Analog Notes

Title link takes you to Analog Notes, a great resource site for modular synths. The following is just an excerpt from the site.

"Modular analog synthesizers are musical instruments that are typically made up of discreet analog electrical circuits. These circuits may be mounted on individual panels, or may be grouped together in various chassis configurations.

While some manufacturers produce modules in sizes that no others make, there are three physical and electrical formats that are used by more than one module manufacturer - "Euro-Rack", the format used by Analogue Systems, Analogue Solutions, Doepfer and Plan B (with minor differences), "Frac-Rack", the format pioneered by PAiA and used by Blacet, Wiard and others, and "MOTM", used by Synth Tech and many other makers. Euro-Rack and Frac-Rack formats use 3U (5.25") of vertical space. MOTM uses 5U (8.75") of vertical space. Typically, this means that the Euro- and Frac-Rack modules use smaller knobs and jacks, while the MOTM modules use larger ones.

In general, european modules use 12v power and modules from the United States use 15v. There are exceptions, as well as some newer modules that use 5v power.

* Modular Synthesizer Comparison Chart
* Synthesizers.com form factor list

One of the biggest decisions you can make is whether to purchase full kits, parts, or pre-built modules. The main analog module kit supplier is Blacet, with a couple available from PAiA. Various parts are available from CGS (Ken Stone), Music From Outer Space, Oakley and others. Most other manufacturers sell complete modules. NOTE: Sadly, as of December 2006, Synthesis Technology will no longer provide full kits, although boards and panels should be made available in February 2007."

Yamaha SY-2

via this auction: "This was yamaha's very first entry into the synthesizer world. This keyboard came out before the popular CS series. This monophonic VCO synthesizer has 28 presets all of which can be edited, but not saved. The SY-2 comes with its original stand legs, which are inside the case (see pics). These legs screw onto the bottom of the keyboard."

Interesting coincidence this showed up after this post. Title link takes you to more shots.

SCI Prophet 600

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. Note the new wood side panels from SYNTHWOOD.COM. Note the "Fluent MIDI Spoken Here" in the other shots. The Prophet 600 was the first synth with MIDI. An interesting bit of trivia on this particular unit, is according to Stephen, the seller, this was John Bowen's Prophet 600. The first synth with MIDI owned by one of the people at Sequential when it came out.

Korg VC10

- Oscillators=1 carrier+1 input
- LFO= Vibrato w/rate
- VCA=Mix level wet-dry
- Effects=ensemble
- Keys=32
- External pitch control CV input
- made from 78-82

Title link takes you to more shots via this auction.

Minimoog Flyer

via this auction.

Vintage Synth Pins

No title link. Just the shot via this auction.

Anyone know where the ARP 2500 module shot on the bottom left came from?

PPG Wave 2.2

No title link. Just the shots and details via this auction.

Details: "PPG Wave 2.2 with factory midi. The Wave 2.2 is an 8-bit wavetable synthesizer that has 32 tables each containing 64 waveforms that you can sweep through. These 64 waveforms can be changed in real time via an EG, mod-wheel, after-touch, velocity, etc. To give even more depth to the sound the two oscillators per voice can be de-tuned and filtered by the infamous SSM2044 filter chips. The PPG Wave 2.2 has a very unique and beautiful sound with no equivalent even with most recent and sophisticated machines! It can produce bright and tingly sounds that cut through a mix like a hot knife through butter. But it is also capable of smooth, glassy, ethereal pads and much more."

Morton Subotnick Live in San Fransisco

"Morton Subotnick's Until Spring Revisited is performed by Subotnick and Miguel Frasconi on three laptop computers. The performance is based on the idiosyncratic vocabulary of pulsating and sculpting gestures that the composer has developed during the last 40 years. Subotnick's software interprets the position, speed, and gestural quality of the mouse movement, as well as which keys are pressed and when they are pressed, and translates that information into musical variation and spatial motion. Two large-scale video screens display the hands of the two performers manipulating keyboard and mouse.

At the same time, Sue Costabile, photographer and light artist, improvises a video performance using a laptop, lightpad and digital video camera to build abstract, layered worlds of light and texture out of hand-painted papers, photographs and fabrics.

Asphodel and RML are pleased to present Until Spring Revisited, a full evening-length work of surround sound and projected images that together create an immersive audio and visual experience."

Two shows April 6. Title link takes you to more info. Via daddio on the AH list.

Previous Morton Subotnick posts

More Details on the Nord Wave

Title link takes you to more details recently posted on CDM. You can also find some details on sequencer.de.

High points:
Sampled waveforms: Oscillators can now use full waveforms (not single wavetables, Clavia hastens to add), while still routing through fully-analog circuitry.

Oscillator models: Virtual analog, FM, wavetable, sample-playback can be applied in combination (which I hear is all the rage these days). And you can load in custom waveforms, as well, via fully user-definable memory areas (so you can delete samples you hate). Clavia even promises it’ll offer additional, free waves on their website. An included software sample editor lets you tweak samples.

Morphing: Morph “almost any parameter” via mod wheel, expression, velocity, or pitch, with assignable “morph scenarios” and morph “timelines.”

Filters: 24db analog-modeled resonant filters, low-, high-, band-pass filters with envelope and velocity control, combinations of filter types, and formant filters.

Effects: EQ, delay with tap tempo, tube-style amp with overdrive, reverb.

Pitch stick: Clavia’s signature wooden pitch stick allows precise bend and vibrato.

Solaris and Musikmesse Shots

Another nice shot of the John Bowen Synth Design Solaris. I think this is my favorite look for the synth. This one sent my way via Laurin on Tangerine Vintage Synthesizer. You can see the complete Musikmesse gallery here.

Previous Musikmesse Posts

E&MM Peter Vettese Interview Excerpts on the Rhodes Crhoma Site

Via Chris Ryan on the Rhodes Chroma list:

"New on the site this month, excerpts from an interview [link] with Peter Vettese, who played the Chroma with Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson in the early 1980s. Perhaps most notable is that he hints at future directions for the instrument/platform; there have been suggestions that he did a promotional video for the Chroma [link], so may have had some inside information. Also, he is holding a Polaris on the front cover of the magazine; I'm not sure when that keyboard was released, but I thought it wasn't until 1984. It does appear to have the production prototype panel scheme [3].

Chris"

Rowland 303 - $100

Classic one from Craiglist Seattle sent via JG:

"rowland 303 - $100
Reply to: sale-304154428@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-04-01, 9:01AM PDT


my boyfriend didnt come home last night (again) so i'm selling off his stuff
apparently this is some sort of synthesizer. he listens to that shitty techno music so maybe that will help you.

i'm so fucking mad at him right now that the first person here with some money gets it. or you can take me out to breakfast and have it. i dont care i just want to make him mad.

* Location: cap hill
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interest"

Minimoog With Ribbon

via this auction.

Details:
"Minimoog model D, excellent conditions. If you are thinking about bidding, you know well what it is. S.n. 5474, old oscillator board, buffer board. This Mini is incredibly stable in pitch! Very good esthetic condition, all knobs and silver centers are there. The woodwork has only some signs of the time (according to my opinion, it's worth 9/10). Both Moog nameplates are on it. This Mini has still its yellow Moog original tag, labelled "september 1974": the machine seems as coming from a time capsule... All of the keyboard bushings have been replaced one week ago by an excellent technician with new, very rare and expensive rubber ones, so it has a smoooooooth and precise feel, as it used to have at its birth. Last but not least, it sports the LH controller with the ultraRARE ribbon controller; this was an option offered by Moog, as reported in the Minimoog owners manual (I'll send also copies of this, if needed). Such a controller, alone, has been sold at a recent UK auction at more than 500 euros!!!) It works 100%. My references: I am a vintage synth collector, on eBay since 1999, 100% positive feedback; some of my machines are pictured in the nice Peter Forrest book on Vintage synthesizers (my name, Fernando Zarone, is in the acknowledgements). According to the actual eBay policy trend, due to the vintage nature of this Minimoog (35 yrs old), it is sold AS IS, NO RETURNS are possible. Anyway, I don't think you'll be able to find a better one in the future! If any question, please consider I shall have some difficulties to reply from april 8th to 12th, being abroad for Easter holidays. I'll be able to give a precise shipping cost after the end of auction. Happy bidding!"

AMPERE coolFLAME Stick

Remember FLAME, the talking synth? Check out their MIDI controller. Title link takes you to the product page which also has a psychoFLAME sequencer listed but no pic, though I'm wondering if that's it in the site's header below.

Yamaha SY-2 in Close Encounters

Title link takes you to a screen grab by Inverseroom on Synthwire.

Musikmesse Superbooth - Hispasonic.com

YouTube via Hispasonic.

Behringer Nordic Lead

Thought this was pretty funny. A day late, but I'll take it.

via memeo in this VSE post:
"Behringer has announced their new synthesizer, the Nordic Lead. After hours of reverse engineering years of completely original design and development, they have created a professional, state-of-the-art synthesizer. You know that it's professional because they call it professional in the literature (several times), and it clearly says "Professional" on the back.

The Nordic Lead will begin to ship in June 2007. The final pricing has not been set, but Behringer expect it to be around $14.95."

Also, Behringer Labs via Mixolydian: