Roland MKS-30

images via this auction.

"The MKS-30 is the rack version of the Roland JX-3P keyboard and the GR-700 Guitar Synthesizer. Sounds like a Juno Series Syntheszer, but much better since it has 2 oscillators with sync and ring modulation, as well as PWM. Excellent Filters plus, one of the best features, just like the Juno 60, 106 and MKS-7, is the pitch bends have a very analog, elastic kind of stretching quality to them, sort of like a rubber band being plucked and stretched. Not many DCO based Analog Synths I've heard do this, except for the Juno's. In fact I recently had a MKS-7(rack of Juno106), and I was surprised by how close the oscillators sound to the MKS30 's. Except you get two of them that can sync and be ring modulated. Plus it has a nice analog chorus circuit built-in for stereo effects.

Some people say it's got a digital sound, but I compared this to the MKS-7, which everybody says is effectively a racked Juno-106. The MKS-30 is just as analog sounding with a remarkably punchy, and pure musical character, especially on those pitch-bends. A few years ago, I was planning to buy a Access Virus C, and this MKS-30 was sitting close by in Guitar Center. After trying both of them out side by side, I ended spending my money on this one. The Virus is great, but compared to this, it's sound is clearly digital. At the time I was looking for that deep analog quality. This synth has that. It's also functionally better than it's keyboard counterpart, the JX3P. It has a better implementation of MIDI with velocity. It's easily programmed from the front panel, however their isn't any sysex that can be accessed by an editor. However, the Roland PG-200 programmer/knob box can be plugged into it, or there is a 3rd party ROM upgrade that can be purchased for around $100(last time I checked) that gives you full sysex, CC control over every parameter. Here's a link to that information."

KORG MicroKorg

flickr by Legendary Classic.

click here for the full size shot

pdPod

YouTube via mkalten. via Wingo Shackleford in the comments of this post.

"pdPod allows the creation of interactive musical applications for the iPod. It integrates Pure Data (http://crca.ucsd.edu/~msp/software.html ) a visual sound programming language by Miller Puckette which allows the rapid development of musical applications. Guenter Geiger (http://gige.xdv.org/ ) has made PDa (http://gige.xdv.org/pda/ ), a port of Pure Data for PDA Linux devices which we recently adapted to run under iPod Linux as well. Martin Kaltenbrunner (http://modin.yuri.at/ ) created a GUI application which allows the execution, display and control of PD patches on the iPod. This application was made by the creators of the reacTable at the Music Technology Group (http://mtg.upf.edu/) at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain.

This instrument was made possible thanks to the efforts of the iPodLinux (http://ipodlinux.org ) project, which provides a Linux environment for the iPod. pdPod itself can be downloaded from its WIKI page (http://ipodlinux.org/Pdpod)"

Arp 2600: Jim Baker Crosses His Wires

click here for the video on Gearwire.
"Improviser Jim Baker uses the Arp 2600 to make unique sounds in his curious brand of "folk music." In this introductory video, Gearwire's Gretchen Hasse catches up with Baker late one Tuesday evening after his set at Chicago's Hotti Biscotti - actually a bar, not a coffeehouse - and he recollects how he came to use the Arp. We also have rare footage of Baker in performance with a sax, upright bass and drums. Check it out in the Gearwire video."

CP-251 Patch

YouTube via demerzel242.

"I made this video to illustrate the uses of the Moogerfooger CP-251. I am only using half of the modules capability in this patch."

iPod Touch Impressions

click here for iPod Touch Impressions on The Stretta Procedure. Yep, that gets a post. I'm looking forward to the day small portable multi-touch devices will be powerful enough to drive MIDI via USB.

John Duval's Custom Silverface "blond" Milton Sequencer

This is the very last Milton out of Cynthia's (Cyndustries) shop.

JoMoX M-Resonator Demos

Demos via Ookpikk - Ookpik

"The first demo goes through each different part of the M-Res, basically breaking it down into comprehensible chunks, the second and third are on a drum-loop and a whole track, and they're much more subtle than, say, REwire's Sonic Trio demo."


M-ResDemo1.mp3
"This demonstrates the individual parts of the M-Res, e.g. what the filters sound like, how the envelope follower reacts, what the phase-inverting feedbacks do. In many ways, this is the most informative of the three. The sounds are coming out of the Nord Modular first, sequence is a simple sawtooth except for the distortion demo, and the pad is something a little more complicated."

M-ResDemo2.mp3
"This is a MDUW drum track through the M-Res."

M-ResDemo3.mp3
"This is a full track (or a part thereof) through the M-Res to show how much more fun it is than filter-sweeping a track."

More demos and details here including demos of the Elektron Machinedrum

AFG (Audio Frequency Generator - VCO)

Via Mark Pulver on AH:
"Livewire is ready to release the AFG (Audio Frequency Generator - VCO). This is looking to be the hottest VCO on the market.

The the Chaos Computer first showed up at Musikmesse 2006, looks like the (next!) ultimate random voltage generating machine. Mike is saying that it _will_ be out before the end of the year.


Then there was an inference that there may be other goodies released before those.

Pics from his showing at NAMM are here:
http://www.fdiskc.com/syn/namm/2007/LivewireACandAFG.html
http://www.fdiskc.com/syn/namm/2007/LivewireChaosComputer.html
http://www.fdiskc.com/syn/namm/2007/LivewireXModandAFG.html

"

Allen & Heath XONE:VF-1

"The XONE:VF-1 is a high quality, 1U rack analogue filter unit equipped with a wide range of input and output connectors, which features an enhanced version of the legendary XONE Filter circuits. An RIAA preamp version - the Xone VF-1R - enabling direct connection to turntables, is also available.

Live Perfomance
The VF-1 is designed with live performance in mind. It offers the artist control over the music and the creative experience. The valve overdrive option gives the “dirty” sound to bass and synthesized sounds giving added depth and “fattening” of the sound. The filters can be linked to another VF-1 for control of both VF-1 units by one control as well as the ability to link VF-1's to a Xone:92 and control the VF-1 filters from the Xone:92. As well as the valve overdrive there is an envelope follower giving added effects to a live performance. LFO is also included for an automated response of the filter cutoff, and many filter types are included. Superior sounding Filters associated with valve analogue circuits (e.g warmth, clarity and depth) with the features and control of digital equipment.

In the Studio
The VF-1 is an ideal addition for the studio, be it project or professional. The Filters can be used to remove unwanted sounds (e.g. low frequency rumble) or as an effects processor with tube (valve) front end for added warmth. MIDI implementation means that filter sweeps can be recorded and replayed from a sequencer. The VF-1 can be controlled from external MIDI equipment and can also manipulate MIDI equipment, offering exceptional flexibility from an analogue filter."
click the image for a full size shot. [more info]