MATRIXSYNTH

at 8/28/2006 09:13:00 AM

flickr by andrewyang. Trip. I didn't know these were Electro Harmonix and made in Russia.

Update via zerozeroisland in the comments:
"Yes, it's pretty odd. E-H founder Mike Matthews bought a Russian vacuum tube factory back in the 90's, i assume so he could insure a steady supply of tubes for his products.

But he's been having a hell of a time holding on to it. apparently, corrupt Russian businessmen and officials have been trying to take over his factory. it's a pretty fascinating story; you can read more about it here & here "

at 8/28/2006 09:10:00 AM

via C64Music!

at 8/28/2006 02:48:00 AM

Remember this post? Well, I managed to make it to the kick off show in Seattle tonight, or rather last night. It was a very FUN show. Filled with quirky bits of music and musings by Jean-Jacques Perrey. Definitely recommend seeing them if you get a chance. Title link takes you to a ton of shots and some short video/audio clips I took with my old digital camera. Apologies for the poor quality.

One of the coolest things about the show was Jean-Jacques' antics during the performances, from pretending to ride a horse to air guitar. Classic, funny stuff. He said his goal was to make others happy and to bring a smile to our faces - to have FUN. I'd say he more than succeeded. What was also fascinating was the stories he'd tell before each piece. I don't want to ruin it for anyone that might make the upcoming shows, so let's just say there was a fascinating story about Salvadore Dali and one about Disneyland. As for gear, Jean played the Ondioline (that brown box in front of him), what looked like a Moog dual manual organ, a couple of synths and a few Moogerfoogers. Dana primarily played a Yamaha DX7 and every now and then he broke out with the Synthesizers.com modular. Oh, and his little elephant mascot joined the show as well. : )

You can read more about Jean Jacques Perrey here, and Dana Countryman here.

P.S. I also had the pleasure of meeting and sharing a table with Blake of Hotels. They use a Casio CZ-3000 and JP8000 in their set up. I just checked out their site and MySpace page. Good stuff.

Update:
OK - SPOILER (do not read this if you are going to the show and want the effect of hearing this story for the first time - this is the story about Salvidore Dali):
Jean talked about how Salvadore Dali asked him what he was working on next. Jean said he was working on 'Flight of the Bumble Bee.' Dali said, hmm.. that's not that special. Jean said, well I'm doing it with live bees! Dali said, oh I must hear this. Jean recorded the buzz of live bees and other bugs. He then sliced the tapes and mapped it to the full range of a keyboard. It took him 46 hours to set this up. He then played it for Dali. Dali was blown away and said he must play it for him again. He said Dali said Mignificent! It was a fascinating intimate story and I really am not doing it justice. You just picture them sitting together and Jean playing this for Dali. Amazing. You can read more on the tape process in this excerpt of his biography.

at 8/28/2006 02:23:00 AM

flickr by ruk777. Trip. Never saw one of these before.

Caption for the archives:
"This was my very first 'pedal' back in 1986. Again, this was one piece of the analog synthesizers Oberheim and others were inventing back in the '70s. There are two effects in this box. One is a very cool sounding envelope filter. VERY touch sensative. It also has a "random arppegiator", or "sample filter hold". This circuit was stolen by Z-Vex for his "Ooh-Wah" and "Seek-Wah" pedals. It basically takes the note and throws it around to different tones, if that makes sense. You can control the speed."

at 8/28/2006 02:20:00 AM

via sequencer.de

at 8/28/2006 02:18:00 AM

flickr by ChristianU.

at 8/28/2006 02:01:00 AM

Title link takes you to more. via Frederic. Yeah, I think Kraftwerk beat Numan on the robot thing.

at 8/28/2006 01:47:00 AM

Glitch Station - 2 * 25 dtype inputs
midi in - midi thru
16 midi to switch interface
light organ interface - 3 photo cell link
3 momentary push switches
3 hold switches
5 variable resistors
eddi is used to interface electronic devices such as kids toys - cheap keyboards - video signals - mechanical devices - anything that switches

shown linked to casio sk1

via Frederic. Title link takes you to more.

at 8/27/2006 11:59:00 AM

Recently posted by Todd in the Buchla 200e group.

at 8/27/2006 11:48:00 AM

Remember Pinky? Here's a video sent my way via Frederic.

at 8/27/2006 10:21:00 AM

No title link. Just a shot pulled from this auction. It appears to have been pulled from Analog Hell.

Update via analoghell in the comments: "yep, i have some stuff for auction see here."

at 8/27/2006 10:20:00 AM

via Frederic

Update via the comments:
REgardging the synth in the opening shot above the mellotron.
"The synth is a PPG monosynth - a 1002 or 1020 I think. There was a post on this blog about it a few months ago.

Lots more vintage TD on Youtube, it all seems to be from the same German TV program. Just search for 'Tangerine Dream Signale'."

at 8/27/2006 10:15:00 AM

Title link takes you there.

"The TR-808 MIDI retrofit enables your Roland TR-808 to be synchronized with other MIDI devices and work like polyphonic velocity sensitive MIDI drum expander. More over all original features of the TR-808 are not changed.

Features:

-Sequencer of TR-808 can be synchronized by internal tempo generator or by MIDI clock.
-Start / Stop (transport functions) can be controlled by panel button or by "Start", "Stop" and "Continue" MIDI transport commands or both ways simultaneously.
-Tone generators of TR-808 can be triggered by internal sequencer, by MIDI notes or both ways simultaneously.
-Response of tone generators to "Velocity" of Note-On MIDI commands is fully dynamic.
-79 MIDI notes (12 to 90) are acceptable. It can be assigned to each of them independently:
- any of TR-808 tone generator (or none generator)
- basic signal level and dynamic range (resolution up to 126 steps) of assigned tone generator
- CM/GM/GS/XG drum map is factory predefined.
- Number of MIDI channel for MIDI commands receiving is programmable by user, channel 10 is factory predefined.
- MIDI interface can be turned off, TR-808 then works exactly as without installed interface.
- Easy and non-destructive installation into TR-808.

at 8/27/2006 09:58:00 AM

flickr by Jyoti Mishra. Click here for more shots of the Roland MC-202.

at 8/27/2006 09:55:00 AM

flickr by janvanvolt. Title link takes you to one more shot of the inside.

at 8/27/2006 09:49:00 AM

Nice. Title link takes you to the post on Music Thing.

Via the forum this was found on:
"Rumors are now that Wakai is negotiating with Nintendo to get The Legend Of Zelda (NES version) on the mpc2500 to boost sales. Nothing official as usual."

at 8/27/2006 09:41:00 AM

flickr GeschnittenBrot. Title link takes you to more shots of the MacBeth M3X.

at 8/27/2006 02:14:00 AM

Title link takes you to a sample of the Synthi VCS3 by REwire on the VSE fourm. Details saved here for when the thread goes into limbo:

"My Synthi VCS3 has been hard to play in tune since I got it but recently I did an overhaul on cleaning, lubing and internal pot adjusting it and wow, suddenly it all came togther in tune - all 3 oscillators holding pitch together.

Unlike my "Bit By Bit" tune with a modular patch that allowed 5 oscs to be panned separately, these three are crammed together into the same filter and mono output. The effect is a war of oscs, beating against each other for supremacy.

This is a one minute solo piece with first one osc, then two, then three all playing the same thing: 840K mp3

When VA's can do this I'll submit."

mp3 saved here for posterity.

at 8/26/2006 09:36:00 PM

Not the best shot in the world, and not exacty super spectacular, but check it out. Someone is selling a Korg DW8000 in it's original box. That styrofoam sure stays white. : )

at 8/26/2006 04:30:00 PM

Is that a sammich in his hand? Click here for more shots and links to the interview (links are on the left when you get there). Also, don't forget his first US tour; it starts this Sunday, that's tomorrow, in Seattle.

via Frederic

at 8/26/2006 03:41:00 PM

"In American Music in the Twentieth Century, composer and music critic Kyle Gann wrote, .When John Cage, who studied with Schoenberg, was asked in 1989 whom he would study with if he were young today, he replied, 'James Tenney.''

A performer as well as a composer and theorist, Tenney was co-founder and conductor of the Tone Roads Chamber Ensemble in New York City (1963-70). He was a pioneer in the field of electronic and computer music, working with Max Mathews and others at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in the early 1960s to develop programs for computer sound-generation and composition. He has written works for a variety of media, both instrumental and electronic, many of them using alternative tuning systems.

Tenney is the author of articles on musical acoustics"

Title link takes you to James Tenney's bio. Via Peter Grenader on AH:
"I've just received word that an American music maverick and electronic music
poineer James Tenney has passed after a strident six month long battle with
cancer. He will be missed for his extraordinary contribution to 20th century
music, a career that spanned over over 50 years, and as one of the most
genuine and generous people in the field. A brief biography of Tenney can
be found at: link"

at 8/26/2006 03:24:00 PM

Midge Ure of Ultravox. Love the accent and how he pronounces Moog. He talks about how they still used old synths at the time and at about 15 years old the Mini is somewhat of an antique. He states that you can't get synths like this anymore. Little did he know the Voyager would be coming. Pretty cool. The Minimoog provided the bass for Vienna. via Frederic. YouTube via playthatbeat.

at 8/26/2006 03:13:00 PM

via Frederic. YouTube by DrRek.

at 8/26/2006 03:11:00 PM

Update: if the video below does not work, go here.

via Frederic. YouTube via mikbj.

at 8/26/2006 02:56:00 PM

Embedding is disabled on this one, so you'll have to click through to get to the video.

via Frederic

at 8/26/2006 09:56:00 AM

Remember this Elektron Monomachine track? Title link takes you to the full EP available for download (track links on the top right when you get there). Great showcase of the Monomachine and great tracks in general.

at 8/26/2006 09:15:00 AM

I absolutely love MiniMusic's BeatPad. You can see some of my previous posts on BeatPad here. Here's a post of BeatPad driving a Moog Voyager and Roland TR-909.

Simon Gatrall sent the following to AH. It's great to know where the design came from.

"I based the analog line portion on the EML 400, and the drum portion on an X0X style machine. I designed Beatpad and Minimusic did the coding/support/etc.

I have a prototype of the "analog" portion of the sequencer built in Max, but it doesn't have the same pattern storage tools or the start point changing.

Some day I'd like to reproduce or expand on the concept for a Mac based version.

I also ran a company called Swivel Systems which developed a General MIDI add on for earlier Palms, but I have to say that the concept of Beatpad was what got me started with the whole thing."

Cheers to Simon and MiniMusic for creating such a cool piece of software. Now we just need a Mac and PC version for the tablet. Title link takes you to MiniMusic.

at 8/26/2006 08:54:00 AM

flickr by GeschnittenBrot.

at 8/26/2006 08:18:00 AM

"Welcome to M-Audio University. M-Audio University offers free online classes and tutorials that help you get the most out of your M-Audio gear. Learn software and studio tips and tricks from the experts. Tuition is free with a simple registration. M-Audio University is pleased to present the following classes and tutorials at this time[Ableton Live, General Audio and Recording, Pro Tools M-Powered 7]. New materials are being added continually, so be sure to check back often."

Pretty cool. Title link takes you there.

at 8/26/2006 08:16:00 AM

Title link takes you to the post on Failed Muso.

at 8/25/2006 07:52:00 PM

Another via Frederic. Automat is an old electronic album from 1978 that featured the ASE MCS70. You can read more about the album here where you will find a number of samples. You can find more on the MCS70 on Synthmuseum.com where the image below was pulled from.

via the Automat page:
"When I saw my incoming mail box in 2000/October/01 I had a great surprise. A message from Mario Maggi (the man who idealized and constructed the MCS70, the sinthesizer used to do "automat"). Once again, my thanks to Sergio A. Simões. He found the Mario Maggi´s e-mail, contacted him, and told him about my page. To receive a message from Mario Maggi and all creators of "automat" is one of my great objectives. Naturally, I had (and still have) thousands of questions. We change a few messages, and I´ll continue changing. Now you can see a few questions. The first message was from Mario Maggi to answer questions for Sergio. The main subject is about MCS70, but there is a lot of information regarding 'automat'." Thanks Frederic!

at 8/25/2006 07:40:00 PM

Remember Siliconsequences? Here's the extended version. Via Frederic.

at 8/25/2006 07:27:00 PM

flickr by CountLovE.

at 8/25/2006 12:23:00 PM

Title link takes you to a couple of shots. Via Sigma:

"We are an Ambient/Electronic-music duo from Finland and have something we would like to share other synth/DIY-fans.

SEKU is a self made 2 x 16 step sequencer with slider-pots as in ARP-sequencer. Length of the sequence can be set to N by patching PULSE-OUT from N+1 step to RESET-IN jack. When no clock is connected to CLK-IN sequencer can be manually stepped from STEP button.

Each row has CLK-IN, CV-OUT, GATE-OUT and RESET-IN jacks. You can mute any one of the 1-16 steps with the STEP-MUTE switch. Each step has also a PULSE-OUT jack.

Slider potentiometers for STEP-CV adjusting are used because they are more informative.It is also possible to draw waveforms with the sliders when SEKU is clocked with audio-rate clock.

SEKU and Korg MS10 combination is something very special. When you patch first row CV-OUT to Korg VCO-CV-IN and second row CV-OUT to Korg CUTOFF-FREQ-IN (modulation wheel is patched to INITIAL-GAIN-IN so that VCA is open) you always get something very musical.

Here is YouTube-link for video-demo of SEKU-MS10 combination with additional noise-drum from Roland S100M: link

Our new CD "Music With Analog Improvised Soundscapes" is based on this SEKU-MS10 combination and can be purchased from CD-Baby: link"

at 8/25/2006 12:13:00 PM

Nice. Via Tec Assistance, "here's a pulse programmer i recently built with the new issue pink leds.I believe they are the fruition of some Philips research which is able to combine the materials such that other colours will become available.I guess the rainbow is coming!"

at 8/25/2006 11:49:00 AM

A couple of shots pulled from this auction. Restored by CMS. Currently at 10 bids and $6200.

Details:
"Up for auction here is a fully restored Synthi AKS made by EMS of London, in excellent condition complete with a fully functional KS keyboard. The unit is all original and is not a clone, reissue or reproduction. Serial #’s on the synth and the keyboard match. This Synthi has been fully restored by Phil Cirocco of CMS / DiscreteSynthesizers (yes it's me). Google the "Novachord Restoration Project" for a restoration example. I hate to give up my special secret weapon of aural destruction, but it's the usual story, I'm trying to buy a house. This unit is dangerous through a very large PA system.

Standard Synthi AKS features will not be listed here. I assume you know them if you are looking for one.

Synthi A Features: All the electrolytic (wet) capacitors have been replaced. Wet caps dry out after 15 to 20 years. There are numerous wet caps used in the Synthi and they all must be replaced. The power supply is the more reliable version 2 and has been fully rebuilt. It has brand new speakers and a new reverb tank. It also has 14 new silver knob inserts. New power switch and AC inlet. The knobs and front panel are in excellent condition. The pin matrix is also in brand new condition. The joystick has no play and stays in position. The meter plastic has no scratches. All circuitry and mechanicals are fully functional and have been calibrated to factory specs. This is a rare opportunity to buy a Synthi AKS that needs no post-auction servicing.

The KS keyboard is in excellent condition and has been totally rebuilt and calibrated. The sequencer is fully functional and the meter indicates the sequencer location. The keys, transpose and random touch switches all work fine. The touch sensor also is fully functional and is normalized through input channel 2. As with all AKSs, the sequencer output is routed through the joystick output, and the real time CV out is routed through input channel 1. Usually, when you buy an AKS, the KS keyboard is not functional. It’s very labor intensive to diagnose and repair it’s primitive computer, but this keyboard also has been totally restored and is guaranteed fully functional.

The outer case is in good condition with the usual light scratches, nothing deep. All the plastic parts of the suitcase are totally intact, no rips. The outside chrome hardware has tarnished and has some rust and pitting but probably could be brought back with some steel wool or jewelers polish. The latches all work. The lid is in very good condition and the blue plexiglass EMS emblem is in very good condition.

Comes with a brand new power cord, keyboard cable and 15 brand new matrix pins."

Mighty nice.

via ag

at 8/25/2006 07:35:00 AM

Via frederic. I didn't see a details page on this one. If you know more about this piece, please feel free to post in the comments.

at 8/25/2006 07:31:00 AM

Title link takes you to more info on Pinky, a DIY synth.

"pinky has mostly cgs boards - gate sequencer, with preset and cv, digital noise, 2 tube vcas, steiner vcf, 2 bandpass filters, passive ring modulator, envelope generator, joystick-nipple, super psycho lfo, psycho lfo and dc mixer. cheers Ken! Also Paia dual VCOs and modulator"

via Frederic

at 8/24/2006 07:50:00 PM

Title link takes you to the post on sequencer.de.

at 8/24/2006 07:45:00 PM

flickr by Ethan Callender.

Title link takes you there.

at 8/24/2006 10:16:00 AM

Previously posted here, minus embedding. You can thank Docktor Future in the comments of this post for this one. An oldie, but goodie. If you haven't seen this one, fasten your keytar strap, you are about to be taken on a Supersonic adventure. Enjoy. Go Zlad!

Update: See this post.

at 8/24/2006 09:43:00 AM

Title link takes you to the Behringer Synth page on Synrise.

"These synth was built in 4865 hours of hard work by the 16 years old Ueli Behringer founder of the studio equipment firm BEHRINGER in ca. 1982. It seems to be an additive synthesizer if the 16 faders on the left side controls the spectrum of the first 16 harmonics."

via Frederic

at 8/24/2006 09:38:00 AM

Title link takes you there.

"Last prototype for the final DX-1. It was never released, but shown in the very first flyers, has the same wooden case and keyboard range."

via Frederic

at 8/23/2006 08:55:00 PM

Enjoy. : ) Hmm... 3:23 into it. Damn. I want a shopping cart full of synths.
YouTube via nelcast.

at 8/23/2006 01:29:00 PM

Reminder that the first show in Seattle this Sunday, other dates below. Title link just takes you to my original post. The following is the press release:

The Most Senior Touring Pop Icon ... At 77 Jean-Jacques Perrey Is a Legend and Electronic Music Pioneer. Fans Can See Him Live in Seattle on Aug. 27, San Francisco on Aug. 29 and Los Angeles on Aug. 31

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23, 2006 -- This August, Oglio Records will release a new Jean-Jacques Perrey/Dana Countryman CD, THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE. The CD is an insanely happy instrumental collection of original tunes, and also includes five melodies by other composers. Using classic "Moog"-style analog synthesizers, as well as acoustic instruments, the CD is styled to be very retro, and very happy.

Jean-Jacques Perrey is a legend, and a pioneer in the popular electronic music field. He was the second musician to ever own a Moog Synthesizer, and one of the first to record with it, way back in 1966. Over the past five decades, Perrey has released many classic MOOG albums, featuring his trademark crazy tape loops and his catchy original melodies. His theme "Baroque Hoedown" (co-composed with Gershon Kingsley) has been featured as part of Disneyland's much-loved "Main Street Electrical Parade" for over 30 years. Even today, Perrey's music has been sampled by countless popular Hip-Hop and Rap artists, including Ice T, DJ Premier, Gangstarr, and many others. At age 77, Perrey is still very much active, and still creating "Music for Smiles and Laughs."

A recent Perrey/Countryman concert in Berlin, Germany had a sell-out crowd, and that performance will be released soon on DVD. To support the release of new THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE, Perrey and Countryman will be performing the new album in a mini-tour of concert venues this August, starting in Seattle, and continuing on to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A tour of the United Kingdom is planned for the Spring of 2007, followed by a tour of Japan, later that year. THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE is a refreshing "blast from the past," focusing on catchy melodies, at a time when interest in the Moog Synthesizer is suddenly in vogue again.

Show Dates for THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE:
Live in Seattle
Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006, 7:30 pm
The Triple Door - 216 Union Street - 206-838-4333
$15.00 advance, $18.00 door

Live in San Francisco
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006, Doors open: 7 pm - Show, 8 pm
Recombinant Media Labs -
763 Brannan @ 6th St. in San Francisco's SOMA District
For more information: 415-863-3068
Tickets are available by emailing info@researchpubs.com

Live in Los Angeles
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, Doors open: 7:30 - Show, 8 pm
Knitting Factory - 7021 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles 90028
323-463-0204
See online artwork at the photolink:
http://www.danacountryman.com/promo1/HEMM_art.html

Please contact:
Craig Melone
Hands On Public Relations
(310) 341-3201
Handsonpr@aol.com

Perrey and Countryman's web sites:
http://www.jeanjacquesperrey.com
http://www.danacountryman.com

Oglio Entertainment's web sites:
http://www.oglio.com
http://www.coolcds.com

at 8/23/2006 10:41:00 AM

Remember the Technics SY-1010? Title link takes you to some shots pulled from this auction.

via dmxkrew.com

at 8/23/2006 10:38:00 AM

"I like using my Korg ER1, I have an EA1 too but never use it. I have always wanted to have the ER1 sync with my diy synths, which don't have midi. I worked out a simple circuit to get a BPM trigger out but did the operation on my EA1"

Title link takes you there. via synth ollie.

at 8/23/2006 10:11:00 AM

"Here's a quick ditty I came up with last night while messing with the basic FM patch and a TKB: legion_ZO_ditty.mp3 (2.56M)

This is pretty simple (vco driving ZO, LFO driving FM in, two ADSRs) The only thing I'm tweaking is the the one ADSR towards the end and I "play notes" ont he TKB to get the different ...well... "notes" :)

I'm a proud poppa of this creature which I built the past four months or so. Like most children it's cost me my life savings but there are rewards :)"

Title link takes you to Legion's Help Wanted Productions. Check out the groovy monkey shot.