Yamaha TG77 FM Synthesizer

YouTube via Gtechture
"These all of the sounds played were created by Gtechture"

Yamaha DX-21 Frequency Modulation Synthesizer


Update via Gwenhwyfaer in the comments:
"The TG77 isn't just an FM synth, though. It has an FM engine in there - 6-operator, where each operator can be more or less freely routed (more than one feedback loop!) and take one of 16 waveforms - but there's also a ROMpler part of it, and each part (FM or ROMpler) has its own filter; and uniquely, the ROMpler output can be fed into the FM part (as in, into all 6 operators at once). Oh, and there are some nice effects on the end - two independent processors, and unlike the effects unit in my V50 I believe those processors actually have LFOs (and therefore choruses, flangers, etc) in them. (No, the V50 effects aren't a whole lot of use. Thanks for asking.) So - yes; the TG77 have lots of ways to sound lovely and warm, and they don't necessarily come from pure FM.

Having said which, free routing can turn FM from something a bit sterile to something snarly and uncontrollable (and really quite warm). Which is nice. :)"

"Oh, and the DX21 has an analogue chorus circuit in it (and can layer and detune two FM sounds even before that). Which helps a lot with warmth."

Prototype Controller from Bob Moog

via the Bob Moog Foundation blog on the upcoming Museum Exhibit, Waves of Inspiration. The Legacy of Moog. See the link for more. Keith Emerson will be performing.

"The exhibit will also include many artifacts from other private collections including the Moog Modular prototype previously owned by Herb Deutsch, a full Moog Modular IIIC and a working and extremely rare Eaton-Moog Multi-Touch Sensitive Keyboard loaned by avant garde opera composer John Eaton. Of particular note, Keith Emerson’s (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) custom built “Monster Moog” synthesizer will be displayed for the first month of the exhibition along with notes and schematics from Bob’s archives regarding the instrument." Note I gave this post the DIY label, just to make the point that it all starts with DIY. Click on the image.

Update: the following official newsletter came in from the Bob Moog Foundation on the event. I thought I would capture it here for the archives.

Keith Emerson to Perform at Opening of Moog Archives Exhibit
Synth legend Emerson and Erik Norlander will both perform at the Museum of Making Music to celebrate the opening of the first exhibit of Moog Archives!

Who: The Bob Moog Foundation & The Museum of Making Music
What: Waves of Inspiration. The Legacy of Moog. An exhibit, interactive engagement and opening weekend of performances including Keith Emerson and Erik Norlander.
When: August 28-30, 2009
Where: The Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad, CA

Interested in purchasing a ticket? Email to request details.

Visit our blog for details on the exhibit and "sneak preview" pictures of Bob Moog's archives, including a schematic drawing Bob drafted for Emerson's "Master Module".

See the pictures.

The Museum of Making Music, a division of the NAMM Foundation, is a small museum located 35 miles north of San Diego. The museum is dedicated to the exploration of the multifaceted history of the American music products industry from its beginnings in the 1890s to today. The Bob Moog Foundation has been planning this exhibit over a year and a half ago with the museum’s Executive Director, Carolyn Grant and Curator, Tatiana Sezinenko. Moog historian Brian Kehew has been involved as the consultant for the exhibit and is responsible for introducing the two parties at Winter NAMM 2008.

Here at the Foundation we regard Bob’s archives as a fascinating testament to history, innovation, and a lifetime of perseverance. Since retrieving the archives from unstable storage conditions in January of 2006, we have worked to preserve and protect this priceless collection that traces the 50 year career of a dedicated pioneer. With this exhibit, we are delighted to be sharing an extensive part of the archives with the public for the first time.

A special thanks to Carolyn Grant and Tatiana Sezinenko for their generous energy and thoughtful attention to telling a rich, fascinating story with an emphasis on accurately portraying Bob Moog as the toolmaker he so often described himself to be while giving careful consideration to the many people who make up the Moog Legacy. Thanks also to Brian Kehew who has worked (and will be working over the next six weeks!) tirelessly to help bring this exhibit to fruition. Finally, our deepest thanks to Douglas Babb, who made the trek from Indiana to North Carolina five times (on his own dime) to help us sort out and understand Bob’s archives.

We encourage all of you who are in the San Diego area to attend this unique exhibit. It will be an excellent opportunity to share in the life and work of Bob Moog – and for all you gearheads out there, it will be a chance to see many rare, if not one-of-a-kind pieces. Come share in the legacy that continues to inspire!

Continue to check our blog and the museum’s website for updates.

The Bob Moog Foundation
Make Waves by donating to the Bob Moog Foundation"

Tiptop Audio Z3000 Z2040 and Z5000

http://tiptopaudio.com

click the image for the full size shot

Synthesizers.com Business Card

Best. Business. Card. Ever.

http://synthesizers.com/

Don't sit on it

via this auction

Korg Wavedrum & RE1 Editor. Unique Drum Synth

"This is a very rare opportunity to get your hands (literally) on a Korg Wavedrum !!
Unlike traditional electronic drums or sampled drum sounds, the Wavedrum creates
its sounds realtime using physical modelling.
Only very few of these unique drumsynth`s have been made by Korg and I`m selling one.
The winner of this auction will get:
# Korg Wavedrum
# Wavedrum Rim
# RE1 Remote Editor
# Beautiful Custom Made Chrome Stand
# Cables to connect the Rim and the RE1
# Power cable
# User Guide & Service Manual in printable PDF fomat on CD"

the squarewave parade CAS auctions

Four auctions on the quarewave parade forum

13 | http://la-ac.com/msbd/viewtopic.php?t=385
14 | http://la-ac.com/msbd/viewtopic.php?t=388
15 | http://la-ac.com/msbd/viewtopic.php?t=389
16 | http://la-ac.com/msbd/viewtopic.php?t=390

Description via the squarewave parade
"the teaspoonCAS [ creamandsugar ] can be called a window sampler, a granular sampling gate, a granular trigger or something along those lines. its main intention is as a handheld voltage controlled instant looping playback sampler. there have been a number of features added in an attempt to make it universally applicable. knobs cover gain, volume, storage size, granular window and feedback. toggles allow real time speed / pitch modulation, self triggering window, and window hold. then there is a larger set of controls inside the case featuring touch pads, circuit bends, range extensions, input conversions and feedback loops. the input / pre will accept anything from direct guitar input to lower synth level. the window input will take just about any active voltage you can feed it and together with the length and threshold knobs it allows control over the window with enough detail to respond to higher audio frequencies which can allow for options like voltage controlled wave shaping if the source is clean and loud enough. the SLF switch sends the main audio to the window input and uses it as the control source allowing you to walk away from rhythmically synced sample playback. this input can also be used with a common sustain pedal to allow remote use. the CV input gives remote control over the currently available size of the sampler which can reach roughly one second though at the expense of fidelity. like the window input it will accept both AC and DC sources [ 6vdc ~ +/-3v ] which means that those of you that do not yet understand CV don't really need to, you can use anything from standard modular control sources to DAW based audio editors to draw out shapes and just plug the audio out into the CV input and it will work, easy as can be, volume in your editor then become size. CV input sensitivity together with the huge size range allows for an effect not unlike ring modulation when in pitch mode, the modulation source needs to be rather loud though. you can also insert a passive expression pedal with no other changes needed allowing the CAS to operate hands free, but you can now just shake the CAS to trigger the window so it might spend more time in your hand"

Circuit Bent Gakken SX-150

via vtol

some more shots and demo here

Update: YouTube vid below.


YouTube via Vtolus
Circuit bent Gakken Sx-150 Analog Synth

Seiko ds-250 with ds-310 synth module

YouTube via onephatcat
"The ultra rare additive synth system. Ds250 has midi in out thru 2 channel multitimbral layering, chorus detune pitch bend. What makes this synth great? The ease of use for one thing. Seiko achieved something that the other additive synth makers missed: an easy method for creating complex evolving sounds. Essentially you create three sound spectra, assign one to the attack, one to the sustain, and one to the release phase, and then set the envelope time for the ADSR and you are done! Now other synths such as Kawai k5 & k5000s have serious fine control over the envelopes of the overtones, but in terms of gratification from sound creation, the Seiko kicks a**."

BTW, anyone know where to find a manual for the DS-250?

Hands Off 2007 Part 1: Theremin Symposium

YouTube via GordonCharlton. Don't miss the start of Part 2 below for Video Killed the Radio star.
"Hands Off 2007, featuring talks, masterclasses, workshops and a three hour public concert. UK theremin news at http://theremin.org.uk"

Hands Off 2007 Part 2: Theremin Concert

"Hands Off 2007, featuring talks, masterclasses, workshops and a three hour public concert.

UK theremin news at http://theremin.org.uk"

Me playing Depeche Mode "Enjoy the Silence" (updated Video version)

YouTube via DX5.

A search on "YouTube via DX5" brings up the rest.

"Enjoy the Silence updated cover

Only the Martin guitar was sampled. Other sounds were sampled/synthesized by me, or belong to my own libraries. ("Ahh" choir is sampled Emulator II sound layered with a Kurzweil PC1x pad)

Played on two Emu Emax (I and EMAX II HD model).
Backtrack made in Pro Tools. Other keyboards used:
Roland JX-8P, Roland JP8000.

Composed by Martin L. Gore."