Studio Electronics SE-1 | Borrowing a friend's SE-1 while I contemplate getting a Model D

video upload by MIDERA

"I probably was wrong thinking the SE-1 was anything like a Minimoog (Model D). Come to think of it, I haven't really figured out why it's called the Minimoog and Model D. Or maybe it's Minimoog Model D? Well. I don't know why I want one in the first place. I guess it just looks cool. I've been wondering why I want it, given that I already have the Matriarch and have enjoyed how it sounds. Anyway, after talking with a friend, they offered to let me test out their SE-1. The first thing that stuck out to me is how wildly steppy the cutoff knob is. In some ways, it can actually be interesting what sounds you get out of it, but it's pretty prominent. Another thing that baffles me is that there doesn't appear to be a true 'menu'. You seem to access menu items by pressing a button or twisting a knob. I end up lost at times thinking "There should just be a simple global button to access all the parameters" but there isn't.

Beyond that - it does sound quite lovely. I can tell it's very punchy and 'thick'. It's interesting in that you can activate saw, triangle, and square waves at the same time. Something I don't think the Minimoog can do. It sounds like the pulse width can affect even saw waves, which was surprising. Maybe I was just hearing things, but it sounds like it does. It has something of a mod matrix, but kind of not really how I'd describe it, just that you can take LFOs and ENVs and assign them to various things. The filter itself does sound great - and you're able to use a 24db LP filter or a 12db LP or BP filter. I found myself enjoying the 24db filter more.

After I finished this demo, I sat down with my Matriarch and thought "Wow, this is such a great synth." I'm not sure I'd feel the same way about the Minimoog, as it lacks a lot of things I like including an arpeggiator/sequencer (which the Matriarch has). I found both the SE-1 and Matriarch kind of have similar flavors apart from their obvious differences.

The Minimoog would probably get me 1-5% more 'minimoog' sound that would without a doubt get lost in all the FX I have. But still, it's hard not to want one. I bet it will end the same way the Prophet 10 ended - I was deeply unsatisfied with it for years, and then started to really open it up for some interesting sounds. The Minimoog seems a bit more... simple.

The plan has been to sell a bunch of stuff towards a Minimoog though:
System 8
EMU XL7
Chroma Polaris
Something else I don't quite have on the chopping block yet.

That's the plan. Not sure how it will end.

On that note - here's me playing the SE1 using the DSI Prophet 08 as a controller. It went into the Strymon Volante to my mixer, with Eventide Blackhole VST for reverb. Not my best work, but it was fun to noodle on it.

#Studioelectronics #Minimoog #moog"

Mastering Yamaha CS80: Unleashing its Modulation Routes

video upload by Andy Whitmore

"Exploring Untapped Modulation Routes on Yamaha CS80

Recorded at Greystoke Studio - Dry.

As used by Brian Eno, Vangelis, ELO, Michael Jackson.

1977 – 1980. Includes the Ribbon pitch bend & polyphonic after-touch.

Watch me bring that sound back to life!🎹🕺

The audio is DIRECT, 100% DRY - You are hearing the raw audio as it comes directly from each synthesizer. NO post processing (Effects, EQ, or Dynamics) whatsoever."

Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer Drum Machine SN 321316

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Tone Tweakers eBay | Reverb

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"Although it came to us in good working order, this unit has had its electronics fully refurbished and future-proofed and is now working like new again.

The following work was done to it:

Replaced power supply capacitors as a preventative measure.
Fully disassembled and cleaned unit inside and out.
Replaced battery holder.
Cleaned all jacks.
Replaced all tact switches.
Cleaned and lubricated all pots and switches.
All features systematically tested and working as they should."

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Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter Sound Module SN 542622

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"This Super Jupiter synthesizer module has been fully refurbished. We resoldered connections we commonly see fail, recapped the power supply, replaced the battery and reloaded the sounds and replaced the backlight with a new one so the display is nice and bright. It's been fully tested and is working perfectly. Also available: MPG-80 Programmer."

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Moog Werkstatt-01 with CV Expander & Original Box SN 08533

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Star Instruments Synare Drum Synth

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"This unit was fully rebuilt by professionals with the highest standards and is in perfect working order. We replaced all the pots, the battery snaps, all electrolytic capacitors, most IC chips, power regulators, and the neoprene layer, so this fully refurbished and functionally the best you’ll find anywhere."

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Elta Music PM-02 Polivoks-M

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You can find a demo of the Elta Music PM-02 Polivoks-M here.

"46 HP Eurorack Module w/ original box and documentation. Includes power supply ribbon cable.

Full synth voice with classic Polivoks circuits
Variable-shape LFO with two simultaneous outputs
Classic, snarling Polivoks filter with BP and LP modes
ADSR envelope with optional looping mode
Full modular integration with CV inputs for pitch, cutoff, VCA, and PWM
Direct LFO, VCO, Suboscillator, Envelope, Noise, and Master audio outputs
Designed in collaboration with Vladimir Kuzmin, developer of the original Polivoks"

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Dianzi Qin (电子琴) Chinese synth from 1978

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"Look at these strange synths produced by Cold War-era China. This is a Dianzi Qin (电子琴).

The synth came about following a cultural exchange in the early 1970s when composer Bernie Krause visited China to demonstrate a Moog modular system. It was part of Richard Nixon’s attempt to build up relations with China to counterbalance Soviet influence in the region – a program known as “Ping-pong diplomacy”.

Krause demo’ed his Moog to Communist officials who were apparently very impressed, after which the Party declared that electronic music 'had no cultural bias', meaning it was not intrinsically Western and decadent, and so there was no problem for Chinese people to explore it and incorporate it into their compositions.

This led inventor Tian Jin Qin to develop this instrument, as a modern, electronic synthesizer with Chinese characteristics – it’s loosely based on traditional Chinese string instruments such as the Erhu.

The Dian Zi Qin is controlled with four ribbons, which power an additive synth engine. There seem to have been two versions, one that looks like an upright stringed instrument, the other that looks more like a desktop synth but with a vertical neck sticking out of it with the ribbon controls to finger. The second type has additional touch controls on the main unit that have some ability to bend and accent the note.

I’ve read that very few were made and it didn’t get out of the prototype stage, but in this video I see at least three playing in concert, as well as what looks like a more conventional organs. I’ve uploaded the full film to my YouTube channel as it was not available anywhere on the Western internet."

Pilot 🧭 (TR-6S with new "808 Chromatic Bass", sequencing MAM ADX1 + Timeline // Sequential Take 5)

video upload by 2-Minute Warning

"In this jam, I'm exploring the Roland TR-6S' capability to sequence external instruments, in this case the MAM (Music And More) ADX-1, 5-voice analog drum module 🥁!

I used 4 tracks (white illuminated faders, labeled LT, HC, CH and OH) of the TR-6S to sequence 4 parts of the ADX-1 (named Synth, Snare, Hihat and Metal). I even used the "alternate instrument" sequencing feature of the TR-6S to sequence for example the closed/opened Hihat of the ADX-1 (i.e. sending 2 different notes to only one part of the ADX-1) 😃

At first I only wanted to use the TR-6S as a sequencer (not its internal sounds), however I ended up using on Track 1 its "CR-78" kick, on Track 2 its new "808 Chromatic Bass", and also layering the parts played by the ADX-1 with sounds from the TR-6S (4 last tracks). Fun fact: I didn't use any samples here 😉 All the sounds coming from the TR-6S are from the modeling ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) engine!

To be able to change the bass pitches coming from the TR-6S, I used different "variations" of the pattern, with different tunings of the "808 Chromatic Bass".

It was not very easy to jam with the Sequential Take 5 synth and change the pattern's variations at the same time, but nonetheless still fun and challenging 😅


* Hardware used *

// PERCUSSIONS:
- Music And More (MAM) ADX-1 (5-voice analog drum module) + Strymon Timeline (digital delay)

// DRUMS, BASS & SEQUENCER:
- Roland TR-6S (digital rhythm performer drum machine)

// PADS:
- Sequential Take 5 (5-voice analog synth)"

Eurorack Drone Noise

video upload by Ghost In Translation

"I'm currently developing the second output of DRONE, it uses filtered noise at the source instead of sine/triangle like it is on the first output.

Around DRONE are KICK and MIXER. This is the new revision for MIXER, with 8 inputs over 2 channels. KICK is being triggered by an LFO.

Support me:

https://ghostintranslation.bandcamp.com
https://patreon.com/ghostintranslation
https://www.instagram.com/ghostintran..."