Tuesday, October 30, 2007
ASR-10 Sampling
YouTube via Hitman019 (click for more ASR-10 videos).
"Sampling on the ASR-10 taught be its creator."
Sandin Image Processor Plans
There has been some discussion on the Analog Heaven mailing list regarding video synthesizers. Greg sent me the plans for a classic video synth, the Sandin Image Processor. Click on the icon above for the PDF.
Yamaha CS80 Birthday Card
1/8th scale cardboard CS80. You can see more about it and see more shots on RL Music. When you get there, click on the B on the top right of the page. via Peter
Yamaha AN200
images via
this auction.
MP3 demo here.
"This is a 5-voice AN1X with an additional 3 track groovebox style sequencer with built-in AWM2 waveforms for rhythm, bass and fx samples. Entire compositions can be easily made on this box or use it's innovative realtime performance features to create beats to songs on the fly. It has a 4 track free-style parameter sequencer/complex envelope looping generator. This allow you to create high-speed, complex modulatation waveforms to use in any 4 parameters at once. This feature allows you to introduce an endless variety of natural variation into the timbral elements that make up the sound. It gives the sound of the AN200 a kind of animation within the sound, the same way a filter sweep or PWM does, or even oscillator sync. It indeed makes the sound come alive. Because these tracks work at high speeds it gives the AN200 a unique feature not found in other analog modeled synths. Yamaha also includes extra features and routing not found in your typical modeled synths. There's different kinds of sync, FM configurations, new oscillator types, etc. All these features allow this to produce a wide range of all the classic analog synths as well as many hybrid sounds never heard before. It basic design is based on a morphing architecture. That means each preset is made up of two sounds. There is one morphing knob that lets you choose to hear either sound by itself(at the extreme ends), or a true morphed variable combination of the two. Note that this feature doesn't simply crossfade the amplitudes of the sounds the way a mixer would across two tracks. The knob actually adjust each parameter of the first sound towards the values of the other parameters that define the 2nd sound. It's a true morphing function and sounds radically different than simple crossfading. With this revolutionary architecture, almost any animated electronic sound can be realized on this synthesizer.
Here's another description that you may find helpful:
This uses the identical digital circuitry and chips as in the classic AN1X synthesizer, and Yamaha PLG150-AN Plug-in Board for the Motif, CS6X, MU90, MU100, MU128, MU2000, S80, S90, etc, as well as the Keyton plugin box. What makes this technology stand apart from the other virtuals is that Yamaha modelled AN after a SCI Prophet 5, Oberheim, and a MiniMoog Model D. You can get all these types sound character, plus much more you never heard before. This synth has broken new ground in synthesis and sound development by taking the critical elements from these vintage models and fusing them together in an incredibly flexible way. Some highlights are, two main Oscillators, one sub. Oscillators can be patched in series for one to modulate the other in the audio spectrum well above what an LFO can achieve as well as filter/OSC modulation. PWM, different kinds of sync, ring, multimode filter, matrix modulation, etc. However Yamaha didn't stop there, they included a 4 track high resolution free-form envelope generator where each of the 4 tracks are recorded in realtime using any controller knob, then can be assigned/re-assigned to any parameter for automatically generating the ultimate timbral ANIMATION in sync with each key trigger, or even in a random, free-running mode. That alone makes it sound bright and alive. The second revolutionary feature when this came out, was realtime morphing between two scenes, which are really the same as saying two different patches. So for example you can truly morph a Taurus bass into a dark and clangorous series of Cathedral Bells. This is a real morph between two distinct sounds, not simply an amplitude crossfade. This transitional effect sounds radically different and punches thru any mix. This effect really starts getting the AN sound outstandingly close to the kind of animation the Minimoog invoke."
Atari 2600 Synthcart
via this auction.
screenshot
controllers
cartridge
"The Synthcart is a unique Atari 2600 cartridge that turns your 2600 into a pop music sensation, letting you play music using a pair of Atari's keyboard controllers and can also be controlled with an optional 2600 MIDI kit.
AtariAge sponsored a Synthcart Beat Programming Contest in early 2002 to allow people to create and contribute beats to be included with the Synthcart.
This listing includes:1- New NTSC format 32K Sythcart cartridge and full-color manual by Paul Slocum.
1- Clean Pair of Video Touch Pad Controllers
1- New pair of Synthcart keypad overlays.
1- Atari 2600 Darth Vader refurbished and customized with 1/4" jack output and composite video output.
1- Highly Liquid internal MIDI 2600
1- Atari AC adapter.
1- Original Star Raiders Video Game Cartridge.
- Play using an assortment of familiar Atari sounds
- Use two different sound types at a time, one assigned to each controller
- Intelligent voice management constantly re-assigns the two oscillators for maximum perceived polyphony
- User interface designed so that you can program and play the synth without a TV. This Atari has been modified with an audio out, you just need your Atari and an amp.
- Easter egg: secret light show mode that displays color patterns based on sound output. To activate, put the scale on "major" and put the left keypad on "pitfall" or "saw" and play the notes: 4 7 8 9 8 9.
MIDI Capability:
- 8th, 16th, and 32nd note arpeggiator
- Can arpeggiate both oscillators simultaneously
- Beat Box with many pre-programmed beats and fills
- Play two beats simultaneously to create custom beats
- Two tremelo settings
- Four attack/release settings
MIDI Features:* Translates incoming MIDI notes to keypad control signals
* Powered by game console—separate power supply not required
* User-selected MIDI input channel
* Power and activity LEDs"
See the tag below for previous posts including samples.
Crumar BIT One 1 Synthesizer Schematic
via this auction. Note the seller has a ton of other synth scans up as well. I put this one up as I haven't seen it before. The designs synth manufactures come up with for their documentation (colors, fonts graphics) always fascinate me.
CTO XYEB - New Harvestman Mystery Module
flickr by nakedintruder."harvestman mystery module - ships in 2 weeks"
click here for the full size shot.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Patrick Moraz on Oberheim Matrix-12, SCI Prophet-10 and Prophet-5
YouTube via Analogger. In case you missed it in this post, the synth jam starts after the Minimoog signing.
"This segment opens backstage at a benefit concert in Orlando for "Give Kids The World." Rick Wakeman and Patrick are autographing my Minimoog. That's where I first met Moraz.
Patrick and I became friends and spent some time during the five days he was in town. One night my wife and I took him to Amigos restaurant in Altamonte Springs. A group of people recognized Patrick and came over to the table. He was gracious and charming as he answered questions, told stories, and had everybody in stitches with his infectious "Amadeus" laugh. I took him aside and said, "Look...we're about two minutes from my house. How about we invite these people back and you could perform?" Even though it was around midnight he shouted, "That would be fantastic!" He improvised for almost an hour...much of it on my Oberheim Matrix-12. The people loved it!
Patrick spent the night and about seven in the morning my wife and I are jolted out of bed by the sound of Patrick wailing on my Prophet-5. I called a friend of mine, Mark Glinsky, who was a big Moraz fan and told him to come over right away. He asked why? I held the phone towards a monitor and said, "You hear that? Its Patrick Moraz and he's in my studio!" Patrick continued to discuss musical ideas he was working on and play bits and pieces. That afternoon we attended the Van Halen soundcheck since my station was broadcasting live from a skybox in the Orlando Arena. The Van Halen adventure is documented in Part-3."
The Con Brio Rises!
via Brian Kehew of The MOOG Cookbook. Only two Conbrio ADS 200s were ever made. See the links in Brian's message below for more info on this rare digital synth from the past."Hi guys - this is a quickie announcement - we're rushing to prepare an exhibit for this year's annual (and final) "VINTAGE COMPUTER FAIR"!
Why? This Con Brio synthesizer I've had for a decade is finally going to make noise in public again. Just this week we heard it for the first time - maybe the first one of these has been used in 20+ years...
http://www.synthmuseum.com/conbrio/conads20001.html
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2005/10/my-favorite-retro-synth-conbrio-ads.html
It's been a legendary beast - mostly because of how it looks (of course). But until this week, we didn't know it was really GOOD. As a slightly outside observer, it was truly amazing - the design and interface are superb - you can fly on this thing and work very quickly. They implemented the synthesis with some REALLY tricky methods, as well as writing their own disc drive code, things like that. It sounds like other digital synths of the era - but with much better fidelity, its basic tone is pretty great. I am now gonna try and reunite the designers (one of them is coming along for the show and may give a talk). I will probably soon do a detailed web page showing some of the clever ideas and history. ANd my goal is to lend it out to some people, who can take it for a month and do ONE piece on it - so I can make some kind of "ALL Con Brio" CD so people can finally hear it. I don't think it's ever been on a commercial record release...
The FAIR and the MUSEUM: Sat/Sun 10-6 pm!! Exhibits from 2-6pm!
http://www.vintage.org/2007/main/
So - if you're interested in coming by (Mountain View, CA) I'll be there with it. PLEASE pass on the info to your techie-geek friends who may also appreciate this or a roomfull (museum nearby) of vintage computers; Altair, Digital Equipment Corp., Timex, Commodore, early Apple, etc."
Update via Brian in the comments:
"Well, I would think so too, but that's not true exactly. The three guys who did the Con Brio are serious computer experts; the one seen at the show makes his living manufacturing THE fastest RAM you can buy today. He says the way the Con Brio works (which is not a microprocessor counting to create "oscillators") would still be hard on a typical modern computer. If it were done by a microprocessor running numbers, yes, a modern computer would have it beat, but the speed of the Com Brio lies in the "dumb logic" way the waveforms are done, which allows it to be driven a light-speed type rates - "doing the math" with a microprocessor is harder and takes more power. They were far ahead of their time and finding unique solutions to the problems they had.
You mention the comparison between the 16 oscillators and Bill's 136 - actually the Con Brio does run 16 oscillators on each voice/key; TIMES its sixteen voices, so this is actually 256 simultaneous "oscillators" running.
On the 6 different configurations on a DX7 being adequate for what sounds are needed; to do the simple Hammond organ patch with "all drawbars out" is impossible with that limited set - and that's just 8 sine waves, no overtones per harmonic: the 6-operator setup won't do it. There is capability there with so many configurations - and how it's used is up to the user. Same for the Minimoog - Moog engineers felt that more than 3 oscillators made very little difference in the sound. Serious modular synthesists would disagree.
Not to mention - analog hardware. ALL digi synths have it for output - and the choices made there by designers can drastically affect the tone of the output - otherwise all CD players would sound the same playing the same Pink Floyd record, and we know they don't! Yet another reason a Nord Modular doesn't sound like a Doepfer or Buchla... You "can do it" in software, but it will not sound the same."
The Welsh Minimoog Model E
image via the VEMIA Auction now running.You can read a little more on the Welsh Model E here. It was produced by Alex Winter in the UK after he obtained the rights to the MOOG name.
mpc electronic analogue drums
YouTube via Iglobalhead. Sent my way via richard.
"fantastic analogue sounds from mpc electronics rare 1980's drum synth modules"
Note the manufacturer is MPC (see the MORE tag below), not Akai.
ARP 2500
via Steve of Life in Balance:"For some unknown reason I found this photo very interesting. I came across it while surfing synth stuff. Can anyone ID the woman. I think we know what the synth is."
ARP 2500 of course.
Also anyone know the source of the image?
Update via Mark in the comments: "That is the great Eliane Radigue." I ran a quick search and found this site which has more info on her as well as this shot.
Update via John Levin in the comments: "You can get her CDs from the Lovely Music label, www.lovely.com"
Eliane Radigue trailer from Anaïs Prosaïc on Vimeo.
Mimì and SidStation
via CatSynth.com via polynominal.com.BTW, I think Mimi is the most featured Catsynth - I gave here her a tag.
S900 Steelphon synthesizer
YouTube via aemmezero.
"Resonance and Noise games"
Steelphon S900 synthesizer demo1
"Wave, lfo & filter demo"
xenakis @ lab30
YouTube via twingaburg. via Nusonica.
"http://xenakis.3-n.de/ This video was shot at the Augsburg Media art festival lab.30 Xenakis is a multi-user instrument to stochastically create music with a tangible interface. You can control the played instruments, their rhythmic and notes by moving physical objects on a luminous table surface. The instrument has been developed by students of Software Engineering at the University of Augsburg, Germany." Similar to reactable. See labels below for MORE.
Gordons Gin
YouTube via analoguecrazy4.
"Here is my attempt at Gordons Gin by the Human League."
Roland Jupiter-4 and SH-09. Follow-up to this post.
Circuit Bending Challenge 2007 Entry
YouTube via salamanderanagram. BTW, there is still time to submit to the challenge on CDM and GetLoFi.
"Here's my Casio MT-35 Harbinger, getting it's circuitry absolutely crushed! Also it is my entry to the circuit bending challenge."
.
flickr by rotted bricks (click for more).click here for the full size shot.
Dopefer analog modular synth
Music Room Reorganized
flickr by zonkout (click for more).click here for the full size shot.
Spot the synths and I'll update the labels.
OPA&A100
flickr by unyo303.click here for the full size shot.
"OPA modular (Moog IIIc clone half size) is Mr.shin's handmade stuff.
And my A100 modular."
Anyone know where you can find more info on the OPA modular? Note the Ultimate Sound DS-1 Analog Drum Brain to the left. Click on the labels below for MORE.
Maplin ETI 3800 Analog Synthesizer
images via this auction, via the Matrixsynth Forum."Very rare Maplin / ETI analogue monosynth. GREAT features. In need of repair. Includes copies of the complete construction manual
2 VCO with sync
1 VCF with 2 slope options (high and low, maybe 12db/octave and 24 db/octave)
2 Envelope Generators (1 ADSR and 1 Transient Generator like a more complex EMS VCS3 style generator)
1 VCA / Ring Mod1 LFO
1 S&H
1 Spring Reverb
1 5 band EQ
1 External input
1 Headphones out
The amazing thing is the flexibility of the routing.
The envelopes can be triggered by various modules, the modulation buss can be a mix of LFO, Transient and Sample/Hold and can be routed to various places.
A classic synthesizer from the early days!
It has bad contacts and is in need of repair.
When turned up very loud you can hear many modules working to some extent but this is more crosstalk than output. The keyboard triggers the transient generator and I can hear the VCO and VCF following the keyboard etc.. There are a couple of loose wires inside. The reverb worked when I tapped it and held a cable down for example. You could find it is just a few simple things needed OR that it needs a lot of work, BUT the power supply, keyboard, VCO's ,VCF, LFO, SH, Noise, EQ, reverb appear to work but without output. A couple of pots are loose like on the ADSR
No signal though without work. I am selling as BROKEN. It will need work, but appears complete apart from the knob caps. No guarantees and a starting price of 1 euro mean it is up to you, but bear in mind that this is a rare synth but will need work.
On the back it has a multiconnector input and I believe CV gate but I will confirm later.
Documentation included."
EK-Lounge #13
click here for the post on Aliens Project (click for more synth goodness). Google translated here. "Here are the first pictures from the 13th EK-Lounge, last Sunday, for the second time, in the Palace of Culture, held Wiesbaden. Es hat uns allen mal wieder so richtig viel Spaß gemacht und ich freue mich schon auf die nächste Lounge #14. It took us all once again so much fun and I am already looking forward to the next Lounge # 14"
At the Drive-In: 198d
YouTube via k13lur. Sent my way via Larry. Anyone know what keys they are using?
"Live on Channel V"
And for those with a sense of humor, also via Larry: :)
At The Drive In - We Drink Ritalin
YouTube via optimustine. If anyone knows the track and synths used in this vid feel free to comment.
"for positive at the drive in fans only."
Workspace and Environment: Aaron Spectre
Another workspace post is up on trash_audio for those interested. I spotted a Novation Nova and x0xb0x. I always wanted a Nova. I'm curious how much the later K-Stations could cover the Nova and Supernova. From samples I've heard and some play time with the the K-Stations, they seem brighter to me.
Stylophone
flickr by dreikelvinLooks like the new Stylophone is shipping. I sent dreikelvin an email asking about the mp3 support. Hopefully we will hear back, so be sure to check back. Update on this below.
"Just got my Stylophone(ordered it at: www.firebox.co.uk)"
click here for the full size image.
Update: I heard back from dreikelvin:
"Actually, it is not that spectacular as it sounded in the product description. There is an input-jack for an external audio source (like an mp3-player) which can be used for passing-through an audio signal and mix it with the stylophone sounds. no samples are generated, pitched or saved in memory." Dubrek
toad & fronstwave fat controller
Morton Subotnick - The Wild Bull (1968, US, electronic)
"This Piece was named after a Sumerian poem (c 1700 BC). Morton Subotnick always used the Buchla synthesizer as his electronic instrument. Don Buchla was the west coast counterpart of the east coast Bob Moog. His synthesizers didn't have real keyboards, they were made for producing electronic sounds, not melodies."via Wiel's Time Capsule where you can find a stream and more of the album.
Update via Wavedeform in the comments: "The CD of this is still in print. Mort's site has ordering information."
New England Synth Museum
David Camlin
"The late David Wilson, curator of the New England Synthesizer Museum, discusses his collection of analogue synthesizers."
"In the quiet town of Nashua, New Hampshire lies the New England Synthesizer Museum. Curator Dave Wilson collects and repairs sythesizers and has worked various duties including proofreading and development for some of the world's most renowned synth makers. The museum is open to the public, contact him at www.synthmuseum.com/nesm for appointments. Synth donations are accepted."
Brainwashed.com: The Eye - New England Synth Museum
Note the first ARP 2500 previously posted here.
Novation Supernova 2 Synthesizer in Hi-Fi
YouTube via shaft9000. Sent my way via Mr. Array.
"These are patches I programmed myself, with the exception of the "Oh of Pleasure" arp which is a preset. All are played in single program mode w/ only the SN2's on-board effects, recorded direct with no EQ or compression into Sonar. The audio is then converted to mono for YouTube streaming. I figured most people would like to see and hear how well the SN2 emulates the synths it was designed to sound like : Jupiter & Juno, OB-Xa, MKS-80&70, Synthex etc Please do excuse the occasional bum note as I barrel my way through bits of Van Halen's "Jump", Tangerine Dream's "Beach Theme", Ray Lynch's "The Oh of Pleasure" and assorted improvisations. Apologies are in order for the writers and performers of said music; please forgive this crude satire.
-------------
All videos posted by Shaft9000 on YouTube are for demonstration purposes only. I have no affiliation with Novation or any other synthesizer manufacturer."
Curcuit bent toy guitar
YouTube via larsby.
"A toy guitar I and my son bent for the circuit bend challenge hosted by getlofi and create digital music."
EMS Synthi AKS
images via this auction"The Synthi AKS has three oscillators, a patchbay grid, a small touchpad keyboard , a 256 step on-board monophonic digital sequencer and a 30-note touchplate keyboard(activated by the 50 Hz-hum in our fingers), and housed in a plastic briefcase for portability. There's a Noise Generator, 2 Input Amplifiers, 1 Ring Modulator, 1 Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter (VCF), 1 Trapezoid Envelope Generator, Joy-Stick Controller, Voltage Controlled Spring Reverb unit and 2 Stereo Output Amplifiers."
Update: Warnings are in that this is a scam. Be careful.
Oberheim Matrix-6r
MOOG Minimoog Model D Signed by Rick Wakeman and Patrick Moraz
images via this auction
"Serial #2026
This is a gorgeous Minimoog I've owned since 1989. It has seen studio use only except for a charity concert in Orlando in 1991. I donated the synth to be used by Rick Wakeman and Patrick Moraz who utilized it during a benefit performance for "Give Kids the World." After the show Wakeman and Moraz autographed the Minimoog backstage. A friend of mine videotaped the autograph session and you can see Wakeman and Moraz sign the Moog on You Tube."
Moraz and Me (Part-2)
YouTube via Analogger.
Click here to read more about this video in the description.
"Also included is the Minimoog Soundcharts book. This shows you how to exactly get all the Minimoog sounds you know and love...and a few you have probably never heard. Also included is the S-trigger cable adaptor to use with your midi-to-cv converter. I often utilized the external input to fatten up and/or mangle sounds. Here is another You Tube video I did featuring this synth with my drum machine thru the Minimoog filter:"
Minimoog vs. Drum Machine
"I wrote a 4-bar drum pattern using a Roland SH-32 then hooked the mono output into the external input of my Minimoog. The key is to overdrive the hell out of the input. A delightful little light shines brightly to indicate this is happening. I also turned on oscillators 3&2 and played along with the pattern a bit. The original Moog filter is very fat...and overdriving the input is great for mangling the most innocent sounds." "If you are in the mood for something a little more bizarre - here is another video featuring this very Minimoog as it is cleverly manipulated by an inanimate American icon:" Barbie Moog "Blow Jazz Concerto"
"Barbie scored some dynamite X from Lindsay Lohan then wandered into Ken's house where she discovered his Minimoog. Barbie plugged the ancient synth into a 50 watt Orange amp. Oscillator three was used as a square wave LFO to modulate the cutoff frequency of the filter. Ken showed up unannounced and came unspooled upon seeing Barbie fiddling with his prize synth. Using a trick she learned from Lindsay, Barbie dropped to her knees and gave Ken a "little treat." Ken calls it "Barbie blow jazz."
I got the idea for this nonsense the other night. I couldn't get it out of my head, so this afternoon I'm in fucking Target buying a Barbie doll for Christ's sake. I looked for a GI Joe but they didn't have one. I was thinking Barbie could be a "musical terrorist" and GI Joe would "bring her to justice." I'm trying to do something constructive with my chemical imbalance - until then I'll produce this crap."
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sequentix P3
via this auction. via Rod.click image for the full size shots.
"the very last Sequentix P3 sequencer ever made, serial #1138, considered by many to be one of the best, if not the most powerful step sequencers ever made. It's like having 16 ARP sequencers at your disposal with full programmable MIDI control over pretty much every parameter on your synth, and realtime control over the direction and notes. It's an amazing machine, but one I can't afford to own at the present time. Full details on what this can do are on the Internet or are listed at the Sequentix Web site (www.sequentix.com). I've successfully used it to trigger both MIDI and analog synths via my Kenton Pro-4 converters. This was the very last production unit sold out of a total of 137 that were ever made (or ever will be made), so it's a one-of-a-kind unit. I paid over $2200 for it several months ago but just haven't had the time to use it to its full potential. It's been lightly used in my studio with zero (0) scratches anywhere on it and kept turned off when not in use."
Roland TB-303
via this auction. via Rod.click image for the full size shots.
"This 303 has been professionally modded with Kenton CV/GATE/FILTER/ACCENT/GLIDE inputs for full control (and more) over every aspect of the machine from a MIDI sequencer via any CV/GATE converter or analog sequencer. The filter input allows you to program the filter amount from a sequencer or CV source (pedal, etc.), which is not possible using the internal sequencer. All inputs have been tested and confirmed working via Kenton Pro-4 and Roland MC-4b MicroComposer."
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MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH
© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH
