Take a tour through UK’s largest collection of synths
Here’s Pete Cannon’s full section from #BCD2!
Watch this video as Behind Closed Doors Vol.2 take Pete Cannon on a secret and surprise trip to the UK’s largest collection of Synthesizers in Bristol. Synth-Nut Pete get’s a tour from collection owner Andy Horrell and can hardly contain himself. Andy’s collection has over 400 synths pre-dating 1984! This is what we call Synth City.
For more info and to purchase Behind Closed Doors Vol.2 (2010), please visit: louisden.com/bcd2
To find out more about Pete Cannon and his music, follow him on twitter: twitter.com/petecannonbeats
To find out more about Emis Music: emismusic.co.uk/
Behind Closed Doors Vol.3 DVD (2012) is now available and features: !llmind, Khrysis, Househoes, Samiyam, Rhettmatic, J.Bizness, Aspect One, Kelakovski, Mr Thing, Myke Forte and more! louisden.com/bcd to find all the details, watch the trailer and order!
Gear and synth pictures form Vince Clarke’s studio
The I Dream of Wires crew checkod out Vince Clarke’s new Brooklyn studio in July 2012. Above: Vince Clarke and Jason Amm (Solvent) contemplate The Roland System 700…check out the huge sequencer!
Oberheim SEM wall, OB-1, Xpander, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 & more in the background.
Remaining pictures can be found here >>
Jupiter-8, Juno-60, TR-707 – 1980s style
Background information:
An ’80s synth / dark improvisation in my style utilizing mostly early ’80s Roland synths. I’m using a few “live” performance techniques like acting on the synth volumes and filters in real time. The verses are a bit “straight” but the choruses have a good chord progression and sound nice (if a bit melancholic) with the huge, magic, silky string sound of the JP-8, and the electric bass following on the high notes, wait for them š
Equipment:
Roland Jupiter-8 = octave arpeggio synth bass, strings, pad, lead
Roland Juno-60 = pad
Roland TR-707 = drums, arpeggio sync
Fender Jazz = electric bass
Fender Stratocaster = electric guitar
Roland M-10DX = submixing, reverbs, echoes
Cakewalk Sonar X1 PE = recording, effects, compression
Instruments of Robot Repair
From analog drum machines to vintage guitars, orchestral percussion to circuit-bent children’s toys, 1980s Russian synthesizers to Indian harmoniumsā¦these are the instruments of Robot Repair.
New synth teasers coming your way – Micromac and Cygnx
Here is the first demonstration video of the MacBeth micromac -r 3U Eurorack module. This short video will give you some idea of the smooth sound of this synthesizer! There is some interesting lead and bass going on here…I’m using a Korg Prophecy as a keyboard controller and a Kenton Pro4 to drive the micromac!
http://www.spacehardware.co.uk/Products.html
Les rencontres Modularsquare : Mutable Instruments
Once a month Modularsquare arrange a meeting around synthesizers, in this episode it was dedicated to Olivier Gillet, the creator of Mutable Instruments, who presented his entire line of instruments as well as two new prototypes.
For additional info:
For upcoming dates of our meetings:
– The site: http://www.modularsquare.com
– The Blog: http://www.modularsquare.com/blog
– The Twitter feed: twitter.com / Modularsquare
– Contact: cyril (at) modularsquare.com
The site Mutable Instruments: http://mutable-instruments.net
Synth spotting: Kebu – Michael’s Anthem
This tune was recorded using only a 4 track cassette recorder and a drum machine triggering arpeggios on the synths. No sequencers or computers used (except for mastering). Only analog synths and analog drum sounds used. First, the track was programmed into the drum machine. The three trigger outputs were used for clocking (giving rhythms) to the arpeggiators. Then, the backing track was played back and the arpeggiators played (chords or notes). This was submixed into two tracks (stereo) on the cassette deck. The melody lines and solos were overdubbed using the two remaining tracks. The last additions (noise bursts, doubling of the C-part) were added during mixdown of the song.
The song is also available on my debut album (CD & download), which is out now.
Synths used: Roland TR-808; Korg Mono/Poly, M500, Polysix, Poly-61, PE-2000.
Other equipment: SansAmp GT2, Lexicon MPX500, Vesta spring reverbs, Allen & Heath GS1, Alesis IO26,
Camera: Canon HF M406
Program for MoogerFooger Synth, Taurus 3 and Theremin
Synth dude in a white coat fiddling with his gear 
The CP 251’s LFO is the heart of the time driven events in this program. It is driving the rate of the Sequencer, the sample and hold that is sent to the MF-101 filter, and is being lag processed and controlling the pitch of the Mf-107 Freqbox. Noise from the CP is also being processed by the 103 Phaser. The q119 is modulating the pitch of the Mf-102, creating a melody, that is fed to the Synthesizers.com VCA, to the 104z Delay and to the board. The q119 is also firing gates to the envgen which is controlling the vca. The Voyager is taking a nap in this piece, but is midi controlling the Taurus Pedals. The touch surface is activating the sequencer. The Theremin was obviously a lacking overdub, but I was in a hurry to finish this program so I could rip the cords out and start over.
Cp251: Lfo squarewave multiplied: 1. Lagged, sent to Freqbox Freq In. 2. Sent to q119 to control rate. 3. Sample and Hold to MF-101 Cutoff Frequency
Noise source sent to phaser, Phaser output to board.
Q119, 1×24 stage sequence modulating the freq input of the mf102. Gate output to Envgen.
MF102: Audio to VCA then to delay then to board.
Voyager: Midi controlling Taurus 3, Touchscreen
Introducing the RetroCade Synth
Here are the details:
The RetroCade Synth is a combination of the Papilio FPGA board, the RetroCade MegaWing, and a control dashboard that runs on a computer*. This exciting new hardware synthesizer is built on Gadget Factory’s own Papilio platform, and is designed with both hardware hackers and musicians in mind.Ā Musicians will love the ease of use and extreme retro glitchiness that the Retrocade has to offer. Hackers will love that it is open-source, and is designed to be HACKED.Ā Either way, you’re in luck.Ā You will find no better, more flexible synthesizer at this price point anywhere else!
The RetroCade Synth boasts the capability to play the built-in Commodore 64 SID chip, the Yamaha YM-2149 chip, .mod files, and MIDI files – all at the same time! The RetroCade Synth can be played via any external MIDI control interface or via your favorite audio/ sequencing software. We have built a custom VST software dashboard which gives you visual control over all the various parameters the synth has to offer, and it is included at all hardware tiers here on Kickstarter.
Papilio FPGA
- Xilinx Spartan FPGA (Spartan 3E 500K or Spartan 6 LX9)
- High Speed USB port for programming and communication
- ZPUino Soft Processor
- YM2149
- MOS 6581 (I.E. C64 SID)
RetroCade MegaWing
- 2 ā Ā¼ā Stereo Audio Jacks with 18 bit Delta Sigma DAC
- MIDI ā In, Out, Through
- uSD Card for MOD, MIDI, YM, SID, and config files
- MicroJoystick ā 4 directions, Select
- 2×16 LCD Display
- 16 Analog inputs for sliders and knobs
- 16 Digital inputs for switches and peripherals
Control Dashboard
- Control all of the features of the audio chips from a computer.
- Made with SynthMaker for easy customization
- VST plugin or standalone executable
Synth demos: Oberheim Matrix12 and Arturia Wurlitzer V
Oberheim’s Matrix 12 is a legendary analog synthesizer from the mid-eighties that is still the king of analog sounds. One of the fattest, roundest, pleasantly analog synthesizers around! It’s long been known for creating some of the thickest and best analog pads, sweeps, buzzes, basses and textures. It features Matrix Modulation for extremely wild virtual patching for almost unlimited range of sounds and modulation capabilities!
The Matrix 12 is similar to the Xpander and the lighter Matrix 6. But the Matrix 12 is much fatter and more programmable than either. Every control can have an effect on some other parameter thanks to Oberheim’s flexible design. For example, there are 15 types of LFOs and VCAs per voice! And there’s plenty of diagrams drawn out on the front panel of the synth to help you figure out some signal routing.
The Wurlitzer V is a high end software recreation of the classic Wurlitzer 200A electric piano.
Unlike sample libraries, its physical modeling engine reproduces the very acoustic properties of reeds, key action and amplification, bringing you high realism while offering maximum flexibility on sound.
As most producers know, the legendary bright and overdriven Wurlitzer sound heard on classic records also comes from the use of fine amplifiers, micing and processing. This is why the Wurlitzer V goes further by putting you in command of a studio from the 70ās, filled with vintage stompboxes and classic tube ampsā¦ everything you need to get a true classic vibe!
If you are looking for a lively electric piano combined with inspiring studio tools, the Wurlitzer V is the ultimate package.
DATAMASKIN
