75 - Garbledroidz

YouTube via atishmeh.

Sequential Circuits Prophet T8

images via this auction

"The T8 has been the finest analog synthesizer since its introduction in 1983. With fully polyphonic pressure sensors and velocity sensitivity, real wooden keys with flying hammers, it has also been (and still is) one of the most sought after midi controllers as well. It has an extensive MIDI capability and eight voices utilizing Curtis oscillators and filters, with split and double capability. The T8 is one of those instruments that requires precision while programming. The parameters seem to have greater range than the Prophet 5. It sounds wonderful and is a joy to play. The T8 is also one of the rarest synths ever produced at a total of maybe 500 units."

Nick Rhodes Setup

image via this link.

Alesis Andromeda
Roland VSynth
Roland Jupiter-8
Kurzweil K2000

Full setup Picture
Right setup
Back of right setup

KORG MS20

images via this auction
Details:
"This MS-20 is of the earlier KORG 35 filter chip design, rather than the latter daughter board revision, which probably dates it to the late 70s, meaning that its probably just about coming up to its 30th birthday!

In 30 years some electronic components age. This isn't one of those 'snake oil - this tb303 sounds better than that tb303' lines, its just factual information. Any synth of this sort of age should have had, for example, its internal memory backup batteries replaced long ago (not an issue on ms20s obviously, but a common fault on early 80s synths), and its smoothing caps renewed (the smoothing caps 'smooth out' the ripple in the power supplies AC-DC conversion)

The power supply regulators can also be changed for fresh modern replacements, and then, beyond this, if you're feeling enthusiastic, the other electrolytic capacitors (the cylindrical ones you see all over the place) to stop any 'bleeding' of noise / signal etc. through the power lines, amongst other things. Further caps that are prone to ageing are tantalums, so these should be replaced also.

None of these components are particularly valuable, but the labour involved in changing them can be significant.

Beyond this level of service, the basic stuff also has to be done. All the pots should be cleaned, and then lubrication re-applied to ensure noise free operation. The keyboard contacts should be accessed (by disassembly) and these cleaned (the ms-20 derives pitch information from a resistor chain keyboard, and faulty contacts can affect note pitching as well as gating), and, importantly on the ms20, the jacks cleaned.

Jack cleaning is especially important on the ms20, as a lot of the signals are normalised through this panel, and faults here can result in considerably more irritation than the usual 'crackling' output jack.

This MS20 has therefore had :
# Every electrolytic cap replaced
# Every tantalum cap replaced
# Every pot cleaned and lubricated
# Ever jack socket cleaned
# Every key contact cleaned"

Walkman Project Music Pieces

YouTube via WalkmanProject. via Failed Muso where you can find a little more info on the ad. It is interestingly being touted as the first monophonic ad.
"Quality ad for the new range of Walkman products by Sony. Take 128 musicians, give them all only one note to play and you get a complete tune. Sony are trying to bring this to life with an online project getting people to play just one part of the track, then mixing them together to create 'complete' versions performed by four artists in different places."

Spot the synths.

syntezatory.prv.pl - Yamaha DX 7

YouTube via Jexus.

"1983 Yamaha DX7. Brought to you by WC Olo Garb. The sounds have been programmed by WC Olo Garb./// Syntezatory.prv.pl Videos: showing you not what a synthesizer can do, but what a man can do with a synthesizer."

Industrial Revolution 1 on Roland D50

YouTube via fischek.
"Finally found my own Roland D50 and thought I could record Ind. Rev. 1 on an original patch (Kokubo Strings)."

Music Machines

I noticed this image of the Arp 1045 on the Matrixsynth Forum. It was posted by dlmorley. I asked him were he got the image and he pointed me to Music Machines. Music Machines (hyperreal.org) was one of the first general synth sites I visited when I first started browsing the web in 1995 or so. Be sure to check out the site if you haven already. It might actually be the oldest general synth site. It launched in 1994, predating Sonic State (1995), Synthzone (1996), Harmony Central (1997) and Vintage Synth Explorer (2001). I launched my old Matrixsynth site as a personal portal for everything synth back in 1997. If anyone knows of an earlier site than Music Machines, please comment or shoot me an email.

"Welcome to music machines, home of musical electronica on the web. Music machines offers images, software, schematics, and lots of tips and comments from electronic musicians all over the Internet. Synthesizers, effects, drum machines, recording equipment -- anything people plug in, turn on, and turn up for music-making is welcome. "

The MOOG Strikes Bach

One of the many MOOG albums following Switched on Bach.

via daddio of tapewarm.

Update via Suit & Tie Guy in the comments:
"that's Hans Wurman. apparently he made a follow-up album which was never released.

there were alot of records which "followed" S-OB, but as far as quality goes the only two that come close are this one and Switched-On Nashville.

S-ON is quite interesting as there's some Tomita-like vocal synthesis on "Folsum Prison Blues" which blows my mind ever time i drop the needle on that cut. if you ever come across it, digitally or on vinyl, don't hesitate to grab it.

apparenlty John Mitchell claimed to feel The Moog Strikes Bach was either peer or superior to S-OB. if you check the Synthesizers.com Yahoo! group archive you should find some posts regarding this."

MOOGChild

via daddio of tapewarm.