Yamaha DX100 & Korg SQ-1

Published on Nov 21, 2016 marsupialmicron

"The Korg SQ-1 sequencer is a great tool to perform live. Here I use Channel B to play the ostinato, the melody line is played on the keyboard. I use the key shift of the DX100 to make a part B, then the Channel A plays the final. Korg mini kaosspad 2s for effects. Played live."

Perfect Circuit Offers Site Wide 10% off Coupon Code for Supporting Members of MATRIXSYNTH!

I am happy to announce that Perfect Circuit Audio is offering 10% off items for supporting members of MATRIXSYNTH! If you are a member of the site and would like the discount, send email to matrixsynth@gmail.com. If you are not yet a member, you can sign up here. Please note this excludes other discounts they may offer over time - check before you sign up.

Be sure to check out the membership page while there, for other perks and discounts.

Arturia Drumbrute Demo

Published on Nov 21, 2016 Perfect Circuit Audio

"Introducing the next step in analog drum machines: the Arturia DrumBrute. The DrumBrute is professional quality, fully analog drum machine. It has seventeen different drum sounds, all made from purely analog circuits. Along with that are some unique performance effects, and a modern step sequencer. The DrumBrute also has the connectivity one would expect from Arturia. There are individual outputs for each drum sound, as well as a mix out. An analog Clock input and output are present for using the DrumBrute as a Master or Slave clock. The drum sequencer also has a few tricks up its sleeve. Unlike most drum machines, which have synchronized loop patterns, the DrumBrute can have individual pattern loops per drum sound. This means complex cross-rhythms can be produced, with their rhythmic cycles lining up at larger Least Common Multiples. On top of that, randomness can be introduced to make even more complex drum patterns.

The overall sound quality of the DrumBrute is based on the best of vintage drum machines, taking inspiration from the past but pushing the designs to the future, giving the DrumBrute its own signature sound. Every control is hands on and intuitive, making it a blast in performance. It includes things such Step Repeat, Pattern Looper, Mute/Solo groups, song mode, Randomness and Swing functions, all per individual track. With all these tools, one can essentially perform a complete drum track, with no overdubbing or editing necessary."

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Note: MATRIXSYNTH members get a %10 discount at Perfect Circuit Audio (other discounts excluded). See the membership page on how to sign up!

Peter Hook at the Moog Factory

via @peterhook

"Had a great time today at the @moogmusicinc factory in Asheville ahead of tonight's show @ThePeel, thanks everyone!"

Peter Hook with a Moog Voyager XL.

Peter Hook, of course, was the bass player and a founding member of Joy Division and New Order. He now tours as Peter Hook and the Light.

Electronic Dream Plant EDP Wasp Synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Legendary EDP Wasp by Chris Huggett, quirky looking toylike synth but a serious piece of kit, capable of rip roaring synth lines, fat bass...just straight up dirty with so much character. Great for all types of Electronic music, I'm sad to see it go but needs a must.

Overall condition is excellent, with minimal signs of wear and tear. Unlike most Wasps this one doesn't have the cracked corners on the casing, however there is a slight scratch on the keybed which can be seen but not obvious, this does not affect its use. (please see pictures)."

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VINTAGE 1982 OBERHEIM OB-Xa ANALOG SYNTHESIZER SN 821201

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"1982 Oberheim OB-Xa (serial #821201)

This analog beauty was in housed in an Anvil case in climate controlled storage for some time
I used a Variac to slowly recharge the filter capacitors for a few days for safety
It fired right up and the oscillators tuned perfectly after a few minutes so had a tech go through it for piece of mind
He sprayed out all the pots, jacks and switches with DeOxit and compressed air and it sounds great
I have no way to test out the Cassette Tape memory so I can't vouch for that but I'm certain that's not too much of a problem in 2016
I have more photos than ebay would allow me to post but feel free to message me and I'll be glad to email them to you
All 12 or 24db/oct Curtis Filter Chips are intact as as best I and the tech can tell, this has never been modified
Original Sprague Orange Drops are plentiful for that vintage punch - this thing's low end is devastating
The Ob-Xa weighs easily 45lbs so shipping will be a flat $200 unless you want to pick it up in Los Angeles"

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Roland Alpha Juno 1 Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer w/ Hard Case

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"ROLAND ALPHA JUNO 1 - Like New

You will not find a nicer, cleaner, or more pristine example of this VINTAGE Roland synthesizer. This one should be in a museum!

I really hate to let this one go. It looks like it was just unboxed for the very first time - Like it was put into its hard case in 1986 and hasn't seen daylight since. It's THAT nice!

Everything works perfectly, every sound works 100%, every key and button is 100%. This is a completely original synthesizer. Nothing has been rebuilt or repaired - it is in like new condition and has had just one owner since new. There isn't even any scuffing on the bottom from keyboard stands. The rubber feet look like they have never been touched. It will arrive in its original hard case (also in amazing condition). It comes with its original hard to find power cord. It is a separate cord that plugs into and detaches from the keyboard, not modified. It also comes with its sheet music stand that is designed specifically for the Alpha."

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Korg Minilogue & Boss RV6 Reverb

Published on Nov 21, 2016 3rdStoreyChemist

"Minilogue - RV6 (Mono in, Stereo out)

No further processing used except for normalisation."

Dave Smith Instruments "In the Spotlight with the Tempest" with Bear’s Den

The 3rd in the Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the Tempest" series is currently up with BEAR’S DEN here.

"Inspired by, among other things, the paintings of Edward Hopper, the short stories of Raymond Carver, and film director Robert Altman’s Short Cuts, Bear’s Den is both erudite and intensely personal, defying trends and easy labelling. Musically, it also sees a startling progression. Following the amicable departure of guitarist Joey Haynes they are now a six piece touring unit built around a nucleus of Andrew Davie and multi-instrumentalist Kev Jones. While the band’s folk roots are still evident, they now come cloaked in the lush alchemy of ‘70’s and ‘80’s FM rock: Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and in particular, the nocturnal ambience of Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness On The Edge Of Town, alongside more contemporary artists such as The National, and Sufjan Stevens."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Improvisation LXXIII for DSI Prophet '08 and Poly Evolver

Published on Nov 21, 2016 Sacred Synthesis

"This improvisation makes use of a soft metallic digital pad on the Poly Evolver, a string pad on one Prophet '08, and a flute-like solo patch on another Prophet '08.

The digital pad is either mellow or shrill, based on the position of the filter cut off frequency, which is controlled by the modulation wheel. Its extreme upper range has much aliasing.

The Prophet '08 string pad uses a 2-pole filter setting with a high resonance level,, and its filter is similarly controlled by the modulation wheel. This creates a somewhat tinny sound when the filter is opened wide. That's okay; these pieces are only musical experiments. Live and learn! Also, as always, the filter is very slowly modulated by an LFO. This creates a slight crescendo whenever a note or chord is sustained and gives the pad a slight heaving/breathing quality.

The flute sound seems simple enough, but it is deceptively elaborate. It consists of a narrow pulse and a square. The pulse width of each wave form is very slightly and slowly modulated. In addition, an LFO slowly modulates between one oscillator and the other. This means there is a subtle chorus effect from the PWM, a changing of timbre as the narrow pulse changes to a square and then back again, a faint beating of oscillators when the two briefly meet in the middle, plus a delayed vibrato which is either maintained by a smooth connected playing technique or retriggered (and thus, delayed) by a broken disconnected playing technique. its filter, too, is controlled by the modulation wheel. Of course, these effects are detectible only when a long note is heard, and that's fine, because they're meant to be musical nuances that don't overly attract attention to themselves.

Last but not least, the bass patch is changed according to the dynamics of the music. This is not always so easy to achieve, since it requires a free hand during a section that is also not using the pedalboard.

One further note. Since I'm playing with both hands and feet, I rarely have a limb free for making dynamic changes with a pedal. As a result, I program dynamic changes into the sounds themselves. One only has to sustain a note or chord in order to open up the volume and timbre. In this piece, I often do this after holding a note on the upper Prophet '08, which has the flute-like patch. This is always at the end of a phrase and in preparation for a change of keyboards. As I sustain the note with one finger, I simultaneously reach down with my thumb and press a note on the lower Prophet '08. The effect is that the flute sound slowly merges with the string sound, which then slowly opens up by means of its LFO, completely overtaking the flute sound. It sounds like I've got a tasteful sound engineer, or have done some carefully mixing after the recording. Nope! It's all automatic.

Instrumentation:
DSI Prophet '08 Keyboard (2)
DSI Prophet '08 Module
DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard
DSI Poly Evolver Rack
DSI Evolver Desktop
Hammond XPK 200L Pedalboard

Effects:
Lexicon MX300 for reverb
Alesis Nanoverb 2 for delay

Performed and recorded live and directly to CD

ALL MUSIC PROPERTY OF SACRED SYNTHESIS 2016"