MATRIXSYNTH

Sonicsmith ConVertor+ Introduction

Published on Jul 5, 2018 Sonicsmith

"An introduction to the ConVertor+ Audio Controlled Synthesizer.

The same semi-modular 9V pedal PSU or battery powered analog synth as the previous model. Using the ACO100 chip it can detect the pitch of an incoming audio signal and play along analog synth waves without never going out of tune.

The Pitch CV out along with ENV, gate & trigger CV outs, you get the full blood stream of modular synthesizer elements while staying analog throughout.

The new + version full list of changes:

The biggest difference between the ConVertor and ConVertor+ is the conversion of the input low-pass filter frequency shift knob (on the left directly below the IP GAIN, or preamp gain, knob) into a gate threshold adjustment knob. This is most useful in situations with lots of background noise (like microphones in a live performance situation). The same change was made on the Squaver P1+ vs. the Squaver P1.

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Audiokit Synth One │ Hidden Secret Control Page found - haQ attaQ 288

Published on Jul 5, 2018 Jakob Haq

"What is this!? Audiokit Synth One has a secret hidden control panel with compressors and other cool stuff in it. There's even some odd stuff in there! I asked Matthew Fecher ( Audiokit Core Member ) about this hidden panel and he was being very secretive! This haQ attaQ episode is packed to the brim! Check out the full break down of Synth One, listen to Matthew talk about the work that went into this free professional iOS synth and what it's like doing open source stuff. Get comfy in your producers couch, grab your most favorite synth, kick back, relax and enjoy the ride!"

iTunes: AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer - AudioKit Pro

Acid Techno Session - Moog DFAM, Elektron Digitakt, Mode Machines ADX1...

Published on Jul 5, 2018 Kablehead

"For this acid jam i recorded a sequence from my X0XB0X onto the Digitakt. Actually i wanted to use the X0XB0X in the setup but unfortunately it lacks a bit when midi synced.

The Moog DFAM provides the 2nd synth line and gets synced by the Korg Volca Sample.

The drums are coming from the ADX1 which is an analog drum machine. It's similar to the Vermona DRM1 but definitely has a character of its own.
It gets sequenced by the Digitakt.
Each channel of the ADX1 is connected to the Soundcraft EPM12 mixer.

On the AUX sends of the mixer i used the TC Electronic Flashback Triple Delay and the Lexicon LXP-1

The Analog Heat from Elektron is subtly crunching up the master with a little help from the Radioman GSSL compressor.

The Akai Midimix is used to control selected parameters of the Digitakt."

GRP A-2 // WESTBOUND

Published on Jul 5, 2018 LESINDES

"This is me going home with my new GRP A2 synthesizer. Analog at its best. Smooth and assertive. The GRP is playing all 3 monophonic lines in the soundtrack. Additional drum loops and 1 additive synthesis sound. Mixed in DAW but later processed with fabulous ASHLY SC-66A vintage analog parametric EQ."

NYZ - NTE GDN => Behind the scenes with the Yamaha FB-01

Photo Credit: Calum Gunn * all other pix by NYZ *

"The new NYZ - NTE GDN tape on Conditional is just out [limited edition of 50 copies]! Matrix heard on the synth grapevine that it heavily featured the Yamaha FB-01 operating in a secret sysex mode, so he asked me if I'd write a little about how it was used. You can check the album out on the Conditional Bandcamp page here, release date July 6th =>

and have a listen while reading. Its also available from Boomkat [with track previews] =>

Boomkat review => "Blinding new batch of synth and computer music chaos from Dave Burraston’s cultishly regarded NYZ. With such a wild variation to his purist approach it’s perhaps silly to draw comparisons or contrasts, but these are patently some of NYZ’s sweeter treats, such as the curdled harmonics of ‘ARTOFNYZbitcompander’ and the funky lil’ vamps of ‘RLD syncs’ for more insatiable and curious listeners. In other words it’s fucking ace!"

and Norman Records =>

Norman Records review => "9/10 Conditional unleash this beautifully wild and playful tape from David Burraston aka NYZ. Here he harnesses the spectrum splitting potential of John Chowning’s FM synthesis to birth and animate ludicrously cute and cuddly synthetic creatures that come to life before our very ears. What even are these little mutant alien lifeforms? Where is this strange place in which they dwell?

The overall experience of imbibing these sounds is a lot like an experience I once had watching Teletubbies on acid, where I thought the little blighters were actually communicating directly to me. This world NYZ has created and its inhabitants are clearly fantasy, but it’s so brilliantly, vividly realised and skillfully executed that if you just let go of the shackles of reality and submit yourself, it can be an authentic place where these things live and breathe, eat and sleep and go through their life cycle. We get to hang out with them as they speak, sing, laugh and cry. I’d much rather hang out with these chirpy little fellows because humans are the absolute worst. For music to get a miserable, misanthropic, curmudgeon bastard like me to grin like a child holding a cookie the size of its head is quite an achievement.

This tape is just so much fun - it's like a little utopia for the most part, but there are occasional darker moments - at times it feels like the big bad wolf or some kind of predator is lurking with intent to gobble up our little friends. Burraston’s custom-built MANIAC Cellular Automata Sequencer is instrumental in giving life to these sounds - a tool that gives this work a unique voice and an unpredictable energy that seems to organically flow through his machines. This music is most certainly unconventional even by avant-garde standards, and although on the surface is definitely weird and kinda eccentric, it taps into something deeper. Like Victor Frankenstein’s unorthodox scientific experiment in Mary Shelley's novel where scientist becomes an architect of life. This place, it's lifeforms and their language seems bewilderingly genuine - a sonic virtual reality -- a hybrid analogue/digital world where what is “real” and synthetic is blurred."

So why am I interested in the strange and esoteric Yamaha FB-01, and what are these secret sysex codes? Well, first up its a nice little 8 voice FM synth, and I'm well known for being a bit obsessed with FM [see the NYZ - DRN4 Declassified article]. Secondly, its a kind of in-between synth, arriving after the first 4 operator synths, such the DX21, but before the TX81Z which featured a full microtonal tuning table. Its this inbetweeness that really interested me, and its really the only first gen sine wave only 4op that can be micro-tuned, albeit in a very roundabout way via some secret sysex codes.

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Independence Day

Published on Jul 5, 2018 Anthony Distefano

"Fireworks show with Synthesizer soundtrack. All music was done using NI Absynth."

New Loops Releases Ableton Wavetable Presets and Racks

Ableton Wavetable Presets and Racks (Ableton Live 10) Published on Jul 1, 2018 New Loops

"New Loops has announced the release of new presets for Ableton Wavetable Synth. Wavetable Presets and Racks is the ultimate expansion for Ableton Wavetable. 80 new Wavetable racks for Live feature a wide range of cross-genre sounds.

You’ll find future house plucks, cinematic pads, tropical house and pop keys, modern dubstep wobbles, drum and bass reeces and subs, EDM synths, hip hop and trap leads, and future bass chords, as well as vintage analogue synths and classic dance sounds.

Features
80 Wavetable racks
80 Wavetable presets
80 example midi files
22 basses
13 pads and strings
12 synths
11 keys
11 plucks
11 leads
1 Ableton Live project with midi clips

Available now with a 33% off intro discount. £19.98 (reg £29.98). Free demo with Ableton Wavetable presets to try - http://bit.ly/ableton-wavetable"

Malekko Heavy Industry - Manther Squarepusher / Warp Records Vibes

Published on Jul 5, 2018 DivKidVideo

"You asked and I delivered ... I just can't remember who asked! :) ... I had a comment about the Manther from Malekko Heavy Industry asking about how it would sound with some Squarepusher and Warp Records "vibes". Specifically relating to the nice Roland SH-101 liquid melodic line that's drenched in reverb in 'Theme From Ernest Borgnine' from Squarepusher. So here's that melody. I changed a note or two at the end to hopefully avoid the potential take down but you can hear it does that resonant liquid filter style sound you hear in that track and others from Warp and that era/genre. The reverb is the Halls of Valhalla card in the TipTop Audio Z-DSP, which is also lovely."

Malekko Manther DivKidVideo

Synthchaser #106 - ARP 16 Voice Electronic Piano Repair & Demonstration

Published on Jul 5, 2018 Synth Chaser

http://www.synthchaser.com

"We bring a dead ARP 16 Voice Electronic Piano Model 3303 back to life and get a quick sampling of the features and presets this electric piano has to offer.

If you're looking to buy one of these, please contact me through my website."