MATRIXSYNTH

"A local technician, who has made over 10 x0xb0x's, built this unit. He outfitted this unit with lots of MODS. The MODIFICATIONS on this unit are what make it more rare:

* Green LED on Steps 1,5,9,13, TEMPO and DONE buttons
-Visually, this makes it much much easier to program.
* Added ON/OFF switch MOD
-Simple on/off power switch.
* Increase Envelope Mod Range MOD
-This will make it possible to turn the envelope modulation all the way down.
* Increase Accent Range MOD
-Gives a more pronounced accent (this rocks).
* Increase Filter Low End MOD
-Lowers the bass cutoff by one octave.
* Resonance Boost MOD
-Larger resonance range = more acid.
* Transistor MOD; Every 2sa733p is high beta
-Gives the best possible 'clone' of the original resonance.
* Center-detent tuning knob
-The original 303 had a non-detent tuning pot, but it was a pain. This knob allows better control of tuning.
* 1% metal film resistors
-Higher quality parts than what was included in the kit."

Minimoog Lapel Pin

via this auction

"Goldtone tac pin with beautiful enamel detail.
Measures approx 1-1/4" long.
Clutch back."

Check out the seller's other items and be sure to click on the jewelry label below to see what's come in over the years.

Update: looks like the seller has a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 pin here and an Oberheim OB-X pin here.

bigbook120 (evil camillia)

flickr by whitney waller

full size

"she was having an evil moment.
102708
bastards of fate @ the Lantern"

Analogue Solutions Trans Bass Express TB-303 Clone

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"We finally got around to making a better demo of this great piece. Analogue Solutions has done a great job of emulating a TB-303 using components that closely match the original. This does not have a sequencer built in you have to use a MIDI sequencer but obviously this adds to the possibilities for more interesting patterns and greater performance capabilities. Near the end we kick in the Fulltone OCD which is a fantastic overdrive for guitars and synths. We'll highlight the features that go beyond the standard 303 tones on the next video."

audioMIDI.com blogspace

Mitchel Sigman of Celebutante wrote in to let me know Audio Midi has a new blog that he will be writing for. You can find it here. Mitchel will be covering various products.

On the synth related front you can find a good post on building your own analog sequencer here.

Live Stage: Analogos 12 [us Brooklyn] - Tonight

"Diapason gallery for sound and intermedia presents Analogos 12 - a night of “vintage” analog synthesis with performances and informal discussions :: October 29, 2008; 8:00 pm :: 882 Third Avenue (between 32nd and 33rd Street), 10th floor, Brooklyn, NY.

Kabir Carter: MoogerFooger and Moog pedals and synthesizers :: David Galbraith: self-built electronics :: Kato Hideki: Octave “Cat” synthesizer, bass :: Michael J Schumacher: Steiner-Parker Synthacon synthesizer :: Sergei Tcherepnin: Serge modular synthesizer :: Stefan Tcherepnin: Serge modular synthesizer :: Ed Tomney: EMS VCS 3 “Putney” synthesizer, various."

more info on Networked Music Review. via Bill M.

The Buggles » Video Killed The Radio Star and MTV Videos

The Buggles |MTV Music

via John Levin. It looks like MTV has a video service up were you can find almost every music video ever. Here's The Buggles' Video Killed The Radio Star, the first video ever on MTV. Some Moog at the end. I originally put up a post here on a version on YouTube but it looks like it was probably removed due to terms of use. Search and enjoy.

Revenge Of The Synth: Benge Interviewed

see the full interview with more shots on The Quietus. In regards to Benge's new CD, Twenty CD previously posted here: "Ben, better known as Benge has just released an album called Twenty Systems which traces a history of sorts through twenty years in the development of synthesizer, starting with the 1968 Moog Modular and ending up with the Kawai K5M which was released onto the market in 1987. Each song is played entirely on one keyboard with no additional effects or processing (apart from on one track but more of that in a second). It is very true that this project feels very 'now' with the recent years seeing re-ignition of interest in vintage synths and such figures as Delia Derbyshire and Dr Moog. Edwards started his collection nearly two decades ago however, picking up the instruments for a song when people were chucking them out to upgrade to computer software and the songs aren't at all retro-flavoured but instead will find favour with those who like electronica and IDM. This said he must be aware of the new found allure that his collection of instruments has as the album comes with a lovely booklet portraying them all. (At the bottom of this interview, there are a selection of photographs to whet your appetite.)"

Lecture: Sergi Jordá and the Reactable

"The Mills College Music Department and the Center for Contemporary Music present:

Lecture: Sergi Jordá and the Reactable

November 17, 7:30 PM

Music Buildiing Ensemble Room

FREE

Sergi Jordà will lecture on his work as coordinator of Interactive Systems at the Music Technology Group of the Audiovisual Institute of Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain. Mr Jordá leads the team of researchers who developed the Reactable, a collaborative electronic music instrument with a tabletop tangible multi-touch interface, which was recently awarded the Golden Nica for Digital Musics at the Ars Electronica Festival in Austria. Several simultaneous performers share complete control over the instrument by moving and rotating physical objects on a luminous round table surface. By moving and relating these objects, representing components of a classic modular synthesizer, users can create complex and dynamic sonic topologies, with generators, filters and modulators, in a kind of tangible modular synthesizer or graspable flow-controlled programming language. The Icelandic singer Björk has successfully used the Reactable during her last "Volta" world tour.

Sergi Jordá will perform in a concert that features his own improvisations and collaborations with Mills students and faculty on the Reactable on Friday, November 21 at 8 PM in the Mills College Art Museum.

Mills College
5000 MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA
http://music.mills.edu/events"

via brian c