Second hand piano re-use
Few days ago I started thinking about how I could re-purpose the keyboard of the dismantled piano I keep in the garden, so I thought to build a new instrument by combining it with some other parts I had laying around. I ended up with this mechanical hybrid thing I thought to call “Bassoforte” (bass + pianoforte).
The neck is from a broken electric bass, as a bridge I used a cabinet handle, the pickups are from a guitar, and the part at the top where the strings are attached is a chimney cap, which works as resonator as well as percussive sound.
DIY Synth kit from Doepfer released
As announced previously this year the DIY Synth is now released. The DIY Synth is the beginning of a a new product line: a low cost DIY kit to build a full-fledged analog synthesizer. The kit is made of an assembled and tested pc board that includes all that is necessary to build a standard analog synthesizer.
Prices:
Euro 100.00 (without controls, sockets, switches, cables, power supply and case, without temperature control of the VCO)
Euro 120.00 (same as above, but with temperature control of the VCO)
Obviously you need to add potentiometers, knobs, rack etc to get something useful!
Introducing the robosynth wind controller
A really nice twist on electronic music evolution 
http://robosynth.blogspot.com/See the site for more. The following is just a snip on the Mark II Wind Controller. You’ll find samples on site.
“The circuit boards are housed in a wooden case made from cherry and walnut with some decorative inlays on the bottom part. The main body of the case was assembled as an octagonal assembly, but was rounded on the outside for that traditional instrument look and shape. There are three circuit board assemblies, the main board that has the processor and other active circuitry, an upper switch assembly for the fingering buttons, and a lower switch and LED assembly. The lower assembly connects to the main board before being inserted into the case. The upper switch assembly is also inserted into the case and connects to the bottom half sandwich with a small ribbon cable.”
//
Cool intro to the beta Spectralis External Control
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/3011127?pg=embed&sec=]
Info on Spectralis:
Spectralis 2 is the even more powerful successor of Radikals sophisticated Hybrid Synthesizer. With up to 2 GB sample memory and tons of new features Radikal raises the bar again for our competition. Never stop the sequencer engine again with our fully redesigned sequencer engine that allows for on the fly realtime sequencing, recording of MIDI controllers and overdubbing. Quick Sound Selection for every part – your most favorite sounds are just one fingertip away. Transpose your patterns and step sequences with the attached keyboard and control the Spectralis 2 parameters via MIDI from your computer. There is only one thing, we left untouched in our new design – the sound engine. Still the warmest and richest sound out there with the power of a modular synthesizer in a box.
DIY, the 8-step GorF step sequencer
This is a demo of the GorF, a minimal step MIDI sequencer that offers analog-style sequencing.
It sends MIDI notes and velocity on a user selectable MIDI channel, along with two MIDI CC’s (user selectable. the GorF offers variable sequence length. You can also turn steps on an off using the buttons, though this is not demo’d.
The sound is coming from the MonowaveII sound skin.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHdpEM4l3Xg&eurl=http://createdigitalmusic.com/&feature=player_embedded]
With four sequences with parameters, steps with pitch, gate, and Control Change, sequencing controls, legato mode, and the planned ability to both send and receive clock, this is one useful-looking device. And from the video above, it looks like it’s progressing really nicely.
DATAMASKIN
