MATRIXSYNTH

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Quick Look Back at 2016

Happy New Year Everyone!

This post is a little late going up, but better late than never! :)

I'm going to keep this one a little shorter than usual as I am aware I have a tendency to get a little too wordy at times.

First of all, I want to thank you all for taking a little bit of your day out to visit the site. I want to thank those that contribute to the synthesizer scene and actually give me something to post! Finally, I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all the individual supporters of the site, and the sponsors you see on the right and above! Your support literally makes the site as it is possible!

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And a look back at 2016...

Update: I forgot to mention, we had a total of 13,679 posts in 2016!
Update2: also, as always take a look back at the exclusive label for the most interesting bits of synth history.

First a look back at some of the people (and companions) we lost last in 2016.

2016 was rough. On the maker front we lost Don Buchla, who along with Bob Moog, was undoubtably the creator of the synthesizer as we know it today. We lost Ray Wilson of Music From Outer Space, arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, influencers in synth DIY. Many makers out there started with his projects.

On the musician front we lost some of synths' greats including Keith Emerson, Isao Tomita, Bernie Worrell and Jean-Jacques Perrey. We lost a couple of pioneers of electronic music as well, namely Jean-Claude Risset and Pauline Oliveros.

The following is the list:

David Bowie - January 10, 2016
Else Marie Pade - January 18, 2016
Stanley Lunetta - March 3, 2016
Keith Emerson - March 11, 2016
Isao Tomita - May 5, 2016
Bernie Worrell - June 24, 2016
Ray Wilson - July 21, 2016
Don Buchla - September 14, 2016
DJ Spank-Spank - September 21, 2016
Jean-Jacques Perrey - November 4, 2016
Jean-Claude Risset - November 21, 2016
Pauline Oliveros - November 24, 2016

And never to be excluded, a couple of the companions we lost:

nonlinear circuit's Bill - March, 2016
CatSynth's Luna - October 31, 2016

Note the above are only those I could tie in with synths. Two artists you might notice missing are Prince and George Michael. Both deserve a mention. Prince I could have tied in with an Oberheim connection. I still remember lusting after an OB-8 after seeing his videos in the 80s.

RIP posts are the hardest to write. Not only because you are mourning the loss of someone great, but because you know your post will never be good enough.

As for new gear in 2016, you might have noticed all of the "New in 2016" labels that have gone up in posts throughout the year. I created the labels back in 2015 as a means to keep track of all the new gear coming in. I also thought it would be a quick, easy, and interesting way to get total counts of everything at the end of the year. Here are the numbers (links will take you to posts for each):

New in 2016 (753)
New Cases in 2016 (18)
New Controllers in 2016 (38)
New DIY in 2016 (108)
New Makers in 2016 (101)
New Mobile Apps in 2016 (65)
New Modules in 2016 (299)
New Old in 2016 (21)
New Soft Synths in 2016 (55)
New Sound Machines in 2016 (34)
New Sound Packs in 2016 (24)
New Synth Effects in 2016 (9)
New Synths in 2016 (112)
New Tools in 2016 (51)

Note, as with anything, labels can be a little tricky. Sometimes there will be overlap, sometimes items will be announced one year, but released in another if at all, and of course, if I'm not made aware of an item it gets missed. You'll likely see a few items from 2015 in the 2016 list for that reason. I also found it can be difficult to categorize certain items. Drum machines for example get bucketed under synths, but I think for 2017 I will create a new label for them and just use both.

All that said, if you look at the numbers above we had 753 new products/items appear on the site last year. Always of notable interest were the items from vintage synth history that were never featured on the site before. Last year there were 21. An interesting side note is that matches the 21 we had the year prior in 2015. I won't go into any in detail as you can take a look at the label yourself and as I mentioned above I'm going to try and keep this post short. You can check out any of the categories above. Also worth noting is there were 101 new makers to the site in 2016! Check them out via the link above.

I was never one for top 10 lists, as although they can be fun, I'm a firm believer that all gear has something to offer. It's up to us to use the gear and find out. That said I do think it's worth mentioning some of the major synth releases this year. Not only does it gives us a quick look at what the major players released but it also lets us see when they were released in the year. The following is a quick list:

Note this is only 49 of the 112 items in the new synths in 2016 category. I'd recommend checking them all out.

What stood out for you in 2016? What are you looking forward to in 2017? Leave a comment or two below.

I want to end this with a humble thank you to everyone that makes this site what it is!

Thank you and Happy New Year!!! On to 2017!

Dekrispator port free-running mode on Gecho

Published on Jan 1, 2017 Gecho Loopsynth

"This is a demonstration of Gecho Loopsynth board compatibility with existing software written for official STM32F4 boards. Code used is 'Dekrispator' by Xavier Halgand: https://github.com/MrBlueXav/Dekrispator"

Memorymoog Plus SN 3014

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

via this auction

"MIDI IN/OUT/Through

4000 note real time /5000 note step time sequencer (I think they are the right amount of notes) controlled by doubling up the buttons in the MODULATION section, on the plus model these buttons are whiter, like the keypad buttons.

It is also possible to control via the sequencer a monosynth from CV out of the memorymoog plus . . . so you could have the MM playing chords and a lead line played out to a minimoog or similar via control voltage.

Extra clock in and clock outs for control of the sequencer and tempo sync to external divises via analog click/smpte.

Revised autotune circuits, and updated power supply making the memorymoog plus apparently more stable and in tune then the standard memorymoog."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Juno 106 Vintage Analog Synth SN 493772

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Electro-Harmonix - Mini Synthesizer iOS App Review - Midiverse - TV - MVM #56

Published on Jan 1, 2017 MIDI-VERSE TV

"What's up everybody? Welcome to Midiverse - TV. Today we're going to be checking out an iOS app from Electro-Harmonix, The Mini Synthesizer.

We'll quickly talk about the layout, then plug in our MIDI controller and scroll through some of the preset patches.

Electro-Harmonix Mini Synthesizer iOS App is available now in the App Store for $4.99."

iTunes: Mini Synthesizer - Electro-Harmonix

BELGRAD - BY XAOC DEVICES (ENGLISH VERSION)

Published on Jan 1, 2017 Marcin Staniszewski

"This is a review of BELGRAD filter - eurorack module made by XAOC DEVICES (www.xaocdevices.com). The review also appears in January 2017 issue of 'Estrada i Studio' - biggest Polish monthly magazine devoted to music production and studio equipment."

Introducing Metalphoto of Cincinnati

You might have noticed there's a new banner up top just below the DSI banner. I'd like to welcome Metalphoto of Cincinnati as a new sponsor of the site! Metalphoto of Cincinnati makes custom panels for a number of manufacturers including eurorack makers you are likely familiar with. Note they do offer other products as well, so see their home page for more. The following is a blurb on their panel manufacturing from their site:

"Our custom equipment front panels are designed to withstand use and abuse in the most demanding recording and performance environments. We supply the professional audio equipment industry with custom faceplates for modular synthesizers, eurorack modules, MIDI equipment, mixers, amplifiers and other equipment.

MPC equipment front panels are made of durable, high-resolution Metalphoto® photosensitive anodized aluminum. MPC has the capabilities to fabricate Metalphoto to your specifications including forming, bending and cutting - plus various attachment options including studs, adhesives or fasteners.

Specifications:

All panels are made from corrosion resistant 1100 alloy anodized aluminum.
Panels are fabricated to exacting specifications including thickness, size, shape, openings, etc.
Color options include black, silver, halftones or spot color – all on a satin or matte aluminum background.

MPC builds custom front panels for several leading equipment manufacturers including:

Intellijel Designs Inc.
Pittsburgh Modular
Make Noise Co.
Yorkville Sound
4MS Pedals"

https://www.mpofcinci.com/industries/audio

DSI Poly Evolver PE Upgrade

Published on Jan 1, 2017 astralboy79

"Instructions how to upgrade the poly evolver keyboard to the PE ( potentiometer edition ) version from the earlier stock version

The upgrade kit and knobs can be purchased from DSI"

I Feel Love (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder)

Published on Jan 1, 2017 Randy Piscione

"I suppose it's a rite of passage to do 'I Feel Love' on your synth setup, so I figured it was time. Music track is live, video is snippets I put together. Lots of modules involved. I usually like to do drums without drum modules but cheated here. Bass drum is a Tea Kick, snare is a combination of Tea Kick and noise. Pad is a bit over-the-top, a combination of 7 Shruthis, Preen FM, Roland Alpha Juno 2 and Roland A90-EX."

New Tiptop Audio ONE Eurorack Module Demo

And we have our first new module teaser of 2017. Click here or a WAV file of Tiptop Audio's upcoming module ONE. Note two of them are used in the demo.