Yamaha RX8 Digital Rhythm Programmer

via this auction

more pics

See the seller's other items for more.

Yamaha VL-1 Version 2 Synthesizer

via this auction

"Yamaha VL-1 physical modelling synth with the sought after version 2 firmware update. As Yammys go, it's a super rare peach of a thing and probably the best looking synth they made since the DX1. Even the floppies have faux mahogany stickers! VL's don't come up very often and VL-1's even less so.

[the following appears to have come from enlightenedsystems.com]
New VL synths are equipped with the Version 2 firmware and voices, although Version 1 voice disks can be obtained and used. Beware, though, since a dealer may have a VL synth that sat on the shelf and has not been upgraded to Version 2. For those who own a Version 1 VL1, a very strong case can be made for upgrading to Version 2. To wit:

* Quite a few of the voices have been improved. Notable improvements have been made, for example, in the trumpet, ethnic guitar, tenor sax, and recorder voices. This involves improved voicing and new elements, not just parameter tweaks. A number of the more odious Version 1 elements no longer exist.
* The new Excitation model (decay from pulse excitation) can be used in editing, and the new ethnic guitar voices, for example, use it.
* The new Modulation Effects in Version 2 are Chorus, Phaser, Symphonic, Celeste, Distortion + Flanger, and Distortion + Wah. As with the Reverb effects, all of these effects are well done. The Chorus effect will find a lot of use, and I particularly like the Phaser, Symphonic, and Celeste effects. With the Phaser you can, for example, set the Feedback Gain and Wet/Dry Balance down from their wild levels to something in the range of 35% each to get an interesting evolving timbre change during held notes. The Distortion effects are probably aimed at the guitar voices, but could be used on others, if you like that sort of thing.

* New parameters and extended or finer-grained parameter settings are available in Version 2 on almost all editing screens.
* Version 2 allows keyboard splits with different elements for each hand. They have a dynamic way of implementing the split that follows your hand, without using a fixed split point.
* Ver 2 brings a bunch of new breath noise types that are easy to select to get just the right breath noise for your favorite voice. Note that these breath noises are not just attack chiff, but are modeled according to the actual sound of a real musical instrument, so they may show up during sustain or decay, they may vary with breath pressure, may combine with pitch components (e.g. sax, flute, clarinet), and so on. This is not chump chiff!

* The Mixing screen (the heart of the resonant model) has two new types of tap settings.
* 30 new microtunings have been added, including Scottish highland bagpipe tuning, various Arabic tunings, Phrygian, Thai, African, etc."

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KORG MS-10 with YMO Sticker

via this auction

more pics

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Roland G505 Guitar Synth Controler Knob by Ibanez Japan

via this auction

Metasonix S-1000

via Escape from Noise where it is currently listed for sale.

Note the protective plate covering the tubes.

"All new Wretches comes with this metalic plate. This machine came originally with the old plastic one but it was replaced by a previous owner after the plastic shield broke."

Siel Cruise Synthesiser

YouTube Uploaded by nounandnumber on Mar 18, 2011

via this auction
"This is the Siel Cruise I have for sale on eBay. It is from around 1981-1986 and is a combination of the Siel Mono and the Orchestra 2.

The video is an example of the sounds it can make, rather than me playing it, so it is more for information than entertainment.

A Siel Orchestra was the source of the lovely keyboard on The Rip by Portishead, which can be heard on the polysynth piano preset of the Cruise. It may be battered, but it is still capable of some good sounds, especially the strings which sound great.

This video will be removed upon sale of the synth. Hopefully Adrian Utley nor Sonicstate.com mind having their interview footage included, but I will remove it at their request."

Also
"I would like to know though if my comparisons to the Siel Orchestra 2 are valid. I was always under the impression that the Cruise is a Mono & Orchestra in one box, with some extras, such as the EQ, missing. Any opinions would be appreciated."

And some interesting bits from the auction (as always be sure to read the full description at the auction if you intend to bid):
"Siel were an Italian company in the eighties, and from what little information I can find about it, the Cruise appears to be a union of the Siel Mono and the Siel Orchestra II. Plenty of specific information can be found here but some of the interesting features I want to point out are: the full polyphony on the poly section, the mono and poly sections can be played in unison and there is an option for a keyboard split as well, and the outputs include a mono+poly and poly only output. The LFO on the mono section is a little unusual in that it works after a short delay (this is by design, I should add).

I have assembled a little audio slideshow of what it is capable of with a whole host of pictures of the actual synth for sale on You Tube. There should also be a list of suggestions by You Tube of the few other videos demonstrating this synth which may be worth your time...

Now for the modification. At the same time as I bought the synth I was doing a lot of circuit bending and decided to tentatively explore the possibilities on the mono section. This was a bit foolish as a) it was on something running on mains power and b) was on something I could not afford to loose (I broke a Yamaha CS01 circuit bending. It still smarts). Fortunately nothing untoward happened and the result is a simple bypass of the Rd125 resistor that gives an harmonic distortion to the monosynth with no ill effects to the rest. Again, all this can be seen and heard on the video.

What really pleased me though was discovering, in an interview with Adrian Utley from Portishead that some of my favourite sounds from Third (mainly the great arpeggio at the end of The Rip) came from a Siel Orchestra (see above) which can be heard in the piano preset of the Cruise. However the cruise does lack the Orchestra's EQ so it isn't an exact likeness, and I expect the drive in production of the synth was for 'cleaner' sounds, which does give it a richer string sound as it is it a more recent synth. Still it is nice for a relatively obscure synth to get some love, rather than the usual Moog, EMS suspects, but that is probably because I cannot afford them..."

Vermona DRM1 MK3 and Lancet Patch Sheets

via Vermona
"the old-fashioned way"
"We’ve added a DRM1 MKIII patch sheet to its download section. Go to the product site and scroll down to the “Downloads” panel… there it is. Enjoy “saving” your sounds and if you like, you can share them with us.

BTW: There is also a patch sheet available for the Kick Lancet."

Macbeth Studio Systems: X-Series Pair

flickr By Analogue Haven

"Here's another photo of the new Dual SV Filter, this time pictured with the X-Series Oscillator. These modules are not just smaller and more economical variants of the Dual Oscillator and Backend Filter, they have different features too. The Oscillator has a wide range osc sweep knob, a switch for LFO mode as well as suboscillator outputs. The Dual SV Filter has 2 x 12db octave multimode filters and you can use it in stereo."

M-Audio Venom Demo by Craig Anderton

YouTube Uploaded by HarmonyCentral on Mar 22, 2011

"This is the main audio demo from the Harmony Central Pro Review at http://tinyurl.com/6aleqlq. All sounds are from a single Venom, with no overdubs. Please refer to the Pro Review for complete, interactive coverage of this electronica-oriented performance instrument."

"Building a Synthesizer with Thomas Henry" DVDs

via Tim Servo on electro-music.com

"If you’ve ever built your own electronics, and then struggled to find information on how to package them to use on stage or in the studio, then this DVD is for you.

“Building a Synthesizer With Thomas Henry” is a step by step guide with tips and tricks for building panels, cabinets, wiring, and putting those all-important finishing touches on your electronics.

Follow along as Thomas Henry walks you through the “mechanical” side of building a synthesizer. Using easy to find, low-cost tools and supplies, Thomas shares dozens of valuable tips, including how to:

* Build a sturdy and professional looking 19” rack cabinet.
* Drill, paint and label your panels.
* Mount PCBs and wire up your modules like a pro.
* Mount your modules and wire everything together for a finished product.
* Bonus section includes step by step procedures for etching and drilling your own PC Boards.
------------------------------

Even as an experienced builder, I learned some new tricks from this video. These DVDs are available directly from us at Magic Smoke, and we’re having an Introductory Special of $10 + shipping ($2.00 US/Canada, $4.00 EU/UK/Aus) for the first twenty customers. Write to us at
magsmoke@gmail.com to order or for more info. Thanks!

Tim (video fun for the whole family) Servo"