Novation Supernova Being Boiled

YouTube via totaltwit.

"Get your Supernova to sound like early Human League. The Supernova really needs you to twiddle it, that way you can dig out many different synth sound types."

Oberheim MC3000d

Remember this post? It looks like heliospace managed to get it fixed. It turned out it was a blown fuse after all. Click here for more images of it turned on. via the Matrixsynth Forum.

Update: one more shot of the full size unit below via heliospace.

Musicrow Shaker Maker

"Shaker Maker is a special VST effect that will turn any rhythmic content into a convincing natural shaker rhythm.

Shaker Maker can produce a wide variety of shaker sounds, and you can shape your shaker to sound exactly the way you want it to.

For using Shaker Maker you should put it in the insert slot of your audio track. Then load a drum loop or any other rhythmic audio file to this track. You can also connect a microphone and use your own voice as the source for your shaker rhythm. Finally choose one of the 16 prepared shaker sounds, or shape your own shaker!"

Click here for the download. via brian c.

PolterBlofeld

Hitting ONE key on the Waldorf Blofeld: PolterBlofeld.mp3. via Boele of SCD.

DSK Virtual Synths

Pictured:
DreamZ
-Experimental additive synths
-LFO (osc controlled)
-3 LFO assignables to cutoff, resonance, pan, sync…)

KaoS
- 3 Oscillators, ADSR, “FREE DRAW” mode
- Octave select and micro-detuner
- 3 aux. oscillators, wafeform control
- 3 LFO - Effects (Space, delay, flanger)
- 3×0 LFO / OSC matrix

ZitH
- 3 Layers (53 waveforms)
- Octave select, ADSR
- 3 Advanced LFO (multiple outs)
- Advanced Filter
- Effects (Space, delay, flanger)
- Arpeggiator
- Assignable Automation Capability

These and others appear to be free downloads at the DSK website.

808 and MKS-70

YouTube via ThomasInSF.
"My MKS-70 and my 808 are synced up. I'm fiddling with the controls on my pg-800 (which controls the MKS-70 in real time)."

YAMAHA DX-7 II FM Synthesizer - demo by RetroSound

YouTube via retrosound72.
"synth demo by RetroSound

The DX-7 II FD was an powerful digital synth and have very clean sound.

more info and pics: www.retrosound.de"

Breadboarding Filters

YouTube via MusicMiK. via Nusonica.
"While the others are Snowboarding, i better go Breadboarding. The SVF is created using 3 JFETs, a CA3060 triple OTA, 2 capacitors and a bunch of resistors. No OpAmps at all."

Dr. T’s KCS

"The first software I ever used to create music was Dr. T’s KCS. I used it on an Atari 1040ST. The software was strictly to control external hardware midi devices. Hard discEmile Tobenfeld recording and virtual instruments were years away from hitting the mainstream. A guy named Emile Tobenfeld (see photo) was the man behind Dr. T’s and KCS and he created this software in 1984."

Click here for the full post on wire to the ear.

Rendez-vous 3 Jean Michel Jarre Cover

YouTube via fischek

"I've asked my friend Synthyaro who is an excellent performer to help me cover this composition. Synthyaro is playing the chords and choir parts (using Korg R3 and Yamaha QS300) and I am playing a sample of a famous Elka Synthex (via Korg TR).

Video mix, audio mix and titles by Synthyaro ;)

P.S: Please also click on the response link so Synthyaro's vid would also get the views."

Test Shot Starfish and Percussa AudioCubes

From the Percussa Audio Newsletter:

"When asked about his experience using AudioCubes Hoffman says:"the Percussa Audio Cubes are both innovative and inspiring. They joyfully break down any preconceived ideas I have of how to make music and how to put on a show, and leave me never wanting to look back. The Audio Cubes have a permanent spot in my musical toolbox."
Test Shot Starfish use audio cubes to deliver incredibly forward-thinking IDM, electronica, and avant-garde music. Kyle and Ryan also use the Cubes for their live performances alongside Abelton Live, making for shows that are both audibly and visually stimulating.
In the production of their new album the duo uses Audiocubes for sequencing of loops and effects. AudioCubes will feature in Test Shot Starfish’s experimental music video, to be released early 2008."

Test Shot Starfish fuse together a myriad of styles and influences, including the Orb, Orbital, Plaid, Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada, resulting in an eclectic blend of electronica, techno and ambient music that inspires a sensory experience.
Kyle and Ryan also work on projects for other artists (Remixes, EPKs and DVDs) and their talent has gained them access to remix tracks for such artists as Lenny Kravitz, Coldplay, Gus Gus and Snoop Dogg.

A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers

via this auction

"A brand new set of the two A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers books direct from the author / publisher.

Very few of the A-M are left, and I'm so busy with the VEMIA auction and other stuff that it will be a long time before it is re-published.

I seem to have lost the blurb about these books - it's a long time since I put a set on eBay.

Trust me, they are good and pretty comprehensive. Every synth by every maker you ever heard of, and then some.

The EMS page in the photo is an example of stuff you don't see every day. Plus each book has 16 pages packed with good colour pics.

More detail when I'm not working on the final packing and shipping and seller payment from the VEMIA auction.

ARP, Buchla, EML, EMS, Farfisa, Hohner, Korg, Moog, Oberheim, Octave, Roland, Serge, Yamaha, and hundreds of smaller manufacturers too.

Plus combo organs, Hammond, Mellotron, Theremin and many more.

A brilliant present for the analogue synth fanatic in your family! Three-day listing - don't miss it!

Peter Forrest"

I have a copy of the books myself. They are absolute must haves if you are into synths. Seriously fantastic books. If you miss the auction I have them listed on my Synth Books section on the right.

Triadex Muse

images via this auction

"In this auction you will receive both the Triadex muse and the accompanying amplifier. They are both "MIB’ as seen in the pictures. One of the boxes got a little wet as seen in the pictures. This in no way affected the contents of the box as the amplifier was wrapped in plastic. For some reason these "rare" Muses seem to show up here in the Boston area more frequently than anywhere else in the country. This may be due to their close proximity to MIT and Brookline, MA. where they were manufactured. Even though they were ahead of their time and somewhat of a technical marvel they ended up being somewhat of a commercial flop. This may explain why they never crept far beyond their backyard from which they were created. The cosmetic condition of the units are in excellent condition as seen in the pictures. The original instruction manual and tags are included with the Muse and not the amplifier.

The specs are as follows:
Model - Muse
Serial no. 00729-113
AC 115-125v 60CPS 40w
ok50Hz
Amplifier model no. AS-1
Serial no. 00072-108
AC 115-125v 60CPS 40w
ok50Hz

We have included a 20 second movie [at end of post] in the listing (located just below the pics of the receiver) to give you a tease as to how this Muse works and sounds. The hand you see in the video in no way represents the Muses current owner and is merely a prop "hired hand" to assist in the demonstration. The Muse in the movie is the actual Muse that you will receive if you are the winner of this action. We do not have the patch cords that go from the Muse to the amplifier to test the operation of the amplifier. So the amplifier was not tested and is being sold along with the Muse in "as is" condition. This is truly a rare opportunity to own both the Muse and the amplifier. We have started the auction at what we believe, is a reasonable starting price. This would make a wonderful Christmas present for yourself or the "techno-geek" in your life. The Muse had an even rarer accessory, the "Light Show", which flashed colored lights in time to the music. In all of my travels I have only seen one of these. It was a very simple circuit and was constructed of, believe it or not, G.E. colored Christmas lights.

Manufacturer: Triadex Inc., Brookline, Massachusetts
Inventors: Edward Fredkin and Marvin Minsky
Original Price: $300
Date of Manufacture: 1971
The original Muse was designed by MIT graduates Edward Fredkin and Marvin Minsky in the late 1960's. Minsky was on the set of "2001 A Space Odyssey", and taught Stanley Kubrick about Artificial Intelligence as he created Hal. Some years later, Edward Fredkin created the Fredkin Prize, which awarded the creator or creators of the first computer to compete and win the World Chess Championship. The Muse is a music composer machine or digital synthesizer and melody composer,
involving early logic modules in a unique circuit that allows the possibility of 14 trillion musical note combinations The Muse is an algorithmic music generator: it uses digital logic circuits to produce a sequence of notes based on the settings of various parameters. The four small sliders in the lower-left control Volume, Tempo, Pitch, and Fine Pitch.
The switches to either side are used to start and stop the sequence, or to step through it note-by-note. Of the eight larger sliders on the right, four control the musical intervals used (labeled A, B, C, and D), and four control the theme (labeled W, X, Y, and Z). A rest can be substituted for the lowest note by flipping a toggle switch. The exact logic behind the composition engine is rather technical, and not exactly intuitive. The tempo clock can be slaved to that of another Muse, allowing for multi-part compositions. The Muse is the subject of U. S. Patent 3610801, and their patent abstract of this electronic music composer reads as follows: In the apparatus disclosed herein, a note generator is controlled by a long term, quasi-periodic function which is in turn generated by applying digital feedback in preselected combinations around a digital register. The register comprises means for holding a plurality of bits of digital information in a given order, e.g. a shift register or counter, the held information being changeable according to a predetermined pattern in response to input signals applied thereto. Digital feedback is provided by applying to the register at least one input signal which is obtained according to a preselectable or adjustable code from bits of information obtained from various points in the register itself. The apparatus thus, in effect, composes music as distinguished from merely synthesizing sound. It is not known exactly how many Muses were made, [cyberlegend has it that only 280 were made] but they are very rare, and were not available in stores."

Roland TB-303

images via this auction

Bass Line box

ETI International 4600 Analogue Synthesiser

More images in this flickr set by snarfusmaximus.

Demo korg mx1 + Roland SP 404

YouTube via scaltek.
"http://scaltek.free.fr
http://scaltek.skyrock.com
Auteur compositeur à 100% de cette vidéo. Bon visu ;-)
à visionner sans modération !
N'hésitez pas @ envoyer vos impressions .
Montage vidéo Pascal Dewigne"

Hamster Time! - Hamster Morph

YouTube via PhotoAnimationGuy.

via Bowen:


"Hi, I'm the guy who makes the weird videos on youtube about pets. I just made a Hamster video using a roland sh-2 for bass, Korg Lambada for strings, 909 samples and a frostwave resonator for bleeps."
So when this gets spread around the internets you will be one of the few who know what gear was used.

Modded MOOG Prodigy

images via this auction

"This one-of-a-kind Prodigy has 12 modular connections on the rear:
01. Sync Input,
02. Cutoff CV Input,
03. Oscillator Modulation In,
04. Keyboard CV Input/Output,
05. S-Trig Input/Output,
06. Gate Input,
07. Gate Output,
08. Oscillator 1 Output,
09. Oscillator 2 Output,
10. External Input (1),
11. External Input (2),
12. High Level Audio Out.

These connections allow for modulation capabilities which would be otherwise impossible to achieve. I also also include a simple LFO, noise-source and attenuator, which I built from a Paia kit. This allows you to use one Prodigy oscillator and noise instead of the second, or to route an attenuated signal from Osc.2 into the Cutoff Modulation input for the harsh and 'clang-y' FM mod, or to control the Filter Mod and Pitch Mod from two different LFOs (the internal and external), etc., etc., etc."

Update: "I also also include a simple LFO, noise-source and attenuator, which I built (mostly) from a Paia kit. This allows you to route an attenuated signal from Osc.2 into the Cutoff Modulation input for harsh and 'clang-y' FM modulation, or to control the Filter Mod and Pitch Mod from two different LFOs (the internal and external), etc., etc. Here are some sound samples which I improvised using only the Prodigy and the additional circuit, with some slight spring reverb:
01.mp3
02.mp3
03.mp3
04.mp3
05.mp3
06.mp3"

Dor - samples on the SP-1200

YouTube via boomspot.
"A short clip of Dor showing how to sample on the EMU SP-1200 drum machine."

Roland MC-202

via this auction

"This is an analog synthesizer/sequencer. It sounds very much like the TB-303 and SH-101 bass synths. It has a very evolved form of TB-303 like programming (more like the MC-4) and SH-101 like controls of the VCO, VCF, VCA, LFO, Envelope and Mixer sections. The LCD display is a great feature too.

The MC-202 was sort of a next-generation TB-303. So the idea was to program sequence/patterns into it internally which would give you those 303 basslines that we've come to love. You can control it externally by hooking up a MID-CV/Gate converter. Then you basically have yourself an SH-101!

The sequencer is actually a 2-channel CV/gate sequencer, with both channels being capable of driving a separate external synth. It's a very useful unit, also, for its DINsync capabilities; it can receive on one port, and send over two, and also can 'split' DINsync to branch a sync signal out to multiple devices.

This machine is best for those who want to get 303-like patterns (it has accent just like the 303) and basslines with an SH-101 sound. If you can handle programming the notes into its sequencer you can have a lot of fun.

The MC202 is a sequencer and simple monophonic synth with 32 buttons arranged like a small keyboard (F-C).

The monosynth is similar to the SH-101. The VCO is based around the ever-so-popular Curtis 3340 chip and features a slider switch for octave (2', 4', 8', 16'), a slider for pulse width, and one for modulation (LFO) amount. The VCO outputs a square/pulse wave, a sawtooth wave, and a sub-oscillator which are mixed together in the "Source Mixer" section. The sub-oscillator is switchable between a square wave 1 octave down, a square wave 2 octaves down, and a pulse wave 3 octaves down. There are knobs which control fine tune and portamento. The VCF section has a slider for cutoff frequency and resonance. There is a slider for each of its control sources: envelope, LFO, and keyboard. The VCA can be controlled by a simple gate or the Envelope. The envelope is an ADSR with a slider for each stage.

The sequencer is quite powerful for its time. The MC-202 features a large (for the time) LCD display, upon which all the sequencing editing is displayed. The two available sequences can be played simultaneously using the CV/gate outputs to control another sequencer. The sequences can have a combined total of 2729 events. Sequences can be entered in real time via the pushbutton keyboard or via another keyboard using the CV/gate inputs. This feature has a negative side, though. Since all incoming CV/gate signals are routed through the microprocessor, there is a bit of a lag when the MC-202 is played by a another keyboard or a MIDI-to-CV device. The Sequences can also be programmed using step-time, setting a separate pitch and duration for each note. Also programmable in a sequence is accent and portamento. Accent works the same as in the TB-303, with an accent amount knob that can be adjusted in real time as the sequence is playing. The speed of the sequence is also controlled by a knob.

The back panel has a sync input and two sync outputs, a tape interface for saving and loading sequences, CV/gate inputs and two CV/gate outputs (one for each sequence), a headphone jack, and a main output jack.

The MC-202 came out at a time when the synthesizer market was just starting to impliment MIDI. After MIDI became an accepted standard, sequencers such as the MC-202, using the old-style CV/gate interface, quickly lost popularity and died away."