The First EMS VCS3 - SN 001

Apparently, you are looking at the very first EMS VCS3 aka The Putney and sibling to the EMS SYNTHI. Red Bull Music Academy has an excellent post up on White Noise with the history of this particular synth.

"Perched on top of a speaker in another corner sits the synthesizer used on the early White Noise albums, The EMS VCS3, serial number 001.

'That was the very first one he ever made,' Vorhaus says. 'He turned up with a bottle of Dom Pérignon, which cost probably more than the synthesizer.” The ‘he’ in question is Peter Zinovieff, who created the VCS3 with Tristram Cary and David Cockerell in 1969. If it wasn’t for Zinovieff, Vorhaus might never have met his two principal collaborators on An Electric Storm, Brian Hodgson and Delia Derbyshire, of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. 'Delia Derbyshire was my girlfriend. She showed me everything that was known about electronic music in a couple of weeks,' Vorhaus explains, adding, 'There wasn’t much more to know than that then.'"

On a separate note, one of my biggest regrets was missing the opportunity to purchase Delia Derbyshires' VCS3 several years back. Sonic Boom of Spectrum was selling it along with a Synton Syrinx. Two dream synths I would have loved to own.

KORG to Show the New minilogue at Control Voltage in Portland on Jan 27

via Control Voltage

"Join us for an evening of analog polyphony! On Wednesday, January 27th from 6-8pm, Korg will be presenting and demonstrating their latest synth, Minilogue. After which we'll also be treated to a live performance by local Portland producer and vocalist, Natasha Kmeto!

They'll be a few Minilogues setup to get hands on with in the shop and ample time for Q&A from the audience.


Presented by KORG themselves!

Control Voltage
3742 N Mississippi Ave, 97227
01/27/16 from 6-8pm
Free"

Korg Minilogue Exploration

Published on Jan 18, 2016 experimentalsynth

"A quick look at a small part of the sonic possibilities inside the new Korg Minilogue. Using the presets as a starting point, the Minilogue can go to some pretty wild place with just a few knob and switch tweaks. Learn more at www.experimentalsynth.com"

Korg minilogue on Amazon

Keyboard Magazine's Bob Moog's Third "On Synthesizers" Column From January/February 1976

via Keyboard Magazine

"Continuing our celebration of 40 years of Keyboard, we present Bob Moog's third "On Synthesizers" column from our January/February 1976 issue, in its entirety.

An oscillator is a circuit that produces a regularly repeating waveform. When used as the signal source of an audio path, an oscillator determines the pitch of the sound. Its counterparts in acoustic instruments are vibrating elements such as the strings of a guitar or the air column of a wind instrument.

What are we hearing when we listen to an oscillator tone? And what does that have to do with the waveform that we can see on an oscilloscope screen? The answers to these two questions are vitally important to the understanding of oscillators and their roles in synthesizers."

Click through above for the full article.

New From Atomic Shadow - Shortwave Robot Pants

Atomic Shadow has a new album out, Shortwave Robot Pants. Click through for details and of course you'll find the embed above.

Abstract Data Coming to NAMM

via Abstract Data

"Goin' back to Cali... See you at NAMM - Abstract Data: Booth 5000, Hall C."

Clavia / Nord Keyboards Introduces the Nord Piano 3

"Press Release, Stockholm 18-01-2016

With outstanding new keyboard technology, improved grand weighted action, Ivory touch and expanded memory for the exclusive Nord Piano Library - the Nord Piano 3 takes piano feel and realism to a new level.

The new Virtual Hammer Action Technology simulates the movement of the hammers in a Grand Piano, capturing the characteristics with exceptional dynamics and breathtaking level of authenticity.

General
88-note Triple Switch keybed with improved grand weighted action NEW
Nord Virtual Hammer Action Technology for greatly improved key response NEW
Ivory touch for authentic feel NEW
OLED-display for better overview NEW
1 GB memory for Nord Piano Library NEW
256 MB for Nord Sample Library NEW
Layer and split-functionality
Nord Triple Pedal included
Piano Section
4 Dynamic Curves
Dynamic Pedal Noise with Nord Triple Pedal
Advanced String Resonance (Gen 2)
Soft Release
Sample Synth
Dedicated Sample Synth section with Attack, Decay/Release and dynamic controls
Effects
All effects in Stereo
Tube overdrive simulation
Vibe effect
Separate Reverb/Delay effects
Tremolo, Pan, Ring-Mod and Wah-wah can be controlled with Control Pedal
VIRTUAL HAMMER ACTION TECHNOLOGY NEW
The Nord exclusive Virtual Hammer Action Technology simulates the hammer movements in a Grand Piano delivering outstanding authenticity and dynamic response. The Triple Sensor keybed allows key movements to be determined with stunning precision. The result is a keyboard action that handles dynamic playing with amazing control at any velocity level.

Repetitions
The Nord Virtual Hammer Action Technology enables you to produce a new note without lifting the key completely. This allows for smoother repetitions as the tone is not completely dampened between the strokes, similar to the fluent transitions possible on a Grand Piano.

Extended Triggering Range
The new keyboard technology makes both top and bottom triggering possible, resulting in amazing control when playing percussively as well as pianissimo with the keys half-pressed down.

Dynamic Release
The Virtual Hammer Action Technology also includes velocity sensitive release, dynamically dampening the sound based on how quickly you release the key.

GRAND WEIGHTED ACTION AND IVORY TOUCH NEW
The keybed has added weight for improved dynamic control and features a textured “ivory” surface, providing authentic Piano touch and feel.

The individual Fatar keybeds are meticulously calibrated at the Nord factory to ensure an even response over the whole range.

MODEL
The Nord Piano 3 features a new triple sensor keybed with Ivory touch and improved grand weighted action (A-C).

The Nord Piano 3 weighs 18,2 kg (40,7 lb) and measures 1287 mm (50.7"), 121 mm (4.8"), 340 mm (13.4").

NORD SOUND LIBRARIES
The Nord Piano 3 features 1 GB of memory dedicated to the exclusive sounds from the Nord Piano Library carefully selected for their specific and individual character. The ever expanding Nord Piano Library is filled with uniquely sampled acoustic and electric instruments, with an outstanding range of velocity levels allowing for exceptional dynamic control.

The Factory Bank features 6 Grand Pianos, 5 Upright Pianos, 11 Electric Pianos, Clavinet and Harpsichords. Replacing the sounds in your Nord Piano 3 is simply a matter of dragging and dropping files in the Nord Sound Manager for Mac and Windows.

The Sample Synth section in the Nord Piano 3 has 256 MB memory dedicated to the Nord Sample Library 2.0 - our essential selection of high quality sampled sounds from a wide range of genres including the exclusively licensed sounds of the Mellotron and Chamberlin.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Nord Piano 3 will hit the stores in May 2016 with pricing to be announced. Like all Nord keyboards, the Piano 3 is handmade in Sweden with meticulous attention to detail and quality control.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information please visit www.nordkeyboards.com/piano3"

808 Ashra

Published on Jan 17, 2016 SynthMania

"1970s Kosmische Musik style with Ash Ra Tempel / Indian influences - hypnotic stuff."

synthesizers.com

[Battery Powered EP016] Dark In Chicago - Unofficial

Published on Jan 18, 2016 Human Interface

Great view.

"My first gig in Chicago! By gig I mean missing my connection and being stuck at Chicago O'Hare Airport for 7 hours. I was already sleep deprived at this point after flying from Europe but forced myself to do some jamming anyway because how often would I get a chance to make music in the birthplace of house music, even though I don't think house music was created at the airport. Also I didn't make house, rather something that is on the minimal side of dark techno. I wanted to get more footage of airplanes and whatnot but in my tired state didn't have the energy to set up 2 cameras or think so much about placement.

The minimal bit comes from the fact I was only using the Volca Sample, Monotribe, and Monotron so there wasn't so much room for doing complex arrangements. I was very pleased with some of the freaky FX sounds coming out of the Monotron when run through the Kaoss Pad and pretty nice dark techno groove for being exhausted and wanting nothing more than to go to sleep.

Unofficial

www.soundcloud.com/unofficial"

Eowave Orage Complex Oscillator

Published on Dec 18, 2015 eowave

"A look at some of the features of the Orage Oscillator"