Time machine: Oberheim OB-X “8 Voices”
Vintage synthesizer demo track by RetroSound
all sounds:
Oberheim OB-X (8 voice) Analog Synthesizer from the year 1979
recording: multi-track
fx: a little bit delay
more info: http://www.retrosound.de and
http://www.facebook.com/pages/RetroSound-Marko-Ettlich/265713782347
The first of the OB series Oberheim synths, this is a classic analog synthesizer available in 4, 6 or 8 voice configurations. It featured a 2 pole VCF lowpass filter with its own ADSR, a VCA with ADSR, a flexible LFO section, polyphonic sample and hold, polyphonic portamento and 32 patches of memory. Although it has been over-shadowed by the bigger and more popular OB-Xa and OB-8 synths which offer more flexible programming, the OB-X still holds its own. Capable of lush analog synth sounds comparable to the Sequential Prophet 5 but at a reasonable price. The OB-X also gives you Polymod functionality, something that the OB-Xa and OB-8 do not have. This synth is definitely worth checking out.
SN-A – “Transmission 01-001-01″
Official video to new project SN-A. The combination of letters stands for no one else than SEVREN NI-ARB aka X MARKS THE PEDWALK! Written and directed by Sevren Ni-Arb. Exclusive digital download on iTunes, Musicload and similar – out Feb2012. http://www.x-mtp.com/sn-a.html
Scale Tuner – Yamaha’s scale tuning application for iPad/iPhone/iPod touch
Scale Tuner allows you to change the tuning of a compatible Yamaha keyboard or digital piano to Arabic or pure temperament tuning. The internal piano voice lets you confirm the scale settings without the need of a connected MIDI keyboard.
G-Sonique Releases new GXSL4070 Parametric EQ
G-Sonique has released the new GSXL4070 parametric equalizer , inspired by and based on “famous British mix console equalizers.” Keep it clean with the new GSXL4070 parametric EQ from G-Sonique. A VST plugin that is PC-only for now and available for 28 Euro ($36.85 at today’s exchange rates), the GSXL4070 offers modern, solid state analog electronics sound without any unwanted/oversaturated coloring of signal (such as with vacuum tube or vintage EQs).
A VST plugin that is PC-only for now and available for 28 Euro ($36.85 at today’s exchange rates), the GSXL4070 offers modern, solid state analog electronics sound without any unwanted/oversaturated coloring of signal (such as with vacuum tube or vintage EQs). The result is a very intensive, rich and significant sound, according to G-Sonique. df
Ideal for mixing and mastering purpose, GSXL4070 is a fully parametric stereo equalizer with four bands (LF, LMF, HMF, HF) and HP (BASS CUT), Q control, and +-12db attenuation/boosting of every band.
For best possible clarity of sound and minimum artifacts, 2X internal oversampling algorithms were used.
Notable features:
- British mix-console EQ “solid state electronics” style of sound without unwanted over-colored or over saturated sound. With 2X internal oversampling for double precision dsp algorithms calculations and minimum of unwanted artifacts.
- 4 fully parametric EQ bands:
LF – Low frequency, (20-500Hz)
LMF – Low mid frequency, (200 Hz – 3 kHz)
HMF – high mid frequency, (700 Hz – 12 kHz)
HF – high frequency ( 1.5 kHz – 20 kHz)
HP (High pass – Bass cut) filter 15 – 400 Hz bass cut with on/off switch with Q-control (bandwidth), attenuation/boost ( + / - 12db per band),
- Output Volume knob
- Bypass switch
- Preset manager
Best Service releases Nitron – Sample-based Synth for Kontakt & Kontakt Player
Best Service has released Nitron, a new sample-based synthesizer powered by Kontakt Player.
The more than 1000 included Nitron patches are high quality multi-samples from more than 50 different synthesizers. You will find a broad range of classics as well as lesser known synthesizers from the last 30 years in this collection. The library is focused on providing the fattest possible lead and bass sounds. This product is well suited for techno, drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, hip hop, bigbeat, trance and electro, as well as pop and ambient music.
Nitron is based on Native Instruments’ Kontakt 5.
Best Service says “Nitron cannot be compared to other sample-based libraries, which give you very limited or no access at all to editing and tweaking your sounds. Nitron is like a real synthesizer, using high end source samples as oscillators”. If you own the full Kontakt 4 version (or newer), you can use the countless possibilities of this sophisticated sampler to tweak your sounds, giving you access to an almost infinite number of sound creations for any music style imaginable. Tweaking of course is also possible with the included Kontakt Player.
Top features included are low pass filters, high pass, band pass, vowel and phaser filters. The user can choose between poly and mono mode as well as an authentic legato mode. A unison mode plus a global saturator make your sounds as fat and rich as possible. Via the mod wheel you can access useful parameter assignments for all patches like additional high pass filters, tremolo or vibrato giving this must have package a finishing touch.
Most patches use effects like Chorus, Flanger, Delay and Convolution Reverb. In the Kontakt Player version you need to turn on the FX button to use this effects. In the full Kontakt version, the effects can be edited or replaced with other effects you like.
This synthesizer/library has been produced by the Swiss producer & sound designer Urban Riedo – Tunebeast.
Pricing & Availability
Nitron costs €189 but is currently available for the introductory offer price of €149.
As it is powered by Kontakt Player it is available for 32- and 64-bit Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU and RTAS instrument formats.
The Analog Lab NYC-Korg PS-3300-Erik Satie Gymnopedies No 1
“Korg PS-3300 recently repaired and restored by The Analog Lab
The PS-3300 allows you to tune each individual note on the front panel of each module. We decided to take this opportunity to put it in Just Intonation and play some Satie.
The main problem with this unit was all of the connectors for the bus bars attached to the circuit boards were cracked.”
Full story below:
Today at The Lab, we finally finished a project that has been a long time in the making. A complete restoration of a Korg PS-3300. It came in with a simple intermittent issue, but when it rains, it pours. When we dived deeper into this beasty, we knew it was going to be much more than a simple repair.
I already mentioned the intermittent problem, but we soon found an edge connector for one of the circuit cards had been cracked. We saw that a previous owner had attempted to reinforce the connector with an aluminum bracket, but it was already gone. Whilst replacing the edge connector, we discovered that ALL the edge connectors were cracked and in desperate need of replacing. Sooooo, we called up the client and gave him that bad news, and suggested we treat it as a restoration rather than repair. He agreed and we were on our way.
The unit had a very well thought out color code for its wiring system, which was hand wired, but one issue was numerous bus wire connections between sets of cards had to be re-fabricated and connected to the new edge connectors. After all was said and done and the unit was in test mode, we also found a lot of dy solder joints that happened over time. They were all traced down and re-soldered. Of course the power supply caps were getting a little leaky, so they were also replaced.
Finally, we cleaned all the pots and switches on the front panel and re-checked all the new connectors. We burned in the unit for a few days and recorded a video with Gymnnopedies No 1 by Satie.
The client came and was visibly thrilled, and all was well once again.
KORG MONOPOLY – dANCe NaTiON
100 brand new presets programmed by music producer, remixer and sound designer Rob Lee
Rob Lee is a music producer, remixer and professional sound designer and also co-owner of Section9 Records. Rob started out in music back in ‘87 as DJ and played clubs across Europe from his hometown of Newcastle (UK) to Mallorca and the Costa Blanca in Spain. As a sound designer Rob’s sounds can be found in hard- and software synthesizers developed by companies such as Waldorf Music, PreSonus Software, Rob Papen, Lennar Digital, FabFilter, MOTU, Synapse Audio and U-he.Top trance sounds, killer house chords and shuddering basses are trademark sounds for Rob and the are much sought after by top producers from all over the world.2011 will see Rob Lee teaming up with well known DJ / Producer Dom Kane to bring some brand new tracks to the label. Rob and Dom met through their love for sound design and similar taste in electronic dance music. And with Dom’s records featured in Pete Tong’s record bag, we’re proud to have him as a friend.Later this year Rob Lee will pick up some remixes for our signed artists as well as a colloboration with one of Europe’s top female vocalists.
DSI Tempest – “Synth mode” test
Making a drum machine into a synth:
No flashy performances or crazy beat-mangling going on here. Just testing the Tempest as a 6-voice analog / digital polysynth.
Moog and the fundamentals of synthesizer programming
Moog Music has released the first in Dr. Joseph Akins’ five part series on the fundamentals of synthesizer programming, with an emphasis on analog subtractive synthesis.
Dr. Akins is an associate professor at Middle Tennessee State University. In this five part series Dr. Akins uses a Voyager to teach the process through which a synthesizer’s sound is generated and the techniques needed to program your own sounds and sonic experiments.
In part one of this five part series, Dr. Akins gives a brief history of synthesizers, goes over basic synthesizer theory, and overviews basic signal flow.
NAMM Most Recommended: Nord Drum Virtual Analogue Drum Synthesiser
Here’s a guest post from one of our followers – S. Williams, enjoy
Looking back at NAMM 2012, there is much controversy in picking ‘the best in show’ but in terms of initiative and surprise we can all agree that the Nord Drum synthesiser is right up there. Nord cleverly created hype by releasing a few teaser pics a few days before NAMM but they may as well been pictures of a guitar as no one could of predicted what they had in store for us. It is not a drum machine in the traditional sense and is in-fact a virtual analogue drum synthesiser triggered by external devices. Nord promised that the virtual drum is “ guaranteed to change your perception of what’s possible with synthetic, sample-free percussion”. And that’s exactly what they have done, by creating a device that is totally brilliant and unique.
At the Nord stand at NAMM I was very much hoping to have a go on the drum but unfortunately I wasn’t allowed. However I did get the best seat in the house and get a great view of a tutorial like the one below, but it’s just not the same.
All it has done is make me desperate to play one and count down the days until its release date. Unfortunately I can’t give you more information on a playing experience but I can forward what I know and my opinions.
The Nord drum creates its sound through complex analogue waveforms and noise generators similar to that of a vintage Synth. It features lightening-fast triggering, and four trigger inputs allow MIDI equipped devices to connect. With this variety of connections we assume Nord intend to integrate the drum into an existing set-up or to be used as an electronic percussion module. With Nord making all the right noises describing the drum as ‘retro-futuristic’, it certainly ticks both boxes and is undoubtedly a great product. I can’t really see it introduced in live sets just yet, but would certainly be useful in studio set-ups and home usage. It is due to be available very soon, so sign up to this newsletter for more information and to be kept posted.
When it is released I will certainly buy and review it again in more detail and give it a thorough test drive. So stay tuned to this blog and we’ll see just what the Nord Drum is capable of.
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