Professor Eliot Glacier aboard the PAiA Fatman

flickr by stickjones
(click for more)

And a nice Frac Rack Modular Synth below

Tokyo Melody (Ryuichi Sakamoto) Part 1/7

YouTube via dvdborn
"A film about Ryuichi Sakamoto by Elizabeth Lennard. 1985"
You can find parts 2 - 6 on DVDBORN

PPG 300 Modular Track

You'll find the link to the mp3 on Aliens Project.

Flame Echometer

Flame MIDI Talking Synth, Clockwork, and Echometer via Aliens Project where you will find a post on the Echometer in German. Googlish version here.

"Echo Meter is a compact MIDI and CV / Gate sequencer with a maximum 3 Track. Neben den MIDI-Noten gibt er auch bis zu 6 Steuerspannungen zwischen 0 und 5V und Triggersignale für Analogynthies und Drummies aus. In addition to the MIDI notes he also gives up to 6 control voltages between 0 and 5V and trigger signals for Analogynthies and Drummies from. Alle Werte lassen sich natürlich auch quantisieren. All values are of course also quantize."

Future Retro Orb Sequencer

"Introducing the Orb... the first offering in our new line of XS-ories.

The Orb is an easy to use, single track, step-based digital sequencer, ideal for controlling our XS semi-modular synthesizer as well as other analog CV/Gate or MIDI synthesizers. The Orb is also a perfect solution for controlling 303 clones which often lack the essential sequencer.

Based on our highly successful Revolution concept, the Orb provides an intuitive interface that we feel most accurately represents the principles of time and music. From ancient sundials to modern day analog clocks, time has been represented as the circle, a cycle which never ends. For time itself is nothing more than our perception of the revolution of planets as they journey through their celestial orbit. It is this motion that we call time that can be measured, divided, and arranged to provide the foundation of music. This circular cyclic theme can furthermore be found throughout music in everything from song structure and repeating rhythms to the fundamentals of sound itself, being the sine wave. With this understanding we must conclude that music is cyclic and should so be represented in its natural form.

Continuing our tradition of hand building quality products, this sleek compact unit is housed in a rugged aluminum chassis with a high contrast white on gun metal grey finish for superior viewing of controls in dark environments, and bright blue LEDs all around. New spherical switches allow quick selection of multiple steps by sweeping through the surface of step keys.

Let's start with the sequencer....
As you can see, the sequencer's interface is circular, which provides several benefits over the traditional linear-style step sequencers. Visually, it is easier to divide a measure of music into equal parts. The circular interface also provides a more intuitive way of displaying patterns playing as cyclic loops, either forwards or reverse, and will help you better understand the underlying geometric symmetries used throughout our Remixing process. This design also allows the user to carry out all sequencing functions with a single hand.

There are 256 recordable patterns available, each recording note duration, pitch, accent , glide, loop point, time signature, and swing amount. Pattern editing features include copy/paste, pattern shifting, pattern transposing, multiple pattern cueing for chaining patterns together live, and LED chase. In addition, all pattern editing and recording can be done while the sequencer is running, and it will automatically save all your edits so you don't have to stop creating!

The Orb also provides the ability to play patterns forwards or backwards, as well as remotely select patterns to play using MIDI program change messages.

There are 16 songs to arrange the patterns in, each recording its tempo, the bank/pattern for each step, the transposition of each step, and the song's loop point. Each of the 16 songs can contain up to 3,580 measures, and multiple songs may be chained together so they play sequentially.

In addition, the Orb provides our unique Remix feature which gives 256 variations for every pattern and song, for more than 65,000 possible patterns right out of the box. Whether you're improvising during a live set, creating variations for other parts of a song, or simply have a case of writer's block, our Remix feature is sure to inspire you and speed up your creative process.

Patterns and songs can be backed up via SysEx dumps to other Orb units, Revolution units, or your computer. In addition, all patterns and songs created in the Orb can be played in the Revolution units, just as all Revolution patterns and songs can be played in the Orb.

Interfacing....
The Orb provides separate 1/4" jacks for the CV out (1V/oct standard) with adjustable Glide Time control, Gate out (positive polarity type, 0 to +12V), and Accent out (positive polarity type gate, 0 to +10v) for playing most analog synthesizers. Or if you prefer, the Orb can act as a MIDI to CV converter allowing any MIDI keyboard/controller, or sequencer to contol an analog synthesizer. It's also possible to sync most pre-MIDI analog sequencers and arpeggiators to MIDI clock by using the Gate out signal as a programmable clock source.

MIDI In/Thru/Out are all provided for syncing playback with external sequencers, playing MIDI sound modules, or using the Orb as a MIDI to CV converter."
$550 available now. More info and images here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

BugModular Demo - Two VCO FM - Feb09

YouTube via BugBrand
"Time to start doing some simple demonstrations. This shows the sounds that two of the SYN2A VCOs can make when cross-modulating one another, first using Triangle waves and then Square waves.

Each oscillator's output feeds both the Output mixer plus the other osc's CV input - changing the modulation depth results in varying sound, with total chaos ensuing when both oscs have their FM depths set to maximum.

For further BugModular details, please check the main Bug site:::: www.bugbrand.co.uk"

BugMod Feb09 DualVoiceDelayMods

"This is a self-running patch which begins with a little power-starvation experimentation using the big variable transformer (variac) on the right-hand-side. This takes the 'mains' supply voltage from about 50v up to 240v - roughly 200v is where the PSU begins to run at 'full-power'.

This uses two oscs, opened up by two looping envelopes. Modulation is provided by the PRC2 BugCrusher module running at S/H rate and it is also self-modulating itself - the output is fed back to the Rate CV control. The S/H output controls the speed of envelope looping + the delay time of the PRC1 delay.

[Note that I tried out 'proper' audio recording (rather than just using the audio straight off the camera) and things don't seem to have worked out properly in AVID - its hard to tell though 'cos the patch is so slowly evolving - you get the picture at least!]"

Also, the Bugs'o'February newsletter:
"Hi All,

Just a quick mail this month..

As I mentioned in last month's mailout, the new BugModular works are going to be a major focus for me these coming months (and all systems are now spoken for), but I won't be forgetting the possibilities of standalone devices - I know there have been many requests for more BugCrushers and I am working on bringing something new & improved to life (don't hold your breath just yet though..!). I have pretty much entirely ruled out using standard cases/boxes now (due to time considerations) so there are no plans for any further stomp-box designs, only desktop. Let us see what the future holds.

The main thing to say now is that the new BoardWeevils have been updated and are in full production - I hope to be able to keep these regularly stocked from now on.
>From last month when I release a few of the Initial versions, the Boards have been slightly updated - the onboard silk-screen text is now nicely legible (in yellow), there is a bit more space around the dials and everything now comes packed in a custom cardboard case with decent instructions.
Have a check here (the new website links are not so easy to follow! You can always just go to:: www.bugbrand.co.uk -> Shop -> BoardWeevil)

A couple of little other nuggets:
- there's now a BugForum, kindly hosted by MuffWiggler
- and there are a few new bits on the BugBlog
--- this includes mention of a screening & party this Wednesday (18th Feb) at the Cube Cinema, Bristol, to celebrate the fantastic winning of a BAFTA Award by the short film 'September' on which I helped with some sound and music.
- and a couple more BugModular YouTubes
That-be-that - thanks for listening and best wishes to all!
Tom"

Synthwood Waldorf Q Wood Sides

More images on Synthwood.

Dark walnut

JoMoX XBase09 XRom install

The JoMoX XBase09 XRom install
from this video is now on Ebay.

Free HD Video Recorder with every Fairlight Constellation and Xynergi

YouTube via cyber4nic
"You may have heard about Fairlights video options, going all the way up to uncompressed HD quality.
Well, for the first half of 2009, we are GIVING AWAY the full optional package with every Xynergi or Constellation sold.
Heres what you get:
Record SD / HD up to uncompressed 4:2:2, plus up to 96 audio tracks
Record straight to the timeline
Drag and drop import of most video file types
Transcoding between blah, blah and blah
Real time frame rate conversion between 23.98 and 24 frames per second
Edit video and audio tracks (up to 192 of them) together
Work lightning fast with the amazing Xynergi user interface"

Tenori On sequencing Nord Modular G2 [v08]

YouTube via polishbroadcast
"All sounds from the Nord Modular G2. Drums are a patch by Roland Kuit on the electro-music.com board. This is probably the best virtual analog synth i have tried. It sounds so good. It is a shame they discontinued it. The Tenori-On is starting to open up as a more flexible sequencer as i use it more.

Excuse the quality. This was recorded with my Macbook Pro's iSight and 1/8" audio input."

Tenori On sequencing Access Virus TI Snow [v01]

Stereo version embedded. click here for all of the videos in this set.
"Trying to expand the internal sounds and get beyond that recognizable Tenori On sound and timing. I thought the 4 parts of the TI Snow would be limiting but the sounds can be so big it is a challenge to try and be simple. The Tenori On is in "Advanced" mode so i wasn't locked into score mode for the first 4 layers which was useful on my Nord Modular G2 (which i am also uploading)."