MATRIXSYNTH

Jim Patchell's DIY Synthesis

Many of you might recognize the name Jim Patchell. For those of you that do not, Jim is about as respected as it gets in the Synth DIY community. He started his first synth project back in 1973:

"Well, this project was started in 1973, or there abouts. I was at Santa Barbara City College at the time. The library there had Radio Electronics magazine, and I would go there to read and do home work. When I saw the article on building your own synthesizer, I was hooked immediately. This was, of course, the legendary Paia 2700. Some of the circuits were build as is, others I didn't like. The VCO was one of those. I used the national semiconductor application notes for the LM324 to build

the voltage controlled triangle oscillator. Back then, I had no money to speak of, so everything was pretty much built from salvage parts. The LM324 was a free sample. They were not cheap back then. I did buy some LM741/747/748 type opamps to make some of the modules. All of the transistors were salvaged. Pots were a very strange collection of pots salvaged from old radios (I could kick myself for that misdeed)."

Low Pass Filter pictured. He's contributed quite a bit to the synth community. You can see a bit of his work in the following three sites.

The Jim Patchell Synthesizer D.I.Y. Web Page
Jim Patchell's First Synthesizer Project
A New DIY Synthesizer Project

He is also responsible for the electronic design and PC Board layout for the MIKADO Analog Sequencing System posted here.

Plan B releases two new MMModules :)

Two new Plan B products wil begin shipping in two weeks:

1) The Model 9 Mixer/Attenuator is the forth in a series of utility modules from Plan B. A truly modular, multi-tasking 5 in, 3 output mixer, it's balanced inputs are suited for either AC signals or DC control voltages, or both simultaneously.

Along with these mixing options, each of the four main inputs channels are fitted with dedicated Attenuator Outputs which allow access to the leveled output from each channel by itself, independent of the mix. Many thanks to Plan B Norman Fay for thestellar idea of adding independent post fader outputs.

Go here for details.

2) The third in our utility module series, the Model 29 Dynamic Mult is a unique 1-to-5 signal splitter in which four of the outputs are equipped with manual level pots, allowing for both contour control and signal distribution. The perfect companion for non-attenuated VC inputs, the Model 29 requires no power supply connection to operate as it takes it's ground reference from the cables patched into it.

Go here for more details.

The 'mama massacre kein sex' project by syndrome

Click here for a number of tracks, in most cases, created by using only one synth. Warning: the title to the tracks may be offensive to some and possibly banned in Germany. I forget if that particular word is or not. I do know it was on the black list for most search engines. This one via Serge.

MMM VCO

Mattson Mini Modular VCO

MOOG Needs Help for Restoration Project

Bryan from Alka found this one on the amia-l job posting mailing list. It was forwaded and posted by:

David C. Spencer
Senior Curator / Cinema Studies Faculty
NCSA Moving Image Archives

"Hello All!

My name is Michelle Moog-Koussa. I am the Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation. located in Asheville, NC. For those of you who are not familiar with Dr. Moog's work, he was a synthesizer pioneer, largely credited with inventing the first synthesizer and changing the face of music forever. Dr. Moog lived and worked in Asheville for the last 25 years of his life and passed away in August of 2005. We created the Bob Moog Foundation soon after that and received our non-profit status in March 2007.

In January of this year, we went through Dr. Moog's extensive archives, which include 50 years of prototype instruments, photos, schematics, articles, notes, correspondence, vintage recording equipment, reel to reel tapes and other historic ephemera. Unfortunately, Dr. Moog stored this unique, historic and fascinating collection in a hot, humid buidling out in the country and everything is covered with mold. Additionally, time has taken its toll on just about every item. With the help of a core group of dedicated volunteers, we have moved the most important materials into a climate controlled storage space in Asheville. We have begun to seek help in preserving this important collection.

We are presently in the midst of applying for a grant from the Grammy Foundation to help us retore the reel to reel tapes and the vintage recording equipment. The Grammy Foundation requires that we find a qualified archivist to help us with this project. If you are an interested archivist with knowledge of reel to reel tape preservation, please contact me immediately.

The grant application is due on October 1st, so time is of the essence. Please respond at your earliest possible convenience.

Thanks so much for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Michelle Moog-Koussa
Executive Director
The Bob Moog Foundation
(c) 828.215.8414
www.moogfoundation.org"

Limited Edition Akai MPC 4000 via Guitar Center

"GUITAR CENTER INTRODUCES HI-TECH CUSTOM SHOP FEATURING UNIQUE ELECTRONIC MUSIC ITEMS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S ARTISTS
Limited Edition Akai MPC 4000—Exclusively Designed By Master Customizer Bruce Forat—Is Premiere Offering

Westlake Village, CA: Guitar Center, the nation's leading musical instrument retailer, announced today the introduction of its exclusive Hi-Tech Custom Shop. A new model for the retail chain, the Hi-Tech Custom Shop gives musicians unique access to rare and specialized items designed to break the homogeny of mass-market gear. The planned inventory for the Shop includes limited custom editions, exclusive product and artist-endorsed items. These will be conceived and designed by industry experts to celebrate the legacy of genre-defying pieces as well as appeal to musicians with a desire to own a piece of history.
These exclusive collaborations will be on display at select locations but can be special ordered at any Guitar Center nationwide.

To launch the Hi-Tech Custom Shop, Guitar Center purchased the last eleven Akai MPC 4000s ever made and partnered with Bruce Forat, who has been at the forefront of music electronics for the last 25 years. Forat, who has personally customized drum machines and keyboards for top musicians including Prince, Dr. Dre, Jermaine Dupree and Madonna, customized the eleven to create one-of-a-kind MPC 4000s, of which only six remain for sale exclusively through the Guitar Center Hi-Tech Custom Shop. The Akai MPC series, used by influential musicians and producers such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pete Rock, has been instrumental in the development of hip-hop music and is widely regarded as the industry’s gold standard. Additional information can be found at www.guitarcenter.com/forat.

“For the launch of Guitar Center’s Hi-Tech Custom Shop, we wanted to offer something incredibly special,” said Tony Baraz, assistant buyer for Guitar Center. “The Akai MPC is iconic in and of itself, but when customized by a monster talent like Bruce Forat it is a work of art.”

“To make each of the remaining Akai MPC 4000s truly unique we headed to the Caribbean for inspiration,” says Forat. “There’s something about the atmosphere and cool breeze that gets the creative juices going—I count these Hi-Tech Custom Shop MPCs among my best work.”

About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 214 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated."

BTW, the first person to comment with the correct number of remaining MPC 4000s, and WITH a registered account gets a $100 GC gift certificate courtesy of GC. : ) Sorry anons, but there is no way to confirm who you are for this one.

More images here.