Raymond Scott Clavivox Cake

Clavivox cake by Sarah Albu, Montreal via the Raymond Scott blog. Also check out the Official Raymond Scott site for the 100th Centennial of Raymond Scott. There are some great quotes from various musicians and synthheads including Bob Moog.

"Raymond Scott was definitely in the forefront of developing electronic music technology, and in the forefront of using it commercially as a-musician." - Bob Moog, inventor of Moog synthesizers

Ruby Coast

flickr by Qinn

Just because everyone needs a little Donald Duck now and then.

Anyone know the synth?

slighly larger shot

Admin: Added Followers to the Right

I logged in this morning to see "4 followers" of the site. I wondered what this was and made a mental note to check it out later. Well, it turns out that Blogger added a module that let's people "follow" the site. I thought I'd add the module for now and see what it was like. You can find it at the bottom right of the site just above the contact info. Feel free to add yourself. It appears to act like a blog reader. Of course if you have a blog reader of your own, you can just sub to http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com directly. Bloglines is my reader of choice.

Alessandro Cortini and the Buchla 200e, Part 1

YouTube via plugtpd

"Alessandro Cortini discusses the Buchla 200e synthesizer and his contributions to the Nine Inch Nails album, Ghosts I-IV. Part one of two."

MIDI LFO's -Moog MP-201 Controlling the DSI Prophet 08

YouTube via bigcitymusic. Available now at http://bigcitymusic.com
"The MP-201 has finally arrived and you can control whatever you freaking feel like with it! The MP-201 has four control voltage outputs which can individually be assigned to send and expression pedal smooth voltage, LFO with your choice of any classic waveform, or a gate signal. This patch, you can save presets, has Channel 1 on the MP-201 contolling oscillator 1 pitch and channel 2 controlling oscillator 2 pitch. Whammy style. The third channel is an actual control voltage triangle wave LFO running into the DSI's filter CV input. The fourth channel is a triangle wave LFO sent via MIDI (Yes!) to the wave shape of oscillator 1. Holy cow, the possibilities are ridiculous. Wait, what do all four sound like at the same time?"

Bend Matrix trigger jack and MIDI output

YouTube via 4mspedals
"From 4mspedals.com. Demo of Bend Matrix triggered by a guitar to step the sequencer forward. Also has Step-back and Play/Pause trigger jacks. BM's MIDI output is going to a MIDI synth which generates the piano sounds"

CGS35 Steiner Voltage Controlled HP, LP & BP Filter

YouTube via attorks
"Demonstration of Ken Stone's CGS35 Steiner Voltage Controlled HP, LP & BP Filter. Two Q106 ramp waveforms are fed into a Q112 mixer which dials are on 10. Output of Q112 is fed into LP IN, BP IN and HP IN of CGS35 Steiner Filter. Output of CGS35 goes to Q108 VCA. CGS35 is modulated by Q109 ADSR and 1V/Oct. VCA is modulated by Q109 ADSR. Knobs CGS35 from top to bottom: FREQUENCY, RESONANCE, FM1 (Q109). Left busses from top to bottom: HP IN, BP IN, LP IN. Right busses from top to bottom: FM1, FM2, OUT."

Oberheim OB-Mx

via this auction

"this 2-voice stereo analogue synthesizer is fully programmable and is controllable via MIDI. 2 VCO's.2 VCF's (Moog aswell as Oberheim), 3 LFO's. 4 Envelopes. expandable up to 12 voices."

Note the individual outs.

Jen SX 2000

images via this auction

Not the best shots again, but you definitely don't see these often. For larger shots of the Jen SX 2000, see this post.

Funny side note that nobody but myself will probably appreciate: Check out the image in the other post and note the similarity of the tiled floor and the angle of the shot. I recently noticed certain synths seem to be more photographed on certain backgrounds than others - hardwood floors, carpet, and so on. This is the second time I really noticed it. Like I said, probably only something I can appreciate... I think I've seen one too many...

Korg EXB-MOSS Z1 Synth Board for Triton

via this auction

"Korg EXB-MOSS Z1-Based Synth Board for Triton! The Triton Series can be expanded by the installation of the ultimate DSP tone generator - the 13 oscillator 6-voice MOSS (Multi-Oscillator Synthesis System) tone generator featured on the Z1. This lets you use all synthesis methods -- PCM, analog, VPM (variable phase modulation), and physical modeling ? on a single instrument. When the MOSS tone generator is installed, 128 MOSS programs are added. You can create combination programs that use multiple MOSS timbres together with HI sounds.

The MOSS sound generator consists of Voice, EG, and LFO sections. The voice section contains 2 powerful oscillator blocks OSC1/OSC2 which let you combine up to 2 of 13 types of oscillator algorithm (resonance, organ model, electric piano model, standard, ring modulation, VPM, brass model, reed model, and more), a sub oscillator, and a noise generator. The voice section also contains a filter block featuring 2 multi-mode filters that cover the range from analog synth sounds to complex sounds such as the body resonance of violin or guitar, or even human voice. To this are added 5 EG units and 4 LFO units, providing a rich variety of tonal and pitch changes for each voice.

Features
# Sound Source: 6 voices, 2 oscillators (max.) + sub oscillator + noise generator
# Oscillator Types: 13 (Standard, Ring Modulation, Cross Modulation, Oscillator Sync, VPM (Variable Phase Modulation), Comb filter oscillator, Resonance oscillator, Organ model, Electric piano model, Brass model, Reed model, Plucked string model, Bowed string model)
# Programs: 128 "

Roland VP-9000

images via this auction
Not the best shots, but you definitely don't see these often. I believe the VP-9000 was the synth that kicked off Roland's Variphrase technology which made its way into the VariOS and then the V-Synth.

Check out this post for a link to an excellent VP-9000 resource site. Note that this post and that are the only VP-9000 posts on MATRIXSYNTH today. I post what I come across and what people send in, so that gives you an idea of how often these come up. If I remember correctly the price was very high on these and they had a number of technical issues.

Moog 50th Anniversary Watch

via this auction

bought new in 2004

ROLAND GR-300 ANALOG GUITAR SYNTHESIZER

images via this auction

KORG 770

images via this auction
"It uses Korg's genius high-pass/ low-pass filter combination and throws in some unique features (scaled noise, chorus setting on oscillator 1, 2 LFOs, oscillator cross fader, auto bend, and a flexible envelope). It also allows you to run an external sound source into its ring modulator and filter! The low key action is the best I played on a vintage synth. This 770 includes the original dust cover, owner's manual, and sound settings book (with black patch sheets)."

x0xb0x

images via this auction
"The x0xb0x is an open-source remake of the legendary Roland TB-303 analog synthesizer. This is a brand new synthesizer with non-pull components, yet its design has been fine-tuned by scores of analog enthusiasts to match the original device in every quiver. In fact in many ways it surpasses it, as it possesses modern ports like MIDI and USB.

What does it mean that the x0xb0x is open-source? It means people contributed their love and passion in creating the blueprints and have released them for everyone to see, to modify, and to reproduce. Open-source engineering leads to superior products that have fewer flaws. It is also an expression of freedom, with a capital F. I'll tell you, your hippie mom will be proud. Visit their site here.

This reification of those blueprints is true to them. No analog component has been been substituted. The rare, critical parts have been imported from England to create an uncompromised sound. Scores of enthusiasts have sought these same parts as a DIY kit, waited months for their turn on the waitlist, spent hours sorting through the five hundred components, learned to solder for their very first time, and carefully calibrated their creations through make-shift sound card scopes, hoping it would work, hoping to relive the groundbreaking sound of the TB-303. They experienced the passion, but you can save yourself the headache.

This x0xb0x has been assembled by an experienced builder and calibrated with a LeCroy 9310AL digital oscillloscope. Its sound was A/B compared to a working x0xb0x to make sure nothing was amiss."

Features:
* Pure analog voice circuitry
* Critical analog components including:
o 2SC1583, 2SC2291, 2SC945P transistors
o 2SK30AO and 2SK30AY JFETs
o AN6562 and BA6110 Op-Amps
o LA4140 Power Amplifier
o 1% Thin-film resistors
* Calibrated with high-end oscilloscope
* High-quality Lexan overlay
* Clear back panel
* Un-modded (original sound)
* Contact us for x0xio I/O and Overdrive kit
* Other features:
o MIDI Play
o PC hookup (software included)
o EEPROM for 128 banks of track memory/64 banks of pattern memory
o Computer download and upload of saved tracks/patterns
o Upgradeable firmware (preloaded latest v1.05. Will be upgraded to sokkos at customer's request)

Input/Output:
* DINSYNC (in/out)
* MIDI-in
* MIDI-out
* MIDI-thru
* CV (⅛")
* Gate (⅛")
* MIX-in (¼")
* Headphone (¼")
* Line-level out (¼")
* USB for computer interface & control

Ensoniq FIZMO Realtime Transwave Polyphonic Synth

images via this auction

"Ensoniq FIZMO Realtime Transwave Synth (serial # 10679). As this was one of the later production units, the regulator “fix” was done at the factory and replaced with the corrected MC7805CT."

Anyone confirm later Fizmo's did not have the regulator problem? If so, anyone know the cutoff point for serial numbers?

Custom Soundlab Analog Synth

images via this auction
"Listen to mp3 demos and more photos at --> www.healthclub-music.com/notes.htm
This is Soundlab Notes analog synthesizer by Health Club Music.
It is one compact unit with many features.

It has the following features:
2 VCOs (Both have Saw Waveforms, VCO2 also has Square Wave with adjustable Pulse Width)
1 LFO with switchable Square, Saw, Triangle, and Ramp Waves
1 VCF that is Resonant and is switchable between BandPass and LowPass Modes
1 VCA
2 Attack Release Envelopes (AR1 or the LFO can be switched to retrigger both Envelopes, looping them like LFOs)
1 Manual Trigger Arcade Button can trigger or gate the AR Envelopes
1 Envelope Follower that is triggered by the External Audio Input and can be sent to VCO 1, VCO2, VCF, and VCA
Many input and output jacks, look at the photos!

The VCOs can be Synced with the Sync Switch and can be Linked with the Link Switch.
When the Link Switch is on, the VCO1 Freq knob tunes both VCOs and the VCO2 freq knob offsets VCO2 from VCO1, so you can play the same chord at different notes. When the Link Switch is off, both VCOs are tuned independently of each other.
The Envelope Follower works great with drum machines and guitars. Depending on what you like to play, Notes will give funky spacey effects on your guitar riffs or an extra filter sweep and groovy beats with your drum machine.

There is a headphone amp on the main output, so you can listen to this synth on your headphones. There is a pre-amp on the audio input, so you can plug your guitar straight into the input.
The external CV1 and CV2 input jacks are linked, so that when you plug in a CV input into CV1 jack, it sends the CV to both oscillators, VCO1 and VCO2. You can also disconnect this link by plugging in your external CV input into just the CV2 input.

Notes takes two 9v batteries. The case is a hard plastic mini briefcase that opens up on both sides! The two lids can also detach completely from the case. You can store your papers and even some patch cables on your next trip.

The circuit on this synth is based on a design by Ray Wilson. Check out www.musicfromouterspace.com for more of his exciting analog projects and PC boards."

Audiotool by hobnox

YouTube via fractaljay. via the hobnox blog.
"Right out of the box nox!

Mix it up old school with this Flash/browser-based Audiotool for making beats. http://www.hobnox.com/ [audio tools when you get there]

Simulating the popular Roland TR-909 and TB-303 with additional effects using pedals and rumored upcoming MIDI support."

Messing around with the Hobnox Audio Tool

YouTube via zincyams100. via the hobnox blog.
"Playing around with the Hobnox Audio Tool:
http://www.hobnox.com/audiotool-start...

My computer screwed up a bit here and there, but i think it sounds pretty good. I made the beats and the bass line myself, the picture used throughout is the setup I had by the end. This is cut down from a 9 minute version by the way."

Dangers of Anvil Case Foam Rubber

This one pretty much speaks for itself.

Don't store your synths in Anvil foam cases for an extended period of time. The foam breaks down over the years.

via Michael:

"This kind of foam destroyed the finish of my Chroma :-( It sat in an Anvil case for a long time."

Analog Synthesizer DIY Moogfilter VCF Demo

YouTube via Redled72
"Test des Moogfilter VCF =)
Klingt doch schon ganz ordentlich, oder?
Es wird lediglich 1 x VCO + 1x LFO als Signalquelle verwendet."

Christyle & Groupie

flickr by K-Dubbz

full size

Mudluscious @ Busby's East: 9/18/08

Tenori-Off

Bubble wrap Tenori-On.

Yep...

These have been making the rounds lately. This one via sequencer.de.

Multimode Coming for the Blofeld

via the Waldorf User list in response to a question on Multimode for the Blofeld.

> Hello,
>
> Currently a firmware with true Multimode and 128 Multi Programs is
> subject to beta testing. A release version will be available soon.
>
> Stefan

Inside the RAI Musical Phonology Studio

"The Phonology Studio, a musical instrument of the twentieth century, an extension of human thought, has now found its ideal home in the Museo degli Strumenti Musicali of Castello Sforzesco, Milan."

See the full post with more images and descriptions on Unidentified Sound Object. Also check out this post.

Pictured here:

RACK 2
* Brüel & Kjær 1011 beat oscillator
* 6 Wavetek 110 oscillators
* 2 Wavetek 115 oscillators
* Heathkit AG 10 oscillator
* General Radio 1398-A tone burst generator




RACK 4
* Unit with 7 slots:
* 2 ring modulators (made by RAI)
* 1 amplitude selector (made by RAI)
* 2 ring modulators for the frequency transposer (made by RAI)
* 1 electronic selector switch (made by RAI)
* 1 empty
* Dynamic modulator (made by RAI)
* Amplitude selector (made by RAI)
* Frequency transposer (made by RAI)

New Release of Hobnox Audio Tool Coming

If you haven't check out the hobnox Audio Tool yet, do it.

In short, it's a flash based online studio consisting of what you see here. Roland TR-808, TR-909, TB-303, effects,mixer, and more.

A new release will be coming when Adobe Flash 10 is released.

As for the update, here is the sneak peak:
For a start, the Hobnox Audiotool Beta update will provide some new features like more robust audio signal processing, dynamically adding plugins and live recording. We also worked hard to prepare the application for future features like sequencing and saving. Here is a detailed list of the new features and some technical notes.

+ Flashplayer 10 support
We may be the first to 'force' you to upgrade to Flashplayer 10, but it is for the best! Adobe finally provides a tiny new Sound API to stream audio to the sound card. Finally we get rid of the Java applet which enabled audio streaming before. Now, entirely processed in Flash, the audio latency is more satisfying and the output more stable. You simply get a better experience.

+ Live Recording
The tool will also finally allow to record a live audio session to the users harddrive: WYHIWYG (What you hear is what you get). We transcoded a Vorbis Encoder (better quality than MP3) to Actionscript to shrink the filesize of the recorded audio in order for you to upload it into your user profile library. We can't wait to hear what you guys will be producing and are really excited about this development.

+ Plugin Shelf
Have a look at the above screenshot. In the page bottom you will see a 'Dock'-like shelf. With this you'll have full control of the plugins you want to use. You'll be able to drag & drop plugins into and from the shelf. You'll only see the devices you want to use and not the full inital setup like before.

+ New stomp-boxes
To give more spice to the sound we developed some new effect devices like
Compressor, Gate, Phaser and a Slope (Filter unit).

+ Tons of optimizations and code refactoring
Finally, we have managed to make some hidden technical improvements. The entire audio engine and surface is revised to be ready for coming features like sequencing and saving. An intelligent music event system allows us to quickly add new sequencing units and automation. We are also ready to develop low-level modules which will allow you to create your own synthesizers and effects. Finally, the internal signal processing API has been simplified and it the fastest that Flash can provide at this state.

BC8 Chimerasynthesis

YouTube via opsysbug
"First few minutes with BC8 synth.
Its on auto-repeat doing its thing
so I just let her sing!"

BC8 Chimerasynthesis birdsong

watch your ears - high resonance on this one.
"Another from the BC8-this was good birdies and they all came up to the window to see what was going on... "

The circuit test for analog sequencer.

YouTube via denha. "This circuit is 16-step analog sequencer." Roland MC-202.

an improvisation from 2006

YouTube via vonhaulshoven - click for prior vids posted here. Note vonhaulshoven will be playing live at Dutch E live festival at 11 october. gear: minimax nord rack 3 ks rack an1x ms 2000 moog LP maq 16/3 sequentix p3 mvs1 radias

buchla 281e

via this auction

"buchla 281e quad function generator for sale. working 100%"

BIN of $800

via synthorama.com

buchla 259e

via this auction

"buchla 259e osc not produced anymore. its 100% working"

BIN of $1500

via synthorama.com

ELKA Synthex

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
images via this auction

"elka synthex prototype. as you can see in the pictures it has no metal ears for the legs on the side of the wood like ordinary synthex also it has the early voice boards with one led lamp on each voice board the software on the rom chips is the first version and it has the earliest dates on the stickers two synthex experts i talked to. it also has an extra mix output not just the normal upper and lower.this synthex was the first one ever made by mario maggi for maestro gianni mazza a very famous italian composer. the synth was bought by maestro mazza a few months ago.it was owned by mazza all these years and i am the second owner. the synth comes with original hard case. this is not just a synth. its a piece of history.the band pass filters on this particular synthex are much more powerful than the ones on a normal synthex. i had a normal synthex for ten years and i can tell you that this one sounds much more fat than the normal one. the only reason i am selling it is that i am restoring a modular synthesizer and i need the money."

inside an ELKA Synthex

via synthorama.com

Sound Analogous: Scala Media

Scala Media consists of four wooden vessels in a semi-circular arrangement. The top portion of each form is filled with a shallow pool of water. A speaker embedded within the base of each form releases sound when the water is touched. The sounds grow in richness and complexity as multiple nodes are activated concurrently.
Sound Analogous via Califaudio.

[Noodle]Mono-Poly - MoogSerge pt2

via mono-poly's public channel

Flight of the Bumblebee and other MOTM Samples

on My Synthesis Technology MOTM Analog Modular Synth

Synths and a Gun

spot the synths and... a gun

via wire to the ear.