Audio Damage Rough Rider Now Available - FOR FREE!

"Rough Rider is a modern compressor with a bit of 'vintage' style bite and a uniquely warm sound. Perfect for adding compression effects to your drum buss, it also sounds great with synth bass, clean guitar, and backing vocals. Definitely not an all-purpose compressor, Rough Rider is at its best when used to add pump to rhythmic tracks. Of course, you can use it however you'd like. The Compressor Police aren't gonna come to your house and give you a citation. Slap it on a track and crank some knobs.

The front panel layout is done the same as many hardware compressors, so it will be immediately obvious how to use it. A brief overview of the controls:

Ratio: The ratio knob is logarithmic in operation. Completely anti-clockwise is 1:1, and completely clockwise is 1:1000. The 12 o'clock position is 1:10, so everything to the left of center is single digits, and everything to the right is 'atom bomb squish,' essentially.

Attack and Release: We left off the actual time values, so you're gonna have to use your ears, like the he-men did it in times of myth.

Meter: That honking big dial in the middle of the UI is the gain reduction meter. It basically shows how much compression is occurring.

Sensitivity: usually called 'threshold' now, but we think 'sensitivity' always made more sense. Turn to the right, you get more compression, essentially. Turn it all the way to the right, and you've got a distortion box, the sound of which is tuned by Ratio, Attack, and Release.

Makeup: 30 dB of gain to compensate for the attenuation caused by the compressor.

Active: From the front panel, this is simply an off/on switch, but if you automate it, strange things happen...

MIDI Learn: Like all of our products, the VST version has MIDI Learn. Download any manual from the current product line for an explanation of how this works, as it is common among all our VST products.

Rough Rider is available as a VST effect for Windows, and an AU or VST for OSX. The OSX versions are Universal Binaries, and require OSX 10.4.0 or later."

You can find it here. Follow-up to this post.

herw modular m1 version 5.03 v1.1

herw modular m1 designed by Herwig Krass. Note this was built with Native Instruments Reactor. Reaktor is a platform that allows you to create your own synths and effects. As you can see Herwig Krazz used Reactor to create his own software modular. Note the patch cords. If you have Reactor you can get the synth here.

Popcorn performed on Synthesizers.com

YouTube via Thalassa77
"Popcorn cover performed in Synthesizers.com, all sounds are from this system except drums. 11 different synthesizers.com sounds are in this track.All made with one VCO :)

I've edited the video and replaced the audio from the camera with one recorded in the computer at the same time of the video.

http://www.lastfm.es/music/thalassa"

keybdwizrd - DSI Mopho Demo #3

YouTube via keybdwizrd

A simple theme

YouTube via attorks
"A simple theme; no keyboard wizardry here. The Synthesizers.com sound uses an Oakley Equinoxe VC phaser which is modulated by an LFO, a EG and later on by a VCO. Row 1 of the MAQ16/3 drives the DotCom, row 2 the MFM and row 3 the Creamware MiniMax (not visible)."

DS-10 song - super13

YouTube via jetdaisuke

Crumar Orchestrator

YouTube via peglegjoe857. Watch your audio level, the synth is considerably louder than his voice. via this auction
"This is a Crumar Orchestrator that I am selling on ebay, decided to make a video to show it's sound and condition. As you can see it sounds sweet and very analog. The strings are killer and the brass is fat and sometimes approaches being a squelchy little bass killer as well. Sad to see this working one go, but i have a broken one under my wing right now that I only need a few IC chips, a few new fader pots, and some time spent on the keyboard before it is ready for some rock."

Dave Smith Instruments Mopho

via this auction

I didn't realize it was actually available right now. Looks like the first Mopho auction goes to Analogue Haven.

BIN of $399.00

Vintage 70s MTI Auto-Orchestra AO-1

images via this auction

"This truly vintage and early synthesizer MTI Auto-Orchestra is a sophisticated electronic musical instrument made in the 1970's. It contains a drum machine, an accompaniment generator and a separate bass sound. It was designed to be an electronic instrument for the instrumental soloist with three-note chord accompaniment synthesizer and an advanced rhythm machine.

The chords, with a choice of similar sounds of a piano, an organ or strings, can be set (by outside switches) to be major, minor, dominant seven or diminished chord. The device also offers automated walking bass.
Size: 12"H x 15"W x 13"D. Shipping weight 24 lbs."

CLICK FOR MORE »

360 SYSTEMS VINTAGE SYNTH

images via this auction
"1980's 360 Systems Digital sample keyboard. Loaded with real instrument digital samples, this was a very successful attempt to re-create a modern digital-based Mellotron keyboard. Simple to use, this keyboard produces 32 beautiful digital samples, all of which are at the touch of a button. This keyboard is exceedingly rare and extremely useful. The first 16 samples sound like: flute, guitar, bass, slap bass, sustained strings, basoon, clavinet, saxophone, swell clarinet, flugelhorn, trumpet, horns, strings, vibes, marimba, bass clarinet. The other 16 sounds we did not check, but all of the chips are present on the circuit board. The keyboard is in perfect working condition and was recently serviced by Ed Miller in Los Angeles...."

SEQUNCIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET 600 Boxed

via this auction

Virtuoso

via Lee:
"My friend's short film on the Theremin called "Virtuoso" is nominated in Air Canada's enRoute Film Festival! Awards are held in November. To view the film (and vote?!!!) go to this link. The film features Kamila Nasr.

Also, check out the 5 song demo "TRANSGENIX" that I recorded featuring some fine Theremin playing by Kamila."

This Sunday at Dorkbot Melbourne, Australia

*4pm, Sunday 28 September, 2008
Level 1, 124a Johnston St Fitzroy 3065 (just east of Brunswick St).

This Sunday Dorkbot Melbourne, Auatralia.

::: Ross Healy (aka Cray) :::
::: VICMOD - Melbourne DIY Modular Synth Builders :::

Ross will provide a glimpse into the world of VICMOD, a group of musicians and synthesizer enthusiasts who meet monthly in the Melbourne CBD to discuss and construct modular analog audio synthesizers. Each month the group builds a different module, often those designed by Ken Stone (http://www.cgs.synth.net/). Ross will also demonstrate some of the modules which have been built at VICMOD over the past couple of years.

Experimental electronic artist Ross Healy has been an active member of the Melbourne music scene since 1988 and has released recordings around the globe with projects such as This Digital Ocean, Amnesia, 56k Siko Spunji, and Horaku . These days he releases and performs under the 'Cray' moniker, making music with his 95 module modular synthesizer as well as software instruments.

::: Ross Bencina (aka Mulchwerk) :::
::: AudioMulch 2.0 progress report :::

For the last 2.5 years Ross has been working on a new version of his AudioMulch software musical instrument ( http://www.audiomulch.com ) which is now reaching the final stages of development. Ross will provide a preview of what he's been working on and will discuss some of the details of the AudioMulch 2.0 development process.

Ross Bencina is a composer, performer, software developer and digital instrument maker, with a strong interest in improvised electroacoustic music. He has performed solo and with collaborators around Australia and internationally. Ross is the creator of AudioMulch interactive music studio - software for electronic music performance. In 2004 and 2005 Ross collaborated with researchers at the Music Technology Group, Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona where he contributed to the development of the reacTable musical instrument. Ross is the director of Sonic Fritter Pty. Ltd., which sells AudioMulch and provides software development and consulting services for audio-related applications.

http://www.audiomulch.com/~rossb"

Roland Synthesizer Tape Contest

via this auction

"These are very rare Roland Synthesizer Tape Contest tapes. Roland held yearly competitions back in the late 70's and early 80's where people would send in their electronic compositions and these were the winners for 1981 and 1982. Contest #5 was won by Amin Bhatia with a piece that was later redone and used as the main theme for his "Interstellar Suite". He now composes music for TV and movies. He also had an impressive piece called "Desert March of the Military" in contest #6. Approximately 20 pieces on #5 and 16 on #6."

AudioCubes and Reason 4 Arpeggiator Demo

YouTube via Percussa
"A short demo of Percussa AudioCubes controling the RPG-8 arpeggiator in Propellerheads Reason 4.
More info at http://blog.percussa.com/ and http://www.percussa.com/"

Ogun

"Ogun can produce exceptionally rich metallic and shimmering timbres, although it's not limited to this genre. Ogun’s distinctive synthesis engine can generate more than 32,000 harmonics, modulated by high-level ‘harmonic mapping’ functions, that hand tonal control directly to the user. Try the VSTi demo and experience Ogun in your favorite host.

Key features:
Massive additive synthesis engine (up to 32,767 harmonics).
Realistic metallic timbres through harmonic randomization or timbre analysis (resynthesis).
Fast, precise tonal shaping through multipoint envelopes (of Sytrus fame).
Advanced Unison engine.
XY modulation pad for live expressive control.
Effects: Filter, Chorus, Delay, Reverb and EQ
Space-saving GUI."
http://www.image-line.com/documents/ogun.html

Sequential Circuits Prophet V Repair Part 1

YouTube via vintagevibekeyboards
"Tutorial on opening up your Prophet V in order to repair key bushings, contacts, or action. Purchase Brand new Key Bushings: http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-484-synt..."

Sequential Circuits Prophet V Repair Part 2

Messing with a Compurhythm CR-78 Rhythm

YouTube via RothHandle.
"Today I worked a bit more on the rhythms for a new Andreas & jag song called "at best".

When we started recording I was really pleased with how the drums worked but I just got more and more annoyed with them...So ina weird attempt to save them I distorted them and filtered them through the wonderful Sherman Filterbank. This sort of worked. Then I tried taking the drums out altogether and then make a small rhythm with the Compurhythm CR-78...then I did treatments on that and then I started cutting up and bits and pieces of the sherman filterbank drums...and then I treated that...

It has been a rhythmic and slightly weird day.

For more informatuion about the studio where all of this was recorded...please stroll by the old yet effective www.roth-handle.nu"

sh-101 mod

YouTube via analoguesynth

x0xb0x syncing TR-606

YouTube via accenter. "x0xb0x syncing TR-606"

indo 2

YouTube via cray56

synthesizer eye dee m

YouTube via cray56
"Plan B VCO,LPG,Heisenberg, Livewire AFG,Dual Cyclotron,Dalek, Vulcan, CGS Steiner Filter, Doepfer WASP filter"

x0xb0x blue LED's TB-303

YouTube via accenter. "x0xb0x for sale" Doesn't say where. x0xb0xes on Ebay.

6:00 Intro solo Jordan Rudess CLAVIA NORD LEAD 3 Demo by S4K

YouTube via Space4Keys. Note the Roland JD-800 hiding underneath.
"Demostration
Key: Clavia Nord Lead 3
Patch: Lead, Synth, Pads
Performed by S4K
www.space4keys.com"

JUNO-STGAGE The New Standard For Live Keyboardist!

YouTube via RolandChannel
"http://www.roland.com/synth/JUNO/
Designed from the ground up for live performers, JUNO-STAGE is a new breed of synthesizer that every gigging keyboardist will love. Decked out with an extra-large display, hands-free patch select, dedicated performance knobs, USB backing-track functionality, a Click output for drummers, phantom-powered mic input with Reverb/Vocoder, instant master MIDI control functionality, and much more. JUNO-STAGE sets a new standard for powerful on stage performance."

CEM 3372 Warning:

via here
"There are 6 CEM 3372s used in the Prophet, one for each voice. Greg Montalbano [analogsynthservice] needed to replace two of the 3372s on his Prophet and discovered that the two new chips had a "radically different response to filter CVs" than the other 3372s. He then confirmed that the chips were working correctly and even added "a trim pot to add -5 volt offset to the filter CV, and that brought the new filters somwhat in line with the others." It was not until he purchased other 3372s that he was able to match the the original CEMs in his Prophet 600.

Greg writes that the 'bad' 3372s, 'have the manufacturing code ending in 'A-01.' Chips with all other codes worked just fine [All other codes that Greg tried]. I'm mentioning this because the CEM3372 is crucial to the total performance of the Prophet 600; it can throw off the tuning, shut out one or more oscillators, and generally play havoc with the VCAs.'"

DIY M-64C Cartridges

"Using M-64C cartridge is the only way to load/dump tones and patches on a JX-10 with factory firmware. M-64C cartridges are pretty hard to find these days and they go for obnoxious prices on eBay. At least considering the 8K of static RAM inside a small plastic box. So I acquired an M-16C which can generally be found for half the price and opened the box with the goal of converting the M-16C into an M-64C. If anyone would like to follow the same procedure here are the steps."

SH201 Synth demo By Prefel

YouTube via appreciator12
"Hi my name is Prefel (artist name)
This clip is a demo of the best sounds and melodies I have come up with so far. I recorded myself jamming for a few weeks and then edited out all the boring stuff. I then arranged the fragments of recordings to make something which is a bit like a song.
I didnt loop anything or apply sound effects, however I wouldnt be able to play this becuase each fragment of audio was at different time with different settings on the synth. Hope you like it"

Novation BassStation!!!

YouTube via tedthetrumpet. "I don't believe it! Somebody threw this away!"

Novation BassStation update

"Now cleaned up, with broken keys repaired."
via Zomarec

Dave Smith Instruments Officially Launches the Mopho

via Dave Smith Instruments:
"Mopho is a compact and affordable—but powerful—monophonic analog synthesizer. The voice architecture is identical to a single voice of the Prophet '08, but with a couple of unique twists to distinguish it from its award-winning sibling. We have added two sub-octave generators—one per oscillator—for additional girth and crushing basses. It also has an audio input that lets you process external audio and mix Mopho's own audio output back in pre-filter for feedback effects that can range from subtle distortion to extreme skronk. The Push It button is a manual trigger that lets you play a specific note or latch notes and sequences on. It can also step through a sequence to play short melodic lines without a keyboard. Of course, Mopho can also be used with a MIDI controller or external sequencer.
Mopho is fully programmable and all the parameters can be tweaked from the front panel. The four Assignable Parameters controls are assignable per program for optimum performance control. A free editor is available for Mac OS and Windows to facilitate programming. (And, if you already have a Prophet '08, most of Mopho's parameters can be controlled from the Prophet's front panel via MIDI!)
Mopho is perfect for people who want to learn the ins and outs of real analog synthesis without spending a bundle, DJs looking to add some old school sonic spice to their setups, and musicians who will appreciate a great-sounding, very portable mono synth.

* Affordable, fully programmable mono synth with a 100% analog signal path.
* Classic, real analog sound—including legendary Curtis analog low-pass filter.
* Process external audio through the filter and envelopes.
* Just 7.5" x 5" (19.05 cm x 12.7 cm).
* Free editor for Mac OS and Windows."

Street price in the US appears to be $399.
See this link for all posts on the mopho including video, more images and an image of the protype.

Studio 2007

flickr by tubmyk2

full size

Moog Micromoog
Oberheim OB-8
Yamaha S90es

"condensed studio as of May 08"

Van She

flickr by saimagery.1

full size

KORG MS20

Jorge Drexler in Buenafuente’s Show with AudioCubes

BFN 415 - Jorge Drexler

YouTube via ElTerrat
I thought this was interesting in that it is not the stereotypical setting for the cubes. There's also a little theremin action at 2:48.

Description via the Hobnox blog:
"The Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, a Hollywood Oscar winner, was live on Buenafuente’s Show a while ago, presenting his new CD titled “12 segundos de oscuridad”. He was accompanied by two musicians with laptops and several control surfaces. The AudioCubes were also part of the setup! Drexler demonstrates the passion for his work by using the most advanced technology to compose and show his music. Thanks to Daniel from Citriq for the story."