MATRIXSYNTH: Monday, October 9, 2006

Synton Fenix Modular

Update via the comments: "Electrically they're fine. Mechanically, they could use some help. Boards held in place with hot glue (and the wrong type that doesn't stick well to smooth surfaces), various pot shaft types, poor strain relieving, thin metal, etc. Wonderful in the design, poor in the construction. Fwiw, I've serviced at least 5 of them. Anyone that buys one should open it up after shipping and before powering up. The boards inside can flop over onto each other and short out."

Update: Be sure to check out the comments. Supposedly, this is Thighpaulsandra's Fenix. Link to studio shots posted here.

No title link. Two shots and details pulled via this auction. Sent my way via Vincent.

"Very rare semi modular synthesizer, one of only 75 designed and built by the original Synton team. A direct descendant of the Synton 3000 modular synthesizer and the Syrinx lead synth. Almost every module is unique: this means that every LFO and Envelope Generator (and most mixers, VCO's, VCF's) have different controls and ins/outs. The Fenix uses industry-standard 1 V/octave for pitch control, and positive gate signals. Internal audio levels are 4 VPP, control voltages are -4/+4 or 0-8 Volts. Uses sturdy banana jacks for patching.
3 VCOs
3 LFOs
1 Noise module (2 independent sources with VLFO output)
2 Multimode VCFs
1 24dB/oct low-pass VCF
4 VCAs
3 General-purpose mixers, plus 1 integrated in VCF3
2 Dedicated CV mixers
3 EGs plus extra AD in EG1
2 Portamentos
2 Ring modulators
1 Slew limiter
1 Sample & Hold generator
1 Comparator
2 External signal processors
2 Main CV inputs (3.5mm mini-jacks on rear panel)
2 Auxiliary CV inputs (3.5mm mini-jacks on rear panel)
2 Gate inputs (3.5mm mini-jacks on rear panel)
2 External audio inputs (quarter-inch jacks on front-panel)
Grounding point
Power: 17V/17V @ 880mA. Universal 115V/230V external PSU."

malgorithm speaks

"Test of a voltage controlled digital signal processor, in the context of a small-format modular synthesizer. JUST SAY NO TO RoHS."

YouTube via meatlog. Sent my way via Stag Ejector.

Stekgreif Modular MIDI Controller

LEGO based MIDI building blocks. Construct your own MIDI controllers. Title link takes you to the site mostly in German. Here is a Google English translated link.

via SoNiCbRaT.

EL-Foil - Solution for Dimming Displays

Bookmarking this one in case I ever need it. Title link takes you to a site that explains how to deal with fading displays on certain synths.

"After some years many displays become "darker" and unreadable. In most cases it is not necessary to replace the whole display. These displays are transparent with backround-light. This light is an EL-Foil."
The EL-Foil is the lighting element strip within the display.

The Klangbox

And we have a real image of the Klangblox in the flesh - not rendered. Link to more on the Klanbox in case you are wondering what it is.

Cortex Design Terpstra Keyboard

"Similar to a digital piano in function, but with a totally radical new form, our revolutionary Terpstra Generalized MIDI Keyboard."

Title link takes you there.

Kitten Composer

YouTube via infinitedigg. Via Cute Overload. Yep, I'm guilty. I check out Cute Overload every now and then. Hey, my daughter makes me. : )

Cavagnolo Exagone Monophonic Presetable Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"analog synthesizer of French manufacture (1982): very rare Cavagnolo EXAGONE XM 64. Good state general (large sounds) a number of oscillators: 2+1 sub-oscillator. Forms of waves: 3. 2 LFO, 1 ADSR, 1 filter PB (24 db/Oct), 64 presets (sites to memorize the sounds). Sold in the state (correct operation), without guarantee."
Sent in via Vincent.