Analogue Systems French Connection Ondes Martenot Style Modular Synthesizer Controller

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SN 010 via this auction

"The French Connection is on of the greatest Controllers ever built... A truly elegant and beautifully built controller. This one is early serial number 10... In super excellent condone with very minor wear and tear from use inside a climate controlled professional studio..."

"Based upon the legendary Ondes Martenot, the French Connection is a unique controller for virtuoso performance. By placing a finger through the ring suspended below the physical keyboard, the player can glide smoothly between notes by moving the playing hand from left to right, creating a very natural vibrato in the process. Theremin effects are easily obtained by connecting one of the CV outputs to an external VCO with sine wave output.

The French Connection is a 49-note CV/Gate keyboard controller supplying (3) CV outputs, (1) Gate output, and (1) Trigger output. In addition, there is an XY Joystick Controller, selector switches for normal keyboard duties, and the Ondes Martenot Controller via a Wire Traveller and pressure resistant wooden button. The French Connection controller does not have MIDI and does not emit any sound, but by connecting it to a minimum of (1) VCO with sine or saw waveform, plus a VCA, the Martenot effect is easily obtained.

The user can line up the Wire Traveller with a raised and indented reference grid below the Traveller (a wire under tension with a ring that the user puts his finger through) to land accurately on the desired notes, or can use the keyboard as a visual aid.

The user can select between Traveller and Keyboard modes with the 2 selector switches for Button and Conventional Keyboard playing. For example, if the expression is routed from the button to a VCA with LFO routed thru it (for vibrato), the player can achieve effects much like the Arp PPC controller on an Odyssey III / Axxe II.

The French Connection is housed in a gorgeous American Walnut cabinet and each one is hand built. This instrument has received worldwide attention since Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead started using his in their studio sessions and on their live tours."

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Analogue Systems French Connection Controller

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Based upon the legendary Ondes Martenot, the French Connection is a unique controller for virtuoso performance. By placing a finger through the ring suspended below the physical keyboard, the player can glide smoothly between notes by moving the playing hand from left to right, creating a very natural vibrato in the process. Theremin effects are easily obtained by connecting one of the CV outputs to an external VCO with sine wave output.

The French Connection is a 49-note CV/Gate keyboard controller supplying (3) CV outputs, (1) Gate output, and (1) Trigger output. In addition, there is an XY Joystick Controller, selector switches for normal keyboard duties, and the Ondes Martenot Controller via a Wire Traveller and pressure resistant wooden button. The French Connection controller does not have MIDI and does not emit any sound, but by connecting it to a minimum of (1) VCO with sine or saw waveform, plus a VCA, the Martenot effect is easily obtained.

The user can line up the Wire Traveller with a raised and indented reference grid below the Traveller (a wire under tension with a ring that the user puts his finger through) to land accurately on the desired notes, or can use the keyboard as a visual aid.

The user can select between Traveller and Keyboard modes with the 2 selector switches for “Button” and “Conventional Keyboard” playing. For example, if the expression is routed from the button to a VCA with LFO routed thru it (for vibrato), the player can achieve effects much like the Arp PPC controller on an Odyssey III / Axxe II.

The French Connection is housed in a gorgeous American Walnut cabinet and each one is hand built. This instrument has received worldwide attention since Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead started using his in their studio sessions and on their live tours."

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Radiohead Broadcasts on New Years Eve

via DEAD AIR SPACE:

"Dear Reader

Hope you are having a peaceful christmas.

As you may now have heard we will be broadcasting a pre-recording of some songs and other bits on New Years Eve.. you will be able to view it online from here at midnight new years eve, uk time that is...

radiohead.tv

as well as other places that i am not sure about. this is a wee celebration of the release of the physical manifestation of 'in rainbows'.

yours hopefully
Thom"

Picutured: Johnny Greenwood and his Analog Systems French Connection and Modular. The French Connection is based on the Ondes Martenot.


Recuerdos de la Alhambra played on a French Connection

The above features the French Connection by Stretta (previously posted)

"After watching the Jean Laurendeau Ondes Martenot video on youtube, I was inspired to seek out an Analogue Systems French Connection controller. It so happens that I came across a used unit, so I jumped on it. I received it two days ago and I was eager (perhaps too eager) to contribute a demo of my new toy to youtube. Yes, my intonation is questionable. My apologies.

All the music was generated exclusively with a (primarily Doepfer) modular synthesizer, one monophonic line at a time. This exercise is somewhat of a test balloon for a long form modular project I'm currently sketching out.

Correction: the original piece is Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega"

Analogue Systems French Connection Video

French Connection.mov

YouTube Uploaded by AudioCentralMagazine on Apr 8, 2012

"Frankie Bellani is using his French Connection for playing the big Dotcom System 110 Modular Synthesizer"

Analogue Systems French Connection

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Oct 20, 2019 Joseph McGinty

"Short demo of the Analogue Systems French Connection controlling an ARP 2600.
Currently on sale at Reverb.com"

SN 224 via this auction

"Wonderful Analogue Systems French Connection controller, inspired by the Ondes Martenot. Incredibly expressive and interfaces well with modular synths. Used very sparingly in my smoke free studio."

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Analogue Systems French Connection

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"French Connection cv/gate controller. Famously used by Radiohead. Shows a few signs of use (a very slight portion of the plastic around the thread is a bit torn as shown on the picture) but works perfectly. Fire sale : a unique chance to get it at the lowest price ever on the web."

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L by FrankieBellani Featuring Analogue Systems French Connection

L by FrankieBellani
via Frankie Bellani on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"French Connection in action!"

French Connection

YouTube Uploaded by peterkeys88 on Aug 31, 2011
"I had the oppurtunity to mess around with an Analogue Systems "French Connection", an imitation of an early electronic instrument called the Ondes Martenot. This controller is CV'd up to an MFB Kraftzwerg. Just a demonstration of some of it's capabilites. I'll make a more musical video soon."

AnalogSuicide.com at Big City Music: French Connection!

YouTube via tarabusch
"http://www.analogsuicide.com
http://www.bigcitymusic.com
http://www.analoguesystems.co.uk
Tara Busch leads us through a mini tour of the fabulous Analogue Systems French Connection...a sweet remake of the classic Ondes Martenot."

Analogue Systems Apprentice SN 4280 & French Connection SN 068

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

Apprentice via this auction, French Connection via this auction

Modules:

RS-35 External Signal Processor

RS-230 CV Buffer

RS-95E Voltage Controlled Oscillator Qty.2

RS-380 Modulation Controller

RS-500E EMS Synthi VCF

RS-110 Multimode VCF

RS-60 Envelope Generator (Looping ADSR)

RS-510E EMS Synthi Trapezoid Generator

RS-160 CV Mixer

RS-20 Multiple + Ring Modulator

RS-180 Voltage Controlled Amplifier

RS-165 Signal Mixer

RS-390 Echo

110V Mains Power Cable

Played/owned by Taylor York of Paramore.

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Where Are You? (part 2)

YouTube via stretta. I couldn't find a Part 1, so I'm not sure if Part 2 refers to just the piece or a prior video.
"I'm playing a French Connection controller against a simple looping phrase. If you listen carefully to the phrase, the pulses change vary slightly throughout the composition.

The French Connection is controlling a small collection of modules including a Cwejman VCO-RM2, MMF1, Plan B model 11 and Doepfer VCA. The left hand joystick is controlling various parameters including the frequency of the slave osc of the VCO which is also frequency modulating one of the filters.

Vimeo has a better quality version of this piece, including stereo audio. Unfortunately, this piece is not really mono compatible - all sorts of phase cancelation occurs when youtube collapses the file to stereo.

http://www.vimeo.com/707506

Go to http://stretta.com for more information"

Recuerdos de la Alhambra played on a French Connection

YouTube via stretta.
"After watching the Jean Laurendeau Ondes Martenot video on youtube, I was inspired to seek out an Analogue Systems French Connection controller. It so happens that I came across a used unit, so I jumped on it. I received it two days ago and I was eager (perhaps too eager) to contribute a demo of my new toy to youtube. Yes, my intonation is questionable. My apologies.

All the music was generated exclusively with a (primarily Doepfer) modular synthesizer, one monophonic line at a time. This exercise is somewhat of a test balloon for a long form modular project I'm currently sketching out."

French Connection

Published on Dec 6, 2018 theianboddy

"The Analogue Systems French Connection keyboard mimics the playing technique of the Ondes Martenot. The ring & wire control the pitch and the button on the left, in this instance, is controlling Volume, filter cutoff & PWM as well as the Morph X on the Morphing Terrarium.

The Roland System 500 is providing the main lead voice from the 510 module. The 555 module is doing the various CV modulations as well as the White Noise source. The dual filter 505 is treating the white noise & low drone. This drone is coming from the Synthesis technology Morphing Terrarium with Mutable Instruments Clouds providing the delay & reverb FX."

Analogue Systems French Connection

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"For sale is an Analogue Systems French Connection keyboard. It is in excellent shape and fully functional. An amazing & unique keyboard for controlling your analog synths or eurorack modular. Built in ring-slider & X/Y Joystick make this a blast to play with. Costs $3200 new, save a bunch here!"

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Erica Synths SUPERBOOTH19 Announcements

"Erica Synths have prepared a lot of new products to present at this years Superbooth in Berlin. 13 new modules and... a new system! You read it right.

And this isn't even all that we have planned to release in the rest of 2019

Reminding that you can find us at the first floor lobby, booth E245.
Just look for all black everything!

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A Special Message From Eric Persing of Spectrasonics - Stéphane Bonvallet Passed Away From COVID-19

A Special Message From EP Published on Apr 15, 2020 SpectrasonicsVIDEO

"A Special Message to our Community from Spectrasonics Founder Eric Persing."

Stéphane is the first person in the synth industry that I'm aware of who has passed away from the coronaviris / COVID-19. He was too young.

via Spectrasonics:

"Stéphane Bonvallet is truly Spectrasonics’ French Connection.

It all started with a D-50 and an explosion of music programming around the planet. Stéphane was one of the first to own this legendary synth in France. His addiction to it and all things audio secured him a position in the dawning of this age of musical programming. Some say he could often be seen programming sounds with his eyes shut in a state of audio nirvana.

It's this kind of passion that keeps Stéphane the eternal optimist in all things pertaining to music and destiny. The allure of the industry eventually lead him to pursue a Masters in Sound Engineering. Studying music arrangement and jazz at the CIM, considered the premiere jazz school in Europe, Stéphane built his skill set through countless studio hours. His talents found their first home in French television work for Les Enfants de la Télé and La Fureur du Samedi Soir.

His association with Spectrasonics spans nearly a decade as a consultant, demonstrator and as a member of the renown sound development team for Omnisphere and Trilian."

Ambient Rack & French Conection

Published on Feb 18, 2019 theianboddy

"Analogue Systems French Connection keyboard (that mimics the playing style of the Ondes Martenot) controlling a small Eurorack case.

Modules from left to right are Roland System 500: 510 | 505 | 555 followed by Synthesis Technology E350 Morphing Terrarium & finally Mutable Instruments Clouds."

Modgers Day at Michaels

YouTube Uploaded by j3ffw0j0 on May 8, 2011

"Modular synthesizer at Michaels Studio. You can see my portable system (the little tiny thing with the "electronic playground" mounted in in. In this video we are finalizing a patch"

Racing Sequencers

Uploaded by j3ffw0j0 on May 8, 2011

"Recording the modular synthesizer @ Michaels. 05/07/2011"

Modgers Day

Uploaded by j3ffw0j0 on May 14, 2011

"More Modular - Klee, French Connection, Etc"

How to destroy angels: Keep it together

How to destroy angels: Keep it together from How To Destroy Angels on Vimeo.

"From An Omen EP_ out November 13th.
Directed/edited by How to destroy angels_
http://howtodestroyangels.com"

Synth spotting: Oberheim Xpander, DSI PEK, EMS VCS3 "The Putney", Serge modular, Buchla, Make Noise, Doepfer, Analogue Systems French Connection, Knas Ekdahl Moisturizer, ARP Oddyssey with CMS Lumina Upgrade, Native Instruments Maschine, Moog Voyager, Tom Oberheim SEM? & more.

Therevox ET-3

via this auction

"Cool Therevox ET-3 ET3 tabletop instrument. This is a modern recreation of the tannerin used originally by the Beach Boys to recreate the Theremin part from "Good Vibrations" live. This was built in a limited run of 13 last year by Mike Beauchamp. These are no longer available. This works great and sounds really cool. It has some more complex functions available as well as the basic saw and sine waves tones. Its an excellent stand alone instrument or as a controller for Modular synth stuff or CV inputs. It is similar in form and function to the Eowave Persephone and the French Connection controller, which is a copy of an Ondes Martenot. For more info, see the now retired therevox website: http://therevox.com/index.php" Also see the Therevox label below for prior posts.

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