The Korg MS-20: Control Panel Part 3

Sonicstate TV via Automatic Gainsay. Previous parts here.

Intua BeatMaker for the iPhone

"Experience BeatMaker step sequencer for creating your grooves. The tactile editor makes music composing really quick and easy while keeping a precise synchronization. Limitless patterns, endless possibilities, delivered on tune and on time."
"Mobile sampler interface
In your pocket, ideally suited for live or for fast, intuitive composition, the 16 multi-touch pads enable you to load, slice, tune, and trigger sounds from an extensive sample library.Live pattern recording and sound control with the simplicity of a finger movement"


click here for more

You can get BeatMaker here:

a free analog synthesizer in every magazine

nick sent the following in to the Analog Heaven (AH) list. I asked him if I could put it up here and he gave me the OK.

"It's fairly common especially in Japanese kids magazines to include a free toy of some sort.

There's a rather unusual magazine about inventions and the science behind them aimed at adults called Otona no Kagaku. It's sold mostly in bookstores who usually keep the back issues in-stock if they have room.

They always try to include some kind of amazing kit packaged inside each issue. What's amazing that it actually (more or less) works. Mind you the inventions are borderline toys. And of course the high issue price cearly means it not actually free. It's not like some promo item a company is giving away that the company foots the bill for.

Some past examples have been an Edison grammaphone that uses styrofoam coffee cups instead of wax cylinders to record and play from and recently a very minimal Theremin amusingly shaped like a dollhouse sized plastic RCA Theremin. link

So if that's not enough, they do occasional special issues costing more with something they couldn't stuff into a regular issue. For instance a Berliner disc phonograph that cuts some seconds worth of analog sound with a needle into a spinning CD disc that you choose to sacrifice. On July 30 their next special issue will feature an analog synth along the lines of a PAIA Gnome with a few cut corners (no VCA). link

It's about $30 in Japan and it's quite possible to find them in the $40 something range either online or occasionally in Japanese language bookstores (seen other issues in Asahiya though not Kinokuniya) if you wait a few weeks. The good thing is that it's borderline like a book means it's actually likely to be easier to get than a regular magazine.

They feature their consultations with Hideki (Logic System) Matsutake, who is without a doubt the go-to man in Japan for all things synthesizer in the mainstream Japanese media.

It also occurs to me that because of the low price and it's being sold with a magazine, for better or worse this probably will be the biggest selling analog synth of all time.

nick
http://technopop.info"

"Some quick additions.

It is more or less a kit and I have no idea how easy it will be to put together if the instructions are in Japanese.

I have no idea where the best place to get it but I doubt it will be too hard to get since past issues can be bought.

I'd search for "otona no kagaku" on ebay and online for English language pages. "Gakken" will get you more hits.

Be aware it's not out yet, it goes on sale 7/30 in Japan and retailers in other countries might not see it for a month or so."

Sequential Circuits Prophet T8

via this auction
"I have heard that only 300 of these were made and that Dave Smith still uses his as his controller keyboard.

Who knows? The serial is 000463 so maybe they built as many as 500. What I do know is that this is a beast of an analog synth.

8 voices, assignable aftertouch and lfo with many destinations. 2 oscillators per voice, 2 envelopes per voice and a sound that

is simply stunning. I have the original manual also. This was serviced by Wine Country who looked at the voice boards a couple

of years ago; more recently we had our local keyboard tech check it out and get it tip top. He also installed the latest OS.

The assignable aftertouch is particularly fun "

via Darren.

We Can All See Rainbows

YouTube via Hiddenfortress
"This Video was made by video artist Angelika Kaltenbrunner, I think she has done a wonderful job on this music video. The song is taken from "The Boy With The Digital Heart""

Jean-Michel Jarre - Live in Your Living Room

YouTube via jeanmicheljarre
"Jean-Michel Jarre - Live in Your Living Room http://www.jeanmicheljarre.com"

Tour of the studio ! - Yamaha DX-7 Clone

YouTube via evilbandzed. Note the Hohner HS-2, a Yamaha DX-7 clone.
"evilb and zed show you their equipment :P"

Updates:
via Gwenhwyfaer in the comments:
"Er, the Hohner HS-2 is a rebadged Casio VZ1 - whilst iPD is basically FM with a 0 carrier frequency (aka waveshaping), the instrument is in no way close to being a DX7 clone."

via pat:
"Doubtless a brainfart of some kind, but (according to the net) the hohner is a Casio clone; used to work for Yamaha in the days of the DX (I own a dx5), no way they would license that stuff out."

Roland GR-300 guitar synth

YouTube via Analogger.
"A brief demonstration of the classic Roland GR-300 guitar synth. I posted an earlier vid featuring the GR-300 [embedded here] in a filter modulation performance along with drums, etc. This is just the synth itself - with some TC Electronic D-Two delay. I am using the Roland G-505 guitar controller.

You must use the 24-pin cable to interface the guitar with the synth. The older cables with the metal ends are the ones to use. The newer plastic end cables suck. They are not as reliable and cannot be repaired. Avoid them at all costs unless money means nothing to you.

The G-505 has a 3-position mode switch which allows you to go between synth only, hexa-fuzz only, or a combination of both. There is also a balance knob which lets you layer in the actual guitar sound. The G-505 is a single coil Strat style guitar that sounds really good on its own."

Pad R3 2 Korg

YouTube via SynthSuper. "Outro timbre de pad do R3 Korg"

Elektron Sidstation

images via this auction

"# Legendary desktop synthesizer based on the MOS 6581 chip used in C64.
# Produced in limited quantity."

Marion Systems ProSynth

images via this auction
Note the Oberheim blue stripes on black styling.

"BY TOM OBERHEIM It is an 8 voice analog synth with 2 VCOs per voice and 1 VCF per voice with choice of 12 dB LP or 24 dB LP filter type with self oscillation. 3 EGs, 2 LFOs with plenty of modulation routing!!! One of my favorite things is that you can modulate the waveform type to make some wavetable type sounds!!! This is a very powerful beast in a 1 unit 19" rack unit"

Beginner's Book Of Electronic Music

images via this auction.



""The Beginner's Book Of Electronic Music" book by Delton T. Horn

Printed in 1983.
First Edition. First Printing.
376 Pages. Hardcover.

"Explore the exciting world of electronic music...discover the impact that new technology has made on the range and variety of synthesized sound...learn how you can create your own synthesized live or recorded sound using home-built circuitry or commercially available equipment! All this and more is included in this up-to-the-minute guide to synthesized music for both electronics and music hobbyists. Plus, it includes an extensive listing of available electronic music recordings and a complete buyer's guide to the commercial synthesizing equipment (modular, normalized, pre-set, and computerized).

Sound and acoustic principles are thoroughly reviewed and there's a detailed look at sound sources for electronic music- oscillators, noise generators, and recorded sounds. You'll learn how new sounds can be created by additive or subtractive synthesis, and the fundamentals of using filters, amplifiers, modulation, controllers, and other devices to manipulate musical sounds. There's also lots of practical advice on setting up your own electronic music studio.

Other topics covered: the basic of tape recording and editing; the ways modules can be interconnected to create sound s (patching); how-to's for combining electronic sounds into a unified musical work; how to manipulate natural sounds by electronic means (Musique Concrete); information on sonic environments, and a look at the special problems of live electronic music performance.

Packed with the kind of information you'll need to understand the fundamentals of synthesized music and the circuit data you'll need to start creating our own electronic music projects, this is a book that every electronic music enthusiast will want to refer to time and time again!"

Contains pictures of: The Maplin 5600S (Amazing color picture on the cover!), Korg VC-10, Korg X-911, Korg PS-3200, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and 10, Sequential Circuits Poly-Sequencer, Oberheim OB-Xa, Moog Source, Moog Taurus, Moog MG-1, Korg Trident, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Moog Prodigy, Moog Rogue, PolyMoog, Korg MS-10, Paia 2700 Modular, and many more!"

I added this to the Synth Books section.

Oscillators Simplified With 61 Projects

via this auction. Also on Amazon

"Oscillators Simplified With 61 Projects book by Delton T. Horn.
Printed in 1987.
Hardcover.
First Edition. First Printing.

"One of the most basic of all electronic circuits is the oscillator, or signal generator. Virtually all electronic systems incorporate at least one such circuit. While information on signal generators is not terribly hard to find, there has been no single source devoted to the oscillator until now. This book tells you all you need to know about oscillator and signal generator circuits for almost any application. Over 60 practical projects are included. These circuits can be readily adapted to suit your individual requirements."

Projects include:
Triangle Wave Generator, Quick & Dirty Rectangle Wave Generator, Double Oscillator, Super Simple Square Wave Oscillator, Simple VCO Circuit, Voltage-Controlled Sine Wave Oscillator, Op Amp VCO, Clock Pulse Generator, Gate Clock Pulse Generator, Practical Four Step Programmable Function Generator, Musical Tone Generator, Simple Organ, Staircase Wave Generator, Complex Tone Generator, Four Step Digital Sequencer, Ten Step Digital Sequencer, Random Tone Generator, Top Octave Generator Circuit, and many more."

I added this to the Synth Books section.

Vintage HOHNER BASS 2

images via this auction

"This is a very cool Keyboard Bass, that packs into a case, and will be sure to attract positive attention from just about any musician! For those that do not know what this instrument is, it is basically a bass, packed into a keyboard format. It has several, very low frequency keys, and it is great for pianists and keyboard players that don't want to split their keyboard into a bass section.

Very similar to what Ray Manzarek of "The Doors" used, this keyboard bass can sit on top of your existing keyboard, or can sit on its INCLUDED stand alone tripod..."

Blog - Crazy musicians

YouTube via jeanmicheljarre. http://www.jarreblog.com

Blog - Tribute to Fiona's Dad

YouTube via jeanmicheljarre
"http://www.jarreblog.com
Fiona, Jean Michel's spokesperson, assistant and best friend, had always dreamed of having Jean Michel come and play in Ireland, her home country. Unfortunately, her father passed away, and was buried in Galway the very day Jean Michel played in Dublin.
The tribute was unplanned, by luck Louis was filming."

JMJ Blog Tokyo

YouTube via jeanmicheljarre. See the full write-up here.
Synth content: "I've been very busy choosing and finding new analog instruments, and we'll attach some photos of them. Through the internet, through different people in Europe and America, I found very rare and special analog synthesizers and I'm going to use them for my next musical project, which I'm going to start actually this very afternoon. It's composed of an ARP Quadra, a Solina, a very rare portable keyboard called the Syntar, developed more or less at the same time as the Moog Liberation, a Crumar, an Italian string and brass, and also a Roland CR-8000 drum machine. I was looking for this drum machine for quite a while and I finally found it in Amsterdam. So all these instruments are gathered at home, and I'm about to start a new project based on those, plus some other existing instruments I have in the studio as well."

Philip Glass Ensemble "Train/Spaceship" part 1

YouTube via mrsticker2. via Music Thing. Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
"Philip Glass Ensemble perform "Train/Spaceship" (part 1) live at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London in 1982. From a VHS only release called Four American Composers: Philip Glass by Peter Greenaway. I also want to take this opportunity to plug my band the D. Sticker Ensemble, so go visit our new website http://www.stickersongs.com/ and hear samples from our new album "Seasons of Sticker". It's available to purchase on-line."

Philip Glass Ensemble "Train/Spaceship" part 2

MonoMiK ladder VCF module test

YouTube via MusicMiK. You can find prior videos here.
"After you have seen the breadboarding videos of the two ladder filters, you can now see the final test of the assembled filter module with both filters in direct comparison.

Higher quality audio track and more about this here:
http://www.mik-music.org/tiki/tiki-vi..."

RS7000 & Novation KS4 - positive trancemix

YouTube via NachoMargahayu
"The leadsound is created with the Novation synth, the rest of the song is made with internal samples from the RS7000."

Three Banks of 50 Rhodes Chroma Patches via Åke Danielson

You can find them here on the excellent Rhodes Chroma site. Via the Rhodes Chroma list. If you have a Chroma, I highly recommend joining the list.

Stories - Traveling Underground

YouTube via 1HiFi45. 1973. Anyone know what synth was used? I'll label this one with MOOG for now.

reaynthi - ems synthi improv

via cray5656's audio channel aka Ghostdog.

Update: image added. Be sure to click on it for the full size shot.

Virus TI SNOW

full review and samples on VAC

I think this is the first polar bear on MATRIXSYNTH. That is a polar bear, right?

Atari Punk Console - Quad Oscillator Device

YouTube via carpeteria
"here's a handmade, from scratch circuit with four oscillators that can run simultaneously, with a ton of noise and feedback possibilities. it's taped upside down, as the cord was in the way, but it sounds the same regardless. enjoy!"

909 + Evolver demo

YouTube via pac209
"quick jam with DSI Evolver, small but very versatile synth, the Evolver was getting additional notes via MIDI from a Mobius step sequencer"

Less = More

YouTube via neuropatico
"This a song I made ones soley on the Korg ES-1. And I used a boss EQ pedal."

[KORG DS-10]はじめてのシンセサイザー第2日目「VCO」（修整版）

YouTube via aqi

[KORG DS-10]はじめてのシンセサイザー第6日目「EGエピソード２」

Synthmeeting Zeeland 2008

via Synth.nl where you will find more shots and info.

Regarding this image:
"There were also some very nice modular systems. In the picture you see a very nice Doepfer set. I did see that stuff on the Musik Messe, but never really played with it. Unfortunately time was to short now as well. There was so much to see. And by the time I wanted to give it a go the guy that brought it had left. On the right you see another modular system that was completely self designed. So a very cool DIY project. The SH-101 was used as a CV/gate keyboard."