Friday, September 07, 2007
Why Do You Play Synths? Poll
I posted the following to the Waldorf list in response to someone leaving a snide comment asking "where's the music" in regards to Cikira's synth shots. I see someone left one in the comments of the previous posts as well. This seems to be a reoccurring theme in response to people with larger collections of synths. I thought it would be fun to put up my reply along with a poll on what others do. Feel free to comment. In the end, for me, people do different things with their synths and I can respect that. What I can't respect are people that are inconsiderate of others and feel the need to tell others what they should be doing just to justify their own perspectives on things...
"The thought of people dictating what others should or shouldn't do is kind of sad. Not everyone enjoys the composing part of making music. My favorite thing to do? Grab a synth off a shelf and explore it. The music comes out of the exploration, not the other way around for me. And 99.9% of the time I do not record it because the music comes in spurts and the focus is definitely not in making a piece of music but listening to the sound and the effects of different parameters. Does "music" come out of it? Usually yes, but it's different. The sound drives it.
The following is a loaded question, but why would anyone who only wants to make music have that many synths? Note that I'm not saying that people who like to compose music shouldn't have that many synths. What I am saying is if you do have that many synths, you probably appreciate them in a slightly different way - not just as sound sources for making music, but rather for the love of synths and all the different characteristics of each.
This always reminds me of the difference between the art of synthesis and the art of keyboard playing. They are different. I'm reminded each month when I get my copy of Keyboard Magazine. I see synths, but it's about 90% music composition and keyboards, not synthesizers. Thank you Mitchell Sigman! His column on synthesis techniques is about the only bit I'm guaranteed to enjoy every month. That and the reto synth section as well as Peter Kirn's articles (Peter also runs CDM). The rest might as well be on pianos... The point of this is there is an appreciation of synthesis I think most of us enjoy that is very different than the focus you might have in composing a piece of music. I like to think Cikira shares this enthusiasm for synths with the rest of us. In my book, anyone that makes the comment of "show me the music" is either ignorant of what synthesis is about or is just trolling." That or just plain inconsiderate. So are you a synthesist/ sound explorer, musician, or both?
bxAv110
bxAv110
bxAv110
"The thought of people dictating what others should or shouldn't do is kind of sad. Not everyone enjoys the composing part of making music. My favorite thing to do? Grab a synth off a shelf and explore it. The music comes out of the exploration, not the other way around for me. And 99.9% of the time I do not record it because the music comes in spurts and the focus is definitely not in making a piece of music but listening to the sound and the effects of different parameters. Does "music" come out of it? Usually yes, but it's different. The sound drives it.
The following is a loaded question, but why would anyone who only wants to make music have that many synths? Note that I'm not saying that people who like to compose music shouldn't have that many synths. What I am saying is if you do have that many synths, you probably appreciate them in a slightly different way - not just as sound sources for making music, but rather for the love of synths and all the different characteristics of each.
This always reminds me of the difference between the art of synthesis and the art of keyboard playing. They are different. I'm reminded each month when I get my copy of Keyboard Magazine. I see synths, but it's about 90% music composition and keyboards, not synthesizers. Thank you Mitchell Sigman! His column on synthesis techniques is about the only bit I'm guaranteed to enjoy every month. That and the reto synth section as well as Peter Kirn's articles (Peter also runs CDM). The rest might as well be on pianos... The point of this is there is an appreciation of synthesis I think most of us enjoy that is very different than the focus you might have in composing a piece of music. I like to think Cikira shares this enthusiasm for synths with the rest of us. In my book, anyone that makes the comment of "show me the music" is either ignorant of what synthesis is about or is just trolling." That or just plain inconsiderate. So are you a synthesist/ sound explorer, musician, or both?
Cikira's Leopardwood DSI Prophet '08
Cirkira sent in this shot of her new leopardwood Prophet '08. It looks better than I was expecting and I was expecting it to look pretty damn sharp. Be sure to click on the image for the full effect. She also sent the following shots to the AH list: doorstepfun.JPG
leopardwood1.JPG
leopardwood2.JPG
leopardwood3.JPG
leopardwoodCU.JPG
newKBs.JPG
Cikira's Beat Corner and CODE Pile
A few more shots via Cikira.beatcorner1.JPG
beatcorner2.JPG
beatcorner3.JPG
CODEpile.JPG
Spot the synths.
Cikira's genoQs Octopus Pod
Some more shots sent in via Cikira:octopod1.JPG
octopod2.JPG
octopod3.JPG
octopodblur.JPG
As you can see I liked the blurry shot. : ) The others are sharp.
Cikira's Waldorf Q+
Some shots via Cikira (note the new Prophet '08 is hiding in there as well as a stack of 8 Pulses and a few more synths):"I was asked for Q+ photos.
Qplus1.JPG
Qplus2.JPG
Qplus3.JPG
Qplus4.JPG
Qplus5.JPG
I set up a new keyboard stand today! newKBs.JPG
Until I update my website photos properly: pulse8.JPG"
D & C
flickr by sushiluv.KORG Delta
click here for the full size shot.
click here for more (warning: cats on synths).
Analogue Heaven Bay Area 2004
YouTube via deastman2.
"Video from the 2004 gathering of San Francisco Bay Area local members of the Analogue Heaven mailing list." Note the 2007 event is this coming weekend.
Maestro Sound System
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Sample link below."Try routing a drum track through it! Weird! Used by folks like Tomita - (The Planets), and other progressive musicians. It is used on the sax on Traffic's 1971 Low Spark for High Heeled boys as well. LISTEN to this awesome excerpt! Classic!. Also appears on the Melvin Jackson LP Funky Skull. Melvin is pictured on the cover with the Maestro sitting on his amp."
J.U.M.S. RMI Harmonic Synthesizer
"The RMI Harmonic Synthesizer is really rare on this planet. There are only 4 known RMI's in Europe!So I decided build one myself, both IRL and digitally. One would excpect that, since the RMI has digital oscillators, it would be easy to create one digitally... WRONG! The real RMI oscillators can go beyond our audible range. Just because we can't hear such high frequencies doesn't mean we don't need it. Instead a really high sample rate is needed to get near. And all that because the unaudible sounds interfere with the audible sound :) Also the dynamic filter on the real RMI is really special. Unfortunately that is not easily emulated..."
Title link takes you there. via Hugo.
Rob Hubbard - Golden Days of Computer Game Music
YouTube via stormblast0891.
"Rob Hubbard, who composed a lot of classic game tunes, especially on the C64 (e.g. Monty on the Run, Commando, Delta, Skate or Die, Crazy Comets and many more), talks about the good old times."
Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands
YouTube via timkellyonair. via Greg.
Guess the Oberheim. I bet he wished he had a sequencer right about now...
My high school garage band rehearsals
YouTube via Jexus aka polaranta. From the same person that brought these gems.
"Before I started doing funky things with synthesizers, I used to sing and play guitar and knock things over in a funky way. Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails in background."
OK, I think we officially found something worse than cats and babies. Funny stuff. Spot the keys.
DSI Prophet '08
The first Prophet '08 listed on the bay. Unfortunately just a stock shot.BTW, word is that there is one at the LA Guitar Center. If you get a chance to try it out, post back with your impressions.
Details from the auction (why 3 adapter?):
"I purchased this DSI Prophet 08 directly from Dave. I ordered it 4 weeks ago and forgot about it and it showed up yesterday on my doorstep(09/05/2007.) Things have changed in the last four weeks and I need to sell it for lack of space and want of money. I paid $1999 plus tax here in CA and shipping. Since I played it for 10 minutes and I letting it go for $1975 with free shipping in the USA(lower 48.) My gear lust is your gain.
Auction Includes: The new Prophet 08, the universal power supply(100V to 240V) with three(3) adapters, the manual and box and packaging."
Thursday, September 06, 2007
x0xb0x Overlays
x0xb0x overlays are now available at CustomSynth.co.uk.Looks like it's up for auction. as well.
x0xb0x Wasp
Genoqs Octopus Basic Demoinstration 3
YouTube via DayflightTrok. Click here for all demonstrations.
"A short demonstration of the EFFEKTOR, a function to manipulate/modulate tracks."
Click here for all three demonstrations by DayflightTrok.
Mia and The Bird - EML Track
Fairlight's New Xynergi Controller
"Originating from the Greek word sunergia, meaning "cooperation," and also sunergos, meaning "working together") It is the combined working together of two or more parts of a system so that the combined effect is greater than the sum of the efforts of the parts.We are introducing the Xynergi Controller, the first truly ‘application aware’ controller. In essence, Xynergi harnesses the power of the CC-1 card to deliver one of the world’s most powerful desktop media production centre.
The Xynergi controller features a unique implementation of self-labelling key switches which are able to display full colour images, animated icons or text to provide intelligent control over the entire recording, editing and mixing process. In addition, the controller can support any type of language or icon driven menu structure with an ‘on-demand’ QWERTY keyboard for routine naming tasks and immediate access to Windows applications.The controller also features eight touch sensitive rotary controllers and multiple soft keys arranged around a high–res color control zone known as the 'pad'."
Click here for the product page with video. via gearslutz, via Robert.
Bob Moog
Title link takes you to some shots of Bob Moog sent in via an anonymous reader. The shots were from a channel called ARTE broadcast in Belgium, The Netherlands and possibly France. I thought these were from the MOOG Movie, but the anonymous source says it's not. The images are a bit fuzzy, but there you have it.Jean Michel Jarre and his DigiSequencer
Another shot of JMJ and his DigiSequencer sent my way via an anonymous reader. Note this is is from the same documentary these shots of Bob Moog where taken from. "the docu. features all know moog users,tangerine,keith,etc..and interviews with them"
Innovative Synthesis
Title link takes you to Innovative Synthesis a blog on synthesis techniques and more. Currently posts include Basic Sound Synthesis: Part 7 – Miscellaneous Stuff, and Basic Sound Synthesis: Part 6 - Arpeggiators and Sequencers. Be sure to check out the previous posts when you get there.
"I have recently started a new website with articles on sound synthesis, and could do with more exposure to readers for ideas for future articles. I have just finished a guide of basic subtractive synthesis, and have more advanced & historical articles lined-up for the future."
Feel free to send your suggestions there.
bxAv110
bxAv110
bxAv110
"I have recently started a new website with articles on sound synthesis, and could do with more exposure to readers for ideas for future articles. I have just finished a guide of basic subtractive synthesis, and have more advanced & historical articles lined-up for the future."
Feel free to send your suggestions there.
Synth.nl
Armitage Shanks Military Grade Modular Synth
"mostly made up of old industrial & military generators, etc. many of which are labeled “Property of NASA” or 'Dept. of the Navy'" Click here for one more shot on Deviant Synth.
The shot below? Oscilloscopes at the The Black Hole / Los Alamos Sales Company (click for more images). Now that would be worth a visit... Additional links and info here.
MOTM with Marimba Lumina
Salamander Music Systems
via Wavedeform in the comments of this post. I actually posted about the SMS website back on 7/12/2006. You can find all SMS posts I've put up here. Note there are three SMSes: Synthetic Music Systems, makers of the SMS MARS analog synth, Salamander Music Systems, and of course the fake SMS 2000. That said, here is the following via Wavedeform. Be sure to check out the site."My rather sparse Salamander site can be found here.
Salamander Music Systems (SMS) was started by Dennis Saputelli, an amazing designer. For its entire history SMS also manufactured lighting consoles, which was a much more lucrative business. Pretty much everyone involved with SMS was into it for synth-geek reasons, though, and saw the lighting stuff as the necessary evil that needed to be done to finance the synth stuff.
I worked at Salamander from roughly 1977-1985. The goal was to build the no-compromise synthesizer we all wanted. This meant that we were somewhat more expensive than a lot of systems of that era. At one point we had some pens made up that read: "SMS - When you don't care _how_ much it costs." There were a handful of (mostly large) modular systems shipped, and somewhere between 30-50 Voice 400s. Quite a lot of custom work was done also. For example, Mike Cotten of "The Tubes" had a bunch of SMS stuff, including a cool custom sequencer.
The modular was really amazing for its time. It used high quality sub-modules for all of its core functions. We started out using EMu sub-modules for the 97 Dual Oscillator, 147 UAF, and maybe one other module (I seem to remember a four pole LPF, too). The EMu modules were really expensive, and hard to get, so early on we designed our own sub-modules, some discrete, some based on SSM and Curtis chips.
The power distribution was perhaps overkill, but it also had significant advantages. Basically, there is a system wide, loosely regulated, +/- 18 VDC, and +9 VDC power supply. Each module has it's own local regulators to bring that down to +/- 15 VDC and +5 VDC. Because a module has its own power supply, it can be swapped around from system to system without the need for re-calibration. It also spread the heat around more evenly. The 1" modules didn't really have room for regulators, so they had their own regulated distribution scheme.
The Voice 400 was also really nice, but came out a little after the Prophet V, and a little before the DX-7; polyphony was the order of the day. A great sounding programmable monosynth, even with a programmable analog delay, was not what people wanted. I had one music store salesman tell me, flat out, that effects in a synthesizer were a bad idea, and that no one would want them. It turns out that they may, in reality, be a bad idea, but everyone wants them, anyway :-).After SMS had been selling systems for a few years, Serge Systems relocated from Hollywood to San Francisco, just across town. There was a good natured rivalry between Darrell Johansen, Paul Young and the crew from Serge, and the SMS crew. If the respective companies were bigger, and we weren't all pasty-skinned synth-geeks, we would have had rival baseball teams or something. I had been a Serge user, as had Salamander user Naut Humon, currently of Asphodel/Recombinant Media Lab, and his bandmate at that time in "Rhythm & Noise", Rex Probe. Rex was also affiliated with SMS, doing assembly mostly, but a little design, too. Somehow illustrating the cycles of life is the fact that Rex is currently running Serge Modular.
Dennis Saputelli is still doing some lighting stuff, but mostly he does custom design and assembly, on an OEM basis. His company is called Integrated Controls http://integratedcontrolsinc.com/ , and is still in the same warehouse as the Salamander of old. Since I worked there, he has expanded into all the available space on the first floor of the building, and seems to be doing well."
Top 5 Greatest Samplers
Looks like Sonic State has a new Top X coming. This time samplers. BTW, what happened to the Top 20 Weirdest Instruments? Hmm... Maybe they're saving that one for Halloween.Title link takes you to the trailer for the Top 5 Samplers. Feel free to share your top 5 in the comments. It'll be interesting to see how this one turns out.
via HarriL
A little poll for fun, and no I don't know the answer for this one.
More info on the Amen Break
TRY - experimental mailing list
"there is a new mailing list called TRY for experimental electronics / art. its intended to be sort of an all encompassing mesh of new audio device announcements, idea exchange, bender Q and A, pedal / synth builder announcements, live show announcements, parts trading post...… you get the idea."Title link takes you to more info and the sign up on Synthwire.
Seiko DS-250
via this auction."Very rare synthesizer made by Seiko in 1985. This is a very, very rare synthesizer and don't let the Casio like toy exterior fool you it is capable of making both digital and additive sounds not to mention it was used by famous French synth musician Jean-Michel Jarre on the album Rendez-vous.
This synthesizer is early digital and additive together. It can make PPG like clear
sounds with a bit of grit as well as Juno like pads. Yes you read it, its capable of making some nice analog style pads. It has basic editing features on the front panel of the synth.Now heres what makes this already synth even rarer. It has a SRC-10 voice expander cartridge installed for additional patches. I cannot find anything on the net pertaining to this upgrade. It is a Seiko upgrade as you can see in the picture but nothing is available about it. I can say it is does add additional patches.
The DS-250 has stereo outputs, midi in,out and thru, RCA outputs(stereo), phones and level controls for both channels, You can split the synthesizer for two tones at once making it bi-timbral. Quite alot for a rare synthesizer from 1985."If you know more about this one, feel free to comment.
Update via Dave in the comments: "I had one of these for a few months... it was suprisingly not 100% horrible. Even came with an external sequencer. Here's my little page on it, with a sound sample."
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Wavemakers Site Updated
via John Loffink on AH:"Some more Wavemakers Modular Systems photos, and photo of a Table Top 658 Digital Sequencer after clean up and repairs.
Start here
And here
John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site"
Tenori-On Video Overview PT1
Title link takes you to the overview on Sonic State. This is a good one, so don't miss it. via Sonic State in the comments of this post. I captured this shot to show how the surface actually consists of physical "buttons." Part of the appeal (or not) is that it does have this tactile interface rather than a flat screen with leds.Eminent 310 Unique in Jean Michel Jarre songs
YouTube via RadekTymecki. If you know more about this synth organ, please comment.
Update via hugo in the comments:
"Here there are some resources:
http://www.perkristian.net/Eminent_310_Unique.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jschurer/eminent/index.html
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may07/articles/eminent310.htm
http://www.jarrography.free.fr/details_equipement_audio.php?id_equip=9
As a teaser:) I'm working (it's been 4 months now!) on an Eminent 310 emulation in NI Reaktor 5 with the help of Radek himself. No samples yet because I don't have a website (what a shame!)
But be sure to check NI Reaktor user's library for it. I did a ARP Solina emulation and this is sort the same league. I hope to finish it by the end of the year :-)"
Jean Michel Jarre - AKS demonstration
jean michel jarre digisequencer
YouTube via sergecoda.
via Patrick in the comments of this post.
Update: there's a funny moment at about 3 minute left in the video where JMJ realizes he needs to turn the keyboard on. He plays with the EMS Synthi and Putney towards the end of the video as well as with the Rolan dDJ70 which actually featured a scratch wheel.
Navs Vintage Classifieds Take 2
TENORI-ON Launch Shots and Vids
Title link takes you to the set. Tenori-On solo performance by its inventor Toshio Iwai
YouTube via garykibler
Also check out CDM and Music Thing for more.
Update via the comments:
"We have some more footage from an interview we shot with Yu Nishibori (producer for the project) Here." Don't miss this on. I also put up a new post so you don't miss this here.
More Bluesynths 2007 Shots on Sequencer.de
DigiSequencer designed by Michel Geiss
"Michel Geiss worked with Jarre for two decades as a musician, producer, and allround technician and engineer, sometimes building custom boxes for Jarre to play with.In 1992 a team of 4 engineers led by Michel Geiss spent 6 months to develop the Digisequencer"
Title link takes you to more info on nusonica.
Jarre Concert Pour La Tolerance - Digi Sequencer
YouTube via crees22
"Jean Michel Jarre peformed a concert to parisian fans at the Eiffel Tower in 1995, it was named 'Concert Pour La Tolerance'. The under rated song 'Digi Sequencer' never appeared on any of his studio albums, although it did crop up on the live Hong Kong album back in 1994."
Update: also see this video.
Electronic Music 101
via daddio:"Your old classified post reminded me of a 'document' I saved from my college days. Circa 1972, this was handed out in my Electronic Music 101 class at U.M.B.C. (University of Maryland Baltimore County) taught by Felix Powell. Textbook for the class was Allen Strange's Electronic Music (which I still have), the one with the purple graphic on the cover. Our studio consisted of a Moog series III with the sequencer complement, a pair of suitcase Synthi's, a Teac four track w/SOS and a pair of Revox half track A77's (yes, we did 'fripper' them ;-).
Thought you and your readers might get a kick out of it.
pg1.jpg
pg2.jpg
btw,These tunes were made in that studio:
01_Alma.mp3 (my first ever piece - no pun intended - lol)
02_DOM.mp3 ('vocals' added in '99) [not safe for work]
peace bro,
gm
www.tapewarm.com"
Sequentix P3
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. These shots are about as good as it gets. Be sure to see them full size. There is also a nice shot of the x0xb0x in the set."Here's another one of those items where if you have come across the auction, you probably know what it is. Well, just in case you don't, this is one of the exceedingly rare Sequentix P3 hardware MIDI sequencers. According to Colin Fraser, the amazing man behind the Sequentix P3, there are only, at most, 247 of these sequencers in the world, with that number assuming that every single one sold as a kit was actually assembled. The real number of completed, functional P3 sequencers is probably far lower than this. It's very, very rare that one shows up on eBay, especially one as well-cared for and unused as this. This may be one of the nicest P3s left.
To quote from Sequentix's About P3 page:
The P3 Sequencer is an 8 track, hardware MIDI sequencer, with a user interface comprised of knobs, keys and LEDs. A sixteen character by two line PLED display provides confirmation of pattern data and access to advanced features and configuration options.
P3 allows real-time control of track mutes and simple pattern or pattern chain selection across multiple tracks, plus analogue-style editing of patterns. Each of its 384 patterns has independent values for note, velocity, tie, gate, length, gate delay, and a combination of up to four MIDI controllers, extra notes, or 'auxiliary events', per step.
P3's unique auxiliary events allow the creation of dynamically self-modifying patterns. They can grab values from other tracks, randomise steps, alter track and global settings, and much more. There are three modulation 'accumulators' per track, that can be used as LFOs, perform arpeggiation effects or enable complex pattern progressions.Furthermore, you can assign front panel knobs to modify or mask these events in real-time, allowing you to create interactive patterns that change predictably as you adjust the knobs - varying in complexity, controlling levels of randomness, even 'morphing' from one pattern to another.
A Force-to-scale option provides preset and user-defined scales to keep everything in key (but defeat-able per pattern step if required), and a configurable 'change mode' allows patterns with different lengths and/or time-bases to free-run, or be synced to a global bar.
What's even better about this P3 is that it comes fitted with Sequentix's just-released (and essentially sold out) add-on for the P3, the P3 MemX Memory Expansion Board. Normally under the v4 firmware there are 24 bars of pattern storage for each of the 16 banks (384 bars total). With the MemX board installed there are 224 bars for each bank, bringing the total to 3584 bars! This is more than nine times the storage of most other Sequentix P3s. The P3 MemX was only available directly from Colin, but because because this P3 comes with the MemX installed, you don't have to worry about finding one, opening up the P3, and installing it yourself. It's already done! I will also include the memory chip which was removed in order to install the MemX, for... well... just in case you can find a use for it."
via Steve.
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
YouTube via gattobus.
"A Sakamoto's classic played with my synths: Access Virus TI (pad), Moog Little Phatty (lead) and a Piano Plug-in."
And the original, "Forbidden Colours" by David Sylvian of Japan with Ryuichi Sakamoto. The song is featured on Sylvian's Secrets of the Beehive released in 1987. Sakamoto was of course credited for his arrangements. I was fortunate enough to see David Sylvian live with Michael Brook in Los Angeles. I believe it was the 1993 show mentioned on Wikipedia, but as you can see date was not on the ticket. If anyone went to the show and/or knows, please comment. I remember Michael Brook playing solo before Sylvian.
Sylvian & Sakamoto - Forbidden Colours
YouTube via moodyb.
Sakamoto Ryuichi - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Live)
YouTube via teijao.
syntezatory.prv.pl - ARP Odyssey
YouTube via Jexus aka polaranta.
"1972 ARP Odyssey. Brought to you by WC Olo Garb. The sounds have been programmed by WC Olo Garb./// Syntezatory.prv.pl Videos: showing you not what a synthesizer can do, but what a man can do with a synthesizer."
Museum Technicians - The Underground Series 14/14
YouTube via museumoftechno.
"Evidently, we came to party. In this, the final episode of the legendary Underground TV Tutorial Series, we rock the club with our completed techno track.
Watch your bass bins."
1979 Korg Guitar Synthesizer X-911 JAPAN Promo Ad
via this auction."This item: Original vintage advert page carefully removed from a Japanese publication. Ad promotes the Korg Guitar Synthesizer X-911. Unique design w/ Japanese text! (archive item no. m531).
Page size: 17.5 x 25.5 cm (7 x 10 inches). Glossy."
Keytar , air synthesizer
You know you want it.via this auction.
" This is a unique keyboard. With a keyboard like this- traditional synthesizer concepts are meaningless. Oscillators, envelopes, and filters are as relevant as sample rates and memory capacity which is now a term used by family members accessing your mental state. The 3 1/2 octave keyboard starts on a B note which in itself makes this a collectors item. Inflate with air and amaze your friends! They won't believe you actually bought this. Great for gigs, gags, or games. Theater, visual aids, education, wall art. Anything except actually making music. Forget that phat heavy Moog sound. This keyboard is so light it floats on water. Seriously, you can place it in water and it will float. Try doing that with a modular system. No adaptor, no case, no MIDI, no velocity. no after touch, no software, no sound. Made of cheap thin glossy flammable black & white plastic.
# 6 Slider controllers
# 20 buttons
# 3 rocker switches
# Almost Oberheim type logo
# Two dimensional keyboard
# Light weight 1/4 lb.
# 24" x 8" x 1"
# Waterproof
# Recyclable"
MOOG Taurus
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Be sure to click on these for the full size."13 Note organ-style pedal board
Three preset sounds(Tuba, Bass, and Taurus.)
One user-programmable patch
Used by - Pink Floyd, Electric Light Orchestra, Yngwie Malmsteen, Geddy Lee and Alex
Lifeson from Rush, Styx, U2, Jon Anderson and Chris Squire from Yes, Sting and Andy Summers of The Police, and Mike Rutherford & Daryl Stuermer of Genesis, and Francis Buchholz of the Scorpions
Synthesis Type - Analog subtractive
Polyphony - Monophonic
Oscillators - 2
Filter - low-passAttenuator - ADS
VCA - Attack, Decay, Sustain
Foot sliders for loudness and tone color variation
Five octave range - 16' 8' 4' 2' and 1'
Serial Number - 2948
Dimensions - 24 1/4" x 20" x 8 1/4"
Weight - 29 lbs"
Sequential Circuits Prophet-600
Title link takes you to shots via this auction."The Prophet-600 is a 6-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer with a 5-octave, 61-note (C-C) keyboard. Each voice consists of two VCOs, two VCFs, and two VCAs. Each of these components has its own independent ADSR envelope. Each Prophet-600 voice uses 2 sets of Curtis Chips for its architecture. The sound originates in a pair of Curtis 3340 VCOs, each with independent on/off switches for sawtooth, triangle, and pulse
waveforms. VCO1 can be synced to VCO2. Both oscillators are set with a frequency knob that is notched in semi-tones, with a separate fine tune knob for VCO2. Portamento is adjusted by a single knob. The sound then passes through a pair of Curtis 3372 chips. Each 3372 contains a VCF, a VCA, and a separate volume control for mixing. The VCF is a resonant 24dB/octave filter, with its own ADSR and knob for frequency. The frequency knob is quantized into steps, not allowing you to change it smoothly. Key follow can be set to full, half or off. The LFO can modulate the oscillators (both at the same time), the filter frequency, and the pulse width on the oscillator.The Prophet-600 has mono mode with chord memory as well as two one-track sequencers and an arpeggiator. The sequencers are programmed in real-time and cannot be edited. The arpeggiator can be set to the normal up or down modes or can cycle through the keys in the order that they were played"
Hammond 102200
Title link takes you to shots via this auction."Made in the mid 70's, the only synthesizer Hammond ever produced and I do believe there were only about 200 of these baby's made."
Previous posts on the 102200
Roland GR-300
Title link takes you to shots via this auction."The GR-300 is known for its lightning fast tracking. This baby follows your playing perfectly - probably because there is no midi to slow things down! I originally got into the GR-300 not for fast Pat Metheny wank-outs (I just can't play like that), but for the cool ambient textures the synth can produce. For instance, "Invisible Sun" by the Police. The GR-300 has 6 VCOs, one for each string, a Hexa-Fuzz circuit
(basically six fuzz units, one for each string) all which go thru an ultra-fat analog filter. You can combine the VCOs with the Hexa-Fuzz for some seriously sick sounds. There are also two separate pitch pedals which take the synth out of the standard tuning and lets you tune the VCOs to a 3rd, 5th, octave up or down. You can also program the rise and fall time of the pitch change. There is a very cool envelope mod pedal which creates those Mutron envolope follower sounds. An inverted envelope is available as well. There is a built-in compressor which fattens things up even more.On the back you have 1/4" jacks for compression on/off, VCF pedal, sweep on/off, string select, straight guitar output, and guitar/synth mix output. You will need a guitar controller with a 24-pin cable connection to trigger this synth."
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
SMS - Salamander Music Systems Data Sheets
via John Loffink on AH:"I have posted data sheets for Salamander Music Systems modular synthesizers, from around 1980. There are 30 pages, scanned at 150 dpi, all in one zipped file. Most of this information is excerpted in the excellent SMS web site.
SMS Data sheets
John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site"
Programmable Envelope Generator 240PEG-240
Roland System 100 Cyborg with PPG Sequencer
You might remember this one from this post. Title link takes you to the full gallery on Aliens Project. The PPG is on the top left of the shot.E-Mu Proteus 2500
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. This one in via ScillonS."128 polyphonic voices, 32 midi tracks sequencer, 16 real time control knobs, 24 bit multi FX, 50 filters types, loads of arpégiators, 6 outputs + SPDIF etc: The last and greastest of E-mu's rack module!"
Sequential Circuits Pro-One with Synthwood Case
Title link takes you to shots via this auction."Sequential Circuits Pro One, serial number 6247. This is the superior and reliable J-wire keyboard model with the chassis mounted power supply. As the photos show, the control panel is immaculate. All knobs are original and just a couple have some slight fading of the white indicator line. As shown in the photos, there is some tape residue around the serial number sticker - mentioned for complete accuracy sake. Please be aware that there are some photos with camera flash wash-out/glare that just prove I'm a lousy photographer!
During the process of transplanting this into the new case, ALL rubber key bushings were replaced, so the keyboard plays like a dream. Additionally, all pots and switches were triple-flushed with Caig CaiLube MCL (Moving Contact Lubricant) 5% spray to fully clean all dust and old lube out. After that, every pot and switch was then lubed with Caig CaiLube MCL 100% spray to assure smooth, noise-free operation - and that they do!
The solid cherry case was made by Synthwood, who sells here on eBay, and includes the custom Dave Smith wheel box with clear pitch and mod wheels. Not only are the wheels nice and chunky, but the pitch wheel has spring return to center, which the originals did not have (they had a center detent). Not to disparage Synthwood in any way, but the beautiful finish you see here was done by me - I felt the synth deserved nothing less than a "furniture-like" finish. I painstakingly progressively sanded the case, ending at 400 grit, then hand applied a light cherry tinted Tung oil finish (two coats of color, one of clear). It turned out stunning, if I do say so myself. I also replaced the case screws with longer, proper wood screws for strength and aesthetics. The case alone, without MY beautiful finish job, will cost you $325.00 + $25.00 shipping, and a degree of custom fitting is required.
A custom made LeCover dust cover is included; the Pro One has ALWAYS been covered when not in use.
If you're looking at a Pro One of this caliber, you already know all the technical details of the synth itself, so I won't drone on with those. Suffice it to say, this Pro One is an amazing synth - sounds amazing, works perfectly and looks phenomenal. The investment I have in this in both time and money is staggering, any buyer will certainly get a bargain at any price. The cost to build one like this today, in materials alone, would be around $1,200.00 if you had to buy the donor Pro One as well."
Navs Vintage Classifieds
MS-20 Delay Patch
"Self-running MS-20 patch with Moogerfooger delay and CV processor. Control voltage mind-melt."
Click here for a nice pic of the setup.
wacky organ synth drum machine thing
Kitty said what?
You might have seen the following videos. My wife showed me the Pug one about a week ago. What's interesting about these is that they actually came from someone in the synth community. Via nadafarms on VSE:
"So I got asked to do "viral" marketing for a company on youtube... I followed the Ancient formula: 808+Synth+Kitties+Rap+Animation = success. I got featured last week on the main page! 2 million views... Don't hate me... I just did what I knew would work. Not much synth on those tracks, lots of 808 kick and jomox kick. I will be sneaking in as much vintage synth stuff as I can from now on."
Kitty said what? - Morphing Kittens
I'm a Pug! Woop - Morphing Pugs
I'm a Pug! Woop - Morphing REMIX
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"So I got asked to do "viral" marketing for a company on youtube... I followed the Ancient formula: 808+Synth+Kitties+Rap+Animation = success. I got featured last week on the main page! 2 million views... Don't hate me... I just did what I knew would work. Not much synth on those tracks, lots of 808 kick and jomox kick. I will be sneaking in as much vintage synth stuff as I can from now on."
Kitty said what? - Morphing Kittens
I'm a Pug! Woop - Morphing Pugs
I'm a Pug! Woop - Morphing REMIX
Rackifying an Electromarmonix DRM16
via altemark on my facebook wall. "Synthx, a member of the 99musik music community, posted some pictures of his rack-ifying an electro-harmonix drm-16. pretty nice"
Title link takes you there.
Plan B Model 28 Tap Clock Demo
YouTube via jamescigler.
"A brief demo of the Plan B Model 28 Programmable Tap Clock and it's use in a couple basic patches."
OBSERVER by Red Martian
OBSERVER
via Red Martian:
"The music was made with a synsonics drum machine (manually played), a Roland Jupiter-4 and a Yamaha CS-5. The video was shot in the small PNEACEA studio in Seattle, 2000 and makes use of video feedback and features some of the masks that were made for us by SERPENTINE."
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via Red Martian:
"The music was made with a synsonics drum machine (manually played), a Roland Jupiter-4 and a Yamaha CS-5. The video was shot in the small PNEACEA studio in Seattle, 2000 and makes use of video feedback and features some of the masks that were made for us by SERPENTINE."
TENORI-ON
Title link takes you to the Global website with everything finally up - videos, mp3s, interviews and more.Sent my way via Robert who had the following to say about it:
"Now I've read through the manual and am impressed. The Tenori-on looks more useful than most of us thought it would be. It's not THE ULTIMATE SEQUENCER, but I don't think anyone expected it to be. It has better sequencer specs than I thought it would and some interesting UI implementations that other sequencers would have a hard time duplicating. I think the demo mp3s they've posted so far don't do justice to the
possibilities of the Tenori-on. The big disappointment is the onboard sounds are just a rompler selection and don't appear editable. But the RM1x is this way, great sequencer with boring sounds. I always thought of it as a sketchpad where I would replace all the sounds with my own once I worked out the song. The Tenori-ON looks the same way.I can think of a bunch of features I'd like to see on the sequencer, but maybe those will come via a software update.
Is it worth 500 pounds? It's really going to depend on the end user.
Some people already compose in the way the Tenori is laid out and they'll probably jump right on it. Is it worth $500? If Yamaha can sell it for $500 they'll sell DX-7 quantities.
A feature not previously mentioned that may really tip the scales for some is the 'Interior mode' where you can set up your Tenori to be a fancy clock that plays songs. Really. I'm not making that up. That's the feature that says 'I'm Japanese-designed!'"
MOOG Inspection Tags
tehn with two fifty six
tehn with two fifty six from tehn and Vimeo.
via roberto and also on the monome site.
"a video of brian playing mlr + w the 256"
15 Questions to Morton Subotnick
"Morton Subotnick, to make it short, is an icon of electronic music. Subotnick's "Silver Apples of the Moon" was commissioned by Nonesuch Records in 1967 and represented the first electronic work written with a specific record release in mind. Back then, Subotnick was one of the protagonists of the Buchla Modular Synthesizer and his use of the instrument was a deciding break in the tradition of focussing primarily on tape manipulations - epecially after "Silver Apples of the Moon" turned out be a huge critical and commercial success."Title link takes you to the interview on tokofi. Peter Grenader of Plan b got a nod.
Kawai K1 ROM Cards
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Note the shots are pretty bad, so unless you really want to see the others, don't bother. A funny note on the auction is you get the synth "free" with the cards.
IMOOGINATION
via this auction."Rare MOOG Synthesizer literature circa 1975
This is an offering of rare Moog synthesizer literature from the mid 1970's. Included are both issues of the IMOOGINATION printed in newspaper format. These are shown in the picture. Included in these are stories, interviews and rare pictures. Volume 1 is 20 pages and Vol II is 32 pages. Also included in this offering ( but not pictured ) is a rare interview with Bob Moog in the "Plug" magazine published by "Ampeg" entitled THE MAN WHO MADE THE MOOG. It is the FALL 1974 issue. It is a lengthy two page newspaper format interview. This was when MOOG was first acquired by Norlin Industries and obviously they were starting to promote their new acquisition. Last but not least, are pages from Newsweek August 2, 1982 that has a small article on Moog entitled "A Musical Inventor Tunes Up His Life". Also included in this feature is a great two page feature on Morton Subotnick, the Buchla synth and more. All of this vintage literature is in excellent condition."
Crumar T1/c
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Analog Hammond organ emulator.
DSC_0001
flickr by GeschnittenBrot.click here for the full size shot.
"Three of my favourites...Moog Voyager, Clavia Nord Lead 3 and polish beer Tyskie..."
Monday, September 03, 2007
Synthesizer Meeting Kufstein 2007
Title link takes you to more pics of the event. Be sure to see the previous posts and of course sequencer.de who was at the event.Bluesynths event 2007
Waldof Wave Pics
via swissdoc on the Waldorf forum:shadow.jpg
wave01.jpg
wave02.jpg
wave03.jpg
wave04.jpg
wave05.jpg
wave06.jpg
wave07.jpg
Terry Poison
Buzz on the Bell
Comme Ci Comme Ca
YouTubes via terrypoison. via ponyXpress. Previous post. KORG Poly-800 reverse keys.
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Comme Ci Comme Ca
YouTubes via terrypoison. via ponyXpress. Previous post. KORG Poly-800 reverse keys.
Alice Cooper - clones
Bluesynths Meeting 2007
YouTube via Moogulator of sequencer.de.
"Synthesizer Meeting in Kufstein (austria) by Theo Bloderer and his wonderful Bluesynths.com Site - this is my personal trip, later I talked to ppl. enjoy!" Looks like the Leopard Skin Minimmog made it. Be sure to catch the ending.
The Volt Per Octaves ~ Super Milk
YouTube via MusicalCafe. Sent my way via Carl. "Musical Cafe TV presents the Volt Per Octaves"
Mouse over the thumbnails at the end of the video for more. Previous post.
Update: I was trying to figure out what this reminded me of. "Red Light" by Siouxsie and the Banshees off of the album Kaleidoscope, mainly the drums and a little bit of the overall vibe.
Schrittmacher controls iDrum
YouTube via shagghie.
"A quick insight into using a hardware sequencer to run a plugin like iDrum, etc. I get a lot of questions on how I use the Schrittmacher, so thought I'd share this tid bit. I normally run DRM1mkII on S1, iDrum on S2, JazBase03 on S3, and leave S4 open to do sample triggering or basslines, etc."
Roland VP-330 Vocoder Synthesizer
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. via Rob."kenton midi kit installed in 2006. To date ive only seen a handful of other VP-330's with midi installed. Needless to say its very useful feature. The retrofit was installed by kenton electronics. Fantastic sounding instrument, rare too with less than 2000 units being made worldwide."
View these full size. Absolutely gorgeous synth.
Ruin in the Office
Steampunk meets modular synth DIY.Title link takes you to more shots sent my way via Philip Baljeu of ruinProjects, where you will find more under Projects.
Synthesizer Meeting in Kufstein 2007
Title link takes you to some images of the Bluesynths event in Kufstein, Austria. via sequencer.deAnyone know more about this one?
Update via swissdoc in the comments:
"This is the EEF-Modular owned by Theo from Bluesynths. You have had it on you Blog allready: link
Theo said, it was built in the 80s in Belgium. More on Sequencer.de"
Beaver and Krause - Spaced - Original THX Theme
Another interesting tidbit from Analog Days. At the end of Beaver and Krause's track "Spaced," is the classic THX theme of rising notes. It was originally played on a MOOG in 1970 and was later copied by a famous Marin County film company. Guess the company and when it was copied. BTW if you have Napster, Rhapsody or any other subscription music service you can listen to the track. Just search for Beaver and Krause. It's on "In a Wild Sanctuary/Gardharva." The theme comes in at the very end.
Previous post. Update: Also check out THX on Music Thing, for the story behind the THX theme. Andy Moorer, the composer of the THX theme, makes no mention of Krause. Stuff like this always fascinates me. People do come up with the same ideas independently of each other, so who knows... It's fascinating either way - by chance or a copy without credit.
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Previous post. Update: Also check out THX on Music Thing, for the story behind the THX theme. Andy Moorer, the composer of the THX theme, makes no mention of Krause. Stuff like this always fascinates me. People do come up with the same ideas independently of each other, so who knows... It's fascinating either way - by chance or a copy without credit.
AudioRealism ADM Released
Just a heads up that AudioRealism's ADM Drum machine previously posted here is now available. Title link takes you there.via Larry.
Roland JX-3P
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Be sure to check out the full size shots. The contrast in these are great.Keyboard - 61 keys
Polyphony - 6 voices
Oscillators - 2 DCO's per voice
Memory - 32 preset, 32 user
Filter - Resonant Low pass
Arpeg/Seq - Simple Sequencer
Effects - Chorus
Control - MIDI capable (Roland's first MIDI synthesizer).
BTW, be sure to check out Matrixsynth-b for more. I was just thinking about how dry the auction listing have been lately, and then this. I guess when it rains it pours.
Elka Rhapsody 610 String Synth
Title link takes you to shots via this auction."It is "multi-phonic" as it uses a divide-down, electric organ type of architechture for its tone generation. There are two tones for each note so it's probably fair to
say it's dual-oscillator, and it can create some really lush timbres. It's richer sounding than the ARP Solina String Synth (if you can believe that!).The four-octave keyboard is not velocity sensitive.SUPER RARE! Vintage! 1974!! As used by Vangelis, Supertramp, Tangerine Dream, J. M. Jarre and more!
Very big, great sound!
elka_sample.mp3"
I wonder how these compare to the Elka Rhapsody 490.
Update via Micke in the comments:
"The Elka Rhapsody was Billy Currie's favorite stringer for many years. He used it quite prominently on U-vox's first three albums and also to some extent on 1980's "Vienna". John Foxx was also using it on his first couple of albums."
Roland RS-09
Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction."ROLAND RS-09 RARE VERSION 1, LATE 70'S. MADE IN JAPAN. There are three versions of this unit. This oen [sic] is The older version 1. The differences are mainly cosmetic and in the control surface; the V.3 uses touch-switches, the V.1 uses rockers and tends to be more reliable due to that.
Alesis Micron
Title link takes you to shots via this auction.* Industry-leading ION analog-modeling sound engine in a compact package
* 8 voices, each with 3 oscillators, 2 multimode filters, 3 envelope generators, 2 LFOs, sample and hold, and tracking generator
* 4 multitimbral parts capability
* Programmable step sequencer and arpeggiator
* Programmable rhythm sequencer for drum kits
* Dynamic realtime phrase sequencer
* Stereo buss effects, including reverb and 40-band vocoder
* 1/4" balanced stereo analog outputs and inputs with 24-bit conversion
* 37-key, synth-action velocity sensitivity keyboard
* 3 continuously-rotational 12-bit parameter knobs
* 2 assignable modulation sliders
* Pitch wheel
* Expression and sustain pedal inputs
* Compatible with ION programs
MOOG Sonic 6
Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Not the best, but you don't see these too often."I didn't realize when I got it that most of the first video game sounds were made with this synth, but you can definitely tell after playing around with it for a while. The thing I like most about this synth is the fact that you don't have to have it plugged into an amp to hear it. It has 3 built in speakers that can even take the fat low unmistakable Moog sounds.
The Moog Sonic Six is a 2-VCO duophonic synthesizer with a built-in speaker and a 4-octave, 49-note (C-C) keyboard. Each VCO can output sawtooth, triangle, and rectangle (pulse/square) waveforms as well as 2 "waveform generators." A "quality" knob adjusts the width of the rectangular waveform. White or pink noise is also available. The Sonic Six can be set for 3 keyboard modes; high note priority, low note priority, or duophonic. The Sonic Six can also be set to an alternate tuning across the keyboard (different interval between octaves of the keyboard). Portamento rate is controlled by a knob. The envelope section features a basic envelope, with variable control for attack and decay and a switchable release (follows decay) and sustain. It had a single VCF, low-pass voltage controlled filter. Two multimode LFOs are available. Their speed is independently variable and can be controlled by the envelope."
Sunday, September 02, 2007
MPC Electronic Music Percussion Computer
flickr by Rebel Droid.click here for the full size shot.
Go Dexy's!
See the MORE link below for more MPC posts.
Also, the answer to this post is finally in the comments. Apologies for the delay, but it didn't come in until now.
Roland MC 307 Smalltown Boy
YouTube via clictrg.
"Roland MC307
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy Reconstructed on a Groovebox"
And the original:
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
YouTube via maddyj1980.
Redsound Darkstar
Yamaha CS15 in the Shower
via this HC thread where you will find a few more shots of the CS15 while the post is up. via BirdFLU in the comments of this post.
Yamaha CS15 Mods and Service Manual
Yamaha V50 4-Op FM Workstation
Title link takes you to more shots sent in via Kwerk."The proprietary 720KB 3.5" floppy-drive went south four years after its purchase and the dealer asked $250 to replaced it! I searched for the drive's pin-out on the internet and soldered a flat-cable with matching pin configuration for a standard PC floppy drive. It's the same drive (with belt) used in SY-77."
Waldorf Edition Demos
A couple of tracks via Boele of Something Completely Different:"PPG2dotSCD.mp3
wolframslegacy.mp3
It's only PPG, Attack and D-Pole from the Waldorf Edition. But the real things are here too :)
PPG
WAVE"
Check out the Korg PE-1000 to the right of the Yamaha and above the Oberheim.
Devil Went Down to Jupiter - synth solo
YouTube via hamsterdunce, aka Dave of umop.com.
"Visit umop.com/parallax.htm for more music!
Here's another total and complete electro-bastardization of an American classic. This time I run "Devil Went Down to Georgia" thru the techno/prog wringer, with sincere apologies to Charlie Daniels. No vocals in this video, although eventually when I semi-formally record it I'll potentially add some vocoded bullshit (and hopefully leave out some of the flubs, too). For now you can hear it in its current state of already-too-stupidness!"
MFB SEQ-01 modular demo
YouTube via burstgenerator.
"MFB SEQ-01 triggering 2 LFO resets and 3 envelope generators. its being clocked off a PlanB Model-28 Tapper, then the SEQ-01 is sending LFO resets on two tracks and trigger envelope generators on 3 other tracks. thats it, no other modification sources. a Doepfer A-110 oscillator patched into an A-137 wave multiplier which runs into an A-105 SSM filter and finally to a PlanB Model-13."
ARP Quadra and OSCar
Not the best shots of either but you don't see these come up often.ARP Quadra via this auction.
OSCar via this auction.
sonthu1
flickr by watkins.philip.Purple VCO
Cool star knobs
click here for the full size shot. Title link takes you to a few more shots. I had a hard time picking shots for the post so I went with these three. Star knobs, bringing the modulars to bed and... Note the little tree/plant in the bottom shot.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Polaris RAM IC Types
"You may find this information especially useful if you're having problems with your existing RAM: such as memory drop outs due to bad ICs, electrostatic damage, etc. Likewise, collectors—such as I—who wish to complete their Rhodes Chroma & Chroma Polaris setups with every possible accessory; might also find this valuable."
Title link takes you to the full article just posted on the Rhodes Chroma site.
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Title link takes you to the full article just posted on the Rhodes Chroma site.
George Harrison's Electronic Sound
I'm finally getting around to reading Analog Days, The Invention and Impact of The MOOG Synthesizer. I just read about George Harrison's solo project, Electronic Sound which featured the MOOG Modular synthesizer. I read about the cartoon version of the modular on the album cover and decided to look it up. Here it. You can find a couple more shots on this site. Recording info:
Side 1: "February 1969 - Recorded at Esher in Merrie England with the assistance of Rupert and Jostick, The Siamese Twins. George - Moog Synthesiser"
Side 2: "November 1968 - Recorded in California with the assistance of Bernie Krause. George - Moog Synthesiser" Amazon links for each: Electronic Sound
Analog DaysDave Smith on Keyboard TV
Title link takes you to the vids. When you get there, click on "NEW! Dave Smith" on the left. The Prophet '08 is covered.Update: Dave Smith and the Prophet '08 is also featured in this month's Keyboard Magazine. It's worth a read although they imply the Prophet-5 was the first completely programmable polyphonic synth. Doh! See if you can name the synths with polyphony before the Prophet-5. The Prophet-5 was the first at something related though.
IT'S COMING tb-666 death march tehemed promo
keybdwizrd - Moog LP and Korg EMX-1
YouTube via keybdwizrd.
"Having some fun with the Moog LP synthesizer and Korg Electribe EMX-1 groovebox."
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