MATRIXSYNTH

Waldorf XTk 'VA' demo via Mr. Array

click here for the demo. Also see this post for another.

Allen & Heath AHB Inpulse One

images
via this auction
"Allen & Heath's records suggest only 140 of these instruments were completed, some with MIDI functions, some without, and some with 64K RAM as specified in the handbook.

This example has MIDI and 256K RAM.

AHB released this machine in the early 80s - you can read my article about it in the August 2004 issue of Sound on Sound, which is available online. I'm also including this issue of the magazine with the drum machine. (Incidentally, at some point during creating that article I was given the wrong name for one of the project members - it should be Simon Bohanon, not Simon Jones, as the sound engineer).

Features:

The Inpulse One is exceptionally pleasant to program - if you look at the pictures you'll see the zoned, large control panel, and the step-sequencer method of programming in action. The pads are velocity sensitive, and designed to be played with sticks - former Argent drummer Bob Henrit was a consultant during the development of the Inpulse One.

The sounds are quite compressed, very early 80s Cure in feel.

MIDI implementation is patchy. You can assign each pad (16 voices in all theoretically) to a range of keys and play the pad across that range with pitch variations, but it doesn't send MIDI note data - it appears to send MIDI timecode. It has a timecode display as well; I haven't fully explored this feature since I have no use for it.

It has 256K RAM, which should allow for some fairly impressive sounds!

It has individual outputs, trigger inputs, mix output connections, as well as tape I/O, pedal and MIDI interfaces. Stereo placement can be adjusted per pad (copy one sound to another pad, pan them left/right, and make sequences with panned drums!), volume and accent can be set in programming mode as can pitch. Patterns can be chained into songs and it has a substantial memory for these.

Built like a tank - as you can see, the PSU is an example of how well made this drum machine is. There is nothing else like it, and probably never will be again."

SYNTHI A CLONE

Remember the Synthi A clone? Steve, who made the clone, wrote in to let me know he finished updating his synthi A page. You will find new pics of the final project and 8 samples.

Synthesizers.com Q119

images via this auction

"Synthesizers.com Q119 - Analog modular sequencer
* Very flexible analog step sequencer. For info and specs, take a look
* Built in a very nice wooden box with ends in solid oak.
* Power supply included. 230V.
* Contains everything you need, so it's ready to go as it is. You don't need a Synthesizers.com system to use it. An excellent alternative to old sequencers like Korg SQ-10, Arp Sequencer and more, but this one is newer and a lot more reliable. If I may say it myself, it is also a lot prettier. :)"

5G Synths 2.jpg

flickr by AE Paterra

Click here for more images of FiveG in Tokyo.

Update via teak in the comments:
"i went there a few years ago and spent around 6 hours playing on various synths...
it was very hard to find, had to go the end of one arcade[through a rack of clothes] to an elevator and up to a floor with no signs and found a door to which lead to the room of synths... to my surprise i wasnt told to leave, instead when asked they said they enjoyed the sounds..."

YE OLDE MOOG

"The list of more or less notable composers who dipped into the novelty Moog scene either before they started their "serious careers" or to cash in the moog hype reads like a list of actors/actresses with early secret outings into porn.

Mike Batt (the man behind Synthesonic Sounds) is one example: While his career is peppered with some success stories in mainstream music (most recently he produced the excellent British-Georgian singer Katie Melua) his two Moog albums remain a well-hidden footnote in his biography."

Click here for more including a download of the album on Orpheus Music. Be sure to track back to the root of Orpheus Music for more.

A1910

DIY modular via Dan. I received this one via email a couple of days ago. I emailed Dan back asking for more details but haven't heard back. If anyone knows more about this one feel free to comment. It definitely looks nice.

Update:
Some more info from Dan:
"here are some more info on my synthproject.
its completely analog of course and most part of it is built
from discrete circuits. the sound character is typical oldschool analog.
it has that nice and warm character that i think new digital synths lack.
the system on the picture has two modules of everything vital
so it may be configured as one or two voices or one voice
with two of everything.
there are four LFOs in total.
a similar but smaller modular system was sold to a
swedish techno duo.
this is actually an old project that I designed ten years ago."

And via Segerfalk in the comments:
"Swedish DIY, for sale at: http://www.tradera.com/Analogt_modul_system-auktion-52530745

15000 SEk = approx 1650 euro....

2st Dual LFO,
2st Oscillatorer : 1V/oktav input. PW, PWM.
2st Filter : Low pass, band pass and high pass.
2st Envelope generator : ADSR.
2st VCA :

Noise generator, sample & hold, 2st slew limiter."

The Mighty Boosh, Series 1, Episode 7 - Electro

This is the full episode of the clip posted here. via kryptum.

Cynthia Twin Wasp Filters In Stock

"Delight in the double sting of the Twin Wasp Filter!

This is actually two complete Multimode Wasp filter circuits joined together at the hip in a fascinating yin-yang relationship. There is only one input and one output to and from the pair of filters, so they work as a single Super Wasp with a variable internal signal relationship control that can be dialed from serial to parallel and all of the fascinating sonorities in between.

We've combined the really novel features of two different filters originally from the creators of the imaginative WASP and Oscar keyboard synthesizers manufactured in Oxford England back in the late twentieth century.

Unique to the delightfully quirky WASP is it's clever use of a CMOS logic chip in place of traditional op amps to form its 12db state variable type filter. They have adjustable resonance, but will not self-resonate. They do however have variable distortion controls!"

More info here