MATRIXSYNTH

The Korg MS-20: Control Panel Part 3

Sonicstate TV via Automatic Gainsay. Previous parts here.

Intua BeatMaker for the iPhone

"Experience BeatMaker step sequencer for creating your grooves. The tactile editor makes music composing really quick and easy while keeping a precise synchronization. Limitless patterns, endless possibilities, delivered on tune and on time."

"Mobile sampler interface
In your pocket, ideally suited for live or for fast, intuitive composition, the 16 multi-touch pads enable you to load, slice, tune, and trigger sounds from an extensive sample library.Live pattern recording and sound control with the simplicity of a finger movement"

click here for more

You can get BeatMaker here:

a free analog synthesizer in every magazine

nick sent the following in to the Analog Heaven (AH) list. I asked him if I could put it up here and he gave me the OK.

"It's fairly common especially in Japanese kids magazines to include a free toy of some sort.

There's a rather unusual magazine about inventions and the science behind them aimed at adults called Otona no Kagaku. It's sold mostly in bookstores who usually keep the back issues in-stock if they have room.

They always try to include some kind of amazing kit packaged inside each issue. What's amazing that it actually (more or less) works. Mind you the inventions are borderline toys. And of course the high issue price cearly means it not actually free. It's not like some promo item a company is giving away that the company foots the bill for.

Some past examples have been an Edison grammaphone that uses styrofoam coffee cups instead of wax cylinders to record and play from and recently a very minimal Theremin amusingly shaped like a dollhouse sized plastic RCA Theremin. link

So if that's not enough, they do occasional special issues costing more with something they couldn't stuff into a regular issue. For instance a Berliner disc phonograph that cuts some seconds worth of analog sound with a needle into a spinning CD disc that you choose to sacrifice. On July 30 their next special issue will feature an analog synth along the lines of a PAIA Gnome with a few cut corners (no VCA). link

It's about $30 in Japan and it's quite possible to find them in the $40 something range either online or occasionally in Japanese language bookstores (seen other issues in Asahiya though not Kinokuniya) if you wait a few weeks. The good thing is that it's borderline like a book means it's actually likely to be easier to get than a regular magazine.

They feature their consultations with Hideki (Logic System) Matsutake, who is without a doubt the go-to man in Japan for all things synthesizer in the mainstream Japanese media.

It also occurs to me that because of the low price and it's being sold with a magazine, for better or worse this probably will be the biggest selling analog synth of all time.

nick
http://technopop.info"

"Some quick additions.

It is more or less a kit and I have no idea how easy it will be to put together if the instructions are in Japanese.

I have no idea where the best place to get it but I doubt it will be too hard to get since past issues can be bought.

I'd search for "otona no kagaku" on ebay and online for English language pages. "Gakken" will get you more hits.

Be aware it's not out yet, it goes on sale 7/30 in Japan and retailers in other countries might not see it for a month or so."

Sequential Circuits Prophet T8

via this auction
"I have heard that only 300 of these were made and that Dave Smith still uses his as his controller keyboard.

Who knows? The serial is 000463 so maybe they built as many as 500. What I do know is that this is a beast of an analog synth.

8 voices, assignable aftertouch and lfo with many destinations. 2 oscillators per voice, 2 envelopes per voice and a sound that

is simply stunning. I have the original manual also. This was serviced by Wine Country who looked at the voice boards a couple

of years ago; more recently we had our local keyboard tech check it out and get it tip top. He also installed the latest OS.

The assignable aftertouch is particularly fun "

via Darren.

We Can All See Rainbows

YouTube via Hiddenfortress
"This Video was made by video artist Angelika Kaltenbrunner, I think she has done a wonderful job on this music video. The song is taken from "The Boy With The Digital Heart""

Jean-Michel Jarre - Live in Your Living Room

YouTube via jeanmicheljarre
"Jean-Michel Jarre - Live in Your Living Room http://www.jeanmicheljarre.com"

Tour of the studio ! - Yamaha DX-7 Clone

YouTube via evilbandzed. Note the Hohner HS-2, a Yamaha DX-7 clone.
"evilb and zed show you their equipment :P"

Updates:
via Gwenhwyfaer in the comments:
"Er, the Hohner HS-2 is a rebadged Casio VZ1 - whilst iPD is basically FM with a 0 carrier frequency (aka waveshaping), the instrument is in no way close to being a DX7 clone."

via pat:
"Doubtless a brainfart of some kind, but (according to the net) the hohner is a Casio clone; used to work for Yamaha in the days of the DX (I own a dx5), no way they would license that stuff out."

Roland GR-300 guitar synth

YouTube via Analogger.
"A brief demonstration of the classic Roland GR-300 guitar synth. I posted an earlier vid featuring the GR-300 [embedded here] in a filter modulation performance along with drums, etc. This is just the synth itself - with some TC Electronic D-Two delay. I am using the Roland G-505 guitar controller.

You must use the 24-pin cable to interface the guitar with the synth. The older cables with the metal ends are the ones to use. The newer plastic end cables suck. They are not as reliable and cannot be repaired. Avoid them at all costs unless money means nothing to you.

The G-505 has a 3-position mode switch which allows you to go between synth only, hexa-fuzz only, or a combination of both. There is also a balance knob which lets you layer in the actual guitar sound. The G-505 is a single coil Strat style guitar that sounds really good on its own."