rack", the format pioneered by PAiA and used by Blacet, Wiard and others, and "MOTM", used by Synth Tech and many other makers. Euro-Rack and Frac-Rack formats use 3U (5.25") of vertical space. MOTM uses 5U (8.75") of vertical space. Typically, this means that the Euro- and Frac-Rack modules use smaller knobs and jacks, while the MOTM modules use larger ones.

In general, european modules use 12v power and modules from the United States use 15v. There are exceptions, as well as some newer modules that use 5v power.

* Modular Synthesizer Comparison Chart
* Synthesizers.com form factor list

One of the biggest decisions you can make is whether to purchase full kits, parts, or pre-built modules. The main analog module kit supplier is Blacet, with a couple available from PAiA. Various parts are available from CGS (Ken Stone), Music From Outer Space, Oakley and others. Most other manufacturers sell complete modules. NOTE: Sadly, as of December 2006, Synthesis Technology will no longer provide full kits, although boards and panels should be made available in February 2007."

Yamaha SY-2

via this auction: "This was yamaha's very first entry into the synthesizer world. This keyboard came out before the popular CS series. This monophonic VCO synthesizer has 28 presets all of which can be edited, but not saved. The SY-2 comes with its original stand legs, which are inside the case (see pics). These legs screw onto the bottom of the keyboard."

Interesting coincidence this showed up after this post. Title link takes you to more shots.

SCI Prophet 600

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. Note the new wood side panels from SYNTHWOOD.COM. Note the "Fluent MIDI Spoken Here" in the other shots. The Prophet 600 was the first synth with MIDI. An interesting bit of trivia on this particular unit, is according to Stephen, the seller, this was John Bowen's Prophet 600. The first synth with MIDI owned by one of the people at Sequential when it came out.

Korg VC10

- Oscillators=1 carrier+1 input
- LFO= Vibrato w/rate
- VCA=Mix level wet-dry
- Effects=ensemble
- Keys=32
- External pitch control CV input
- made from 78-82

Title link takes you to more shots via this auction.

Minimoog Flyer

via this auction.

Vintage Synth Pins

No title link. Just the shot via this auction.

Anyone know where the ARP 2500 module shot on the bottom left came from?

PPG Wave 2.2

No title link. Just the shots and details via this auction.

Details: "PPG Wave 2.2 with factory midi. The Wave 2.2 is an 8-bit wavetable synthesizer that has 32 tables each containing 64 waveforms that you can sweep through. These 64 waveforms can be changed in real time via an EG, mod-wheel, after-touch, velocity, etc. To give even more depth to the sound the two oscillators per voice can be de-tuned and filtered by the infamous SSM2044 filter chips. The PPG Wave 2.2 has a very unique and beautiful sound with no equivalent even with most recent and sophisticated machines! It can produce bright and tingly sounds that cut through a mix like a hot knife through butter. But it is also capable of smooth, glassy, ethereal pads and much more."

Morton Subotnick Live in San Fransisco

"Morton Subotnick's Until Spring Revisited is performed by Subotnick and Miguel Frasconi on three laptop computers. The performance is based on the idiosyncratic vocabulary of pulsating and sculpting gestures that the composer has developed during the last 40 years. Subotnick's software interprets the position, speed, and gestural quality of the mouse movement, as well as which keys are pressed and when they are pressed, and translates that information into musical variation and spatial motion. Two large-scale video screens display the hands of the two performers manipulating keyboard and mouse.

At the same time, Sue Costabile, photographer and light artist, improvises a video performance using a laptop, lightpad and digital video camera to build abstract, layered worlds of light and texture out of hand-painted papers, photographs and fabrics.

Asphodel and RML are pleased to present Until Spring Revisited, a full evening-length work of surround sound and projected images that together create an immersive audio and visual experience."

Two shows April 6. Title link takes you to more info. Via daddio on the AH list.

Previous Morton Subotnick posts

More Details on the Nord Wave

Title link takes you to more details recently posted on CDM. You can also find some details on sequencer.de.

High points:
Sampled waveforms: Oscillators can now use full waveforms (not single wavetables, Clavia hastens to add), while still routing through fully-analog circuitry.

Oscillator models: Virtual analog, FM, wavetable, sample-playback can be applied in combination (which I hear is all the rage these days). And you can load in custom waveforms, as well, via fully user-definable memory areas (so you can delete samples you hate). Clavia even promises it’ll offer additional, free waves on their website. An included software sample editor lets you tweak samples.

Morphing: Morph “almost any parameter” via mod wheel, expression, velocity, or pitch, with assignable “morph scenarios” and morph “timelines.”

Filters: 24db analog-modeled resonant filters, low-, high-, band-pass filters with envelope and velocity control, combinations of filter types, and formant filters.

Effects: EQ, delay with tap tempo, tube-style amp with overdrive, reverb.

Pitch stick: Clavia’s signature wooden pitch stick allows precise bend and vibrato.

Solaris and Musikmesse Shots

Another nice shot of the John Bowen Synth Design Solaris. I think this is my favorite look for the synth. This one sent my way via Laurin on Tangerine Vintage Synthesizer. You can see the complete Musikmesse gallery here.

Previous Musikmesse Posts

E&MM Peter Vettese Interview Excerpts on the Rhodes Crhoma Site

Via Chris Ryan on the Rhodes Chroma list:

"New on the site this month, excerpts from an interview [link] with Peter Vettese, who played the Chroma with Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson in the early 1980s. Perhaps most notable is that he hints at future directions for the instrument/platform; there have been suggestions that he did a promotional video for the Chroma [link], so may have had some inside information. Also, he is holding a Polaris on the front cover of the magazine; I'm not sure when that keyboard was released, but I thought it wasn't until 1984. It does appear to have the production prototype panel scheme [3].

Chris"

Rowland 303 - $100

Classic one from Craiglist Seattle sent via JG:

"rowland 303 - $100
Reply to: sale-304154428@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-04-01, 9:01AM PDT


my boyfriend didnt come home last night (again) so i'm selling off his stuff
apparently this is some sort of synthesizer. he listens to that shitty techno music so maybe that will help you.

i'm so fucking mad at him right now that the first person here with some money gets it. or you can take me out to breakfast and have it. i dont care i just want to make him mad.

* Location: cap hill
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interest"

Minimoog With Ribbon

via this auction.

Details:
"Minimoog model D, excellent conditions. If you are thinking about bidding, you know well what it is. S.n. 5474, old oscillator board, buffer board. This Mini is incredibly stable in pitch! Very good esthetic condition, all knobs and silver centers are there. The woodwork has only some signs of the time (according to my opinion, it's worth 9/10). Both Moog nameplates are on it. This Mini has still its yellow Moog original tag, labelled "september 1974": the machine seems as coming from a time capsule... All of the keyboard bushings have been replaced one week ago by an excellent technician with new, very rare and expensive rubber ones, so it has a smoooooooth and precise feel, as it used to have at its birth. Last but not least, it sports the LH controller with the ultraRARE ribbon controller; this was an option offered by Moog, as reported in the Minimoog owners manual (I'll send also copies of this, if needed). Such a controller, alone, has been sold at a recent UK auction at more than 500 euros!!!) It works 100%. My references: I am a vintage synth collector, on eBay since 1999, 100% positive feedback; some of my machines are pictured in the nice Peter Forrest book on Vintage synthesizers (my name, Fernando Zarone, is in the acknowledgements). According to the actual eBay policy trend, due to the vintage nature of this Minimoog (35 yrs old), it is sold AS IS, NO RETURNS are possible. Anyway, I don't think you'll be able to find a better one in the future! If any question, please consider I shall have some difficulties to reply from april 8th to 12th, being abroad for Easter holidays. I'll be able to give a precise shipping cost after the end of auction. Happy bidding!"

AMPERE coolFLAME Stick

Remember FLAME, the talking synth? Check out their MIDI controller. Title link takes you to the product page which also has a psychoFLAME sequencer listed but no pic, though I'm wondering if that's it in the site's header below.

Yamaha SY-2 in Close Encounters

Title link takes you to a screen grab by Inverseroom on Synthwire.

Musikmesse Superbooth - Hispasonic.com

YouTube via Hispasonic.

Behringer Nordic Lead

Thought this was pretty funny. A day late, but I'll take it.

via memeo in this VSE post:
"Behringer has announced their new synthesizer, the Nordic Lead. After hours of reverse engineering years of completely original design and development, they have created a professional, state-of-the-art synthesizer. You know that it's professional because they call it professional in the literature (several times), and it clearly says "Professional" on the back.

The Nordic Lead will begin to ship in June 2007. The final pricing has not been set, but Behringer expect it to be around $14.95."

Also, Behringer Labs via Mixolydian:

Just in Time for Easter

Rare Waldorf pastel Orange XT and pastel Yellow Q. Shots pulled via these auction. BTW, check out the comments of this post if you are even thinking of bidding on one of these rare gems.

Roland MKS-80 and MPG-80

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. Somewhere between the Jupiter-6 and Jupiter-8.

BTW, don't forget to check out Matrixsynth-b.

Dynacord ADD-two

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Details:

"A must-have for any serious producer. This unit cost $5,000.00 when purchased new in the 1985. Almost impossible to find, very rare. Apparantly it has Analog synthesizer features like VCO's & LFO's in it so that you can change the drum sounds and patches and is highly editable .... very RAW ! ! Just to give you an example.. the very desired ADD-ONE sold for $4,000.00 new ... which is probably inferior to this one seeing this one sold for $1,000.00 MORE. I only have the info below on it and most of it is in a foreign language. On the same line as Roger Linns MPC's and the EMU Sp12 and the drum machines but apparantly much more superior and sought after."

Babblefished via synrise.de:

"Dynacord ADD Two * Dynacord ADD Two * Dynacord ADS ADD-TWO/pole spl exp 5800 (1988) The ADD-TWO appeared as 16-kanalige 16-Bit-Version of the ADD-ONE with Samplingfrequenzen from 22,05 to 44.1 kHz. The basic version is equipped with two MByte memory, can be supplemented however on up to eight MByte. The strength the D/A transducers might be, which, as already work in the ADS/ADS k, with 20 bits. The rack equipment needs two HE in the rack and beitet the following rework possibilities: two LFOs, three VCF envelopes, volume, panorama, Feinverstimmung, per channel a Digitaldelay (!), and with a 16-stimmigen toner generation (= 16 channels). Once exemplary the modulation matrix is mentioned - a feature, which from Marcus Ryle (NEARLY FORWARD DESIGN, development team at among other things this equipment, as also at the ALESIS QUADRASYNTH) comes and of it in e.g. the UPPER HOME XPANDER and MATRIX-12 to the employment came for the first time: Modulation matrix ADD-TWO Sources of modulation Modulation goals Note NUMBER Pitch Velocity Panning release Velocity Volume Pressure Send 1 volume Modulation Wheel Send 2 volume Pitch Bend Wheel SAM-polarize SELECT Sustain pedal SAM-polarize start Envelope 1 Envelope 1 Attack Envelope 2 Envelope 1 Decay Envelope 3 Envelope 1 Sustain Decay LFO 1 Envelope 1 release LFO 2 Envelope 1 amplitude Ramp generator Envelope 2 Attack Random generator Envelope 2 Decay Trigger rate Follow Envelope 2 Sustain Decay MIDI CONTROLLER A Envelope the 2 releases MIDI CONTROLLER B Envelope 2 amplitude Pedal 1 Envelope 3 Attack Pedal 2 Envelope 3 Decay - Envelope 3 Sustain Decay - Envelope 3 release - Envelope 3 amplitude - LFO 1 speed - LFO 1 amplitude - LFO 2 speed - LFO 2 amplitude"

CLICK FOR MORE »

MOOG Micromoog

No title link, just the two shots pulled via this auction.

Roland SVC-350 Analog Vocoder

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Note the seller also has a Harmony SVC-650 up for auction. The images are horrid, so I only grabbed the one below. According to the seller this is a clone of the SVC-350.

Messe 2007 Video via Sequencer.de

If you ever wanted to be a fly on someone's shoulder walking around the Frankfurt Musikmesse, here you go. Title link takes you to a post on sequencer.de with a link to the video. The modular goodness starts about four minutes into the video. Note that the video is 90M and Moogulator of sequencer.de has asked us to not dowload the video, but just stream it by clicking on the video link and watching it.

Cwejman modular pictured.

VCF

flickr by Ricardipus.

"Detail of the fluorescent displays from my Akai AX80 synthesizer. "VCF" stands for "Voltage Controlled Filter", in this case a 24dB / octave resonant filter on a Curtis CEM 3372 chip. Eight of them, in fact. "

Casio SK-1 Keyboard Commercial 1985

YouTube via Antifrodis. Sent my way and first posted on Shepitology.

NIN Synthi Cat

Image on NIN. Sent my way via Ken.

More Musikmesse Pics

Title link takes you to a few more shots. Arturia Origin pictured. via sequencer.de.

Elton John MOOG Realistic MG-1 Advert

via Megamule who also notes: "I love my MG-1. Even after acquiring a Voyager, I kept mine around because it is a great performance synth. Another bit of MG-1 trivia. I read in TapeOp mag that all the synth on Ween's "Mollusk" album was done on their producers MG-1."

A4: a better form factor for modular synthesizers?

Rick Jelliffe sent me a link to an article he wrote on O'Reilly Digital Media which proposes a new form factor for modular synthesizers. The form factor? A4 - the standard size for a sheet of paper outside North America and the Phillipines. The article is in response to Grant Richter of Wiard calling for the use of different materials for modular faceplates to cut down costs (see this post). Title link takes you to full article. The following is an excerpt:

"But for the rest of us, Grant is entirely right, but it is more than just the cost, it is also the time delay and logistics and also the lack of flexibility that causes users problems. Why is it that we currently have the several dozen different form factors for synthesizer modules?

I think there is another way to approach the issue that solves several other problems, especially for the new and DIY maker: adopt A4 (the paper size used outside North America and the Philippines) as the standard size for module front panels. 210 x 297 millimeters or 8.27 x 11.69 inches.

The first question that probably will pop up is Rick are you insane? A4 is about the same size as US letter paper, surely that is way too big? Plus it isn’t an even multiple of any of the current standard sizes…what gives?

Well, lets start off by redefining the problem. DIY people need to buy the expensive panels because they don’t have the skills or tools to cut and make decent panels themselves. But buying in a good-looking panel has a hidden cost: it makes it difficult to evolve and experiment with the module, in particular with anything that requires new knobs, lights or jacks: so new functionality has to go into a new module, which then needs a new panel. Plus if spend your cash on panels, you don’t have a brass razoo for other modules: there is a substitution cost. So Grant is right that the cost of panels is a disincentive to purchasing panels, but it is also a disincentive to incrementally evolving them."

syntezatory.prv.pl - korg prophecy

YouTube via Jexus.

zorlon cannon demonstration

YouTube via meatlog.

"test of a voltage-controlled audio noise / pseudorandom gate generator module inspired by the atari 8-bit computer's sound generation algorithm"

The Havestman

Korg M1 Synthesizer

Korg M1 Synthesizer - Part One


Korg M1 Synthesizer - Part Two "Plus 1" Expansion

YouTube via williamenroh.

Matrixsynth by Johan

Click the image for a bigger shot. Via Johan of random voltage. Guess the synth.
Pretty damn cool. Thanks Johan! BTW, I make this my new wallpaper. It looks great centered on black.

Descent - Parallax

YouTube via hamsterdunce, aka Dave of umop and The Packrat.

"Original song - get CD on umop.com! More progressive rock ultra wanky horse puckey for you."

Ensoniq FIZMO

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. This one almost went up on Matrixsynth-b, but I really like this shot. I remember when the FIZMO came out. It bombed because people were expecting it to sound like an agressive analog style synth, because of all the knobs. It doesn't emulate analog well at all. Why? Because it's a transwave synth which was Ensoniq's rendition of wavetable synthesis. The oscillator sources were what they called transwaves which you could sweep through in time. It made for some interesting textures. FIZMO was an appropriate name as it was definitely capable of some fizzy sounds. For an example of an oddball FIZMO sound, check out this post. When I first ran across it, it reminded me a bit of a drawn out pad in the same vein of COIL's After the Snow. If you ever plan to own a FIZMO, be sure to read this. If you don't you might find yourself with a dead FIZMO.

Previous FIZMO posts