My solar project - part 1

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Oct 3, 2011

"I have decided to experiment a bit with some small solar panels. So to get some inspiration I visited this big installation in Oksbøl close to the Danish west coast. My version will, however, be very small compared to this one.

I played the music on my Technics SX-C600 organ and Roland SH-2000 synthesizer. The song is called "Solskin" (Sunshine) so it fits this video rather nicely. It was originally recorded in Denmark by Klaus & Servants. But I don't know if this is actually a foreign song that was translated."

Update:

My solar project - part 2

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Oct 11, 2011

"Now it's time to do a little experiment. I got this box of small solar panel samples. And what I am trying to find out is which ones gives most power. So I sat down in the local forest and did some measurements.

The music is played on my Elka X-1000. The song is called "Der er lang lang vej til Barbados" or "Come Along To Barbados" and was recorded in the mid 1970's in English by Jens Brixtofte and MKT, and later in Danish by Ulla Pia."

My solar project - part 3
YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Oct 17, 2011

"Now it's time to actually build a solar panel. The idea is that the set of batteries next to the meters are charged by the eight solar elements. At the same time power can be taken through the red and black plugs so the batteries are working as a buffer when the current need is greater than what the sun can deliever. Now I just need to test it. How about making an outdoor concert driven by the sun?

The music to this video was something I recorded back in 1999 on Yamaha HE-8 organ and VSS-30 keyboard, Roland SH-2000 synthesizer and CR-1000 drum machine. It is a medley of old pop songs: "Beautyfull Sunday" and "Sunshine lover" both originally sung by Daniel Boone, and "Hooked on a feeling" by Blue Swede."
Solar Concert

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Oct 24, 2011


"To test the solar panel I have been building I play some music on three CASIO keyboards that I have connected to the system. No other power source is used.

I play through the speakers in the keyboards because if I connected them directly to the PC that is recording the performance they would use very little current. So that would be like cheating! I use two microphones to pick up the sound.

The three songs I play are:
"Glemmer du" (Kaj Normann Andersen)
"De Towerfluitsmurf" (Pierre Kartner)
"Oxygen XIII" (Jean Michel Jarre)"

Homemade Synthesizers 1

YouTube via organfairy.

"This time I am doing something a little different from my usual course.
But don't worry: When this series of six videos are posted I will be back on my usual track :-)

In 1995 I made my first working synthesizer module. Over the next ten years I build a lot of other stuff that could make notes or noises and in 2005 I decided it was time to record something with it.
I have been telling a lot of people about my homemade instrument for some years now. But I thought it was about time to actually show the things I have done - put the videos were my mouth is so to speak..."

Homemade synthesizers 2


"The second video in my series of homemade synth show-offs. This time the main attraction is the analog sequencer that controls a voltage controlled synthesizer. And yes, the little 1½ octave keyboard is inspired by PAIA's Oz - but the internal design is completely different." [some Kraftwerk Autobahn sounds for you]

Update: Homemade Synthesizers 3



"The third episode of my little series of videos showing off my homemade synthesizers. This time the star of the show is a drum machine made out of two old Ericsson telephone switchboards."

Homemade Synthesizers 4

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Homebuild Synth 3 - Voltage Controlled Filter

YouTube via organfairy. Remember you can search for organfairy here for more, or you can click through the video to get to organfairy on YouTube.
"After building an envelope generator it is time to build something it can control. Therefore this time I build a voltage controlled filter - or VCF - and at the end of the video I do a short demo.

Again the music is played on the Elka X-1000 organ. "

organfairy's first DIY synthesizer upgrade

YouTube via organfairy | February 15, 2011 |

"I made my first complete DIY synthesizer in 1997 when I was a student. I had only just been introduced to the internet so the few things I knew about synthesizers came from old books at the local library - you know, the building with books in it. And I combined that with knowledge I had gained from fixing my then only "real" synthesizer - the Roland SH-2000. I also had some electronic books from engineering school. But they didn't contain information on how to build a synthesizer.

I decided that it was time to improve the design a little. There are some flaws that I couldn't avoid when I made it because I didn't knew then what I know now. But at the same time I want to keep it as it is - you could call it sentimental value.

So I found a compromise where I keep most of the original design but improve the things that annoys me.

The music in this video is something I made in 1998. I used the Roland SH-2000 synthesizer, and CR-1000 drum machine, Bontempi KS-3400, Kawai MS-20, Yamaha PSS-12, and Casio SA-1 toy keyboards. The bass was played on a Casio SA-3 through a Boss OC-2 octaver pedal."

a One octave keyboard

Published on Feb 25, 2013 organfairy·364 videos

"I got some leftover keys from the digital keyboard I made a couple of videos ago. I am now making a box for them so they can be used as a remote keyboard for an upcoming project...

The music is something I made on Casio CT-510 keyboard (rhythm), Yamaha HE-8 organ, and Roland JX-8P synthesizer."

Crumar Nerve Centre 15 - a new use

Published on Mar 4, 2013 organfairy·365 videos

"In the last video I made a small one-octave keyboard and before this I investigated an old drum machine. Now it's the time to put these two musical items together with something in between and make it into a small (maybe small-ish) auto-orchestra.

The music that plays during the construction phase is something I made several years ago on Yamaha HE-8 and Viscount RBX-850 organs and Roland JX-8P synthesizer."

"What kind of boy you're looking for girl" - in Billund Skulpturpark

YouTube via organfairy. It's organfairy Friday time.
"Considering the fact that I have lived in Billund for more than eight years I have made surprisingly few videos on locations within city limits.
But this time I am taking a little stroll in the nearby sculpture park - an outdoor collection of modern sculptures of steel and stone placed between Legoland and the local shopping centre.
Off course I am only pretending to be playing this time. The melody was something I recorded in the year 2000 on Yamaha HE-8 and Technics SX-C600 organs, Boss DR-220 drum sequencer, and the little Casio SA-1."

Happy Halloween 2010 via organfairy

YouTube via organfairy | October 28, 2010

Remember to click on the Halloween label at the bottom of this post for more Halloween goodness!
"I thought about what to do this year for a Halloween video. I found a pile of electric candles (!) that I bought a while ago but never used.

Then I remembered a melody I made in 2003. The idea was to use a rhythm on my then favourit drum machine - the Roland CR-1000 - that I had never used before: Charleston. And a weird preset on the Roland JX-8P that I had never used either. I modified it a bit to make it more "alien-like" and added the accordeon preset to the arrangement and a piano arpeggio from the Yamaha organ.

I played the melody on the Kawai MS-20 and Yamaha VSS-30. Added some organ chords from the Viscount organ. And that was it."

See the Halloween label below to filter in only Halloween posts...

"Kittysleep" - on Roland SH-2000

YouTube via organfairy. organfairy is becoming a Friday tradition. I like it. :)
"Lately I have been transferring some of my old tapes to my computer and one of the tapes was a collection of original melodies I made in 1994. At that time I had just got my first two professional instruments: The Roland SH-2000 and the Roland CR-1000 - in fact this is the first melody I ever recorded using the CR-1000. The other sounds are made on toy keyboards: Bontempi KS3400, Kawai MS-20, and the bass was played on a CASIO SA-3 runned through a Boss OC-2 pedal.

It is the original recording so off course I am only pretending to be playing the Roland synthesizer. The cat however, is real....

.... oh and please excuse the small mistakes and the tape noise."

"Staying Alive" - on ELKA X-1000

YouTube via organfairy. follow-up to this Pink Floyd cover.
Be sure to check out the rest of organfairy's videos here.

Homemade drum pads

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Jan 30, 2012

"I have an idea for a drum interface to use with some of my homemade synthesizer modules. But to make that I need some drum pads. In this video I am therefore making a set of drum pads out of some wood (some of it is actually chipboard) and some old speakers.

The music is something I made in 2002. I used the Yamaha HE-8 organ, Roland CR-1000 drum machine, and JX-8P synthesizer."

Inside an Ultimate Sound.

Update:

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Feb 6, 2012

"After making the drum pads I need to build some sort of interface that can convert the short electric pulses from the pads to an analog voltage that can control other musical devices.

The music is something I made back in 2003. I played it on Yamaha HE-8 and Viscount RBX-850 organs, Roland CR-1000 drum machine and JX-8P synthesizer."

organfairy's first DIY synthesizer keyboard upgrade

YouTube via organfairy | February 22, 2011 |

organfairy's first synthesizer - expander

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Mar 15, 2011
follow-up to this post
"After making the sequencer for my first synthesizer I am making an expander - a box with some extra filters and envelope generators.

Instead of just showing the building process I am gong into details about a simple VCA that I am using in this design. It is made using just a diode and a resistor so it is quite simple.

The music that goes with this video is something I made in 2004 on a Yamaha HE-8 organ, Roland JX-8P synthesizer, and Roland Rhythm Arranger analogue drum machine."

organfairy's first DIY synthesizer - Sequencer

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Mar 8, 2011

"After having upgraded my first synthesizer and it's keyboard I continue by making a new sequencer for it.

The music is played on the Yamaha HE-8 organ, Roland SH-2000 and JX-8P synthesizers and CR-1000 drum machine."

New Years Recycling by organfairy

Published on Jan 1, 2013 organfairy·356 videos

"Happy New Year everybody!

As usual there was an abundance of fireworks which left the streets littered with the empty shells that used to house the explosives.

So how about using at least the sticks from the skyrockets to something? I haven't come up with something yet. But I have collected a handfull of sticks in various conditions so the materials are there now.

The music is something I recorded back in 1999 and is the old Elton John classic Daniel played on Yamaha HE-8 and Technics SX-C600 organs."

"Could you be loved" - on ELKA Panther 100

YouTube via organfairy. Search for organfairy on the top left search box here on MATRIXSYNTH for more.
"I recorded this melody - originally played by Bob Marley - 5 years ago when I had a couple of old Elka organs in my possesion. I don't have the Panther 100 anymore so I have made a video about something else. The other sounds are played on the Elka Preludeo 22L, EP-8, Cappricio 33L."

Happy Halloween! via organfairy

YouTube Uploaded by organfairy on Oct 27, 2011

I was going to save this for Halloween, but Halloween is always too short in my opinion. I figured it's good start the vibe early. It's time to get that party started. :) Halloween posts will be interspersed. Be sure to see the Halloween label below for more. If you have anything for Halloween, send it in!

"Last year at Halloween someone suggested that I should do Warmarch of the priests by Felix Mendelssohn as a Halloween video. I had already done a Halloween video so I decided that it should wait untill this year. So here it is!

It is also used as the opening of my favourit movie "the Abominable dr. Phibes" so I thought it could be fun to do a little dress-up. I don't have a shiny black cape like the one Phibes is wearing but I did have a red poncho. And in the right light this might also look kind off spooky. I have also added a little "old-movie" FX to the video.

The version of the warmarch that I present here is one that I recorded as a MIDI file back in 2000 for a Phibes fan page. But it is the Yamaha organ that are playing. It doesn't sound exactly like the usual organ version because I couldn't find the original organ sheet music at the public library or online. I could only find a version transcribed for a brass band. So this is actually a piece of organ music transcribed for brass band and then played on a digital organ..."

Homemade synthesizer song #8

Published on Nov 14, 2016 organfairy

"This is not so much of a song. It's more a demo showing what will happen if a simple 16 step sequence of notes are ring modulated with a sweep up and down of a square wave.
But to make it sound more like an arrangement I have added some bass notes and some bursts of modulated noise."

See the organfairy label at the bottom of this post for more.

organfairy's oldest surviving cover

Published on Dec 2, 2013 organfairy·400 videos

"This is not a very good cover of "Video killed the radio star" by the Buggles. But it gives an idea on how I was playing in 1995. The way this botch job was done is that I recorded the drum machine and bass on a tape recorder. Then I transferred this recording to another tape recorder (actually the one I use in this video - Beocord 2000 de luxe) while mixing in some more sound. Then I transferred this recording back to the first tape recorder again and continued in this fashion untill I had build up the arrangement. Unfortunately this method adds another layer of noise for every transfer - we were back in the analog days - and that can be heard in the beginning.

The instruments I used was: Casio SA-1 and SA-3 toy keyboards, Bontempi KS-3400 ditto, Boss OC-2 octaver, Roland CR-1000 drum machine and SH-2000 synthesizer (at that time my only profesional instruments) and Kawai MS-20 toy-but-not-so-much-as-the-before-mentio­ned keyboard.

There is a little doubt whether this is actually my oldest surviving cover. I also did "Waiting for another chance" by Endgames the same weekend. But I'm not sure which one I did first. My oldest cover doesn't exist anymore. I remember doing 'Kissing in the back row of the movies' on a Philips N4407 as a multiplay project. But I must have erased that since I couldn't find it anywhere."

Happy Halloween 2012 from organfairy

Published on Oct 29, 2012 by organfairy

"At last years Halloween I played the opening melody from "the Abominable dr Phibes". This year I play the theme from another great Vincent Price movie: "Theatre of Blood" while showing some pictures I took in Legoland during their Halloween week.

The melody is recorded as a MIDI file and plays on the computer sound card as well as controlling the Yamaha HE-8 organ."

See the Halloween label below for more and remember to send your posts in. You can find the email icon on the bottom right of the site.

Phantasmagoric Lucite Organ and Speakers by Wersi

via 1stdibs. Spotted and sent in via Brian Kehew: "Look at this thing! From the controls, it may be similar to the Condor/Kondor Wersi made in the 80s, a pretty hip synth. No price, I think you make an offer...."

Details from the site:

"USA 1970's
Words fail to describe the awesomeness of this piece! Made in 1970 by Wersi Electronics, it is one of only 5 ever made. Reportedly its cost in 1970 was over $100,000.

The Delta Digital DX500 organ comes replete with all manuals, control panel templates, music stand, amplified speakers, lucite dollies, pedal board, adjustable bench and chromed keys. And it works beautifully!!!

Speaker dims: 19.5x16.5x44.75" LWH

Condition*
Amazing!
Some light scratches, light wear to chrome keys.

Measurements
height: 42.5 in.
depth: 45 in.
width/length: 4 ft. 0.8 in.

Specifications
Number of items: 1
Materials/Techniques: Lucite, chrome
Creator: Wersi

Photography
provided by Modern One"

See link above for contact info.


Update via organfairy: "This Wersi organ is not from the 1970's. It was part of a series with Alpha, Beta (made famous by Klaus Wunderlich), Gamma, and this Delta model. It is from 1984 or 85 and is all digital.
The reason why somebody think it is from the 1970's is probably that it looks very much like the Wersi Saturn that came out in 1976. It was also wide but slim and on two chromed pillars.

Flemming A.K.A. Organfairy"


Update: word is Daft Punk picked up this clear plexi glass organ.  You can see it featured in Mixmag here.

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