via this auction
"If you don't know what this thing is, it's a crazy synthesizer controlled by the microphone. You can sing into it and it accompanies you with a corresponding synth sound. That is, if you sing a 'C' it will make a 'C' sound with the selected instrument. It does some recording... It also has rhythms and other functionalities."
Update via retrosynth in the comments: "It's an ESQ-1 digital synth engine without the analog filters. Interesting, and supposedly useful for thereminists for doing pitch to MIDI conversion. I personally thought it sucked for pitch to MIDI but I never tried it with an electronic source such as a synth or theremin, just guitar and piano."
Update via larriji in the comments:"I have one of these. Two of my friends started the Breakaway company and when they dissolved it I inherited one. I wish I had gotten more of them. I have use this extensively back in the days when I was doing dance tracks with Psychic TV. It works great with synths as the sound source. The kazoo aspect I found very limited. The cheese element outshines your musical intent when humming into it. But it actually is a very helpful tool when using it with synths. Since it forces notes to pitch you can come up with some very interesting and usable "accidents". I used this on some tracks on PTV's Trip Reset. Does anyone know what these sell for? I have friends who want one. I have no idea the current value. A note of trivia here. Roman Babiak, cofounder of Breakaway said Stevie Wonder was one of their first customers. He picked one up at a NAMM then after trying it called them up and bought another one. I thought that was kinda trippy. I would be curious what he used them on."
It's an ESQ-1 digital synth engine without the analog filters. Interesting, and supposedly useful for thereminists for doing pitch to MIDI conversion. I personally thought it sucked for pitch to MIDI but I never tried it with an electronic source such as a synth or theremin, just guitar and piano.
ReplyDeletewhat about pitch to midi for voice? seems like it might do that reasonably well since it is intended for voice...
ReplyDeleteI have one of these. Two of my friends started the Breakaway company and when they dissolved it I inherited one. I wish I had gotten more of them. I have use this extensively back in the days when I was doing dance tracks with Psychic TV. It works great with synths as the sound source. The kazoo aspect I found very limited. The cheese element outshines your musical intent when humming into it. But it actually is a very helpful tool when using it with synths. Since it forces notes to pitch you can come up with some very interesting and usable "accidents". I used this on some tracks on PTV's Trip Reset. Does anyone know what these sell for? I have friends who want one. I have no idea the current value. A note of trivia here. Roman Babiak, cofounder of Breakaway said Stevie Wonder was one of their first customers. He picked one up at a NAMM then after trying it called them up and bought another one. I thought that was kinda trippy. I would be curious what he used them on.
ReplyDeleteHi Larry. How are you? :)
ReplyDelete