A Roland 808 Van

via @djmarkfarina

TR-808 inspired paint job.

Building the Beat: Inside Legendary Roland TR-808 Tracks

RolandChannel

"The legacy of the TR-808’s boom transcends genre—touching on everything from hip-hop and R&B to techno and house. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary drum machine, a group of musical luminaries breaks down their stone-cold 808 classics.

Watch Arthur Baker, A Guy Called Gerald, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri, the Avila Brothers, Cozmo D, and Carl Craig discuss mainstream hits and underground classics from their discographies.

These eclectic producers and artists provide exclusive glimpses behind the curtain into what made their gems jam. Each one shares studio secrets that make “Planet Rock,” “Voodoo Ray,” “Tell Me If You Still Care,” “Nice & Slow,” “Moist,” “Jam On It” and “From Beyond” so iconic. Along the way, hear about how the 808 and their work influenced each other and culture at large.

Songs in this video were recreated using the TR-808 plug-in available in Roland Cloud. Try the TR-808 plug-in for free during the month of August with your free Roland Account. In the words of Terry Lewis, 'I always say Roland put the boom in music because they gave us an opportunity to use the boom.'"

Free RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” Plug-In Now Available for Windows and Mac

The RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” Windows and Mac VST/AU plug-in, from the creators of the original Roland x0x series mentioned in this post, is now available for download at https://rc-808.com/download/.

Some details from the page for the archives:

"The RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” emulates the original TR-808 sound with analog manner synthesis. As the name implies, it is with respect to the original 808 sounds which is a criterion for sound synthesis as a vintage. Starting from this criterion, explore the multiverse of sounds, stretch out your vectors, to find out new criterion of your own. Yes, it can take you to the new sonic worlds that are completely different and yet so close and familiar to you.

Hence it is not a drum machine but is a drum synthesizer. No samples nor effects processing are being used, just genuine synthesis only, all in analog manner.

The sound source employs DCO which is in this case Down Chirp Oscillator, combined with a noise source that outputs various kinds of noises including metallic noises. There is also a infinite point wave shaper, a variable filter bank, infinite point envelope generators etc. With maximum 8 partials per voice, it allows sound designing in subtractive synthesis manner which is familiar to all, and yet still with vast outer space beckoning to be discovered.

Thanks to this flexible architecture, all instruments can have Open and Close variations just like Hi-Hats or cymbal choke performance. Coupled with piano-roll sequencer utility this brings new expressions with gate time programming, that you don’t see on a drum sequencer.

However, please note that this is a conceptual model.
We fully understand that, although we continue developing and updating this conceptual offspring of ours, it is still in its very preliminary phase, and thus is full of bugs. Then why we are releasing it globally? Because it is our hope to spread our original intention on making the TR-808 to everybody in the world, to be shared by everybody in the world, and have our memes to be passed on through ages to come. Even if it is not perfect yet, the essence of our spirit will expand its horizon and will exist ubiquitously throughout this planet.

Therefore, please note that because the RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” is merely a conceptual model to show the originally intended architecture of the TR-808, it is not fully developed as an instrument for actual usage. We do not bear any responsibility for any possible inconvenience or damages caused by this. We cannot answer to any inquiries for this product as well.

Finally, please allow us to mention that we are independent from Roland Corporation, and therefore they also cannot answer to any inquiries.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding on above all. Thank you again, indeed."

UDO Super 6 | Short Demo (Ambient Pads & Presets)

Funky Junk Ltd

This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

"A quick first look at the brand new Super 6 Analog Hybrid Polysynth from Bristol-based manufacturer, UDO.

A powerhouse of a synth, incredibly versatile and heaps of fun to play (and not a screen in sight!), the Super 6 is certainly one of the most exciting synths we've had the pleasure of featuring for quite a while.
This demo model has just landed, so rest assured we’ll be digging a bit deeper in future demos to better showcase the scope of what this synth is capable of. In the meantime, I just had to get it setup and give it a whirl..."

Pro 3 Patch Building - Paraphonic Synthesizer from Sequential

Tefty & Meems

"Hey! This keyboard is awesome! I haven't done a lot of programming on it yet, so this is a init patch exploration video of the DSI Pro 3 synth.

Chapters
0:00 Intro to Pro 3
2:45 First Patch
28:19 Second Patch
37:49 Quick Ableton Beat
43:37 Final Thoughts"

Novation Circuit - Mainframe

Payton Carter

"Time to get back to to the Circuit! My Deluge arrives in a week, so I have to get all my unfinished projects recorded before I abandon the Circuit forever. hahaha, jkjkjk. I'll love the Circuit for the rest of my life.

All audio coming from the Circuit, minor post processing with Ozone Elements 9. Filmed on an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mk2, Canon FD 50mm f1.8."

Novation Circuit - Firewall

Payton Carter

"This jam had some weird issue where the pad synth track was limited to 4 notes of polyphony instead of the usual 6, but only in certain patterns. If you programmed 6, notes would drop out randomly. It didn't happen until I went to record the track, which bummed me out a little. I wasn't able to resolve the problem, so if it seems like some notes are missing, that's why."

Tim Shoebridge's Thoughts on the Moog ONE

Tim Shoebridge

"Here are my many thoughts on the Moog ONE, interspersed with as many sound examples as I could fit in. Please be warned, this video is over an hour long and it is not a step-by-step review. Fundamentally this video contains my personal opinions on this synth having owned and played it for the last six months. I hope you find it enjoyable or in other ways useful.

00:01:09 Introduction
00:06:24 LFOs
00:11:50 VCOs
00:14:58 VCFs
00:21:56 Modulation
00:24:39 VARS
00:30:28 Transforms
00:36:23 Quirks & Limitations
00:46:56 Tuning Issues
00:56:11 Multi Synth Engine Patch
01:03:59 Conclusions"

Outdoor jam with the MPC Live II

Jay Hosking

"A live, semi-improvised track, performed entirely on the Akai Pro MPC Live II.

I've been dipping my toes in the MPC world recently, and was very impressed with the MPC One. Since I'm always on the hunt for a true successor to the Novation Circuit, I thought I'd give the MPC Live II, with its added portability, a shot.

My first impressions were that the MPC Live II was too big (the MPC One is a perfect form factor, in my opinion). My second impressions were that the battery and speakers on the MPC Live II are incredible additions, and that this is maybe the most comprehensive all-in-one box I've tried. The synths sound good, the drum and melodic library is a great foundation, the effects are varied and flexible and pretty great, and there's more horsepower than any competitor in the same price range.

I would still love more performance effects and less navigating mid-song, but overall I'm super impressed with the MPC Live II, and I'm looking forward to it being my new travel companion.

Written over the last few days, recorded live to stereo output, and uploaded as is, with only a little EQ, compression, limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/"

New Loops Diva Expansion Sale

via supporting MATRIXSYNTH member, New Loops:

"30% off Diva Expansion 1 and Get Diva Expansion 2 FREE!

For a limited time only, get 30% off Diva Expansion 1 and get Diva Expansion 2 totally free. That’s over 150 Diva presets for only £13.99. This offer is exclusively at newloops.com. No code needed, just add both packs to cart.

Offer ends 16.08.20. Download the free demos and remember to add both expansions to your cart to get Diva Expansion 2 free."

You can find it at https://newloops.com/products/diva-expansion

SYNA 13 Voice DIY Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

Janne Hanhisuanto

"Testing SYNA, 13 voice DIY polyphonic analog synthesizer. Reverb added to master output."

This post is in via Janne Hanhisuanto - Synastasia, a musician and engineer from Finland who develops synthesizers in his free time. He created SYNA, a 13-voice poly analog synth as his thesis work. Above is a quick test video. Directly below is an album featuring the synth followed by a playlist of videos during the development of SYNA and a few other DIY projects from Janne.

"Synastasia is an album created using only SYNA.

Janne Hanhisuanto

"SYNA was a 13-voice polyphonic analog synthesiser. It was designed and built by Janne Hanhisuanto. Synastasia was composed shortly after building was finished.
2020 remaster available here:
https://jannehanhisuanto.bandcamp.com...

www.jannehanhisuanto.com"



And a playlist of Janne Hanhisuanto DIY synths and audio equipment (mainly DIY test videos):



Playlist:
onenote syna keyboard testing x 2
Diy analog Syna basic functions
DIY Stereo analog phaser test
Syna drone
testing syna
SYNA testing
3voice SYNA TESTING
syna2 first demo
testing syna2 iteration2
syna2 iteration2 VCA test
analog phaser v2
syna2 through phaser