1982 ROLAND TR-808 & Guitar Series Ad

via this auction

See the seller's other items for more.

"1982 Roland GR-300 Synthesizer Guitar, G-303, G-505 & G-808 Electronic Guitar, TR-808 Rhythm Composer - Jimmy Page, Jeff Baxter, Andy Summers, Robert Fripp & Leon Gaer 2-page Guitar Magazine Ad."

ElectroComp EML 500 Vintage Analog 2 Oscilator Synthesizer

via this auction

Note the thick wood over the back panel.

"This synth was hand built in 1975 and has a beautiful hand made tiger maple case. Inspection tag shows 2/17/1975 completion date.

All components are functioning perfectly and has been recently refurbished. New capacitors installed in power supply. New slider caps.

This is one of 300 ever made and is very rare."

CLICK FOR MORE »

PPG Realizer for $25K at Big City Music

via Big City Music

"This is the legendary PPG Realizer that we have all heard about. From my understanding, only two of these were made. This is one of those two. Please contact us if you are interested in buying this rarity."

For those not familiar with the PPG Realizer, see this post from Nov 2005. In short it was PPGs attempt to create a virtual modeling synthesizer back in 1986. If you look at the knobs you will see lines going from each to the screen. The screen would actually show an image of the synth being modelled, with virtual knobs that the lines connected to. The Minimoog was the one in all the pics. Realize this is 1986. The graphics were green and vector like. See the post linked directly above for an image.

"An impressive exhibit from PPG was the Realizer (about $50,000). This consists of software versions of familiar synthesizer configurations. It allows you to design your own analog, FM digital, and sampled sounds, patch any of the components of one instrument into another instrument, and then sequence or sample the resulting sound. Wolfgang Palm, designer of the Realizer and head of PPG Instruments, earns the the quote-of-the-show award for explaining how he designed it: 'I copied the circuit diagrams into software.' No easy task."

Was the Realizer the first software modeled hardware synth? Credit typically goes to the Yamaha VL1 (1994 - Physical Modelling), Clavia Nord Lead (1995 - Analog Modelling/VA), and Korg Prophecy (1995 - Physical & Analog Modelling). Considering the ability to mix and match components, modern day hardware equivalents would be Arturia's Origin and John Bowen's Solaris. As for ability for the display and controls to morph into unique individual synths, the iPad would be the obvious realization of the Realizer.

via It's Full of Stars

Update via Wolfgang Palm:

"i wrote it all down in my blog...
http://wolfgangpalm.wordpress.com/ppg_story2/c14/
http://wolfgangpalm.wordpress.com/ppg_story2/c15/"

Be sure to see the video link to PPG System Demo 1986 with Tom Oberheim.
Also scroll all the way down for the larger pics.

Update via Wolfgang regarding the remaining two: "as far as i remember :) there were two left in the end.
one went to Steinberg, when i started to work for them in '87
the other remained in the USA with PPG America Inc.
but where these two systems ended up...i dont know."

Update via Peter Stone on FB: "I'm glad I was able to at least get a demo of the one in the L.A. office before the office closed. That and the HDU doing some great real-time time stretching way before it's time..." Sounds like it was indeed working. See the Facebook thread for more. Here's an interesting note from Andy Thomas regarding graintable synthesis: "I was scaring people with the time-stretched intro to the 1970s hit by Supertramp called 'Logical Song' in 1986/87. Peter, you and Kevin Lamb were there! All the graininess a synthesist could resample before we termed it granular!"

Vivi Pedraglio + Live Tango Electronico

YouTube Uploaded by vivipedraglio on Jan 5, 2012

"Vivi Pedraglio + Galeria Sergio Oliva Gerli + Espacio 7
desde el 7 de enero al 21 de febrero en Punta del Este, Uruguay

Vivi Pedraglio tocara en vivo en la inauguración y sonara su musica del 7 de enero al 21 de febrero en el espacio 7."

Vocodrum Modular

YouTube Uploaded by Ebotronix on Jan 5, 2012

"Modular Synth Clavia ddrum 4se & Nord Modular (Vocoder)
4ms Peg RCD
Alesis filtre
Analogue Systems RS 100 RS 110 RS 360
Boss RV 5 & SL20
Buchla System #1
Doepfer A 114 A133 A134 ......
flight of harmony choices
Kenton Pro solo & 2000 II
Line 6 Filter Pro
Mackie Mixer
Make Noise Maths Moddemix Optomix QMMG Wogglebug
Malekko AO Jag Uncle
Moog CP 251 FreqBox(bass) MP201
Simmons Clap Trap
Toppobrillo TWF
Logic sequence by Korg micro X arp"

serge modular rattle snakes and crickets

YouTube Uploaded by DrOctave1 on Jan 5, 2012

"Serge Modular slinky crackling noises and creepy crawlers"

OP-1 in Fuenlabrada

littleBits (re)intro

You might remember littleBits from this previous post.

"littleBits.cc

littleBits is a growing library of pre-assembled circuit boards that snap together with tiny magnets!

Just as Legos allow you to create complex structures with very little engineering knowledge, littleBits are simple, intuitive, space-sensitive blocks that make prototyping with sophisticated electronics a matter of snapping small magnets together.

With a growing number of available modules, littleBits aims to move electronics from late stages of the design process to its earliest ones, and from the hands of experts, to those of artists, makers, students and designers."

Little Bits First Hand Tutorial

YouTube Uploaded by acgears on Jan 5, 2012

"AC Gears is the first retail store in the US to carry the versatile Little Bits, a great invention for kids to get into electronics as well as adults who love electronics and science!"

I Dream of Wires: Extended Interview Series: Richard Lainhart

Richard Lainhart: IDOW Extended Interview #1 from I Dream Of Wires on Vimeo.

"In the Summer of 2011, composer, author and filmmaker Richard Lainhart sat down with I DREAM OF WIRES director Robert Fantinatto to share his thoughts about electronic music, modular synthesizers and his approach to making music. Richard passed away on December 30th, 2011, we've posted this full-length interview for the many people whose lives were touched by his music.

R.I.P. Richard Lainhart
February 14, 1953 - December 30, 2011

For more information about Richard Lainhart:
otownmedia.com
downloadplatform.com/richard_lainhart
vimeo.com/rlainhart
youtube.com/rlainhart
richardlainhart.bandcamp.com/
soundcloud.com/rlainhart

I DREAM OF WIRES: THE MODULAR SYNTHESIZER DOCUMENTARY is a documentary film about the history and resurgence of modular synthesizers. The film is currently in production. This is the first in a series of extended interviews, which will be produced and released in various formats throughout the production, and following the release, of the film. I DREAM OF WIRES extended interview segments are sponsored by MATRIXSYNTH (matrixsynth.com/)."

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http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Dream-of-Wires-film
http://m.matrixsynth.com/2011/12/rip-richard-lainhart-mel-morley-midimel.html

Ronin Synth Ronin 802 – Now Available

Available at Ronin Synth

"After many months of development, the Sonodrome team is very pleased to announce that the Ronin 802 is now available for purchase! Manufactured in the UK, this new breed of Open Source stand alone digital synthesizer is Arduino compatible, and offers a flexible platform for the development of custom electronic instruments and sound processing units. For none-code-monkeys it comes complete with a Graphical User Interface, and as usual the Sonodrome team are always on hand to answer any questions, or help you along with your Ronin 802 based projects. Just drop us an email on info@sonodrome.co.uk."

via Kat in the comments of this post:

"Thanks for the post! The Sonodrome team just bought out a new synth development platform called the Ronin 802. It's a new breed of stand alone digital synth with graphical user interface, and is Arduino compatible too. Check it out over at roninsynth.com"

Also via The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge.

New Ronin Synth label added.