Blamsoft Distortion Modules - Sound Demo (with commentary)

Published on Jul 27, 2018 Omri Cohen

"In this video, I try the 3 distortion modules from Blamsoft and see how they sound like. I use them in two patches, one with a guitar like sound using the Macro Oscillator, and one with a bass sound, using the Wave oscillator, also by Blamsoft."

USSR syntesither TOM 1501

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Published on Jul 27, 2018 GLvintageSHOP

via this auction

"This synthesizer is very hard to find now. It is a Russian version of Crumar or Solina String Ensemble.
Very FAT warm strings, punched brass through REZ FILTER with ADR, cool piano, clavichord, built-in analog chorus, vibrato, split keyboard, multi stereo outputs, pedal input etc...
Strong solid wood case. Old USSR price in soviet rubles 1225 (about 1500 USD! at that time). Produced in 1980x- beginnig 1990.
Electro synth-organ TOM-1501 – analog polyphonic instrument with 61 keys and control sliders/knobs on front panel.
Keyboard may be split into two zones. Provide sound like: piano, clavinet, orchestra (violin, alto, contrabass) and brass instruments.
Contents basic modules: generator, 12 manipulators, sublow generator, line delay, brass-filter, block filters, out amplifier, AC block, pedal volume, pedal sustain.
Front panel control sliders and knobs:

MAIN VOLUME; VIBRATO - DEPTH, SPEED, TUNING; VOLUME -STRINGS, BASS (ON/OFF), PIANO; BRASS FILTER (ON/OFF) – ATTACK, RELEASE,
RESONANCE, CUTOFF; LEFT MANUAL – PIANO, CLAVICHORD, ALTO, VIOLIN, BRASS (ON/OFF); STRINGS ORCHESTRA TIMBRE (CHORUS MIX) –
ORCHESTRA ON/OFF; RIGHT MANUAL - PIANO, CLAVICHORD, ALTO, VIOLIN, BRASS (ON/OFF); SUSTAIN SLIDER; POWER ON/OFF;

Connections: telephone, pedals, mono, stereo, piano;
AC: 220v/50Hz;
Dimensions: 920x360x195;
Weight: 19-20kg (including case)
The supply voltage - 220-230V/50Hz
For use with 110/127V, a voltage converter is necessary
It has 5-DIN output connections."

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Happy Roland TR-727 Day! via Retro Synth Ads

Published on Jul 27, 2018 Retro Synth Ads / Mini Music Labs

"Some quick little programming to celebrate 7/27 day with the alwaysj wonderful Roland TR-727 and its buddy the TR-707. :)"

http://retrosynthads.blogspot.com

Let's Play with Patterning 2

Published on Jul 27, 2018 Tim Webb

"Patterning is my favorite drum machine on iOS, so I was excited to get a preview of Patterning 2! In this Let's Play I show off how the new features can turn a boring drum pattern into an evolving and complex pattern! Patterning 2 is available on iTunes: https://goo.gl/j1FB5n

If you've enjoyed this series please consider supporting it by becoming a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/discchord If you'd prefer to help on a monthly basis, instead of per video, there is a monthly Patreon campaign: https://www.patreon.com/discchord_com (Patrons of both campaigns get the same benefits, including Ad Free viewing on the site!)

Be sure to visit http://discchord.com for the latest music app news!"

EMU SP-12 Turbo - Classic Drum Machine/ Sampler SN 571

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via this auction

"This one is in very good cosmetic condition and working 100%. It has just been serviced and with some restoration by well known tech Bruce Forat (Forat Electronics). This one has the Turbo upgrade with the latest/ last OS (v2.6). Local pickup is welcome. California residents to pay state tax. Not sold as-is! Shipping available to most countries."

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Oberheim OB-8 C42508 for Parts

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via this auction

"This Oberheim OB-8 though cosmetically very clean is for parts/needs repair. The keyboard powers on but is unable to do anything else as it is missing the motherboard. All other electronics such as the transformer, connecting wires, input jacks, and pot board remain."

Pics of the inside below.

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Sun Drone Sonification

Sounds more like hum than synth, but worth a post. Something to sample for your next piece. :)

"The Stanford Experimental Physics Lab sonified data from the European Space Agency and NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). This humming sound captures the Sun’s natural vibrations and provides scientists with a concrete representation of its dynamic movements.

For more solar sounds, visit: soi.stanford.edu/results/sounds.html"

Ruby Red Waldorf Q+

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via this auction

According to the listing, this is the one featured in this video from 2007.

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Tokyo Festival of Modular: cafe deluxe #3 cafe deluxe #3 official digest

Published on Jul 27, 2018 Tokyo Festival of Modular

撮影: 阿部勝規 築地孝典
編集: 阿部勝規


Modular synth showcase event!
- Makers' and Distributors' booths
- Live performances
- Used modules corner

イベント名 ：Cafe Deluxe #3
5月20日(日)　 16:00 - 22:00
会場SuperDeluxe, https://www.super-deluxe.com/


前売り券予約サイト（前売りはこちらのみ）：
https://www.super-deluxe.com/room/4477/

モジュラーシンセサイザーの魅力をじっくり掘り下げるTokyo Festival of Modular がお届けする、Cafe Deluxe 。開発者、ショップの展示ブース、一般の方々による中古モジュラー交換ブース、幅広いジャンルに及ぶモジュラーアーティストによる演奏で様々な角度からモジュラーシンセに触れ、知り、魅力に浸りましょう !!

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How To: Above & Beyond - 'Sun In Your Eyes'

Published on Jul 27, 2018 Kris Lennox

"A few notes: the performance on the vid isn't the exact structure of the original piece (i.e. at some points in the original, chord 1 is held for more than 4 bars etc) - consider it a springboard you can work from. For this reason I haven't focused too much on exactly replicating the tone of the original. The point is showing how to get close to the tone etc.

In terms of gear - again, no need to have a MB or the specific delay I'm using - especially given these aren't what were used on the original. Neither existed back then! You'll be able to get close with a basic delay, and a basic synth.

On the original track (which is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba-c6...) the delay is running throughout - but it's good to hear how the sequence sounds without the delay, purely for reference, and to hear the difference it gives the overall feel.

Delay settings - be sure to sync the delay rate to the tempo, as opposed to manually inputting a millisecond value. Also, the values I'm using may be vastly different depending on your own delay: judge with your ear.

I intentionally omitted the frequency cutoff positive and negative values of the delay (i.e. delay EQ) from this vid as these values can have huge variation across delay pedals. Again, go with your ears.

In terms of the actual sequence length: 4 beats/16 semiquavers. A 16 step sequencer is all you need.

Also - you may have to pause the vid to garner all the info in the initial section, but I felt it best to have the info appearing as/when the alterations were happening in the performance.

Given a large chunk of my channel subscribers are classical musicians/listeners, I say the following - respectfully - but it should be taken on board:

Many classical musicians have very fixed ideas of other styles of music - often dismissively so - especially with dance/electronic music.

It should be known that many, many dance musicians are actually highly trained classical musicians - off the top of my head I can think of 5 who are graduates of the likes of the Guildhall School of Music. The guys know what they are doing - but are choosing to write in a specific genre - no different from when a jazz or classical musician chooses to write in a jazz/classical style.

Yes - there may be the dance music association with hard drugs and rampant sex on a beach in Ibiza - but this is a stereotype.

If there's any doubt as to the skill of dance composers: try writing a dance song. Or - ask Jon Hopkins what he thinks of it. He openly states that a piano work often takes him only minutes, but a dance song takes him months.

I'm not saying it has to be 'one or the other' - but rather - try to approach it with an open mind. Plus - writing dance/electronic music is bloody good fun!

RE Above & Beyond - have a listen to their acoustic sessions. Stunning. And a good demonstration they clearly know what they are doing in how they write music.

Personally, my favourite Trance artists are probably A & B, and Chicane ('Sum of All Parts' is a great album). I'll probably do some vids on Chicane's music in the near future.

All best
Kris"