Roth Mobot Experimental Electronics News

"1. Upcoming Workshops
Introduction to Circuit Bending
Sunday, November 28th, 1:00 PM - 4:50 PM
The Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave
Register at 773-728-6000

Take apart your old toys and make a brand new musical instrument! Circuit bending is the art of modifying existing battery-powered electronics (like children's toys, guitar effects units, inexpensive battery-powered instruments, etc.) to create unique musical instruments by adding wires, knobs, and switches to control new connections within the device's pre-existing circuitry. Enjoy bizarre sounds, electronic loops, sampling, distortion, and other easy to create effects. At the end of this workshop you'll be able to identify and explore the basic components of a typical circuit board, install an output jack, switches, body contacts (and more!), and control a world of new sounds. No previous electronics experience is required! Tools and components will be provided. Students are required to bring one or two battery powered devices to the class.

How To Build A Simple Contact Microphone
Sunday December 5th, 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM
The Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave
Register at 773-728-6000

Contact mics are inexpensive, easy to build, and can be a source for fun and experimental ways of creating new sounds for recording, art installations or various live performances. In just two hours we will show you how to make a simple, effective contact microphone from surplus and discarded materials. Students are encouraged to bring random objects to amplify - sheet metal, cardboard boxes, acoustic instruments, slinkies, coat hangers, textured plastic objects, etc.
No previous electronics experience is required!

2. MEECAS 2010 Audio Tracks Ready for Listening & Downloading
Thanks to everyone who made it out to the MEECAS and helped make it such an awesome, constructive day/evening. The videos and pics are starting to roll in. If you have any please feel free to dump them into one of the many "groups" on the www.MEECAS.com site. Thanks to (steven) Buck, we have high quality recordings of the evening's performances that you can listen to online, or download the MP3s. Also, if you have a chance, check out Tom Young's excellent portraits from the evening.

Thank you for your time,

Patrick McCarthy
www.RothMobot.com
www.MEECAS.com"

Try the PPG 3.V for Free

PPG 3.V Evaluation License

"This license allows full use of PPG 3.V for 100 hours over a period of 100 days."

Terraza

Terraza from Abel Flaubert on Vimeo.

Native Instruments Launchpad, M-Audio U-Control, iPad

iPads on eBay
iPads on Amazon

Isotonik Octop4d - M4ster 1.1.3

Isotonik Octop4d - M4ster 1.1.3 from Darren E Cowley on Vimeo.

"This is the 8th scene, a simple step sequencer for Abletons Drumrack...

You can control up to 8 banks of 8 samples, either select the bank using the left and right arrows or have them triggered when you play a clip...

In the video the metronome doesn't show correctly as my mac can't keep up when i've got the screen recording and webcam going....

For more details on the Isotonik range head over to thestudiosessions.co.uk

Cheers
D"

Native Instruments Launchpad

Tenori on gets AIR PLAY!

YouTube via VJFranzK | November 24, 2010 |

Tenor-Ons on eBay

Arp Axxe and Sequencer Combo

via this auction

"Arp Sequencer and Axxe combo, with extras. Orginal manual and patch templates for Arp Axxe, no manual for Sequencer."

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9090 - Build Your Own Roland TR-909 Rack Clone

via this auction
"An Electronics Project With A Difference. Build Your Own tr-909!

If you've ever wished for the warmth and flexibility of an original analogue drum machine like the TR-909 and you're also handy with a soldering iron, then a real alternative could be to put one together yourself. The 9090 project starter kit contains what you need to get started. This is a project suited for more experienced electronics enthusiasts and requires a small number of obsolete components.

The 9090 Project is an authentic sounding, rack-mounted, MIDI controlled copy of the TR-909, that you build yourself. The starter kit being offered for sale in this listing contains the bare printed circuit boards and a small number of special components. The majority of the electronic components are to be obtained separately from your own preferred electronic components supplier.

"The advantage of using these boards is that the hard work has already been done: well thought-out, compact and extensively tested board layout design makes them an absolute pleasure to build, and the end result looks fantastic. These PCBs contain zero errors, therefore fitting all of the components and doing all of the wiring correctly can often result in something that works pretty much straight away."

Features

□ Includes all analogue sound circuits from the original machine, and it sounds identical. Even better, in fact - because some of the sounds have more flexibility. The Bass Drum, for example, has a number of new additional control knobs that enable it to make a fantastic range of kicks. Take a listen to the Sound Samples on the right (mp3 format).

□ It does not have a sequencer of any form, but it has an excellent full MIDI interface. The PIC microcontroller that comes supplied with the boards is pre-programmed with embedded software that forms the heart of the MIDI interface (decodes the MIDI messages and translates them to trigger and velocity signals for each drum circuit). The drum sounds are velocity sensitive. How the drum sounds are mapped across the keyboard scale can be reconfigured via System Exclusive messages. LED indicates MIDI activity.

□ A 'bonus feature' is a Sync24 output, which enables you to sync something like a TB303 or MC202 to the MIDI clock via the 9090.

□ The boards are intended to be built into a 19” rack enclosure or a sloping-top box (or whatever you choose) to form a MIDI controlled 909 clone. It's entirely your call on what shape and size yours is going to be! You can also choose to only build some of the drum circuits if you don't need all of the drum sounds.

I kept most of the sound circuits pretty much as they were in their original form, and the project includes all of the sounds found on the original machine. Some of the sounds have been enhanced to expand their capability far beyond those in the original machine, the Bass Drum being a good example: it now has seven potentiometers instead of four, and sounds absolutely awesome. I think many people built their 9090s just for this sound alone. Some original components that have become long obsolete have been replaced by easily obtainable substitutes, without affecting the timbre of the drum sound in any way.

All of the sound circuits are built onto the two main large boards that are seen in the picture. The third long, narrow board is used to mount the rear output sockets onto (featuring individual and stereo summary outputs). I used two main boards instead of one because it means that you can stack the two boards if you want to build the project into a relatively small enclosure, and they’re just easier to work with. The boards also contain the MIDI interface, output mix amplifier, power regulation circuitry and even a handy DIN Sync output so that you can use the 9090 to synchronise your TB303 or MC202 to MIDI clock. The completed boards just need potentiometers and output sockets wired to them, power supply and MIDI input, and away you go – a fantastic analogue drum machine you built yourself."

Samples, manuals and more: http://www.introspectiv.eclipse.co.uk/
Also see the 9090 label below for all posts here.

Roland Saturn SA-09

via this auction

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FROSTWAVE RESONATOR - MS-20 Analog Synth Filter Clone

via this auction

"Without question, the most famous beloved feature of the classic Korg MS-20 synth is its inimitable filter section - combining a low pass and high pass filter. The Frostwave Resonator replicates this effect in a convenient, portable pedal form. Now out of production, these are becoming more rare and more expensive. Get this now while it's still reasonably priced!

The Frostwave Resonator is a very versatile analog filter. It can take any weedy sample, loop, mix or instrument and give it some fat analog tone or some crunchy lofi grit.

It can create filter sweeps, from subtle to extreme, generate booming sub bass, and take any standard instrument or signal and give it an "analogue" sounding treatment- run a flat drummachine or sound loop via the resonator and you will get big analog drums and samples on the other side....

The Resonator can also self oscillate, creating spacey, atmospheric sounds on it's own without any input source. Combined with other effects some amazing and unique sounds can be generated."

Memotron by Manikin Electronic

via this auction

"like new Memotron by Manikin-Electronic. This particular example, serial number 07 2109, is in mint condition and includes; (3) original sound library CDs, the original CF data card, an original volume pedal, the original owner's manual, and an IEC power cable. With a combined retail value well over $3,000.00, take advantage of this opportunity to buy a fantastic keyboard for much less!

While digital-based Mellotron emulators have existed for over 20 years, nothing compares to the Memotron. Intuitive, practical and accessible, the Memotron is exceedingly easy to use. With a thoughtful controls layout and software with simple navigation, this keyboard functions just as sharp as it looks. The craftsmanship of the Memotron respectfully puts an original M400 to shame. The high quality cabinet nicely showcases the attractive hardware, keyboard and back panel. Plus, this magnificent keyboard only weighs 12kg!

Perhaps most importantly, the Memotron sounds great. With a comprehensive collection of classic Mellotron sounds, instant access is available at the press of a button, as opposed to the ordeal entertained when changing a single tape frame. Having been conceptualized by one of the world's foremost Mellotron experts, the sound samples were meticulously crafted to honestly represent genuine Mellotron tape racks. All idiosyncratic characteristics included, the samples feature the unique sounds of a Mellotron without replicating it's inconsistent mechanical nature.

The Memotron's action is rather similar to a Mellotron's, well, the weight of the keys are consistent with the original. However, the touch sensitivity was not reproduced, nor was the sensation of resistance when played. Possibly considered an improvement by some, the action of the Memotron is more conducive for recording and accurate playing. While a Mellotron requires slight finessing and a particularized playing approach, the Memotron is straight-forward.

The Memotron is, without a doubt, the 20th century's Mellotron, and is perfect for both modern studios and live applications.

Check out this great article for an elbaorate review: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep09/articles/mememotron.htm"