Are you a user of the Omnisphere – updates are out
Registered users of Spectrasonics’ Trilian and Omnisphere synths can log in to their accounts for new updates, as well as new free patches.
Includes fixes for the following:
• Dialog to select missing STEAM folder doesn’t work
• Right click Reset to Default Value doesn’t record as automation
• Folder name case sensitivity problem with RTAS version on OSX
• “Most Recent” Browser sorting option should be named “Recent User”
• Server Mode initially produces no sound on some occasions
Trilian Update
Includes the following new features:
• New 5-Column Browser view displays more sound categories and attributes simultaneously
• New “Recent User” Browser sorting option for User Patches
• User-assignable Legato Interval rule added in Soundsource Zoom
• ‘Clone Part 1’ feature added for use with multichannel MIDI controllers
• New “Clone Part 1 MIDI Controls and Make Omni” MIDI Learn function
• Added support for Polyphonic Aftertouch
• Modulation Envelope points can be key-command snapped to semitone when modulating pitch
• Independent modulation options added for Harmonia Levels/Fine Tuning
• “Reset Factory defaults and preferences” feature added to Utility menu
• Numerous compatibility, performance and support improvements
Awesome site for synths and effects made with Synthedit
Simple Media announced their new website update. to coincide with the update they’re releasing two new free VSTi instruments, Striker and Voc-Two, and two new products retro-gsx and Cathedral.
The instruments and effects that appear on this page have been created using Synthedit. Synthedit is a tremendously powerful tool for creating software synthesizers, samplers and effects. The quality of software it can be used to create can rival software produced by high profile commercial developers. The package itself is very versatile, capable of recreating a number of different synthesis techniques from simple sample playback and analog modelling right through to FM and physical modelling.
Please note all instruments and effects are currently PC(Windows) only. This is due to the fact that Synthedit currently only exports VST dll files for Windows.
The two free VSti’s Striker is a physical modelling instrument created to reproduce the sounds of various types of tuned percussion such as marimbas, vibraphones and other instruments where a hammer or mallet strikes a block where as Voc-Two allows you to create realistic string ensemble and choir sounds without the use of samples. It includes a wide range of controls over the source sound generation and the morphable formant filter making it a surprisingly flexible instrument for creating rich and atmospheric pads and realistic ensemble sounds. The two new products are retro-gsx is a new addtion to the SID inspired synths retro-gs01 & retro-gs02 where as Cathedral is being hailed as a new approach to a pipe organ. All instruments are available at http://www.simple-media.co.u…
Teasers pics for two upcoming SW synths
HG Fortune have released a an image of the Ultra Swamp GUI preview. According to their post, “still does require some finetuning.”
Jarek J has released an image and sound clip demo of the upcoming iPad app: Horizon Synth. Check out the latest on this upcoming VA for iOS below.
Horizon Synth details:
2 oscillators (each features true supersaw based on Roland JP 8000)
5 filter types: LPF, HPF, PEQ, COMB, FORMANT 12,24db
2 ADSRs
LFO
Effects unit
Morph groups controlled by mod wheel (similar to NordLead 3)
Programmable arpeggiator
Full MIDI in implementation, audio recorder + audio copy
Horizon Synth for iPad – alpha demo by Jarek J
A room full of priceless synthesizers
More music on umop.com! Background music: “O Face” by Parallax.
Get a look inside Analog Heaven Northeast 2011, an annual meetup for synth enthusiasts on the East Coast. Every year we bring a selection of irreplaceable electronic gewgaws from our respective music studios (you can spot my Customsynth Rolands in there somewhere) for each other to admire. Great turnout this year! We even had a visit from the God of Catsynth, apparently.
Creating the Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode) bass line via Oberkorn MK3 and Telemark Synthesizer
…by request!
*Watch in HQ for best video/audio quality!
Here’s a recreation of the classic bass line from Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” (Violator!) using DM-style methodologies.
By utilising a step sequencer and a flexible analogue synth (Analogue Solutions Oberkorn & Telemark respectively), you can produce the moving / transitional effects inherent in a complex bass sequence such as this one.
Given the timing of the pattern, the Oberkorn was MIDI-stepped manually (see Midi-Stepping an Analogue Sequencer video for more information) and the pitch transposition was handled via MIDI as well. Alternatively, the pitch could be played live via MIDI.
The key is to take advantage of the precise opening and closing of the filter via Oberkorn CVB.
All settings will ultimately be approximate, as analogue synths will differ from machine to machine. Use the settings as starting points and then tweak away!
Enjoy (the Silence).
Presenting to you – the BugBrand Modular system!
UK synth designer Tom Bugs issued these photos of new Bug Brand modular synth modules, along with pricing.
Bugs has this to say about his modular:
The design approach for this system really stemmed from my personal building and playing, both in terms of how to work with the circuitry and all the production aspects. The aim is for a powerful, yet relatively compact sonic system and for a creative flow through functionality, control and presentation.
The system is also colourful! Not only do the great feeling banana plugs help with the workflow of dividing signal chains, but the colour coded knobs also really aid intuitive use and interaction. Even the panel material is a lush deep blue, making use of 3mm PCB material, screen-printed with white lettering, to provide great looks and strength.
At the start of 2009 I announced that I was beginning to offer complete and powerful modular systems using 4mm banana patching and based on the FracRack size format. Back then I introduced around 12 brand new modules and since then the range has grown considerably, covering most of the traditional synthesis bases, but also incorporating many unique twists.
Costings: All prices are exclusive of shipping and VAT (@ 20% – applicable to all UK & EU sales)
Frame – £70
Desktop EndCheeks (Pair) – £20
MiniPower (inc UK or EU PSU) – £75
ENV1 Attack Decay – £100
SYN2A Utility VCO x 3 – £270
DD2 LFO / DC Mixer – £80
DD1 Modulator / LPG – £90
DD3 VCA / Drive – £90
PRC3A SV Filter – £90
PRC1 PT Delay – £95
UTL2 Output Mix – £60
Starter Cable Pack (24 Cables) – £40
TOTAL = £1080
For System Type 2 (PRC5 replaces one SYN2A) – add £5
For 19″ Rack EndCheeks – subtract £5
For worldwide sales (120V operation) MiniPower is discounted due to self-sourcing PSU – subtract £7.50
Typical Shipping Costs –
UK – Special Delivery – £22.50
EU – DHL – £40
Worldwide – DHL – £50
Bugs is offering two system types. They’re identical other than Type1 has 3xSYN2A Utility VCO while Type2 has one SYN2A replaced by a PRC5 Wavefolder.
See the Bug Brand site for details
.
Synthenoxe Part 1.0 – an Elka Synthex impression
Wavebox2011 has shared this nice JM Jarre inspired video:
Just a quick impression of the Synthex synthesizer in the project studio. The fun-title “Synthenoxe” is a reminiscence of J.M. Jarre’s early studio recordings like Oxygene and Equinoxe. His magnificent sound has inspired my noodling in this video, too.
All the sounds (except for the drums) have been recorded with the Synthex; including the ocean waves and animals in the intro. 
While experimenting around with the Synthex, I started recording some audio tracks to the DAW. And I ended up with well over 50 tracks and this demo-video. This synthesizer is such an inspiring machine!
About the synthesizer:
The Synthex is clearly underrated! Maybe because it is not coming from one of the large synth plants in Japan or the U.S.A., but rather surprisingly from an organ manufacturer, the italian company Elka.
Despite this “lack of heritage” the Synthex has an amazing sound and deserves to be named alongside other classic power-synths such as the Jupiter-8 or the Prophet 5.
Sure, Jean-Michel Jarre based his famous laser harp sound on the Synthex – but it’s by far not limited to that cliché.
I looked for an easy way to sync up the Synthex’s internal sequencer to MIDI Clock. The most straightforward way was to hook up a Korg Electribe (ER-1 mkII) to MIDI and have a percussive instrument do the audio triggering of the Synthex. Simple, quite robust and even “programmable” to a certain degree.
Some Synthexes have no MIDI-interface (like the one in the video). But they all have one of the most intuitive sequencers I’ve come across in a classic synth: 4 independant monophonic sequences, easily and quickly recordable in step- or real-time-mode, syncable to an audio trigger.
And if you’re a preset freak, you can even store your sequences along with your sounds as data beeping to a tape-recorder (or another recording device), thanks to the tape-interface. Old school high-tech.
[ to the youngsters: “tapes”, often used in the form of “cassettes”, is an ancient technology for audio recording, quite popular before digital recording and youtube existed. yes, there was such a time, way way back, right after the dinos and the stone age. believe me, i was there. not with the dinos, but in the tape age. ]
keep on sounding!
Tubular Bells by the Brooklyn Organ Synth Orchestra
Lots of goodies in this one…you know what I mean when you watch it
Filmed and Directed by Amy Hobby.
Edited by Tony Zajkowski.
Over 20 different NYC female keyboardists playing vintage keyboards at Joe McGinty’s Carousel Studio in Brooklyn, NY.
Available on iTunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tubular-bells/id398862997
Featuring:
Kaia Wong (Mixel Pixel)
Kelly Rae Kerwin (Private Income)
Natasha Bartolf
Joanna Choy (Spray Paint Star)
Amy Merril (Mia Riddle)
Greta Gertler (The Universal Thump)
Supercute!
Anna Copa Cabanna
Rolyn Hu (True Primes)
Sondra Sun-Odeon (Silver Summit)
Michi Turner (Crash Diet Crew)
Katia Floreska (The Tall Pines)
Natalie Weiss (Unicornicopia, Camp Wanatachi)
Wendy Ip
Alice Cohen
Yvette Perez
Kelly Vaughn-Kauffman (Winstron Troy)
Yvette Perez (H*E*R)
Hula Hoop Harlot Melissa-Anne
Alix Brown (Golden Triangle)
Leah Cary (Girl Crisis)
Caitlin Jemison (Queen Of Sibyls)
Instruments featured:
Hammond M3 Organ
Fender Rhodes
Oberheim Xpander
Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver Keyboard
Steinway Upright Grand Piano
RMI Keyboard Computer
Jenco Celeste
Baldwin Electric Harpsichord
Bebot
Magical Musical Thing
Thingamagoop
Hohner Clavinet D6
Casio CZ-101
Wurlitzer Electric Piano
Conn Electric Band
ARP 2600
ARP Omni
Suzuki Omnichord
Yamaha CS-01
Yamaha TX802
Vox Continental
Fender Starmaster
Farfisa Combo Compact
Buzzing Bee
Optigan
Stylophone
Toy Piano
360 Systems Digital Keyboard
Hammond Synthesizer
Gibson Clavioline
Moog Little Phatty
MiniMoog
Mellotron
Mass-Rowe Vibrachime
TIPS & TRICKS with David Morley
Shakelling
ARP2600
Synth collection
Expanding the Vidisynth
I suppose since my partner has blazed the trail with some awesome posts that I should say something about my first design: VidiSynth. Thanks to the help of Mike and my pal Adam Wolf (check him out at wayneandlayne.com) VidiSynth was a total success. Naturally there is always room for improvement and I will be tweaking a couple of things for the first production run, but I couldn’t be happier with how the prototype turned out.
VidiSynth by the way is a fun little noise toy that has 4 square wave oscillators mixed together into a single output. The frequency of each oscillator is controlled by an external resistance loop that can be a simple potentiometer, photo-resistor or something more complex like a sequencer. If light sensors are used you can produce a wide variety of sounds by finding interesting light sources to drive them. One of my favorites is good old CRT television which gives a nice lo-fi buzzy tone and can add a new dimension to your favorite movie.
DATAMASKIN
