Synthex: Analog Synth & Sound FX Unit

YouTube via abstractjuz

"Synthex is the latest model in the Hex Series of Hybrid Synths and Effects from ADT. Analog VCO with Square and Triangle Wave outputs via a dedicated cross-fade. Hard Sync and FM Modulation via two external audio inputs - also with their own cross-fade. Two switchable modes to go from more familiar analog sounds to awesome, bizarre and completely freakish sound effects. Great for tweak-heads and sound-designers alike. A very limited quantity of this model will be available for sale - please PM me if you'd like to know more."

MATRIXSYNTH T-SHIRTS - Update

The first round of Ts have all been shipped. It looks like shipping costs to Canada and the US is the same and Europe (Portugal and Estonia so far) appears to be slightly more. That said, Ts are $15 in the US and CA, $22 for Europe pending any unknown additional shipping costs.

The following Ts are currently in stock:
5 Small Short Sleeve
2 Small Long Sleeve
10 Medium Short Sleeve
5 Medium Long Sleeve
18 Large Short Sleeve
5 Large Long Sleeve
11 XL Short Sleeve
13 XL Long Sleeve
7 XXL Short Sleeve
3 XXXL Short Sleeve

Note there are no XXL Long Sleeves in stock. There was a mistake at the printers and instead, 3 XXXL Short Sleeves came in. If you'd like an XXL Long Sleeve, or any other size not listed let me know.

Ordering instructions for a T are here. Note it's first come first serve, so if you want one sooner than later, order now. I ship Ts out once a week, either on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If I do sell out in any size I should be able to order a new batch and ship within a couple of weeks. The permalink for Ts are on the right - click on the image.

Rhodes Chroma Demo, Part 1

YouTube via NonDigitalTom

"Here's the first of a four part series demonstrating the Rhodes Chroma, arguably the greatest polyphonic analog synthesizer of all time. The video was shot with the help of Mike Thompson, who's doing the majority of the playing in this demo. One of the channels on the Chroma is not working, so what you're hearing is 7 out of its 8 voices. The Chroma Expander shown is not currently functioning (we'll get to it someday though).

I acquired this Rhodes Chroma on trade in non-working condition with the hope I could one day get it up and running. I had the power supply replaced and purchased the CC+ upgrade available through RhodesChroma.com. After that, I had three voices working. With a little troubleshooting and swapping around of voice cards I was able to get four voices. Mike was super motivated to hear the Chroma in its full glory (which we've yet to do, mind you). With his help and determination, we figured out that the Chroma had four dead voice cards and one bad channel. We're still trying to figure out what to do about that. In the meantime, I acquired the Chroma Expander, which is non-functional but had good working voice cards. So we pulled some cards from the Expander to make our 7 voice Chroma, which is demonstrated in the video."

Rhodes Chroma Demo, Part 2

"Here's the second installment of our Rhodes Chroma demo. The Chroma originally had one bank of 50 patches, but the CC+ CPU upgrade expands the memory to allow 4 banks of 50 patches. This demo is all the second bank (which we've been referring to as "Bank B"). This time it's just me playing. One thing I really love about the Chroma is the velocity sensitivity, especially for envelope-controlled filter effects. You can see this demonstrated here in some of the patches where I just used the left hand. That (combined with the weighted real wood keys) really makes the Chroma a blast to play. I can't say enough good things about this synth. Seriously. Can't wait to get the Expander going!

Check out http://www.formusiciansonly.com/blog to see pictures of our vintage keyboard studio."

Rhodes Chroma Demo, Part 3

Uploaded by NonDigitalTom on Apr 15, 2009

"Here's the third part in our Rhodes Chroma demo series, this time featuring sounds from Bank C (including the patch we used for our ominous intro). These all came preloaded with the CC+ upgrade - we haven't even gotten to programming our own yet. Should be a lot of fun! This demo features a mix of Mike and myself taking turns going through various patches. Keep in mind, there's no reverb, delay, or effects of any kind in any of these videos; just the Chroma being recorded direct.
Check out http://www.formusiciansonly.com/blog to see pictures of our vintage keyboard studio."

A/DA Harmony Synthesizer demo

YouTube via NonDigitalTom
"Demo of the super rare A/DA Harmony Synthesizer. This is (to the best of our knowledge) the ONLY harmonizer ever designed using all analog circuitry. Video features demonstrations of the harmonizing features on various settings, A and B harmony channels with momentary switching, analog delay setting, and self-oscillation capabilities. The video was recorded live, no post-production audio. The guitar is a '52 Reissue Fender Telecaster, and the amp is a '66 Blackface Fender Princeton Reverb with a Jensen C10N speaker. No other effects are used."

Stearns Collection Moog Modular

via Ron
"A friend of mine in Ann Arbor, Michigan, sent me a couple of pictures yesterday that I thought you would be interested in. I asked him if he minded if I sent them along to you. He said that would be fine, and also sent along a couple of links to where the synth resides. From my friend's description:

"After the concert (Five Peace Band at Hill Auditorium), I ventured downstairs (there's an area open now after renovation a few years ago) and there in one of the display windows is a vintage Moog synth, circa 1964, which says it was donated in honor of Robert Moog. I thought of you, of course, when I saw it, so took a few photos. Here are a couple. Pretty cool to see. I believe these are in the permanent collection at the School of Music instrument museum thing."

"Here's the link to the Stearns Collection at UM School of Music. Here's the link to the page about the Moog Synth which I believe must be the same one I saw probably on temporary display at Hill Auditorium. Click on the photos to get larger versions. Some better shots than mine. It says this was the 'first commercially produced Moog synthesizer.' Pretty cool."
Pretty cool indeed. Imagine unknowingly walking into that after a show. :) BTW, you might remember this Moog from these posts (scroll when you get there).

New Memotron Users Group

via Jan

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/memotron/

"I opened the group in cooperation with the "makers" of the Memotron to
bring memotron users together.

cheers & thanks

jan"

TB-303 + SYB3 + OS2

via DyLAB
"here I am messing around with sending audio from roland tb303 into boss syb-3 pedal and then into boss os-2 pedal, the audio is be routed via ableton live using external effects and motu ultralite, I go through a number of the boss syb-3 settings and the boss os-2 settings, you can hear how it tracks the tb303 bassline.

The drum is the bassdrum from tr606 with some overdrive in live."

Be sure to check out DyLAB for more.

Modcan A CV Recorder w/ Sequential switch and Zorlon Cannon

YouTube via tragedybysyntax
"This was my first patch using a Metalbox Sequential Switch coming in and the out signal going to a Zorlon Cannon"

Serge Dual Osc playing with midi keyboard

YouTube via b3nsf
"Just got the Dual Osc and Wave Proc today. Here's my roomate playing some notes with a midi / cv converter... sounds lovely!"

Bleep Labs Thingamakit, slightly modded.

flickr by Mark Dalzell

full size

Thingamakill

"This is the foundation for some other modules I'm building... have good working prototypes of a keyboard and an Ondes Martenot style controller for it so far.

(You can hear it here, along with a Stylophone if you like that sort of thing) :)

www.thesmoovesailors.com"