MATRIXSYNTH

#16

YouTube via preposterousman
"A pretty cool new synth. go to my blog to read more about it, and to find a link to purchase it."
"It is based off of this voice changer that one may purchase at wal-mart for six buckaroos. It is circuit bent of course. Originally it came with a mic and maybe three or four different voice settings, like "alien", "monster", and such like."

The Appendage - Softpot Ribbon Controller

Read and see more via Scott Stites on this electro-music.com thread. The following are excerpts only.

"This is the core of the Appendage - it takes a pressure event and translates it into three unique control voltages (continuous, intial value and differential) and produces the timing signal for gate and trigger. Everything past that is downhill. These signals can be manipulated to do an astounding number of things, simultaneously.

The way I see it, if you want a standard ribbon controller, go buy the Doepfer. From the videos I've seen, it's pretty cool. The Appendage, however, is going to be a different beast. I envision it as a cross between a ribbon controller and a Buchlian gestural controller.

Position, relative position, rate of movement, direction of movement (split even into different directions) will be able to control any parameter your synthesizer has, simultaneously. Mixing these control voltages is fascinating. For example, the amount of control mixing differential with initial provides is surprising. Mixing slide with initial creates a sort of hyper-range. Slide with slide bends the curve radically. I've even discovered a neat trill function (quite by accident)."

"Here's an idea for an Appendage controlled touch sequencer, which would be sort of like the Serge touch sequencer, but rather different as well.

First of all, it's based on an 8X2/16X1 sequencer I worked on shortly before I diverted into the Klee. You could use it as such. The addition of the Appendage would take it to another level.

Using window comparators, the Softpot is divided into eight touch zones, separated by "guard bands". Touching within each touch zone will activate the sequencer step so that either one or both of the pots would produce control voltages. Touching in the "dead zone" between the "touch zones" would not trigger the sequencer step. This ensures that you can accurately trigger whichever step you want to. Wiggling the finger on the touch zones will (if you want) wiggle the voltage for vibrato or filter or whatever. This would be somewhat like the Serge, which has dedicated plates for each stage.

The difference is you would have continuous slide for each "note" or "stage"; the "dead zones" would not be "dead" for slides - only for triggering the initial stage. That means you could do much more than wiggle your finger on a certain stage. You could hit stage 3, for example, and slide it up beyond the range of hearing if you cared to. Or down. Hitting the next stage would start the voltage at that stage's voltage and you could do the same. Obviously the more left you go, the less you can drop the voltage, and the more right you go, the less you can slide up."

Again, be sure to check out the full thread on electro-music.com if this interests you. The above is only an excerpt.

Plan B M-37 ELF LFO's used as Oscillators

YouTube via noisesource. Update: see the post here.
"using the new Model-27 ELF series LFO's in thier audio range. not spanking hot but they get the job done, & sync like the dickens."

Mission Control

YouTube via worldsfair. KORG MS20
"'Mission Control,' the first video off The Dandy Warhols' sixth full-length, ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols..., epitomizes what the band and the album are: innovative and smart, self-aware and informed, and with a strong -- but never generic -- pop sensibility.

Shot in grainy sepia tones in the Dandys' own Odditorium, the video, directed by Mike Bruce, finds the band in space, playing their instruments as they float in zero gravity, frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor singing authoritatively, transmitting the band's message to the world down from the Moon. It's clever and fun, playing both on historical events and future occurrences, totally stuck-in-your-head catchy, the perfect depiction of what the Dandy Warhols are.

www.dandywarhols.com"

Synkits vs Rhys Marsh

YouTube via RothHandle
"Recording ping sounds. If you are interested in booking time, collaborating or if you are just curious about the studio, blogs et.c www.roth-handle.nu"

Doepfer-Cwejman-MFB-PlanB-Livewire

YouTube via DavideModu

D-Lab Multi Plexer Synthesizer

via this auction

"Bought this for the strange sounds it makes for recording. Used only a few times. D-Lab makes all sorts of items and this is hand-made and works on 2 9 volt batteries. Great shape and works perfectly. With the instruction sheet it originally came with."

see this post for some more info on the D-Lab Multi Plexer including some samples.