Knobcon Number Nine Set for September 10-12, 2021 in Chicagoland

Knobcon is back!

"The World’s Only Synthesizer Convention Returns

Knobcon Number Nine
September 10-12, 2021
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago

We are happy to announce that we are moving forward with Knobcon Number Nine rescheduled to Sept 10-12, 2021. Of course, we will be following any mandated protocols for everyone's safety - whatever those might be come September.

Buy your tickets now and save $10!
Tickets are $50 until June 30, $60 at the event

Purchase tickets and book your hotel at knobcon.com

Experience as little or as much Knobcon as you can handle! It all starts on Friday evening, September 10th with the welcome reception featuring live music, video art, and a cash bar. Saturday, September 11th is packed with exhibits and workshops, followed by a banquet featuring our guest of honor. Multiple live music and immersive video spaces round out the evening. Sunday, September 12 brings another full day of exhibits, workshops and camaraderie.

Make it a weekend by booking a hotel room for only $104 per night. Check-in as early as Thursday, September 9 and enjoy the same room rate through Monday, September 13. By booking a room at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, you'll be on-site for the full event so you're sure not to miss any of the excitement and the only traveling you'll have to do is riding the elevator!

Knobcon - the world's only synthesizer convention - is now in its ninth year and going strong. Held just outside Chicago near O’Hare International Airport, this convention brings exhibitors and attendees from all over the world. Knobcon exhibitors run the gamut from manufacturers and retailers to DIY enthusiasts, makers, artists and more!

If you are interested in electronic-based or experimental music and the tools used to create it, this is the place for you. The diversity and passion of those at knobcon make it enjoyable for all experience levels.

Learn more about Knobcon at our website www.knobcon.com"

See the Knobcon label for additional posts featuring previous years at the event.

Casio CZ-1000 | The Cosmo Synthesizer. Everyone had one of these!

video by Espen Kraft

"The Casio CZ-101, a big hit for Casio in the mid 80s. And the full-size keys, the CZ-1000.
Used by Vince Clarke among others. A best selling synth from Casio back in the day."

Samson MD13 MIDI Controller Spotted in Air Traffic Controller Room in Sully

video by Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures

Phil A. spotted it in the film and sent in the pic below. I checked the trailer and you can see a couple of them in the background at 1:15. Always curious what the story was behind props like this. You can find more in the Synth Props and the Synth TV and Film labels.

stock photo via Amazon & Walmart.

Soundtoys Q&A with Mitch Thomas

video by Plugin Boutiqu

Soundtoys is currently having an up to 80% off Spring sale through June 9. Click here for details.

The Night Rider Rides Again (Morphagene + MU Modular Synth)

video by Autotross

"A horse of a different color! Composed on the Make Noise Tape and Microsound Music Machine and my 5U (Moog Format) modular synthesizer, with a guest appearance from the Korg Volca Sample."

Update: video re-titled: The Dark Rider (Morphagene + MU Modular Synth)

Akai AX60

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

via this auction

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NOS Simmons Digital Clap Trap Handclap Synthesizer w/ Original Box & Manual

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

via this auction

"I found this is in the back of a local music store. It had been sitting untouched for years and was never opened out of its plastic until it was in my possession. I have only actually used it once to test it. The sale includes the synth, original manual, plastic covering, and box."

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Roland TR-808 SN 176434

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via this auction

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Denny's Memorymoog Restore (by Synthpro)

video by synthpro

Roland JX-8P VECOVEN Mod - Demoing the arpeggiator, Chord mode and more

video by synthlegends

"Roland JX-8P VECOVEN Mod

In this video I demonstrate the new VECOVEN Mod, you might know from the JX-10 or MKS-70, recently also established fort he JX-8P. I show the main functions, especially the Chord mode and the arpeggiator.

Here partly the description of the Website from Fred Vecoven:

o Chord mode
o Arpeggiator with tons of modes
o each parameter is now OFF/RECV/SEND/ON, allowing fine control of what gets sent and what is filtered.

o sysex support : allow edition of tone parameters individually, including the "patch" parameters.
o midi cc support : allow edition of all tone parameters with midi cc.
o fast bulk dump/load : 1-2 seconds to dump everything. Can dump to/from cartridge and internal memory.
o edition of parameters (patch and tones) sends sysex, so all editions can be sequenced. PG800 is also supported here, so editions made from the PG800 can also be sequenced.
o copy from/to cartridge to create a full backup of the internal memory (all settings are now copied to the cartridge or restored from it)

o flash module provides 32 internal banks (total of 32 x 32 tones = 1024 tones!). Preloaded with hundreds of tones.
o M16C and M64C support : provide one or four extra banks of tones.
o Import mode to load existing internet "dump" files directly into a bank
o any tone parameter can be assigned to the edit slider during play mode [coming soon !]
o control whether updates from sysex, pg800 or controllers are displayed temporarily on-screen
o allows to disable new features for full compatibility with old software (for example, sysex changes made to tone A can be redirected to the currently selected tone, etc...)

This mod is really exciting and the support is great as well. I got the parts within 3 days after ordering.
For the mod soldering is not necessary. There are just two EPROMS to change, which are on sockets.

There is also a PWM mod, but here you have to desolder some IC, but cables are not necessary.
I hope, you enjoy the video and it shall help you to decide about the mod."