Juno 106 Roland

YouTube via abertronic
"ebay Item number: 220351785419 voice chip test"
custom wood side panels.

The Korg MS-20: The Patch Panel 2

YouTube via AutomaticGainsay. part 1 here
"Here is part two in a series of videos demonstrating the sound and functionality of the patch panel section of the Korg MS-20."

Gradywerks MPG64-A and MPG64-R

"The MPG64-A (Midi Pattern Generator 64 Alpha) is a 64 step midi sequencer designed to run on Windows Vista or XP with a minimum screen resolution of 1024x768. In addition to playing midi notes, the MPG64-A is capable of simultaneously recording the resulting audio, creating loopable WAV files that can be used in any audio application. An 'Auto Set' feature can be used to automatically calculate and correct for latency of the midi device prior to recording, resulting in loopable samples.
The 64 step pattern data can also be exported to a midi file. The MPG64-A features a row of parameter knobs which can control the duration and velocity of each note, and can also be used to set values for two continuous controllers. A 'Controller Automation' feature uses preset patterns to modulate the continuous controllers to create filter sweeps and random 'sample and hold' type effects. The MPG64-A is also designed to run as a plug-in for Tu2 by Bram Bos. When using the MPG64-A to trigger a software synthesizer running on the same computer, you may need to install a 'midi loopback' such as Maple (Windows Vista) or MIDIYOKE (Windows XP)."

" There are now two versions of the MPG64-R. A free version, and a 'Special Edition' version available after a $19 USD donation. The Special Edition version features new graphics and a second tempo knob for the last grid two rows. By setting the 2nd tempo to a different value, some very unique and complex drum loops can be created.

The MPG64-R is the sister program of the MPG64-A and is geared for creating drum patterns. Some features include the ability to play in midi sync with the MPG64-A and the ability to export the pattern data to a Midi file. The primary feature of this program is a very simple, 64-step drum grid which can be used in lieu of your existing drum machine's complex sequencer. It can be used to trigger any type of midi drum machine, either software or hardware. Each of the 20 rows can be set to a different midi channel, so you can even trigger multiple devices simultaneously from the same grid! You can also run multiple MPG64-R's in synchronization, just in case 20 drum sounds triggered simultaneously isn't enough :)"
gradywerks.com - you'll find videos and more.

via papydasy:
"With the random button you get very interesting sequences. Slave it to midi clock I open say 5 Instances of the MPG64-A all controlling different synths, pressing the random button until something interesting happens. Can be 4 beats 8 ,16 ect. Interesting results all the time."

Lainhart Films At L.A. Festival

"Films "One Year" and "drift" to be screened at L.A. International Festival of Cinema and Technology

Richard Lainhart, award-winning composer, filmmaker, and author, is pleased to announce that two of his short films, "One Year" and "drift", have been accepted for screening at the International Festival of Cinema and Technology's Visions of Movement, Art and Sound, Saturday February 7th in Los Angeles.

'One Year' is a year-long timescape of a maple tree in Lainhart's backyard, photographed daily with a digital still camera under computer control and assembled and processed in Adobe After Effects. The soundtrack is computer-processed bowed vibraphone, played and recorded live. 'drift' is an abstact HD film created entirely in Adobe After Effects. The soundtrack is an improvisation for lapsteel guitar processed with the Symbolic Sound Kyma System.

The International Fest of Cinema and Technology (IFCT) takes place at the Downtown Independent Theatre at 251 S. Main Street in downtown Los Angeles. This festival will be screening films from filmmakers around the world. The IFCT, (www.ifct.org) now in its 6th year, specializes in screening new animation and experimental film. The festival line-up also includes an array of exceptional narrative and documentary features and shorts.

The IFCT is designed to give exposure to independent films, many of which previously had been underexposed to the public. The festival's motto is it seeks to "discover the undiscovered film." The "technology" in the festival's name occurs both in the content of the festival, which tends to focus on themes of technology or feature unique creation techniques, as well as in the method of showcasing content at the events.

Richard Lainhart's "drift" and "One Year" will receive their L.A. premieres at the Festival's Visions of Movement, Art and Sound, Saturday February 7th. This showcase features cutting edge films with an intense focus on music and equally dynamic visuals. Along with Lainhart, presentations include 10 new and innovative music videos including Katy Davis' "Stay in My Memory" video for Bimm, SHTIL Music Video for Infectzia, and Hillside Music Video directed by Nir Ben Jacob for the band Sidewalk Fiction, among others. Other films in this screening sequence focusing on strong sounds and mesmerizing visuals include "Himalyanwalk" directed by Jeanet Snijders, "Motion" directed by John Osborne.

• For more information about Visions of Movement, Art and Sound http://www.ifct.org/ifctshortsdancemusicsound.html
• The festival website is http://www.ifct.org
• A schedule of festival screenings and directions to the venues can be found at http://www.ifct.org/ifctschedulelosangeles09.html
• For information on tickets or schedule contact admin@ifct.org.

For more about information about Richard Lainhart, visit http://www.otownmedia.com"

NAMM: WNAMM09: John Bowen's Solaris Nears Production

see the write-up on Sonic State. Keyword: User Wavetables. :)
Note the Solaris does both Prophet-VS style vector synthesis and PPG/Waldorf wavetable synthesis along with virtual analog. See http://johnbowen.com/ for more info.
Some specs:
* 4 Oscillators, each with several types available: MultiMode, WaveTable, CEM, WAV (sample playback), VS (single cycle waves), SuperSaw
* 4 Filters, each with selectable Inputs. Filter types are: Ladder Lowpass, 24, 12, 6, dB, Highpass 24, 12, 6 dB, Bandpass 24 dB, Comb (2 types), State Variable 12 dB LP
* 2 Vector Mixers, 2 Rotors (special 4-step waveshape sequences), 2 AM sections (includes Ring Mod)
* 6 DADSRs, 2 8-stage loopable envelopes
* 4 free LFOs, 1 Vibrato LFO. Each has delayed start, fade in, and fade out times, key sync and Phase control
* Phaser, Chorus, Flanger, Delay, Overdrive, 3-band EQ effects

Update via Carbon111 in the comments: "I've got eighteen Solaris pics from NAMM up here now: http://www.carbon111.com/solaris/namm09/"

NAMM: NAMM 2009 Arlan's Hotel Jam Part One

YouTube via keyboardmag1
"Our good friend Arlan set up a jam in his hotel room at the NAMM show and we had a great time! Armed with an old Wurly and Minimoog, Arlan and Steve Ferlazzo conjured up the grooves. Thanks to Adam Wesley on guitar, Al Pahanish on bass and John Coviello on drums! Filmed by Robbie Gennet."

NAMM 2009 Arlan's Hotel Jam Part Two

NAMM: The Eric Levy Moog Interview

YouTube via KidsTalkRadio
"Bob Barboza interviewed Eric Levy at the NAMM Show. Kid's Talk Radio wanted to know all about the Moog Synthesizer. Eric Levy is considered an expert on the Moog Synthesizer. For more information visit: www.KidsTalkRadioLA.com or e-mail:Suprschool@aol.com"

Virtual String Machine Review and Samples on Cafe 80

See the full review with samples on khoral's Cafe 80.
snip:
"The VSM is a sample-based software synthesizer from Gforce Software, recreating those beloved old-fashioned string machines from the 70’s and early 80’s (pictured below, the Eminent 310, which famously provided the atmospheric strings of Oxygène and Equinoxe).

It is sample-based, in that the VSM don’t emulate these instruments from scratch, but starts with recordings, which you can then retune, pan and modify with filters (lowpass, highpass and bandpass) and LFO."

Also be sure to check out the demos section on the official Gforce site.


List of users from the Gforce site for the archives:
"Essential String Machine
* Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene (Eminent 310 [pictured]), Equinoxe (Elka Rhapsody)
* Duran Duran: Rio (Crumar Multiman)
* John Foxx: Metamatic (Elka Rhapsody)
* Beck: Midnight Vultures (Opus 3)
* Morrisey: You are the Quarry (Opus 3)
* Jeff Wayne: War Of The Worlds (Freeman String Symphonizer)
* David Bowie: Sound & Vision (ARP Omni)
* Roy Ayres: My Life in the Sunshine (Solina)
* Herbie Hancock: Chameleon (Solina)
* Steve Hackett: Spectral Mornings (Logan String Melody), Voyage of the Acolyte (Elka Rhapsody)
* Genesis: Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album (Elka Rhapsody layered with Mellotron®)
* Air: Moon Safari album (Solina)
* Ultravox: Vienna (Elka Rhapsody & Yamaha SS-30), Artificial Life - (Elka Rhapsody)
* Lonnie Liston Smith: Expansions (Solina)
* Gary Wright: Dreamweaver (Solina)
* Goldfrapp: Number One (Roland RS505)
* Vangelis: Heaven & Hell (Elka Rhapsody)
* Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart (ARP Omni)
* New Order: Blue Monday (ARP Omni)
* The Cure: In Between Days (Solina)
* Pink Floyd: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Solina)
* Kraftwerk: Trans Europe Express (ARP Omni)"

MS2000-chained

flickr by danbroad1000

full size

"Just a cheap and cheesy bit of PSE6 just to illustrate an idea I have for chaining two of these together!"

Admin: Facebook MATRIXSYNTH Group

I've been pretty bad with Facebook lately. Mainly because I process everything through email and RSS feeds. I just haven't had time to check out Facebook directly. Well, I found a solution. I created a Yahoo! Pipe for the group. You can sub to it here. More info on pipes here. In short you can now sub to the group in your RSS reader of choice. Remember you can sub to this blog by just copying and pasting the URL into your reader. I also added a link to Facebook in the header menu above. Feel free to join the group if you are on Facebook.