RS95 VCO Reaktor Emulation

YouTube via t0nmontana — May 10, 2010 — "Just having a bit of fun modulating the symmetry and duty cycle of this here triangle wave."
some additional info via Gregtronic:
"I made a fun little patch in Reaktor that emulates the RS95 or EMS style VCO. Here's a video of me having a little fun modulating the Symmetry and Duty Cycle. It doesn't sound all that great, but it's fun to watch the waves dance!"

5.25.10 Space Gallery Show

flickr by James & Evander

Darth Vader sports a Moog Liberation.

Rare 1984 Casio KX-101 boombox keyboard

YouTube via Fingermush — May 05, 2010 —

"This is a very short demo, of a rare Casio boombox. My camera doesn't do this thing justice. The drums & some of the tones are really cool."


via this auction

"main features:
* 37 mini keys
* 12 key buttons + 11 select buttons for direct selectable single finger chords
* 2 detachable 2-way loudspeaker boxes (with some bass, tweeter is slightly hissy)
* main voice polyphony 4 notes (only 1 in unison mode)
* 9 preset sounds {piano 1..3, harpsichord, organ, clarinet, flute, horn, mellow}
* 12 preset rhythms {waltz, ballad, swing, enka, 16beat, rock-1..3, disco-1..2, bossa nova, samba}
* preset sounds, rhythms & sequencer note lengths selected through keyboard keys
* cipher buttons {'0'..'9', 'set', 'c'} (only used by tape deck?)
* main volume slider
* treble & stereo balance sliders
* separate volume sliders for poly (keyboard main voice), mono, chord, arpeggio, rhythm, mixing microphone
* stereo/ mono switch
* tempo +/- buttons (57 steps, most are slow)
* transpose +/- buttons (13 semitone steps)
* arpeggio
* detuned chorus mode (called "unison", monophonic)
* 3 rhythm fill-in buttons
* complex sequencer (473 steps, polyphonic with edit features, saves music files on audio cassette)
* 2 "one key play" buttons (to play or edit sequencer contents note by note)
* semi- analogue sound generator similar like Casio VL-1; the digital envelopes (with audible zipper noise) are linear and thus sounds unrealistic because they fade silent too soon. Unlike the latter it is 4 note polyphonic and alternatingly assigns notes to both stereo channels. Chord voice is 4 note polyphonic with fixed timbre like Casio PT-30 but has an optional arpeggio voice. Analogue percussion corresponds to PT-30.
* very complex multi- chip hardware:
o CPU1= "NEC D1868G 006, 8348XK, Japan" (80 pin SMD)
o CPU2= "NEC D1879G 002, 8343XK, Japan" (80 pin SMD)
o 2x SRAM= "HD C, 61914, 4F, 23" (44 pin SMD)
o tape drive CPU?= "Toshiba TC4514BP, 8418H, Japan" (24 pin DIL)
o IC "LB1405, 4A3" (16 pin DIL)
o tuner IC "441, A04" (16(?) pin DIL)
o big hybrid "K4F25S, 46311"
* radio tuner:
o FM stereo, MW, LW
o analogue scale with tuning knob
o telescope & ferrite antenna
o nice sound
* digital controlled cassette deck:
o "computer play" drive control buttons {space search, rec return, repeat, single, program, shuffle, intro, JP}
o direct title select through cipher buttons
o tape sorts switch {normal, CrO2, metal}
o tape counter (mechanical)
o record mute button (records a pause)
o datasette function to save & load sequencer data
o 2 integrated microphones
o has no dolby, sounds bassless
o fails by hardening rubber parts
* level meter (7 LED row with only 5 steps, mono)
* timer switch (to be used with an external mains timer to play or record)
* RAM-Pack slot (for optional Casio RA-10 module that expands sequencer memory to 985 steps)
* tuning trimmer (+/- 30cent)
* auto- power off (in keyboard mode)
* jacks for mains cable, speakers, line out, phones, line in, microphones, mixing microphone"

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Catgirl Synth Burst Generator - MOTM Format

via this auction

"Designed by Ken Stone of Cat Girl Synth.
This module is a rhythm and timing accessory. It generates a burst of gate or trigger pulses at various speeds as set from a front panel control.

At higher speeds it can be used for washboard, maracas or similar rapid-burst percussive effects when connected to the appropriate sound generating device such as a ringing oscillator. At lower speeds it can be used to step a sequencer a certain number of steps or retrigger an envelope shaper. The output pulses are quite narrow when the specified component values are used, and would best be described as trigger pulses in synths that distinguish gates from triggers. Increasing some component values will give longer gate like pulses.

Just a few of the ways in which it could be used; It can be used alone or cascaded with other burst generators. When cascaded, it could form the basis of a weird rhythm/timing generator. It could be used to step your sequencer through so many notes each down-beat. Fed to the modulation input of a VCO either directly or via an envelope shaper, it will cause a trill at the beginning of each note. It can use either its internal synchronized clock, or an external clock. It can be configured to be retriggerable or not, in which case the event in progress is concluded before it will respond to another.
(taken from www.cgs.synth.net)"

ROLAND MPU-101 MIDI-CV INTERFACE

via this auction

"This unit lets you use an older synth without midi within a midi environment. It converts midi signals into CV input signal for analog synths so that you can use vintage and/or analog synths in your midi setup. This unit can handle up to 4 analog synths. 16 midi channels, Midi In/Out/Thru, Mono/2Voice/3Voice/4Voice/Special. Each of the 4 outputs send CV, Dynamics, and Gate, from midi to 4 synths and then there's also Bender, Modulation, After Touch, and Volume available.

If you care about the tech details, visit this page to learn more."

This one sold for: US $211.59

circuit bent e-mu mp7 command station by spunkytoofers

It looks like the circuit bent command station in this video is now up for auction here.

"-circuit bent with freely routeable 24 point rotary patchbay for the maximum in flexibility.

-points were carefully researched and arranged in order of harmonics whenever possible. very intuitive interface.

-chrome chickenhead knobs

-heavy duty toggles activates rotary patchbay connections

-db25 connector added- adds the option of expanding the e-mu commandstation units with the spunkytoofers mm1 midi module.

connector supplies power to the mm1 as well as allows circuit bending over midi via added midi circuitry.

all spunkytoofers instruments are now all compatible with mm1.

mm1 is sold seperately.

-unit is expandable with up to 3 more e-mu rom cards

-2 blue jewel lenses with bright blue lighting

-solid build and and quality components used throughout

-unit in superb shape. all functions work perfectly.

very light cosmetic scuffs but not very noticeable. unit was cleaned throughly after assembly.

don't have a way to check the optical output but should be fine.

-comes with power cord, bend diagram, and original owners manual

-support and warranty work covered for modifications

the e-mu command stations are perfect companions for the mm1 for a centerpiece for modular circuit bending over midi. there is no better way to sequence all your circuit bent devices than starting with one of the most powerful hardware sequencers ever made. modular sequencing and circuit bending is all possible through the e-mu command stations. the internal synthesizer in the command station is truly a powerful synthesizer and practically all waveforms within respond to the pressures of circuit bending. there are complex filters onboard and can virtually create any kind of circuit bent sound so long as you can picture it in your head. want a circuit bent speak and spell looping sound in one of the 32 sequencer tracks available? no problem. bend vocal roms applied with formant filters and will sound like a bent speak and spell. it does a whole lot more and covers alot of sonic territory within the onboad circuit bent synthesizer. the synthesizer sports a huge modulation matrix both in synthesis and circuit bending.

simple drum patterns are reconfigured rhythmically, tonally, and you can shape the circuit bent sounds any way you like with the powerful proteus 2000 synth engine onboard. 128 voices of sequenced mayhem is possible on this device. you can also add your controllers on top of the sequencer to any of the 16 voice parts. in addition to onboard sequencing you can sequence outboard midi gear. this makes it perfect companions with any spunkytoofers instruments with midi since they can integrate seamlessly.

the video below is a circuit bent e-mu mp7 and xl7 demonstration. both units are identically the same except they have different sound sets with the option to expand sound sets with rom simms. they both feature breakouts for spunkytoofers mm1 midi module expansion for modular circuit bending over midi.

1st demo [previously posted] is one pattern being mangled manual with a rotary patchbay

2nd demo [previously posted] is a midi multi-setup on the command station with setups for akai ewi wind controller, akai mpk25 keyboard and sequenced drones being interjected sporadically. all sounds are arbitrarily circuit bent throughout the demo via midi. the command station itself is used over midi to trigger it's own bends."

acid like its 1989 - Muzik 4 machines on rebirth

YouTube via muzik4machines — May 10, 2010 — "dl - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/chann..."

Rebirth on iTunes:


iPad prices on Ebay
iPhones on Ebay

AtariJazzConsole-Version2-Video3.AVI

YouTube via dolphinicus — May 10, 2010 — "This is the 1st video of the AJC V2, mounted into it's new panel. Now, all 3 voices are working properly. The unit has only the 3 Voices and 3 Modulators connected still, but the sonic variety available already - could scare your parents away, lickety-split! LOL. I hope you enjoy this one. The next video will have another module on the panel functioning as well."

AtariJazzConsole-Version2-video2.AVI

video 1 here

The New Tiptop Audio Z3000 MK2

via Gur of Tiptop Audio. Note this was also posted on the Muff forum:
"The new Z3000 uses the same electronic circuit the Mk1 uses, its basically the same VCO. The main difference in sound is the added VC waveshaper, that one obviously adds a lot to the sound character of the Z3000 Mk2. The waveshaper modulates the symmetry of both the Sine and Triangular waves simultaneously, but with a CVs at about +/-5V it goes way beyond symmetry and into just a kind of strange saw type of shapes.

The back of the module is very different, the pcb aligns flat with the panel, the entire circuit was squeezed in between the pots and jacks using all tiny SMT parts, it's small, compact, and feels real good in hand. One of the benefits of using modern parts is that I could get even better performance of the octave tracking.

The top frequency of the Mk2 can reach higher, 30kHz in compare to 22kHz on the Mk1 one. You can still get to 30kHz on the Mk1 one if you set the knobs to max and also patch a positive CV signal into on of the Log FM inputs. 30kHz is way above the human hearing but it makes great sense for using with the Z-DSP clock input, that's why we do it.

The fine tune knob is set to sweep a smaller range and as a result makes it easier to dial in a specific frequency. The frequency counter is exactly the same as in the Mk1, no changes in software or hardware.

With the Mk2 we switched from Cliff jacks. That was actually the main reason for the redesign of the module.

The new display is a soft blue. It wont burn your eyes, and it will make your girl go This is fun!

The Mk1 still has a slightly better temperature stability, but the difference is so small that its hardly worth mentioning it.

It's impossible to upgrade a Mk1 into a Mk2, the hardware is made totally different and I don't think I would have recommend any one to do that even if it was possible, the Z3000 Mk1 is a VCO that stands for its own.

The good news is that the Z3000 Mk2 will maintain the same price and not go higher. If production goes well then the first run will be available from our distributors in about 4 weeks."

Promo Video for the 4th V-Accordion Festival

YouTube via RolandChannel — May 10, 2010 — http://www.roland.com/produ..."