Synthlust! (Or, how to make music without your computer)

[Leviathant]

I feel like I was starting to derail the very excellent How To Make Music With Your Computer (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/threads/475-How-to-Make-Music-with-Your-Computer) thread by talking about gear, so I'm starting a new thread, on account of discovering the Cyclone Analogic TT-303 (http://www.syntaur.com/TT303.html), a picture-perfect clone of the infamous Roland TB-303 that sells for $700 (note: at the time of this post, the two TB-303s listed on eBay are going for over $2000). Here's the twist - as much as I feel G.A.S. (Gear acquisition syndrome) when I see pictures of that, I know from tinkering with Rebirth and from borrowing a friend's FR-777 for a few weeks that I do not need this. Those are my five favorite words, they keep me from spending money on things I shouldn't be spending money on. But the devil is in the details (and I'm not talking about the fact that you can get the Devilfish mod on the TT-303).

You see, the makers of the TT-303 have another device coming down the pike. A clone of the TR-606 called the TT-606. And when news of that arrives, my bank account will not be safe. I will pre-order that thing so fast, you have no idea. A brand new 606 with MIDI? Yes please, very much so. Don't get me wrong, I love my DSI Tempest, and I'm enough of a fan of the Boss DR-110 to not only maintain a 13-year old info site about it (http://theninhotline.net/dr110/), but also emulate a DR-110 with Javascript (http://theninhotline.net/dr110/). But there's a certain oomf the 606 provides, and I would like to have that in my arsenal without worrying all the problems associated with 30 year old electronics.

[Fixer808]

I knew a guy who had the TR-727, the odd latin version of the 707. I'll tell you this: "star-chime" could not have been used more.

[jmtd]

FINALLY got micron os updated via sysex. What a massive pain that was. I've now got some of the new miniak goodies on it.

[Leviathant]

This weekend, I was weak. A TR-606 came up on philadelphia.craigslist.org, single owner, with carrying case, for a decent price. I had bought one over a decade ago for $75 (it was non-functioning). With a little bit of solder, it was functioning again, and I sold it a few weeks later for $250. Pretty good turnaround, but I've regretted selling it ever since. That has now been rectified, and also satisfies this stupid want of a shiny silver noise box from the early-mid 80s.

If Cyclone Analogic releases a decent TR-606 clone with MIDI though, this sucker's going right up on eBay.

[frankie teardrop]

i got myself a tr707 for an early xmas treat and i can't wait to have a go at it. the 606 is pretty great too, might have to get one as well. only then, can combine the two to fulfill my childhood dream of recreating cocteau twins records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teS_ig-6aNU



otherwise, i need to get started on writing now that i'm bandless and have a lot more free time. i have a bass, a juno 60, and the 707. not sure where to go from here, but going to give it a go...

[liquidcalm]

I built this baby over the weekend.. It sounds ace and I'm pretty chuffed it actually worked!:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/408400_10151163220921594_610825879_n.jpg

[jmtd]

Is that the shruthi you posted earlier? Cool! Got any sound clips up?

[Fixer808]

My hardware is kinda sparse right now. A Korg Poly 800 that's always served me well, and an odd pair of drum machines I got off a friend (we used them long ago in our band): A Boss Dr Rhythm DR-550, and a Yamaha RX-15. Through the right effects pedals/banks they were capable of some pretty cool sounds. Very "Skinny Puppy" at times, as this DR-550 demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdYtiBW-ju0)shows.

[liquidcalm]

Is that the shruthi you posted earlier? Cool! Got any sound clips up?
It is indeed. I've barely scratched the surface of the noises, mostly just had a bit of fun with the presets (which are over on the Shruthi soundcloud page here: https://soundcloud.com/mutable-instruments/sets/mutable-instruments-shruthi-1)

The interface is okay at best... there are a lot of menus buried under those buttons, but I'm slowly finding my way around.

[Fixer808]

Love the sound of the arpeggio that starts at 8:45. It needs a nice warm, high pad to go with it!

[frankie teardrop]

well, i caved quicker than i thought i would and bought myself a 606 for $300. really psyched!

also got an interface the other day (an akai eie) and spent a sick day yesterday tinkering around with it. my bass chops are a bit lacking after six months of not playing, but i came up with this in about 2 hours, using the 707, bass with chorus, & a kawaii k4, my wife's old synth from her metal days:

http://www.soundcloud.com/the-harrow/descension

[jmtd]

Missed a 25 key xiosynth this week. Noticed xiosynth listed as an instrument on Pere Ubu's new album "Lady From Shanghai", or at least the demos: http://www.hearpen.com/hr156.html

[Fixer808]

Was browsing Vintagesynth just now and came across this thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0r8RRkjOkE0#!

Weird. It looks like something you would use to torture Kirk while he's strapped to a chair... Cackling while you adjust the sliders, the light-screen above his face...

[DVYDRNS]

If anybody would like to buy this for me I would be very grateful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms4c8br6LVU

[Leviathant]

UNF. Korg's re-releasing the MS-20 (http://waveformz.com/korg-confirm-new-mini-ms-20-reissue-winter-namm/), but with mini-keys and MIDI (the guts are still analog, however). €600, shipping in February. Must... resist...

[DVYDRNS]

That's pretty awesome. the iMS-20 on the iPad is AMAZING. Always wanted to use an actual one.

[jmtd]

the MS-20 looked really cool and compact.

Here's a demo of the sub phatty in action. Once they start using the outboard effects it sounds quite good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kiqQpiVjE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kiqQpiVjE&feature=player_embedded)

One thing I quite like is that when he shifts the keyboard octaves, the current pitch moves/fades to the new octave range smoothly rather than snapping.

[jmtd]

OK I plunged and got a novation xiosynth 25. I'm not after an amazing synth, I'm after the equivalent of training wheels on a bike. The fact it's an IO interface, can be powered by USB and batteries and is lightweight and small (25 keys), plus the fact it's very knobby, and there is some rudimentary software supplied by novation, means I think I'll get up to riding a two-wheeled bike more quickly and then get more out of my other kit, more quickly. Plus I can use it in more contexts than my one-desk micron and PC combo, which my SO is often using for her work anyway. Although I might sell my micron now. If I miss it I could pick up the miniak. The micron might bankroll the xio, and I've got a wedding to pay for too :( No fast decisions until the xio turns up.

[Fixer808]

the MS-20 looked really cool and compact.

Here's a demo of the sub phatty in action. Once they start using the outboard effects it sounds quite good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kiqQpiVjE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kiqQpiVjE&feature=player_embedded)

One thing I quite like is that when he shifts the keyboard octaves, the current pitch moves/fades to the new octave range smoothly rather than snapping.
IT'S SO FAT!!! Gear-lust rising...

[jmtd]

I just started reading through sound on sound's old "synth secrets" column, which IMHO is excellent. Lots of theory. 60 odd parts, index here http://www.soundonsound.com/search?url=%2Fsearch&Keyword=%22synth+secrets%22&Words=All&Summary=Yes

[jmtd]

So many analogue synths announced... So little polytimbre :( the prophet 12 looks the most "sensible" of the namm crop and its still only monotimbral.

[Leviathant]

Yeah, this has got to be the most exciting NAMM for analog enthusiasts since the late 90s. Although, in the same breath, I'm betting Moog's Sub-Phatty going to be hurt by the absurdly inexpensive MS-20. I kind of had my eyes on a Minibrute, and when the Sub-Phatty images started coming out, I thought, mayyybe I'll save up a grand and get one of those -- but the MS-20 mini announcement has me forgetting all that. I realize that, while in reality I probably don't need an analog monosynth, the signal processing options that an MS-20 brings to the table are alone worth the cost of admission. Still, I'm not pre-ordering... I'm going to save up my cash and earn it.

It's pretty funny/sad to see the (admittedly minority) reactions on some of the synth forums - there are people moaning that you can't store patches on the MS-20 mini. When I posted about the MS-20 mini on Facebook, one of my friends replied "$600 :(" You can't please everyone. Nonetheless, I think Korg just knocked this out of the park. As much as I bemoan the ubiquity of Microkorgs, I expect the same thing to happen with MS-20s and that can't be all that bad. It's funny this happens the same year some third-party creates a TB-303 recreation. While Roland typically misses the point when these trends pick up, I think it would be really clever (and a bit sad) if Roland sued Cyclone Analogic for their technology and then re-released the TB-303. A better outcome would be to work with Cyclone Analog in some kind of licensing/cooperation deal, but that doesn't seem especially lawyer-proof at first glance.

[miss k bee]

Loving my Yamaha PSRE433

[Jinsai]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BxIfMobJiM/Te1CP3Hg4gI/AAAAAAAAAwg/W-3xTuszGVM/s1600/emu_drumu_nov83_pg57_key.jpg

While I'm here, I wanted to ask about the Tempest for anyone who knows. Was considering selling some gear to get one, but I read that when it was released it could only play in 4/4 time. Is that still the case? That would be a pretty surprising limitation.

[Leviathant]

They released a patch a few months ago, and you can do all kinds of time signatures now. In fact, at the last Up Your Cherry show, I even programmed out a whole song that's mostly in 7/4, but has a couple of measures of 4/4 (and no, it doesn't sound anything like March of the Pigs). The complaints lately have been that the MIDI implementation isn't great. It is kind of embarrassing that a drum machine with the name of the guy who invented MIDI on it has so many quirks. The main developer (who is very easy to talk to via the DSI forums or via Gearslutz) has said that the next revision involves rewriting the MIDI code from scratch. That's pretty severe. The USB jack didn't do anything for the first six months I had it, and updating the firmware via SYSEX was a slow and delicate task. Now that MIDI USB is working, that's no longer an issue.

The Tempest is the only drum machine I've ever preferred programming live vs. step programming. Writing beats on it comes quite effortlessly. It is not an Electribe, it's a complicated synthesizer, and although it's easy to work with all the parameters, synthesizing drums that don't suck takes time & practice - and the presets kinda blow. (Except the Little Red Corvette pattern, which is superfluously great) That said, there have been some really great 'how-to' posts on the DSI forums for all kinds of different ideas, and apparently a whole new preset pack is coming out with some upcoming OS update.

Go sign up to http://dsiforum.org/viewforum.php?f=24 and have a look around (the user named Pym is the main programmer for the Tempest OS), but keep in mind that's like going to ETS - you'll see a lot of people complaining loudly about something they really really like, in amongst the more standard synth forum stuff. And I can't say I blame them - the Tempest was sold as an unfinished product. I've owned it for over a year, and it's still not quite there... however, the 'todo' list doesn't have anything to do with what I use mine for, so, whatever.

The nice thing about that is you can land a used one and save hundreds of dollars. I kind of regret having pre-ordered, just because I paid the early adopter tax, but in the same breath, it's pretty much exactly the kind of machine I've always wanted, and so I did some extra work on the side and put in an early order to support the very existence of such a device. If it came out of the door with everything it said it had, I think it would be a classic on the level of the Minimoog or the 808 or other such legendary devices (Which, importantly, hold their value). The error-prone year of beta OS releases has dampened the party somewhat. Take advantage of that :)

[Jinsai]

I'll check out the Dave Smith forum. Thanks, but before I go there if I could ask a question regarding your personal experience with the kit...

Would you say it's reliable for a live gig? That's probably the main reason we're picking one up, and while I'll still be running my laptop, we were planning on having a Tempest slaved to the computer's clock. Has it just been issues with the USB (we were planning on sync'ing it via MIDI cables)? The Virus TI also launched as an unfinished piece of gear, and while I love the thing to death and would never part with it, I don't think I would rely on it live.

So far we've been looking at either going with an Elektron Monomachine or Machinedrum, or the Tempest. The Tempest is the most expensive out of the bunch, but it also seems the most enticing, but the most important aspect is how reliable it is as a slaved device.

[Jinsai]

and now I want an Analog 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LTjK9_jebmI

[Leviathant]

I'll check out the Dave Smith forum. Thanks, but before I go there if I could ask a question regarding your personal experience with the kit...

Would you say it's reliable for a live gig? That's probably the main reason we're picking one up, and while I'll still be running my laptop, we were planning on having a Tempest slaved to the computer's clock. Has it just been issues with the USB (we were planning on sync'ing it via MIDI cables)? The Virus TI also launched as an unfinished piece of gear, and while I love the thing to death and would never part with it, I don't think I would rely on it live.

So far we've been looking at either going with an Elektron Monomachine or Machinedrum, or the Tempest. The Tempest is the most expensive out of the bunch, but it also seems the most enticing, but the most important aspect is how reliable it is as a slaved device.

The Tempest is, more than anything else, designed to be used live. The way that, in pattern mode, if you press the roll button, it causes the current beat to stutter until you let go, and jumps back in where it should be. The way the knobs can be used to control that parameter across all the drum sounds being played (pitch is fun for that one), the dual pressure-sensitive ribbon controllers, and of course, the MPC style pads.

But your question is about slaving it to a clock... that's a great question, but not one that I'm not really able to answer myself, as that's, funnily enough, not how I really use it, not yet anyway. For the first time in a very, very long time, I have finally hooked everything MIDI that I own into the MIDI in & out of my Projectmix IO, but I'm using an old Kawai MX8R as a MIDI through box, and I think that's introducing significant lag. At least, I hope that's the case. Anyhow, I think someone at the DSI forum will be better suited to answer your question, if someone else hasn't already asked it. Standalone, it's fucking great live. And yeah, it's definitely pricey. If I add up what I've paid for all the other synth gear I own, and maybe even throw in a guitar and bass, it would come to about as much as I've paid for the Tempest.

[frankie teardrop]

so since i last posted in this thread i've been on a gear buying frenzy, obviously not necessarily following Leviathant's original mantra of i do not need this. the damage so far:

korg kr55 (so early depeche mode it hurts- used one of these on a frank just frank track last year and love it)
yamaha rx5 (individual outs- thank god)
waldorf blofeld desktop synth (will use kawai k4 as midi controller as well as on its own. i bought this primarily to get the samples of an rs09, which costs almost as much as this and can only do the one thing, so this was mostly a logical buy that should open some more synth possibilities without chucking $ away at more space-eating synths)

and i even got the ol' 606 modded with individual outputs by a friend who's good with things like this. i also have my eyes on a roland r8 mkII, so that's probably next when i get a few bucks. somebody help me.

[Jinsai]

how do you like the Blofeld? For a while I was really tempted to get one of those.

We've been doing some more research into it, and I think we've decided that we're going to get a (used) Tempest.

[Leviathant]

so since i last posted in this thread i've been on a gear buying frenzy, obviously not necessarily following @Leviathant (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=1) 's original mantra of i do not need this.

That mantra failed me the other week... I bought a Marshall JCM800 with a 4x10 cabinet. But it was only $300. I think it was a fair exclusion.

[frankie teardrop]

same here, i now have a yamaha spx90 unit. no rack to put it in (and no intention to start collecting them) but there you have it.

[frankie teardrop]

also just traded the kr55 for an r8 mkII, which is pretty much my dream drum machine. i love the sound of the kr55, but felt it's too overused by bands i listen to & love to really be more than a nostaliga piece or one trick pony. the mkII is exactly what i like- fully customizable, big, heavy drums, etc. really excited about this one.

[Leviathant]

Oh, hell. A few days ago while I wasn't looking, Quicksilver released a new CPU for the 606 (http://www.socialentropy.com/quicksilver/). I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to get this. The live performance options, individual instrument accents and the availability of MIDI (and USB) are just too good to pass up, particularly with the free installation.

[Leviathant]

Oh hell. This is a bad year to say "I'm not buying any more equipment." Check this shit out. I love Korg so much. Apparently the new Volca line is being announced at Musikmesse.
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/12649465/1024/volca/07-volca-beats-top.jpg
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12649457/1024/volca/04-volca-bass-top.jpg
http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/12649451/1024/volca/01-volca-keys-top.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/625594_10151598935593524_1980899901_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556060_10151598935978524_681612157_n.jpg

If that's not retro-enough for you, there's the new (re-issued) Micropreset:
http://i2.wp.com/www.synthtopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/korg-micro-preset-synthesizer.jpg

Wowowowow.

You know you've got something good going on when every time images of your new products leak, the initial reaction is "Fake, too good to be true."

Edit: Jesus. They're only $150 each.

[DVYDRNS]

Yea. I think I'll snag those.

[Fixer808]

I'll probably end up snagging one of them, either the bass or the lead. Maybe both...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_Gau7UIzYY0

[Leviathant]

I don't really need the drum machine, but I have been mulling over a bass synth for a while - but I couldn't really justify something like a Subphatty or a Minibrute, and was really pushing it convincing myself that I need an MS-20 (which I do, for processing and for wacky synth noises). However, a three-oscillator bass synth with sequencer for $150? I mean, I'm at the age where I've made more expensive mistakes than that. And there's really nothing in that price range that compares to that out there - software not withstanding. A year after these things are out they'll be $100 on eBay, and ten years later they'll probably be $200.

I think that rather than take the plunge on the volca beats, I'll put that money towards the Quicksilver 606 mod. And in 2014, pick up a used Volca beats on the super-cheaps.

[Fixer808]

I'll sample my Yamaha RX-15 and process the ever loving shit out of it.

[Jinsai]

I'd like to play with the bass synth. I have a Future Retro Revolution, and I love it, but this thing looks like a fun addition, and it's hard to say no to the price...

[Fixer808]

RIGHT? A buck fifty each for a ballsy set of synths is hard to ignore, especially when you could be paying $3K for a Minimoog Voyager...

[Jinsai]

RIGHT? A buck fifty each for a ballsy set of synths is hard to ignore, especially when you could be paying $3K for a Minimoog Voyager...

I still do love my Minimoog Voyager...

But yeah, 150 bucks? I'm (probably) sold. Let's not go crazy here and imply that the thing is a proper replacement for a Voyager... I say this not only in the interests of justifying my nearly $3000 purchase... :(

What I'm looking for is something can grind and squeak on the low end in the vein of a 303. I'll need some hands-on first, cheapness aside.

[Leviathant]

I sold one of my Korg ER-1s for $125 on Friday, and that cash is sitting on my desk until the Volca Bass comes out.

I had two ER-1s because there was a Craigslist deal a year or two ago that was too good to pass up.

I'm seriously considering selling my Boss DR-110 for a Volca Beats. It's kind of a shame because I bought a bunch of pots and a MIDI->Trigger kit as a project to make a modded out MIDI analog drum machine. I paid something like $100 for the DR-110, another $40 for the MIDI->Trigger board, and I forget how much for the LEDs and knobs. I may still keep it because the 110 hihats and ride cymbal are pretty swish, but fuck man, Korg is sure making me feel silly about that whole project.

[neorev]

I sold one of my Korg ER-1s for $125 on Friday, and that cash is sitting on my desk until the Volca Bass comes out.

I had two ER-1s because there was a Craigslist deal a year or two ago that was too good to pass up.

I'm seriously considering selling my Boss DR-110 for a Volca Beats. It's kind of a shame because I bought a bunch of pots and a MIDI->Trigger kit as a project to make a modded out MIDI analog drum machine. I paid something like $100 for the DR-110, another $40 for the MIDI->Trigger board, and I forget how much for the LEDs and knobs. I may still keep it because the 110 hihats and ride cymbal are pretty swish, but fuck man, Korg is sure making me feel silly about that whole project.

Best pre-order deal that I have seen is here...
http://www.jrrshop.com/korg-volca-bundle-pre-order

JRRSHOP is a great place. Get all 3 in the bundle deal, normal $449, but when you add to cart the price goes down to $359.20
Your welcome! :)

As much as I want these badboys, my eye is on the Korg MS-20 re-release... drooling over that mofo
This is a good year for analog heads with the Volca Series, MS-20, Moog Sub Phatty, King Korg, Minibrute, and the Novation Bass Station II
So much good shit to get... but the MS-20 is the first thing I'm after

[DVYDRNS]

I'm lookin at the ms 20 vs a minibrute. The only thing pushing me to the minibrute is that I want an arpeggiator. Hmmm

[Jinsai]

and our DSI Tempest showed up today. Only a couple hours into learning the layout and basic programming, but I can already see how this is going to forever change the way I make music.

EDIT: Holy shit... I'm in love with this thing.

[DVYDRNS]

Just ordered a Minibrute! Stoked.

[DVYDRNS]

I just ordered this. I am SO fricking stoked. maybe a little more than the minibrute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64lU47Y-hhs&feature=youtu.be

[Jinsai]

/\/\\\ Looks like fun... how much does it cost?

[DVYDRNS]

Jinsai 100 bucks

[DVYDRNS]

Ahhh my two new members of my arsenal are already playing nicely.
(https://vine.co/v/b02WMWBBXpX?fb_action_ids=478577548880494&fb_action_types=vine-app%3Apost&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582)

[jmtd]

From NIN spotting, thanks @Zipfinator (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=526), visible is (at least) a Moog Sub Phatty


http://distilleryimage6.ak.instagram.com/dba8c5eed50311e2852722000a1fbd42_7.jpg

[Leviathant]

I don't use Instagram, so I'm always a few days behind when following folks on it. Today I revisited Cortini's Instagram, and saw he got the Quicksilver 606 mod (http://instagram.com/p/bzxt9iqjSE/), and that reminded me that I told the Quicksilver dudes I'd totally get a QS 606 if they made one. And even though the Korg Volca Beats would kinda fill that niche, the Volca Beats is no 606. I have been real good about not spending money for a while, so I pulled the trigger and just paypalled the money to Social Entropy, and I'll be sending my Drumatix in for brain surgery soon.

[DVYDRNS]

thinking of picking up a JP8080

anyone have one?

[Jinsai]

this is pretty nifty http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2013/08/17/midivampire-the-34-midi-powered-mini-synth/

[DVYDRNS]

Just snagged an ms 2000r on eBay for 250 bucks. Great success.

The rack version.

[Fixer808]

Emailed someone on craigslist about a Korg DW6000 (http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/dw6000.php) for $140! Sold my Poly800 to a coworker, need a replacement, this seems like a good move.

[DVYDRNS]

Okay. I am on a synth buying frenzy... Somebody make me stop.

About to pick up a Slim Phatty.

should I do it?

[Leviathant]

Okay. I am on a synth buying frenzy... Somebody make me stop.

About to pick up a Slim Phatty.

should I do it?

How many finished tracks have you recorded in the last six months?

[DVYDRNS]

I am in the middle of recording an album as well as working on 4 different remixes for a few artists. and 1 producing project. I have a bunch of personal tracks in the pot.

I just finished building my studio at the new house and its the first time I have room to do what I really want. So Ive been going a little nuts. But I think I'm slowing down now.

AKA. I've never been a person who just gets things to have them. Everything I've been picking up is being used.

But i know where you're going with this. this can be a slippery slope. Leviathant

[Jinsai]

Finally got my Virus TI working again... I've missed this synth so much. It seriously feels like I've reunited with an old friend I haven't seen in years.

[Jinsai]

so... does anyone have any recommendations for a vocal processor to use live, one preferably with BPM syncable FXs via midi, and not a Kaoss pad?

[Leviathant]

I'm afraid I can't help there. Every band I've been in has had pretty straightforward vocals. Did you end up going with anything in particular, Jinsai?

On my local Craigslist, there is a Virus B desktop for $400 and a Virus Indigo (also B) for $700. They call out to me at night. Am I foolish for ignoring their siren cries?

[Jinsai]

Did you end up going with anything in particular, @Jinsai (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=272)?

So far the best option I've found has been the Kaoss Pad, which is a little disappointing. I have a handful of complaints about each model I've tried out. EDIT: Actually, the TC Helicon VoiceLive Touch looks pretty damn cool.

Also, if I didn't already have a TI, I would absolutely buy a Virus B for 400 bucks.

[Jinsai]

has anyone here gotten into building their own modular setup? I've been looking into starting a eurorack, but it all seems really daunting (and expensive)

[Leviathant]

has anyone here gotten into building their own modular setup? I've been looking into starting a eurorack, but it all seems really daunting (and expensive)

I've deliberately avoided that rabbit hole. I would spend too much time collecting finicky gadgets that make weird noises than I would spend making music... and don't even get me started on the price. There are more than a couple forums out there with modular advice (Electro-music (http://electro-music.com/forum/forums.html) comes to mind) but given how many people don't make music on the simpler instruments they own, even fewer people who go the route of modular synths actually do anything with them that is both listenable and not something you do similarly on existing performance hardware/software for a lot less.

I'm not knocking it, but I feel like it's more akin to restoring an old car. If you're ready to accept an expensive hobby because you know it'll be something you enjoy doing, go for it. If you want to better your music-making arsenal for actually making music, I think there are smarter options.

[dominik]

Cortini posted this awesome clip on his youtube, I think you guys might enjoy it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFB0Hil5Qpk

Now my question is, is it possible to play around and create sounds like that without spending hundreds of dollars on an analog synth?

[Fixer808]

Of course. There's plenty of cheaper keyboards out there to play around with or mod, like the "Moog Slayer" mod for the Korg Poly-800. It requires a little soldering know-how, you're basically attaching a pot to control the VCF (I think) in real-time.

But yeah, there's always a way to make cool noises without spending a shitload of money. Consider trolling flea markets and craigslist for dirt-cheap effect pedals and running a synth through a bunch of them at a time, for example.

[dominik]

Of course. There's plenty of cheaper keyboards out there to play around with or mod, like the "Moog Slayer" mod for the Korg Poly-800. It requires a little soldering know-how, you're basically attaching a pot to control the VCF (I think) in real-time.

But yeah, there's always a way to make cool noises without spending a shitload of money. Consider trolling flea markets and craigslist for dirt-cheap effect pedals and running a synth through a bunch of them at a time, for example.

Thanks! Well, I have no experience with that at all. I guess playing around on my macbook with some synth software would be the best start. Can you recommend something? I have a Raspberry Pi if that helps :P I saw some cool videos on youtube where someone has Pure Data running on his Rasp and creates cool sounds with a cheap MIDI controller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G90SyKPVT1k

[Fixer808]

Propellerheads "Rebirth" is available for free these days, it's a TB-303, TR-808, TR-909 emulator from a number of years ago... Their program "Reason" is good as well. Software synths/effects/drum machines with a sequencer.

[Fixer808]

Has anyone had experience trying out/buying any of the Korg Volca line yet? I was in a music store today and asking about it. The guy said Korg's assembly process is totally fucked, so they're not building them near as fast as they should be, hence, at Long And McQuade locations across Canada, there is apparently ONE Bass, in Regina, and a ton of back-orders. Hopefully they start showing up, I'd like one please.

[frankie teardrop]

I've deliberately avoided that rabbit hole. I would spend too much time collecting finicky gadgets that make weird noises than I would spend making music... and don't even get me started on the price. There are more than a couple forums out there with modular advice (Electro-music (http://electro-music.com/forum/forums.html) comes to mind) but given how many people don't make music on the simpler instruments they own, even fewer people who go the route of modular synths actually do anything with them that is both listenable and not something you do similarly on existing performance hardware/software for a lot less.

I'm not knocking it, but I feel like it's more akin to restoring an old car. If you're ready to accept an expensive hobby because you know it'll be something you enjoy doing, go for it. If you want to better your music-making arsenal for actually making music, I think there are smarter options.

pretty much nailed my feelings on the modular craze. it just seems like it's the hip thing to do right now, and while there are certainly some great artists using this technology in cool ways, most of it just comes off as expensive trend-chasing hobbyists' delight. plus, with few exceptions, i haven't heard anything that's really blown my mind outside of what a smart, standard synth rig could do.

[Leviathant]

screwdriver Over here! What questions did you have about the ER-1? I actually had two for a while, because I really liked what Korg did there. That's also the first piece of gear I bought new. I suppose it's vintage now, eh? :p

As to music I have online, the Tears for Agnes (http://tearsforagnes.bandcamp.com/) album I recorded in 2004/2005 had some Electribe in it. Definitely on Downside, the first part of which was a mic hanging over the living room I was in at the time, recording my friend playing a strat while the Electribe played out of a shitty Crate amp. You can hear our front door closing. I think that's the only synthy music I have online. Up Your Cherry (http://upyourcherry.bandcamp.com/) is a thing my wife and I do with a Mandocaster and some drums, and War Film (http://www.warfilm.net) is a heavy rock band I'm in, but we haven't put much online yet. Here's an early version of one of the songs we play (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/relentless-8-11). Also not synthy.

[screwdriver]

@screwdriver (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=380) Over here! What questions did you have about the ER-1? I actually had two for a while, because I really liked what Korg did there. That's also the first piece of gear I bought new. I suppose it's vintage now, eh? :p

As to music I have online, the Tears for Agnes (http://tearsforagnes.bandcamp.com/) album I recorded in 2004/2005 had some Electribe in it. Definitely on Downside, the first part of which was a mic hanging over the living room I was in at the time, recording my friend playing a strat while the Electribe played out of a shitty Crate amp. You can hear our front door closing. I think that's the only synthy music I have online. Up Your Cherry (http://upyourcherry.bandcamp.com/) is a thing my wife and I do with a Mandocaster and some drums, and War Film (http://www.warfilm.net) is a heavy rock band I'm in, but we haven't put much online yet. Here's an early version of one of the songs we play (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/relentless-8-11). Also not synthy.

whoa, how did I miss this area of the forum! (or maybe I forgot about it!)

I'm listening to the Tears for Agnes stuff now and I really like it -- beautiful stuff, man.

I guess with respect to the ER-1 I'm always curious about how people work the Electribes into their workflow. I've only ever sort of built patterns on it and then sampled those into Live and then sort of used it as loop fodder. Are you sequencing on the machine and then chaining patterns together into arrangements? If so, are you building the arrangements in the box and just slaving to midi clock, or are you changing the patterns from a sequencer? Or something else entirely?

[mfte]

MY computer recently died. I managed to get in there with an ERD disc and move over some project folders but other than that it is kaput. Windows repair is a no go, system restore is a no go, safe mode is a no go.

Trying now to scrape some cash and get something powerful. I am looking at Dell since I heard they let you customize.


Any recommendations from you folks?

[Leviathant]

MY computer recently died. I managed to get in there with an ERD disc and move over some project folders but other than that it is kaput. Windows repair is a no go, system restore is a no go, safe mode is a no go.

Trying now to scrape some cash and get something powerful. I am looking at Dell since I heard they let you customize.


Any recommendations from you folks?

Follow DellOutlet on Twitter, and wait until they announce a coupon, and then buy your computer from the Dell Outlet using that coupon code. It's usually 15% off the already discounted prices available there. It's easily the best bang for the buck, and so long as you don't delve too far away into weird territory (all-in-one PCs, small form-factor PCs), it's pretty hard to go wrong. I've only had two major Dell failures. One was the Dell Zino, which looked neat, but it burned up hard drives. I had them replace the HD three times under warranty. The other failure I had was with my current computer, which is a beast, but had a weird glitch in the BIOS that made it incompatible with the line of Nvidia video cards I wanted to use - in nearly any other BIOS, you can enable and disable the onboard video manually, but for whatever reason, the Nvidia card wasn't sending the right PCI signal to the motherboard, so it wasn't automatically disabling online video, and ... long story short, they removed functionality from the BIOS and I couldn't run three monitors off my computer until a similarly spec'd AMD card was released.

Other than that - I've been buying Dell Outlet laptops and desktops since 2002.

[Leviathant]

I'm listening to the Tears for Agnes stuff now and I really like it -- beautiful stuff, man.

Thanks. Definitely a product of its time, but I'm still pretty proud of what we did. There are bits where I would have preferred live drums, but I sucked at drumming and certainly didn't have nice enough equipment. We are actually working on new stuff this year. It's been nine years, but we've learned a lot since then :)


I guess with respect to the ER-1 I'm always curious about how people work the Electribes into their workflow. I've only ever sort of built patterns on it and then sampled those into Live and then sort of used it as loop fodder. Are you sequencing on the machine and then chaining patterns together into arrangements? If so, are you building the arrangements in the box and just slaving to midi clock, or are you changing the patterns from a sequencer? Or something else entirely?

I always programmed on the ER-1. When it came out, it was the only modern drum machine with a TR-style interface. I found that so much more conducive to writing out ideas than the sequencers of the time. In the case of that Tears for Agnes album, we actually used next to no MIDI at all - it's all Reason and outboard gear. We certainly didn't use MIDI clock signal. I recorded everything into Sony Vegas, which I used more like a tape machine than a sequencer-oriented DAW.

With the ER-1 in particular, I'd set up a few 4-measure patterns and basically run through the sequence live. If I did a particular variation, that'd be a copy of the sequence, which I'd record and then cut & paste the audio into place. Kind of archaic, but I'm of the mindset that it's less how you do something, and more that you actually are doing something. Oh, you've got gigs of samples, thousands of dollars of pirated plugins, and a Macbook pro? That's great, where's your album? Here, listen to the hours of music I made :p

I've never learned how to use "Song Mode" on any of my machines except for the Tempest.

[mfte]

Follow DellOutlet on Twitter, and wait until they announce a coupon, and then buy your computer from the Dell Outlet using that coupon code. It's usually 15% off the already discounted prices available there. It's easily the best bang for the buck, and so long as you don't delve too far away into weird territory (all-in-one PCs, small form-factor PCs), it's pretty hard to go wrong. I've only had two major Dell failures. One was the Dell Zino, which looked neat, but it burned up hard drives. I had them replace the HD three times under warranty. The other failure I had was with my current computer, which is a beast, but had a weird glitch in the BIOS that made it incompatible with the line of Nvidia video cards I wanted to use - in nearly any other BIOS, you can enable and disable the onboard video manually, but for whatever reason, the Nvidia card wasn't sending the right PCI signal to the motherboard, so it wasn't automatically disabling online video, and ... long story short, they removed functionality from the BIOS and I couldn't run three monitors off my computer until a similarly spec'd AMD card was released.

Other than that - I've been buying Dell Outlet laptops and desktops since 2002.

Much obliged.

[screwdriver]

Thanks. Definitely a product of its time, but I'm still pretty proud of what we did. There are bits where I would have preferred live drums, but I sucked at drumming and certainly didn't have nice enough equipment. We are actually working on new stuff this year. It's been nine years, but we've learned a lot since then :)


Rad! looking forward to hearing it.



I always programmed on the ER-1. When it came out, it was the only modern drum machine with a TR-style interface. I found that so much more conducive to writing out ideas than the sequencers of the time. In the case of that Tears for Agnes album, we actually used next to no MIDI at all - it's all Reason and outboard gear. We certainly didn't use MIDI clock signal. I recorded everything into Sony Vegas, which I used more like a tape machine than a sequencer-oriented DAW.

With the ER-1 in particular, I'd set up a few 4-measure patterns and basically run through the sequence live. If I did a particular variation, that'd be a copy of the sequence, which I'd record and then cut & paste the audio into place. Kind of archaic, but I'm of the mindset that it's less how you do something, and more that you actually are doing something. Oh, you've got gigs of samples, thousands of dollars of pirated plugins, and a Macbook pro? That's great, where's your album? Here, listen to the hours of music I made :p

I've never learned how to use "Song Mode" on any of my machines except for the Tempest.

Very interesting -- your process on the ER1 doesn't sound too far off from mine; a few times now and then I'll just put together a beat and then do a few variations and that will become the basis for a song, like on this: https://soundcloud.com/aion412/55expl

I've never really gotten around to trying out the song mode on anything yet though its on my list of new years resolutions; I'd like to do an entire composition it, which I'll then inevitably sample into bits anyway. the idea comes from the same impulse as what you're saying about "actually doing something." Creativity comes from limitations.

Have you heard of weeklybeats.com? I'm going to try and do it this year -- I managed to make the first week deadline, so we'll see. (All while I'm trying to record my band's album and also helping record other bands and trying to have a job….)

That Tempest comment just threw me into an insane fit of jealousy ;-) Does it live up to the reputation? I thought about getting one but opted for the octatrack as sampling is more where my headspace is these days

[Leviathant]

Very interesting -- your process on the ER1 doesn't sound too far off from mine; a few times now and then I'll just put together a beat and then do a few variations and that will become the basis for a song, like on this: https://soundcloud.com/aion412/55expl

Yup. The appeal of the ER-1, to me, was #1, the x0x style programming interface, and #2 the tweakability of the sounds. My first drum machine was a DR-660, which just sounded so sterile and dull, no matter what I did with it. I don't remember if there was step programming, it seemed to assume you'd play the beat overtop the metronome, which - really, a big reason why I liked drum machines at the time was because I am not a drummer. (That has since changed.) I got a Yamaha RY10 later, which had x0x style programming and actually had a really great digital drum sounds. By digital, I mean, they were these really terse drum samples of various origins (acoustic or synthetic). It didn't sound like an Alesis Sr-16 or a Boss anything. It's very 90s, for sure. But then the Electribe came out, and it was as close to what I wanted as there would be until the Tempest came out.


I've never really gotten around to trying out the song mode on anything yet though its on my list of new years resolutions; I'd like to do an entire composition it, which I'll then inevitably sample into bits anyway. the idea comes from the same impulse as what you're saying about "actually doing something." Creativity comes from limitations.
Absolutely! There was a recent interview with Trent I'd read or heard where he talked about how started working on Hesitation Marks, and speaking specifically about Came Back Haunted, he said something along the lines of, "I wrote it on this little analog synth, it doesn't even have a keyboard, it's got a ribbon controller" and I was like, he's totally talking about the Monotribe. Maybe the Monotron, but probably the Monotribe, because he's very often talked of starting songs out with drums and bass, which, there you go, Monotribe. And that got me to dust off my Monotron and noodle with it.

That's also why I stick with the gear I have. I went through a cycle of buying and selling different drum machines, synthesizers, and you get sucked into that whole process. Now? I've got PLENTY to make music. Do I need an Access Virus? NO. If I'm making a song and there's a hole that only a Virus can fill, I'll think about it. But I've got more than enough to make music with, so I should damn well use it.


Have you heard of weeklybeats.com? I'm going to try and do it this year -- I managed to make the first week deadline, so we'll see. (All while I'm trying to record my band's album and also helping record other bands and trying to have a job….)

That's awesome. Stick with that, it's going to be so good to do. I haven't heard of it, but I know that's something I can't pull off this year. I've got a few musical things going on this year that will make me feel not so bad about that, but forcing yourself to write something new every week is really fucking great.


That Tempest comment just threw me into an insane fit of jealousy ;-) Does it live up to the reputation? I thought about getting one but opted for the octatrack as sampling is more where my headspace is these days

The Tempest is phenomenal, there is nothing else like it, I don't think there ever will be anything else like it. I've used it for a couple of live performances, which is where it truly shines. This isn't a great example of a Tempest beat, but the first thing I did with it was build some sounds, make a beat, and then just explore how you can modify a single beat in realtime. I put that up on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/tempest-first-noise). That's straight out of the back of the Tempest. The only edits I did were to remove more tedious tweaks I'd done, condensing the 'jam session' down to just a few minutes of the more demonstrative sounds.

The synthesis engine is reaaaally deep, with great modulation paths, but it takes time and planning to build drum sounds from scratch that are usable. Frankly, the preset beats just aren't that great - but I didn't buy it to use presets. If I want sweet preset analog sounds, I turn on my TR-606 or DR-110. Bringing it back around to Came Back Haunted (which, honestly, is among my least favorite NIN songs), the cover done on a Tempest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TclQLhABl3s) (by a guy who works at DSI) is a much better indicator of how flexible and performable it is.

I usually buy my gear used, on the cheap - but I pre-ordered the Tempest, even knowing that it would not be feature-complete on release date, because I wanted to put my money behind such an awesome concept. My serial number is less than 250 - but I have no idea how high Tempest serial numbers go, either. There was someone in September 2012 who had #1909 (apparently faulty), so they've gotta be up past 2500 by now. I love it and am glad to have adopted early - worth every single penny. So much so that the wifey and I put together the best hardshell case a DSI Tempest will ever know (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leviathant/sets/72157632463815051/). (I'm not normally one to brag, but I have to flaunt that.)

[Jinsai]

I understand why people are bashing the modular craze here, but having played around with some amazing racks, I guess I'll just leave this here and say that you're avoiding (or at least missing) something in your dismissal guys:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5DUQCaS1rY

I haven't put a dime into this money vampire, and I'm hesitant to do so, but if you love synths and "electronic sound" I don't get how you can just say "fuck it" to the possibilities here.

[Fixer808]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, back, foul temptress!!

[liquidcalm]

whilse I'd love to get into the whole modular thing, I like sticking with things like the Shurthi-1 and Meeblip.. cheaper.. same DIY pleasure, but also small and easy to manage. The Shruthi XT looks lovely though.. and the the other Mutable Instruments stuff... I've been trying to put together a little micro-music case which mixes DIY synths, a Raspberry Pi and some other bits.. so far I've been a bit slack on making it actually work. (http://instagram.com/p/d9b46OrvMv/)

[frankie teardrop]

i just picked up a novation bass station 2 today to supplement or replace the live bass guitar on certain tracks. made a few decent buzzing low end patches, but hoping to keep fiddling to find something more warm. either way, digging it so far.

[r_z]

just bought me one of those on ebay:

http://record-me.com/lib/jpg/fb01_2.jpg



The FB-01 is simply an inexpensive, 8 part multitimbral digital FM synth module. It's only a 4-operator synth which is less than, say a DX-7 (http://www.vintagesynth.com/yamaha/dx7.php). This simply means its sounds are not quite as good. You will need an external MIDI system exclusive editor to edit the patches. This can be accomplished by a dedicated editor program like Unisyn, or by creating SysEx control messages within your sequencing program. The FB-01 has a lot of organ, piano, brass, bass, guitar, percussion, and lead sounds. Basically this is a good source of typical FM-sounds at a low price.

[Leviathant]

i just picked up a novation bass station 2 today to supplement or replace the live bass guitar on certain tracks. made a few decent buzzing low end patches, but hoping to keep fiddling to find something more warm. either way, digging it so far.

Innnnteresting. So many great bass synths have come out in the last couple of years, and the Bass Station 2 came seemingly out of nowhere. I've heard a lot of great things about it - people generally saying "don't believe the hype about those other things, Novation's got it going on."

Out of curiosity, have you tried running your bass through a Boss SYB-3? (Just googled, I guess they're up to SYB-5, whatever that means.)

On an unrelated note, even though I really have no need for one, I'm really anxious to see and hear a demo of Roland's new drum machine (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/01/leaks-roland-aira-08-will-virtual-analog-808-synth/). It appears to be more ER-1 and less 808, to me, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Buuuut between my ER1, 606, 110, and Tempest, I'd be a fool to buy the TR-8... unless it's stupid cheap, and sounds good enough to replace my ER1. But I'm doubting that'll happen.

[frankie teardrop]

Out of curiosity, have you tried running your bass through a Boss SYB-3? (Just googled, I guess they're up to SYB-5, whatever that means.)

i've tried a few synth/bass pedals, and was even considering the electro harmonix bass synth reissue, but in the end, as much as it makes things simpler on stage, i don't like the sound of them as much. i either like really post-punk/chorus-y bass or really deep, drone-y synth bass that only a keyboard can provide. the pedals just seem too pew pew pew/blip blip etc. i even had a moogerfooger bass murf, the holy grail of bass synth pedals, and i sold it with no regrets.


On an unrelated note, even though I really have no need for one, I'm really anxious to see and hear a demo of Roland's new drum machine (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/01/leaks-roland-aira-08-will-virtual-analog-808-synth/). It appears to be more ER-1 and less 808, to me, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Buuuut between my ER1, 606, 110, and Tempest, I'd be a fool to buy the TR-8... unless it's stupid cheap, and sounds good enough to replace my ER1. But I'm doubting that'll happen.

i just heard about that, and that's promising... but as you say yourself, between my modded 606, the 707, and r8mkII (which has the best 808/909 samples out there), i'm probably set. they're really all about reissuing drum machines synths lately, so it seems. i'm dying for a more compact version of the classic juno series (60/106), or at least, a more portable polyphonic synth with a classic rs09 sort of string sound, but i'm not holding my breath.

[wizfan]

AIRA, the new TR-808!

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/roland-teases-aria-the-evolution-of-the-tr-808-drum-machine-591306

Also, a DIY 808:

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/roland-tr-808-drum-machine-reborn-as-diy-kit-yocto-588414

[Leviathant]

AIRA, the new TR-808!

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/roland-teases-aria-the-evolution-of-the-tr-808-drum-machine-591306

Psst, look at the post above you ;)

AIRA appears to be the name of the line of equipment, the drum machine is the Roland TR-8, and synth nerds speculate as bad as NIN fans. The best sourced/thought-out rumor is that it's going to be a virtual analog, using the "superNATURAL" synth engine that they've used in the Jupiter 80. There are dubious sounding claims that it'll have some kind of Wifi MIDI scheme to communicate with the other DJ-focused AIRA items, of which at least four will be debuted at NAMM. The VT-3's already been leaked, and supposedly reliable sources are saying there's a TB-3 to go with the TR-8.

If the TR-8 sounds and functions good, and costs, say, $450 or less, I might sell my ER-1 and replace it with the Roland box. And then desolder all the green LEDs from it. Maybe. But at this point, all we have is a photo from a weird angle. The proof is in the sound. Maybe the beats in the background of the promo video are from the new drum machine. They're focusing on less interesting stuff now, and are obviously waiting for NAMM to do a proper unveiling of the AIRA line.

Clearly, I've bought into the hype a bit. They have my interest, but I know from experience that Roland is usually a let-down for me.

On the other hand, I still have my Korg catalog from 2000. Those guys were firing on all cylinders even back then.

[wizfan]

Psst, look at the post above you ;)

Crap! And I did search the previous posts to see if it had been posted before. My bad. Anyway, I wonder if they're actually trying to do something innovative with the new drum machine, or simply cash in on the fame the 808 has been getting in recent popular music.

[Leviathant]

Crap! And I did search the previous posts to see if it had been posted before. My bad. Anyway, I wonder if they're actually trying to do something innovative with the new drum machine, or simply cash in on the fame the 808 has been getting in recent popular music.

I'm sure they think they're doing something innovative. Roland is kind of like a car company. You're never going to see a modern, large-scale car company make a modern reproduction of a classic car. As much fun as it is to drive a loud mid-70s muscle car around, the technology in modern vehicles is so beyond that - and the mindset at Roland is that even though they're probably capable of doing something like what Korg did with the MS-20, that's moving backwards and recreating what they actually saw to be a failure. That their analog drum machines helped spawn electronic music was a fluke - their engineers were trying their hardest to make realistic sounding drums. As soon as cheap sampler chips came along, they jumped on that wagon and never looked back. If they're able to genuinely model analog circuitry in their old drum machines in such a way that they can print a chip and plug that in, they'll spend the time to do that instead of revisiting clunky old resistors and transistors. They're probably more than happy to let Korg cash in on what they see as a backwards looking fad.

Whereas Korg have seen the kind of tinkering that people do with old stuff, and encourage them to do that with the new stuff. They release schematics for their analog equipment, and they mark solder points where you can add things like CV/Gate control. They engineer the Monotribe so that it almost has MIDI, and if you know a little bit about soldering and have the internet, you can crack it open and add MIDI yourself.

To stretch the analogy, having a Korg is like having a desktop computer, and owning a modern Roland is like having an iPad. You can do cool stuff with both, but it's much easier to get into the guts of one of them, which will ultimately lend you greater insight into the core of what makes these machines what they are. Whether that's an important aspect to your hobby is up to the individual.

[screwdriver]

I've never learned how to use "Song Mode" on any of my machines except for the Tempest.

hopefully not presumptuous to post here, but given our discussion thought it was appropriate -- for my weeklybeats this week, I composed a short, minimal track on the er-1, which I then ran into my octatrack for live processing (which required quite a lot of rehearsal), and, voila

https://soundcloud.com/aion412/janev4-3

very pleased with the result, and almost entirely sans computer (used for recording and minimal processing only)




The Tempest is phenomenal, there is nothing else like it, I don't think there ever will be anything else like it. I've used it for a couple of live performances, which is where it truly shines. This isn't a great example of a Tempest beat, but the first thing I did with it was build some sounds, make a beat, and then just explore how you can modify a single beat in realtime. I put that up on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/tempest-first-noise). That's straight out of the back of the Tempest. The only edits I did were to remove more tedious tweaks I'd done, condensing the 'jam session' down to just a few minutes of the more demonstrative sounds.

The synthesis engine is reaaaally deep, with great modulation paths, but it takes time and planning to build drum sounds from scratch that are usable. Frankly, the preset beats just aren't that great - but I didn't buy it to use presets. If I want sweet preset analog sounds, I turn on my TR-606 or DR-110. Bringing it back around to Came Back Haunted (which, honestly, is among my least favorite NIN songs), the cover done on a Tempest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TclQLhABl3s) (by a guy who works at DSI) is a much better indicator of how flexible and performable it is.

I usually buy my gear used, on the cheap - but I pre-ordered the Tempest, even knowing that it would not be feature-complete on release date, because I wanted to put my money behind such an awesome concept. My serial number is less than 250 - but I have no idea how high Tempest serial numbers go, either. There was someone in September 2012 who had #1909 (apparently faulty), so they've gotta be up past 2500 by now. I love it and am glad to have adopted early - worth every single penny. So much so that the wifey and I put together the best hardshell case a DSI Tempest will ever know (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leviathant/sets/72157632463815051/). (I'm not normally one to brag, but I have to flaunt that.)

that case is rad!

The Tempest looks incredible. Honestly, if I had more time I probably wouldn't hesitate to grab one, but given that I'm just scratching the surface of the Octatrack (as evidenced by the song I just posted), I think my gearlust is (almost) under control right now. that said, given all of the band recording going on right now, I'm eyeing a UAD setup…

I mean, that's the thing about both the Tempest (apparently) and the Octatrack, these machines are so fucking deep that I could spend a full-time job just playing and practicing with them and I don't think I'd reach the bottom of them. At a certain point, it's really refreshing because it's getting me out of creative ruts to have to sit down and think logically about things, but the depth can also be crazy intimidating. But, I guess you could say the same about the piano or the violin -- we're really living in the golden age of electronic instruments.

And that's even ignoring the modular thing, which I've managed to mainly ignore … except my little phatty with a few moog pedals.

(also, don't be so hard on CBH, it's a pretty cool track ;))

[screwdriver]

sexy. this could be my tempest.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/01/elektron-analog-rytm-drum-machine-specs-pricing-photos/

[Leviathant]

sexy. this could be my tempest.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/01/elektron-analog-rytm-drum-machine-specs-pricing-photos/

I'm not big on Elektron's aesthetic, but they do make formidable machines. It looks like they basically adapted their existing tech to a drum machine that also allows sampling, and the inability to add your own samples was a big complaint from a certain sector of Tempest users.

The more the merrier! I'm happy with the Tempest, but if I were looking today, I would definitely consider this new Elektron.

[Jinsai]

I'm not big on Elektron's aesthetic, but they do make formidable machines. It looks like they basically adapted their existing tech to a drum machine that also allows sampling, and the inability to add your own samples was a big complaint from a certain sector of Tempest users.

The more the merrier! I'm happy with the Tempest, but if I were looking today, I would definitely consider this new Elektron.

Elektron makes amazing stuff, I've just never been satisfied with the user interface and general layout. I'm sure if I actually bought one, I'd get used to it. Can't afford to right now, but I'm sure you really can't go wrong with anything they've put out.

[screwdriver]

Elektron makes amazing stuff, I've just never been satisfied with the user interface and general layout. I'm sure if I actually bought one, I'd get used to it. Can't afford to right now, but I'm sure you really can't go wrong with anything they've put out.

For the first week or so, I was so put off by the Octatrack's UI I regretted my purchase, but now I find it infinitely imaginative -- whether my brain re-wired itself or I just clicked in, I don't know, I'm a big fan of x0x style programming I think they do that really, really well. gonna have to keep my eye on this.

[Leviathant]

One thing I'll say about the Tempest... I was never, ever a fan of programming drums in any fashion but x0x, but the Tempest sequencer and interface radically changed my approach to electronic drums, and even programming basslines.

[Leviathant]

Roland Aira TR-8, it was fun watching people scramble over the slow release of your details, but I have a new sweetheart (http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2014/01/23/namm-2014-moog-sub-37-prototype-first-look/).

[screwdriver]

Roland Aira TR-8, it was fun watching people scramble over the slow release of your details, but I have a new sweetheart (http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2014/01/23/namm-2014-moog-sub-37-prototype-first-look/).

not too shabby, but not enough to get me to jettison my little phatty yet...

that said, I'm SUPER intrigued by the theremin apparently essentially running animoog -- http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/01/back-future-waldorf-2-pole-analog-filter-moog-makes-crazy-futuristic-theremin/

always into new controller ideas; or rather, old controller ideas used in new ways...

[frankie teardrop]

just won my dream synth off ebay, for an average price. 1979 string synth, courtesy of roland:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmXUnnoqk0o


we are also expecting an maxed out black mpc1000 for easy drum machine sampling/use.

[frankie teardrop]

I'm sure they think they're doing something innovative. Roland is kind of like a car company. You're never going to see a modern, large-scale car company make a modern reproduction of a classic car. As much fun as it is to drive a loud mid-70s muscle car around, the technology in modern vehicles is so beyond that - and the mindset at Roland is that even though they're probably capable of doing something like what Korg did with the MS-20, that's moving backwards and recreating what they actually saw to be a failure. That their analog drum machines helped spawn electronic music was a fluke - their engineers were trying their hardest to make realistic sounding drums. As soon as cheap sampler chips came along, they jumped on that wagon and never looked back. If they're able to genuinely model analog circuitry in their old drum machines in such a way that they can print a chip and plug that in, they'll spend the time to do that instead of revisiting clunky old resistors and transistors. They're probably more than happy to let Korg cash in on what they see as a backwards looking fad.

Whereas Korg have seen the kind of tinkering that people do with old stuff, and encourage them to do that with the new stuff. They release schematics for their analog equipment, and they mark solder points where you can add things like CV/Gate control. They engineer the Monotribe so that it almost has MIDI, and if you know a little bit about soldering and have the internet, you can crack it open and add MIDI yourself.

To stretch the analogy, having a Korg is like having a desktop computer, and owning a modern Roland is like having an iPad. You can do cool stuff with both, but it's much easier to get into the guts of one of them, which will ultimately lend you greater insight into the core of what makes these machines what they are. Whether that's an important aspect to your hobby is up to the individual.

i generally agree with this analogy, but in general, i've always found roland gear to sound infinitely better than korg, at least in the vintage analog world. i don't mind some classic korg synths and machines, and maybe it's a bit fetishism on my part, but i've always preferred roland's line of machines and synths much more.

[Leviathant]

i generally agree with this analogy, but in general, i've always found roland gear to sound infinitely better than korg, at least in the vintage analog world. i don't mind some classic korg synths and machines, and maybe it's a bit fetishism on my part, but i've always preferred roland's line of machines and synths much more.

Yeah, absolutely. Roland was killing it in the 80s. While some people certainly like the Korg Monopoly, the only real go-to analog Korg was the MS-20, and even that's more of a "make weird noises" kind of device, whereas Roland's analog stuff always felt more... musical. Whether I'm talking the SH-09 or the Jupiter-8, there's something about their architecture that definitely sets them apart. And no one really cares about analog drum machines that aren't Roland. Other brands' drum machines might make for good seasoning, but a Roland drum machine can define a track (and whole genres, really).

[Jinsai]

And no one really cares about analog drum machines that aren't Roland.

And that's not entirely true... there's some pieces of analog drum kit that people get really excited about. Not as many people, and they're not household names like the 808, but they're out there.

[Leviathant]

And that's not entirely true... there's some pieces of analog drum kit that people get really excited about. Not as many people, and they're not household names like the 808, but they're out there.

j, you couldn't even name one in your retort.

"Aw man, you know what'd take this track to the next level? Some fuckin' Doncamatic. Yo DJ, bring that beat back!"

[Fixer808]

Were Linn's drum machines analog?

[Leviathant]

Were Linn's drum machines analog?

Nawp. The novelty of the Linn Drum was that it was the first drum machine that used digital samples of real drums.

I'm not sure Roger Linn was involved with any analog drum machine until the Tempest.

[Fixer808]

Ahh, gotcha.

[Jinsai]

j, you couldn't even name one in your retort.

To be honest it's not my scene. A friend of mine had some boxy white analog drum machine made by some manufacturer I'd never heard of... nifty hi hats, shitty snare sounds. It's a niche thing. Not my niche.

I've always used the drum machine on my Quasimidi Sirius, make some of my hi hats on my NL3... but otherwise, I would make all my drums in the computer. The Tempest is starting to become a backbone to everything I've been working on lately though.

I love it, it's an incredible piece of gear. I just can't believe how dodgy the timing gets when you try to slave it to an external clock. It pretty much makes it unusable for me live... which is ok because I can just record my parts into Ableton and trigger them live. Still, it's amazing that the guy who created MIDI has his name on something so unreliable in the MIDI sync department. You'd figure having a tight clock on a drum machine would be pretty important. Even just timing it and letting it run on its own clock, there seems to be an occasional drift.

Maybe my unit is messed up

[Leviathant]

I have seen a lot of complaints about the MIDI implementation. I've never used it as a slave - the way I incorporate live drum machines into my setup is kind of like a guitar - I just plug it into an amp or the PA system, and have a go. That's not how most people do though, and I definitely intend to integrate it more tightly into a wider range of MIDI instruments for a project idea that's hopefully going to emerge this year.

It definitely feels like a machine with better hardware than software. It has live performance abilities that were unfathomable before the Tempest (drum machines were always great for sequencing but pretty terrible to 'play' live), but there's just so much under the hood, and it seems like they only have one or two guys working on the operating system for it... and they're not even dedicated resources for the project.

Nonetheless, I can't see myself ever getting rid of it, unless I'm in some kind of financial crisis. Even with the new offerings from Elektron and Roland, they don't do what the Tempest does. I don't know that anyone will ever make anything quite like the Tempest again.

[frankie teardrop]

i use my drum machines like that as well- just using it to play the tracks as is (one mono channel for kicks and hats, and a separate channel for snare to add more reverb if necessary).

i've considered slaving the juno or the bass station to the machines, but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. i actually don't love constant arpeggiation in synth/post-punk music, as i've found it to be a cliche and a crutch for sloppy, uninteresting songwriting among modern bands, but i'm curious to give it a try with the new mpc1000 we just got to see if we can explore it while still keeping bass/guitars in the mix. we haven't implemented it yet, but we're also looking forward to running halo33's pad system through it as well. i know it's an older piece of "new" gear, but i feel like it's underutilized and a hidden treasure outside of the hip-hop scene.

[DVYDRNS]

My Slim Phatty got delivered today. Oh god. That Moog sound... its just... amazing.

[Leviathant]

frankie teardrop picks up an RS-09 and suddenly another one shows up on CL Philadelphia (http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/msg/4322219934.html). But my impulse control is strong, and I must resist.

[frankie teardrop]

@frankie teardrop (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=889) picks up an RS-09 and suddenly another one shows up on CL Philadelphia (http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/msg/4322219934.html). But my impulse control is strong, and I must resist.

that's a good price, and is in better shape than the one i just got! i'm not gonna talk you out of it...

[Leviathant]

that's a good price, and is in better shape than the one i just got! i'm not gonna talk you out of it...

I knowwwwww. There's a lot of stuff calling my name right now that I'm trying to ignore. There's a Fender Deluxe P Bass for the same price, which is no doubt more versatile than my very pretty Alpine White Thunderbird. I scroll past that listing and think, "Maybe I should offer $300 just to get rejected and that'll be that." But then I might offer $300 and they'll be like "Sure!"

A dude in Brooklyn is selling his Tempest for $1300 OBO, which is a lot less than I paid for mine, and it kind of makes me want to offer $1000 cash, just to get while the getting's good. But I have a Tempest, and I don't use instruments as financial investments.

Coming back around to Roland though, this morning, this got posted:
http://www.roland.co.uk/aira/_assets/images/contents/AIRA_portrait_darkWide.jpg

Along with a video that explains that their new boxes are analog modeling, but on the component level. I don't really care about the 303 emulation or the voice transformer, but I am still pretty intrigued by the drum machine. However, the rumored price is $1,500, and that's about $1,000 more than I'd pay for a fairly uninteresting sequencer attached to the latest 808/909 emulator.

The "Plug Out" synthesizer apparently is going to allow you to load circuit models of different old synths, and will probably come pre-loaded with SH-101 emulation. The price on this is apparently around $1,700, and for that, I'd save a few more bucks and pick up a Prophet 8.


BUT I WILL DO NONE OF THAT UNTIL I RECORD AND RELEASE MORE SONGS WITH THE EQUIPMENT I ALREADY OWN.

[jmtd]

My neighbour (who I really ought to introduce to this board) recently bought a minibrute, their second synth after a microkorg. He's principally a guitar player but uses a lot of filters.

Anyway, I asked him how it sounded and he told me via analogy. He said: you know when you play a preset on a digi synth which is supposed to sound like a real instrument and no matter how good it sounds it still is clearly a step removed from the real thing. He said even the non emulated patches on the brute sound *real* in a way like that the digi ones don't: it's a real instrument making deep, real noises.

I haven't heard it for myself but I liked the way he puts it.

[Leviathant]

My CZ-101 is dead. (you can hear it dying (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/the-dying-vocalizations-of-a)). I'm pretty bummed because I had some wacky ideas for it, and it made sounds that were very distinctly different from what my MS2000 or probably my Poly Evolver Keyboard (I don't think I mentioned that here, I got a PEK on Craigslist for $1150!) could do. Part of me wants to buy another CZ-101, but another part of me is thinking, get something modern. Next year, obvs, cuz I blew my budget on the PEK. I started watching videos of the Waldorf Blofeld, and thought that would be cool piece of kit to fill out different kind of sounds, and then I started looking at the Elektron Monomachine.

Neither of these is as cheap as a CZ-101, of course :|

Anyway, after picking up the PolyEvolver Keyboard, I decided that it was high time I shore up my shit, and get some boring things that make life a little easier. Picked up two Furman M-8x2 power conditioners, and hooked everything up to them. I picked up an old Yamaha MJC8 ($66.66) - 8 MIDI ins, 8 MIDI thrus, and you can store 50 different combinations of INs going to THRUs. The default patch is to have my ProjectMix IO sending MIDI out to all of the things, but I press a button and now I'm controlling my 606 with my MPD26, press another button and I'm sending the PolyEvolver's MIDI out into the ProjectMix's MIDI IN, while the ProjectMix controls everything else... you get the picture. It's pretty goddamn great.

I got a Samson S-patch pro to replace my junkpile of a patch bay, and I don't know why I hadn't done this years ago. (Yes I do: because I was cheap.) Pro-tip: S-Patch pros are $119 everywhere... but on Amazon, if you bundle eight patch cables with the S-Patch Pro, the combined price is $90.46 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FWN5PL4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FWN5PL4&linkCode=as2&tag=theninhotline-20). I didn't really need more patch cables (especially not shitty Hosa cables) but that felt like a nice find.

So, aside from the CZ-101 biting the dust, I think my arsenal is complete. Here's an iphone pic of my rack in it's final form (https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/q72/s720x720/1925232_10151913021751059_375795690_n.jpg) (srsly) and here's most of what's plugged into it (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leviathant/12736367525/), part of a flickr set of equipment, past & present (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leviathant/sets/72157632463815051).

My workflow's now about as impediment free as it'll ever be. I'll be piecing together some music this month.

[Jinsai]

If I were in your shoes, I'd hunt down a CZ-101. I still lean on my Sirius constantly... it's (severely) limited, outdated, and blah blah blah... but I can blow someone's mind with it... but that's because I bought it when I was a teenager and spent sleepless nights messing with it. Nothing can replace gear that you spent years familiarizing yourself with. You'll (probably) always miss it.

... or you could go the repair route? Any good/honest repair shops in Philly?

[Fixer808]

That's a tragic but awesome sounding death-rattle. I second Jinsai, as well. If you can repair it for cheap, probably best to do so if you know its ins and outs well! Unless you want to start fresh with a new keyboard, that is... Weigh them pros and cons.

[jmtd]

Just realised the cz101 is very similar to my brother's cz-3000, which nobody has figured out how to program yet. What's this "phase distortion" synthesis stuff anyway? How does this practically differ from today's analogue modelling approach?

[Fixer808]

Just realised the cz101 is very similar to my brother's cz-3000, which nobody has figured out how to program yet. What's this "phase distortion" synthesis stuff anyway? How does this practically differ from today's analogue modelling approach?

Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_distortion_synthesis) you go!

[Jinsai]

akai's new analog drum machine + bass synth... for 200 bucks? (http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/musikmesse-2014-akai-unveils-rhythm-wolf-drum-machine-and-bass-synth-595779)

[Leviathant]

akai's new analog drum machine + bass synth... for 200 bucks? (http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/musikmesse-2014-akai-unveils-rhythm-wolf-drum-machine-and-bass-synth-595779)

I'm withholding comment until audio demonstrations become available. Although at $200 it's pretty hard to go wrong.

The thread on Gearslutz (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/913129-akai-unveils-rhythm-wolf-analog-drum-machine-bass-synth.html) is only 4 hours old and already six pages long, haha.

The MPX16 sampler (http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/musikmesse-2014-akai-announces-mpx16-sample-player-recorder-595775) on the other hand has me glad I didn't pull the trigger on the Electribe ES-1mkII on Craigslist.

[liquidcalm]

that MPX16 sample has my eye.. I've been looking for something that isn't my MPC500, which can be a right pain to use live.. wonder how it stands up to that.

[Leviathant]

Looking a bit closer, the MPX16 doesn't have a sequencer, so maybe the ES-1mkII has a future with me yet.

[jmtd]

Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_distortion_synthesis) you go!

I suppose I should rephrase my question.

As a beginner to synthesis full stop, I've found the descriptions of PD synthesis inscrutable. For someone more experienced, how does the experience of using and programming a PD synth compare to a more common approach? Is there any particular area of sound that they are more or less suited to? Do you get better/worse/differents results by just messing around?

[Jinsai]

I suppose I should rephrase my question.

As a beginner to synthesis full stop, I've found the descriptions of PD synthesis inscrutable. For someone more experienced, how does the experience of using and programming a PD synth compare to a more common approach? Is there any particular area of sound that they are more or less suited to? Do you get better/worse/differents results by just messing around?

this is something that would be easier to understand if you had a handle on frequency modulation synthesis (FM). More common, similar concept, and there's a lot more documentation about the ins and outs of the idea.

[Leviathant]

Welp. After watching this TR-8 vs TR-808 clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbtp4qV7af4) and having a good solid think on it, I've decided I'm going to sell my Boss DR-110 (and my broken Boss DR-110) and trade up for the TR-8. It does the kind of tweaks I wanted to do with the DR-110's sounds - and more, and comes with MIDI and those sweet sweet USB individual outs. I'd only be using it as a module (like the DR-110), and I'm keeping my Quicksilver 606 (much sequencer, wow, etc.) And the Tempest will continue to be my central drum machine, but for them claps and hihats, Roland's got it down. Doesn't hurt having tweaky 808 & 909 kicks & snares too.

[Fixer808]

How much is the TR-8 in the States? A link to the review for the AIRA series that was in Jinsai's link for the Akai thingy put the TR-8 at £399, which Google says is $663 US.

[Leviathant]

How much is the TR-8 in the States? A link to the review for the AIRA series that was in Jinsai's link for the Akai thingy put the TR-8 at £399, which Google says is $663 US.

Last I heard, the US List price was going to be $500. Checking Musician's Friend, that is indeed the case, at least for pre-orders. I should be able to get $75-$100 for my DR-110, and maybe $50 for my for-parts DR-110. Maybe $50 for my broken CZ-101. I've got four spare wood panels for my MS-2000 which would probably sell for more than I'd certainly pay for them, and at that point, I'm more than halfway there.

[screwdriver]

Last I heard, the US List price was going to be $500. Checking Musician's Friend, that is indeed the case, at least for pre-orders. I should be able to get $75-$100 for my DR-110, and maybe $50 for my for-parts DR-110. Maybe $50 for my broken CZ-101. I've got four spare wood panels for my MS-2000 which would probably sell for more than I'd certainly pay for them, and at that point, I'm more than halfway there.

did you end up picking one up? thoughts?

[Leviathant]

did you end up picking one up? thoughts?

Haven't picked one up yet. I think I'm going to get a Sub 37 first. No one on PHL Craigslist cares about my DR-110 and I haven't been driven enough to post it on eBay.

Enough people are going to buy TR-8s that it probably makes more sense to buy one used. I really wish they weren't so green.

[Leviathant]

I just sent off an email inquiry about pre-ordering a Sub 37, potentially at a discount. If I can't get the discount, then the Korg ESX-1 SD is what will replace my CZ-101, and the Moog will be a next-year purchase. Gotta get back to making music, though.

[Louie_Cypher]

both of these are steals
https://reverb.com/item/111540-moog-sub-phatty-2013
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=phatty+moog
Damn if I had a little more scratch then to just scratch my ass, I would be all over it.
-Louie

[Jinsai]

I'm still not seeing a justification for me (personally) to get the TR-8. I think I can still make do with my Gold Baby 808 sample banks. Lately, I've been getting more and more into building stuff in Reaktor, and that's entirely taking up my free music-time lately. For a while I was just intimidated by the complexity and the initial learning curve, but now I'm getting interested in designing my own instruments suited to a specific purpose. That, and using my iPad lemur interface w/ the iConnectivity box I just bought to design control interfaces for those Reaktor ensembles, I feel like it's bridging a gap that's always made software feel less "real" for me.

Every now and again I still dream of picking up an Elektron Machinedrum, but then I disappear down the Reaktor rabbit hole again.

[jmtd]

Moving house in a month or so, thus I've had to pack my virtually untouched xiosynth. I probably wouldn't have done anything with it in that time anyway, but the potentiality all gone is rather frustrating.

[Leviathant]

Moving house in a month or so, thus I've had to pack my virtually untouched xiosynth. I probably wouldn't have done anything with it in that time anyway, but the potentiality all gone is rather frustrating.

Yeah, but you'll have it for when you do make time to work with it. I just went through a fairly unusual burst of creative activity, and spent a lot of time using gear that otherwise sits dormant. I have a handful of guitars - a $1 Martin D15 (thrown away by a shop for having a split in the back), an Epi Les Paul, a PRS Santana SE (for driving my DUI'd guitarist to practice for a year), and a Danelectro baritone guitar. They're usually idle, sitting on the guitar stand behind me. But sometimes I have a week where I just want to riff, or play some baritone surf guitar licks, and it's right there.

[Jinsai]

Yeah, but you'll have it for when you do make time to work with it. I just went through a fairly unusual burst of creative activity, and spent a lot of time using gear that otherwise sits dormant. I have a handful of guitars - a $1 Martin D15 (thrown away by a shop for having a split in the back), an Epi Les Paul, a PRS Santana SE (for driving my DUI'd guitarist to practice for a year), and a Danelectro baritone guitar. They're usually idle, sitting on the guitar stand behind me. But sometimes I have a week where I just want to riff, or play some baritone surf guitar licks, and it's right there.

Exactly. You never know when some gear you have will surprise you. My first "real" synth I bought was a Quasmidi Sirius, and so I learned it in and out for years as it was all I had. As I moved on and acquired more gear, I used it less and less... and then, years later after getting (and leaning on) all this awesome powerful equipment, I realized that the track I was working on needed that synth... and suddenly I realized how much I loved that synth, and I remembered how well I knew that synth. Now I use it in some way on almost every track I make.

[jmtd]

Picked this up today http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/3abamaqa.jpg

[Fixer808]

I want to get the new Roland Aira voice transformer, but run a guitar through it. Friend's bandmate bought the TR-8, and they LOVE IT.

[screwdriver]

I'm not usually big on alternative controllers, but this is really speaking to me:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/04/roger-linns-linnstrument-finally-make-grids-expressive-music-hands/

I've been so bored with the guitar for months now, and keyboards were never really my thing, but I think I could really get into this.

[Fixer808]

Interesting machine, but first run is going to be $1,895. Ouch...

[Leviathant]

Interesting machine, but first run is going to be $1,895. Ouch...

That's for the Madrona Labs Soundplane (as I imagine we all gawked at in Alessandro's rig in the ACL NIN performance video) I don't think they've got a price for the Linnstrument yet... but I would not be surprised if it was in the same range as the Soundplane.

[Leviathant]

I officially put down my deposit for the Sub 37 today, and I have to tell my fellow ETS synth nerds. SQUEE, A MOOG!

[icecream]

Has anyone tried the Korg Volca Bass? I play a few instruments and thought it would be fun to pick up a synth. I love it. Supper affordable analogue synth (compared to others I looked at), only 250 here in Canada. In the States is quite a bit less. It's opened up a whole new world to me, I just spend my time reading about analogue synths now.

And congrats on the Moog! I heard those were fucking awesome.

[Jinsai]

Has anyone tried the Korg Volca Bass? I play a few instruments and thought it would be fun to pick up a synth. I love it. Supper affordable analogue synth (compared to others I looked at), only 250 here in Canada. In the States is quite a bit less. It's opened up a whole new world to me, I just spend my time reading about analogue synths now.

The Volca Bass is a no brainer if you don't already have something similar. My only complaint about the unit I messed with was that it seemed to be a little noisy, but for that price? It's an awesome bargain. I'm still considering picking one up.

[icecream]

The Volca Bass is a no brainer if you don't already have something similar. My only complaint about the unit I messed with was that it seemed to be a little noisy, but for that price? It's an awesome bargain. I'm still considering picking one up.
I'm still a synth nooby, just got it about 2-3 weeks ago. It's like when I first learnt guitar 10 or more years ago, I just fell in love. Can't wait to fully explore the world of synth.

[DVYDRNS]

FYI i'm selling a Mopho. in great shape.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201094795175

[Leviathant]

When I'm playing drums & drum machines in Up Your Cherry, I usually brought a shitty Crate amp with me. You know the one, that one someone gave you for free, that you've been keeping around because it never hurts to have an extra amp kicking around. I feel like everyone's had the free, hand-me-down shitty Crate amp. Well, last night I was window shopping on Craigslist, and saw a Roland Keyboard Combo amp up for grabs at $360. Mind you, I was actually eyeing up the Roland KC-150 a few months ago - Musician's Friend had a couple of used KC-150s for sale for about $400 shipped. They had obvious but fixable damage to them, both in the same place on the front of the amp. Anyway, I'd been saving for a little bit, and I liked the idea of buying locally, so I changed my status from Window Shopping to Actual Shopping.

I went to pick it up today, and when I pulled up, I thought "Wow, that's a lot bigger than I thought it would be." I brought my DR-110 along to plug in and test with, to make sure all four channels in the four-channel mixer worked, which they did. The guy was asking $360 firm, and I hate haggling anyway, so I handed over the cash, heaved the amp into my car, and went home. Just after unloading the amp, I went to band practice. Then came home and planted some trees and bushes. Then got dinner. Then went downstairs to take a closer look.

Turns out I'd just bought a KC-550, a 180 watt amp which Roland calls their flagship keyboard amp, and which retails for nearly $300 more than I paid for it.

Tomorrow, I'm sending an email out to the company I work for - it's time to pass on the torch - someone else will be receiving my hand-me-down shitty Crate amp, and now my Tempest, 606 and ER-1 will resound with clarity at gigs, without me having to unplug and plug each one in as necessary. Woo!

[DVYDRNS]

So should we post pics of our studios? (http://imgur.com/a/nF5y6/layout/horizontal#0)

[Leviathant]

Why not. Here's an older panorama of my study (http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=c0fef003-f891-49bc-b324-5562ffb4049d), and a newer photo of the setup (https://www.flickr.com/photos/leviathant/12736367525/in/set-72157632463815051).

[DVYDRNS]

beautiful!!!

[screwdriver]

http://instagram.com/p/pzZlxITPaK/

anyone id what the thing with the pads in front of atticus is ? I don't recognize it.

[DVYDRNS]

http://instagram.com/p/pzZlxITPaK/

anyone id what the thing with the pads in front of atticus is ? I don't recognize it.


Maschine Studio.

[screwdriver]

Maschine Studio.

ah, in retrospect obvious

thanks!

[Leviathant]

My journey away from the computer continues. I just cut a check for a Sound Workshop 1280b mixing console, with super EQ and meter bridge. The price was better than recent eBay history, and it's been fully recapped and upgraded.

Because I'm a crazy person.

[Conan The Barbarian]

Jesus. I'm just on a laptop using toontrack programs cutting demos. You guys make me jealous

[jmtd]

G'damn. So I finally started messing with my Novation Xiosynth, since I've moved house, but I can't convince OS X Mavericks to pick up the line out when I'm using it as an audio interface. (My first task is to try digitising some vinyl). From what I can tell, it's a compatibility issue with Mavericks. I might have to use a VM with Windows or something to use the audio interface aspect of the Xio. [ Edit: I realise this is not really 'making music', and is not really 'without your computer' either. But it is about a hardware synth! Kind-of. ]

[DVYDRNS]

Fricking sweet dude. that is a nice desk. A LITTLE jealous right now.



My journey away from the computer continues. I just cut a check for a Sound Workshop 1280b mixing console, with super EQ and meter bridge. The price was better than recent eBay history, and it's been fully recapped and upgraded.

Because I'm a crazy person.

[Leviathant]

Fricking sweet dude. that is a nice desk. A LITTLE jealous right now.

Some details from the craigslist listing:
* has the Super EQ / 'API 550a style' on the main 8 channel
* has an updated Acopian 'A' series 18v external power supply - the internal ones barely provide the current needed for the channels, and a new one is supposed to really increase headroom and help get the S/N ratio down to dead silent. At the moment, the internal PSU is connected, but the external is very easy to get re-connected.
* has all of the line input jacks steel (API style) transformer balanced! I found the chassis room to install balanced 1/4" jacks and mount 12 freakin huge API style 10k:10k line input transformers.
* everything is COMPLETELY recapped! all electrolytics have been replaced with the same size and spec cap on all channels. any non-electrolytic tone caps (for the EQs, among others) are stock to retain the hand-selected matching tolerances that the board was built with. High quality Nichicon japanese caps were used.
* everything is COMPLETELY rechipped! the preamp and driver IC's are, stock, 4541's, which are very, very, very slow slew rate chips, and at first, the board sounds sluggish and high frequencies are very, very harsh if boosted at the EQ's. They're upgraded to TL074's (the same chips used in Neotek Series I/II boards - which the 1280b schematics look VERY close to in theory!), and things got very hi-fi, yet due to the Beyerdynamic mic transformers the board is legendary for and, now, the API-style line input transformers, there's that magic blend of bigness and clarity.

The price was right, and there's no way I'd do all that work myself.

[Jinsai]

Pretty sure this belongs here (http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2014/07/26/teenage-engineering-po-12-the-50-drum-machine-sneak-preview/)

[icecream]

Does anyone own a Korg Microkorg? I'm seriously thinking of getting one. I have the Korg Volca Bass and can't put it down so I'm looking to make my next synth purchase. Would the Microkorg be a step in the right direction or are there other synths I should have in my collection before making the jump? Are there others like the Microkorg but better value? It's overwhelming reading about synths after only been interested in them for a few months.

[Jinsai]

Does anyone own a Korg Microkorg? I'm seriously thinking of getting one. I have the Korg Volca Bass and can't put it down so I'm looking to make my next synth purchase. Would the Microkorg be a step in the right direction or are there other synths I should have in my collection before making the jump? Are there others like the Microkorg but better value? It's overwhelming reading about synths after only been interested in them for a few months.

A lot of people love the Microkorg, so I can't really say you shouldn't... still, for me, I never got why it's so ubiquitous. The vocoder isn't anything to get too excited about, especially if you're happy with the software vocoders in Logic and Ableton (which I am). The synth engine isn't anything amazing (it's basically a virtual digital MS2000). The interface is horrible... if you like designing sounds with menu diving, maybe it'll work for you. Also, the itty bitty keys are unplayable for me. If you already know how to play keys, it might just drive you insane.

People love it though... and its a classic synth, so there's that. So many huge artists have used it, and it's not a bad thing for the price.

Still... For the same price range (or maybe a bit more) you can find some stuff used that blows it away in my opinion. Here's a used original MS2000 for a bill more than you can get a Microkorg for (http://www.guitarcenter.com/Korg-Used-Korg-MS2000-Synthesizer-110356190-i3854667.gc?source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=CjwKEAjwxtKeBRDMzoeQmYn5uHcSJACGCF3DHH3ZW-rR1WsQlKDYL5qG2YAQYhipm21kbtgd-MST-hoCT-Hw_wcB&kwid=productads-plaid%5E18283950120-sku%5E110356190@ADL1U@ADL4GC-adType%5EPLA-device%5Ec-adid%5E27490280802&nce=1)

There's also the Korg MS20, which goes for 600 new, but you can find it used for around 450.

If you already have a controller keyboard though, then for that price range I would actually steer you towards the Dave Smith Mopho. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Mopho?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CjwKEAjwxtKeBRDMzoeQmYn5uHcSJACGCF3DEFMrawZQ yehDnoJ1iiLGDEJhtrcjalKSkrHlckmhDhoCod7w_wcB

On a side note, I'm thinking of buying one of these before they become impossible to find (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Werkstatt)

[icecream]

A lot of people love the Microkorg, so I can't really say you shouldn't... still, for me, I never got why it's so ubiquitous. The vocoder isn't anything to get too excited about, especially if you're happy with the software vocoders in Logic and Ableton (which I am). The synth engine isn't anything amazing (it's basically a virtual digital MS2000). The interface is horrible... if you like designing sounds with menu diving, maybe it'll work for you. Also, the itty bitty keys are unplayable for me. If you already know how to play keys, it might just drive you insane.

People love it though... and its a classic synth, so there's that. So many huge artists have used it, and it's not a bad thing for the price.

Still... For the same price range (or maybe a bit more) you can find some stuff used that blows it away in my opinion. Here's a used original MS2000 for a bill more than you can get a Microkorg for (http://www.guitarcenter.com/Korg-Used-Korg-MS2000-Synthesizer-110356190-i3854667.gc?source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=CjwKEAjwxtKeBRDMzoeQmYn5uHcSJACGCF3DHH3ZW-rR1WsQlKDYL5qG2YAQYhipm21kbtgd-MST-hoCT-Hw_wcB&kwid=productads-plaid%5E18283950120-sku%5E110356190@ADL1U@ADL4GC-adType%5EPLA-device%5Ec-adid%5E27490280802&nce=1)

There's also the Korg MS20, which goes for 600 new, but you can find it used for around 450.

If you already have a controller keyboard though, then for that price range I would actually steer you towards the Dave Smith Mopho. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Mopho?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CjwKEAjwxtKeBRDMzoeQmYn5uHcSJACGCF3DEFMrawZQ yehDnoJ1iiLGDEJhtrcjalKSkrHlckmhDhoCod7w_wcB

On a side note, I'm thinking of buying one of these before they become impossible to find (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Werkstatt)
Thanks for all the links! I'll be sure to research them all. I was thinking to make my next purchase in the next month or so. The Werkstatt looks really cool, I'll have to look at them more.

[Leviathant]

I've got a Halloween show that I'll be performing entirely on my Tempest. Feels good man. Mind you, my wife/bandmate will be singing and playing an electric Mandocaster, so it's not a purely electronic show, but I'm really looking forward to the performance. We had kind of a test run for this sort of thing in the summer at a pub in Connecticut, and it went over better than I'd expected. I'm building a rig around it that admittedly takes a few cues from Coritini's NIN rig. I have an old Roland TD-7 that I bought from a friend a few years ago and promptly never did anything with. I'm going to take three of the pads & the drum brain and set them up so that I can do some stick-driven improvisation over the course of the set. Yesterday I plugged a pad into the brain, and the MIDI out from the brain to the Tempest, and everything just worked. That's what it was supposed to do, but it sure was nice to have that instant satisfaction.

In unrelated news, I've been casually looking for a sequencer, leaning most strongly toward a Yamaha RS-7000. If I were all about step-sequencing though, this hack of the $200 Behringer BCR2000 (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/10/zaquencer-turns-behringers-encoders-killer-step-sequencer/) is pretty fucking killer.

[Jinsai]

bad news... Mutable instruments is discontinuing their DIY line to focus on manufacturing eurorack modules. http://mutable-instruments.net/shruthi1

There's some great stuff here. I think I 'm going to grab a midi pal right now

[Jinsai]

OP1 emulator app for iPad w/ tactile interface.

holy shit (http://www.caraulani.com/op1d-app/)

EDIT: Nevermind, this, like many other cool things, in not actually happening.

[Leviathant]

Performance mode, engage (http://imgur.com/a/qvbV6)!

[DVYDRNS]

:( Why isn't it happening??

[Jinsai]

:( Why isn't it happening??

I guess because it's not actually endorsed by Teenage Engineering, and they've responded by saying that it's not going to happen.

Maybe if they modded their "emulation" enough so that it wasn't an obvious replication of it, they could get away with it?

[screwdriver]

Performance mode, engage (http://imgur.com/a/qvbV6)!

oh man... this actually looks perfect for me right now... are you taking commissions? :-)
I'm working on playing some of my more electronic stuff live. if anyone happens to be around NYC tonight and wants to come check us out, we're playing at the Warper party at Delancey at 8pm.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10734065_10103374452362219_9042075980604793120_n.j pg?oh=e539e52fc3e71c5f222061079325561f&oe=54DCFF13

[Leviathant]

oh man... this actually looks perfect for me right now... are you taking commissions? :-)

Heh, I would but I don't have the time really. I can give you the details of how it was made:
One On-Stage Z-stand (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ZStd)
One heavy duty velcro roll (http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Industrial-Strength-Black-90197/dp/B00006RSP1/)
One cheap unbound rug from the Home Depot/Lowes (I think that ran us less than $10)
A can of Super 77 adhesive (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Adhesives/Tapes/Products/~/3M-Super-77-Multi-Purpose-Spray-Adhesive) (Every home should have this anyway).

The following are the sizes I used, but you can obviously have variation here to suit your own needs:
Two flanges, two 90 degree reducing elbows, two five inch sections of 3/4" black pipe, one 18" section of 1" black pipe.
18"x24" cut of hardwood plywood (leftover from another project)

I had to wrap the pipe in ProtectoWrap to get the drum pads to grip. While there's 1.5" black pipe, that's not a reference to the exterior dimension, and it's too wide to use with standard Roland clamps. Ideally, I'd get some kind of rubber matting that I could cut up instead, but I didn't have any of that sitting around.

[screwdriver]

Heh, I would but I don't have the time really. I can give you the details of how it was made:
One On-Stage Z-stand (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ZStd)
One heavy duty velcro roll (http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Industrial-Strength-Black-90197/dp/B00006RSP1/)
One cheap unbound rug from the Home Depot/Lowes (I think that ran us less than $10)
A can of Super 77 adhesive (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Adhesives/Tapes/Products/~/3M-Super-77-Multi-Purpose-Spray-Adhesive) (Every home should have this anyway).

The following are the sizes I used, but you can obviously have variation here to suit your own needs:
Two flanges, two 90 degree reducing elbows, two five inch sections of 3/4" black pipe, one 18" section of 1" black pipe.
18"x24" cut of hardwood plywood (leftover from another project)

I had to wrap the pipe in ProtectoWrap to get the drum pads to grip. While there's 1.5" black pipe, that's not a reference to the exterior dimension, and it's too wide to use with standard Roland clamps. Ideally, I'd get some kind of rubber matting that I could cut up instead, but I didn't have any of that sitting around.

thanks dude, between that and your awesome pic descriptions, I could prob recreate. :-) I wanna see some action shots!

[Leviathant]

thanks dude, between that and your awesome pic descriptions, I could prob recreate. :-) I wanna see some action shots!

Here are some taken with a flash (https://www.flickr.com/photos/15543694@N06/sets/72157649068825742) - it was actually quite dimly lit, in mostly red light. I know sick among the pure was snapping pics too, and I'll be posting those when they come around :)

[screwdriver]

Here are some taken with a flash (https://www.flickr.com/photos/15543694@N06/sets/72157649068825742) - it was actually quite dimly lit, in mostly red light. I know @sick among the pure (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=266) was snapping pics too, and I'll be posting those when they come around :)

rock on! this looks awesome. thanks for sharing.

[EDIT]
shot from last night's debut show (properly posted here, notice lack of computer)
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=af97201734&view=fimg&th=1497de104f9f0e9c&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=ca449f6bc0c5919e_0.3&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ9fW28vAUf8Xk-e17J7pjwvbVW9YhkSeQCzLPGEsjY-rIe7QfBZtpJ0w-GiOLxZvBv64qtN9G8tP93t0Tp8IuNMPMBcbKBFAv3iezEpvC2X fwqDKF-egs45pXE&ats=1415203838554&rm=1497de104f9f0e9c&zw&sz=w1896-h792

[Leviathant]

My Sub 37, pre-ordered in late April, arrived today. I wasn't sure where I was going to put my MS-2000, but as it turns out, I have a new keyboard stand that's juuuust right.

http://i.imgur.com/Hjfq1Iyl.jpg (http://imgur.com/Hjfq1Iy)

[screwdriver]

My Sub 37, pre-ordered in late April, arrived today. I wasn't sure where I was going to put my MS-2000, but as it turns out, I have a new keyboard stand that's juuuust right.

http://i.imgur.com/Hjfq1Iyl.jpg (http://imgur.com/Hjfq1Iy)

it warms my heart to see the er-1 still sitting proud

[sick among the pure]

Here are some taken with a flash (https://www.flickr.com/photos/15543694@N06/sets/72157649068825742) - it was actually quite dimly lit, in mostly red light. I know @sick among the pure (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=266) was snapping pics too, and I'll be posting those when they come around :)

Any pics or vids I send you on social media or "private" on youtube, feel free to share wherever btw. I only ever list those things as "private" sometimes because I want you to have control over how widely it spreads (if you're like "oh god drummer face" or anything).

I should have some pics and vids up in a week or two.

[screwdriver]

TRENT STAHP!

http://instagram.com/p/vpXOI5TPSY/

anyone id what the modular looking thing under the voyager xl is?

[Leviathant]

anyone id what the modular looking thing under the voyager xl is?

That's an Oberheim four-voice, with two sequencer modules (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oberheim-Mini-sequencer-vintage-TVS-1-FVS-1-rare-analogue-/261612040202). So, kinda like two of these (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TwoVoicePro/). Here's a similar model (http://www.switchedonaustin.com/products/oberheim-fvs-1-four-voice).

[screwdriver]

That's an Oberheim four-voice, with two sequencer modules (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oberheim-Mini-sequencer-vintage-TVS-1-FVS-1-rare-analogue-/261612040202). So, kinda like two of these (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TwoVoicePro/). Here's a similar model (http://www.switchedonaustin.com/products/oberheim-fvs-1-four-voice).

grazi!
http://www.vintagesynth.com/oberheim/4voice.php

learn something new everyday.

[Jinsai]

just got a Novation Bass Station II and Korg Volca Bass/Beats. IT's all great, but that Bass Station... just holy shit. For the price this thing is unbeatable.

[Magtig]

I'd love to have walls of modulars, but the nomadic lifestyle puts a serious crimp on hardware sports.

Caustic (http://www.singlecellsoftware.com/caustic) is my new video game. Hell, it's my new facebook, instagram and twitter combined. I've made something like 30 songs on it while standing in line, lounging in bed, and literally dancing WHILE I make music. This app is THE reason I just picked up a touch screen laptop.

Anyone else got great synth app(s) to recommend?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ra4I_y_L3j8/Uehw2WTKlGI/AAAAAAAAWI8/q4AwywUozCI/s1600/4520111_orig.jpg

[Jinsai]

not sure if they're on a non-iOS tablet, but Sunvox and Korg Gadget are amazing. Also Borderlands.

[blackholesun]

just got a Novation Bass Station II and Korg Volca Bass/Beats. IT's all great, but that Bass Station... just holy shit. For the price this thing is unbeatable.

It's a great time for inexpensive hardware. I just got the Volca Sample last night. Having to upload samples through IOS blows, but this little thing is pretty powerful and flat out fun for $160. How's the Bass and Beats?

[Jinsai]

How's the Bass and Beats?

The Bass is pretty fantastic... I'm not entirely sure about Beats yet. It seems very limited, and while it might work for some people, I'm not sure how useful it's going to be for me. I haven't really tried using it in a song yet though, so the jury's not out really. Both of them have pretty noisy outputs too, which is acceptable for the price.

[Archive_Reports]

I don't think this is the right place to post this question, but it seems to be the best option.

Has anyone here had experience with pressing your music on flexi discs?

[Magtig]

just got a Novation Bass Station II and Korg Volca Bass/Beats. IT's all great, but that Bass Station... just holy shit. For the price this thing is unbeatable.
Yeah, sure, that's cool and all, but do you have the original original anaLOG synth?

https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5ly7zmsPi1ruer0wo1_500.jpg

[Fixer808]

I prefer graintable.
http://timelesstimber.com/images/products/endgraintable-0.jpg

[DVYDRNS]

So this is happening. FAKK.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w6qWiEx8BQ

http://www.moogmusic.com/products/modulars/system-55

I'll be playing with it at NAMM this week. I can't wait to get my hands on this beast.

35K tho... I doubt I'll afford one anytime soon...

[Leviathant]

Best NAMM ever?
Aforementioned Moog Modular re-releases, while awe inspiring, are already sold out, and were never something I was going to buy, or probably even see in person.
Arp relaunches with the Odyssey, available in three classic styles (http://www.arpsynth.com/en/).
Roland announces an four-voice true analog polysynth (http://www.instagram.com/p/yJVjVDHwXa/) "flagship"
Korg MS20 module, with osc sync, fm, and the new SQ-1 analog step sequencer (http://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/ms_20mkit/)*
Dave Smith relaunches Sequential with the all-analog six-voice Prophet 6 (http://www.sequential.com/) (The founder of Roland persuaded the CEO of Yamaha to give the name back to Dave!)
Oberheim Two Voice is now shipping (http://www.tomoberheim.com/)
...and that AIRA mixer is actually pretty intriguing.

Of the above, I do think the only thing I've got my eyes set on is the MS20 module. The original designers said they felt that as successful as the MS20 reissues were, the design was never quite finished, and this strikes me as the final iteration of this particular design. Maybe in five years, they'll make a version that's got digital control (like the MS20 VST or modern hardware analog synths) but if it's $1000, I've got to figure out what I can sell to offset that cost and pick one up, as I'm currently on a spending freeze in preparation for a real estate purchase.

Synthesizers at NAMM haven't been this crazy since 1999/2000. Totally psyched, and I can't wait to see what the next five years brings.

[Jinsai]

Of the above, I do think the only thing I've got my eyes set on is the MS20 module.

Not excited at all about those Teenage Engineering $60 pocket synths? I want them all (http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/22/7868157/teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-synthesizers)

Also, yeah, I'm really interested in that Aira mixer.

[Fixer808]

Those pocket synths are cool little suckers, I want 'em!

[screwdriver]

sort of geared out. never thought I would say that. feel like I have pretty much everything I need to implement any vision I have, I just need to increase my skills and my time.

EDIT: Watches Prophet 6 and Two Voice videos, momentarily feels gear lust; subsides

[blackholesun]

Not excited at all about those Teenage Engineering $60 pocket synths? I want them all (http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/22/7868157/teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-synthesizers)

Also, yeah, I'm really interested in that Aira mixer.

I ended up ordering those last night. They are probably toys, but I can't resist anything that makes sounds (pretty sweet sounds according to the videos so far) at that price point. The cases are apparently going to run $40 each, so I'm just going to DIY something that can hold all 3.

[DVYDRNS]

My favorite thing I saw this week there that I don't already own was the ARP Odyssey. Second Favorite thing... Prophet 6. Both will be mine this next quarter.

Oh I also met Martin Gore. Oh my god...

[Leviathant]

Oh I also met Martin Gore. Oh my god...

Haha, I saw your YouTube comment on whatever synth that was. That's a pretty great moment you had there.

[DVYDRNS]

Haha, I saw your YouTube comment on whatever synth that was. That's a pretty great moment you had there.


Dude. so insane. He of course was gracious as hell and we had a good laugh.

[DVYDRNS]

Allesandro was there too :)


http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2015/01/25/namm-2015-in-conversation-with-alessandro-cortini/

[Substance242]

feel like I have pretty much everything I need to implement any vision I have, I just need to increase my skills and my time

My feelings exactly. I am not even remotely good enough with the stuff I already have... sometimes I feel like it is too much for one person to do everything, so I switch to doing NOTHING instead. ;-)

And the most interesting stuff from NAMM? Nothing. (OK that Sequential news was nice one, and that analog/supernatural small Roland...)

[Jinsai]

well, if I had 2500 dollars burning a hole in my pocket right now, I'd run out and buy a Buchla 252e

so ridiculously sexy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYM_jP8ydHI

too bad it's already completely sold out.....................

[Substance242]

Yesterday I finished testing all sounds from novationmusic.com for Mininova. It's capable of strong sound and I quite enjoyed some of the echoed arpeggious, or brutal screaming "guitars", easily tweaking things in realtime...

Today I entered advert to sell it. Overall, I don't really enjoy its virtual analog sound that much (and I have real analog), I don't feel the need to start it up and play, and even though it is definitely good product, I'll prefer to have cleaner table and mind, you know.

...but I am more and more interested in Roland JD-Xi... ;-)

[Jinsai]

Today I entered advert to sell it. Overall, I don't really enjoy its virtual analog sound that much (and I have real analog)

To me, the analog vs digital debate is getting a little out of hand. The mininova isn't very good... but that isn't because it's a digital synth. There are hardware digital synths that will blow you away, and there's a lot of analog units that are really lackluster and pretty boring to be honest. Yes, the new buzzword with hardware synths is "analog," but most people don't even really know what that means. I will never tire of my Virus TI, and anyone who has one of these and really knows how to use it will agree that it's the bee's knees when it comes to aggressive sound design.

Synthesis isn't about purism... the idealization of analog gear in the synth world is a relatively new thing. It's awesome to have great analog gear, it's also awesome to have a modded digital video game system from the 80s that pulls out piercing chip tune sounds. These are all just tools, some are better than others. There's no standard qualifier though, and there's analog synths I own and love that I'd sell long before I'd sell my Virus.

[Substance242]

Yes I agree with you completely, Jinsai.

I just mentioned I don't like Mininova's (virtual analog) sound very much, and for the analog stuff I have something else (DSI Mopho, the only one analog I have, and I love it). Besides that, there are 5 digital synths in my room and I love them all too. :-)

And my first synth love will forever be Yamaha SY-99, just recently replaced batteries, broken key and floppy drive. What about you, people, do you have one synth with emotional connection to? :-)

[DVYDRNS]

I am looking for something to sequence my gear together without a computer. 4 synths & a drum machine. any suggestions?

[Leviathant]

I am looking for something to sequence my gear together without a computer. 4 synths & a drum machine. any suggestions?

Up until the latest NAMM, I was eyeing up the Yamaha RS-7000, or some shade of MPC.

If you're more of a step-sequencer kind of guy, then you want exactly this (http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/01/29/social-entropy-intros-engine-multitrack-sequencer/).

The Cirklon seems to be the hot shit right now, too - check out some videos before taking the plunge though.

[DVYDRNS]

had a little solo hardware jam tonight in my studio. made a bunch of drum samples with my MS20. imported them into Maschine. Made some beats and then sequenced my Sub37 and went off for about a half an hour. its nothing special. but it was fun for not thinking too hard about anything.

https://soundcloud.com/dvydrns/burn-it-down

[SIR.LONDONCLEANLILY]

I just got a new (actually older because the new ones suck ass with their i5s) Imac and a Presonus Firestudio Project. I am gearing up to begin recording my band's album slowly by the end of the summer. My question for all of you gentleman is can anyone recommend a pair of monitor speakers that are relatively inexpensive ($400 max) but still worth my time. I would love to spend more but this computer and the interface cost a pretty penny. I also still need to get a few microphones too! I was looking at a pair of KRKs but I've changed my mind on those after a demo. They are too bassy and just not good for getting a flat EQ. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thanks!

[Leviathant]

My question for all of you gentleman is can anyone recommend a pair of monitor speakers that are relatively inexpensive ($400 max) but still worth my time. I would love to spend more but this computer and the interface cost a pretty penny. I also still need to get a few microphones too! I was looking at a pair of KRKs but I've changed my mind on those after a demo. They are too bassy and just not good for getting a flat EQ. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thanks!

With monitors, you get what you pay for, up til, I don't know, $1000. After that point, the law of diminishing returns applies. I got a pair of Yamaha MSP7s used for $600 via Craigslist, which I quite like, but even those are kinda 'low end' as far as monitors go. Prior to that, I'd bought M-Audi AV40s, which were more computer speaker than audio monitor, and the capacitor in the internal amp exploded black goo over everything. KRKs are also consumery - much marketing, much bass. If you're spending $400, look at Guitar Center used, eBay & Craigslist for things in that price range, and when they come up, research what people have to say about those monitors. If it's generally good, see if you can test them out, or just pull the trigger and hope for the best.

[bgalbraith]

I'm going to hijack this thread briefly to say that the ZOOM B3 (http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/b3) is my new favorite thing. Finally got a chance to really play with it tonight and oh my god was that fun. I had only used a metal zone and phaser before, so having access to this huge range of simulated pedals was amazing. It also has effects to make it sound like you're playing a bass synth, so it kinda fits here ;)

[catiua]

Does anyone own the Access Virus TI snow? I have tried looking for demos of it on YouTube but there aren't any great videos, for whatever reason.

I've heard a lot of great things about how it sounds but negative things about its reliability and compatibility with DAWs. I've always been tempted to buy the Virus TI Snow.

[GoodSoldier333]

Would one of you be kind enough to tell me (I don't know shit about synths) which is better (in sound and in variability/options) between the KORG MONOTRIBE ANALOGUE RIBBON STATION ($199 on amazon) and any one of the KORG VOLCA SERIES SYNTHS ($160 on amazon). Maybe it's not even close? The analogue ribbon station is on the left and one of volca synths on the right.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/45b7jQUPGnw/hqdefault.jpg

[blackholesun]

Would one of you be kind enough to tell me (I don't know shit about synths) which is better (in sound and in variability/options) between the KORG MONOTRIBE ANALOGUE RIBBON STATION ($199 on amazon) and any one of the KORG VOLCA SERIES SYNTHS ($160 on amazon). Maybe it's not even close? The analogue ribbon station is on the left and one of volca synths on the right.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/45b7jQUPGnw/hqdefault.jpg

It's best to watch some Youtube reviews to get an idea of the sounds each can make. The Monotribe is probably the most limited, but it sounds great. Good for acid-y type of stuff. The drums on it aren't great. You can also process external audio through the Monotribe's filter, which is based on the Korg MS-20. It only has an 8 step sequencer.

The Volca Bass is...well a bass synth. You get a 16 step sequencer, 3 oscillators, larger ribbon keyboard, glide. It's probably the closest to the Monotribe in terms of sound, but it's way more versatile and you can coax way more sounds out of it.

The Volca Keys is great as well. Has 3 note polyphony...meaning you can play 3 notes at the same time (chords).

The Volca Beats and Volca Sample are more for percussive/rhythmic stuff.

I've owned with/played with all of these, and my favorite is probably the Volca Sample, followed by the Volca Keys. Definitely check them out on Youtube, and you will get a clear idea of what they can do.

[blackholesun]

I built my first synth kit last weekend. An Audiothingies P6 (http://www.audiothingies.com/).

I hadn't soldered in years, so I practiced on a few blinky light kits from RadioShack the week prior. I have to say, the whole project was quite fun, though it took a lot of patience and will power. I ran into a few issues, most notably installing a DAC pin the wrong way and incorrectly soldering one of the encoders. The thing sounds great and is easy to tweak/come up with patches.

(http://www.audiothingies.com/)http://i.imgur.com/pWoKKGW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yKTxdCe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mshd4WY.jpg

The encoders aren't aligned perfectly... oops ;)

I've definitely been bitten by the DIY bug. I've purchased my next kit, which is a standalone MIDI sequencer. I also have plans to do a Sonic Potions LXR (http://www.sonic-potions.com/) drum machine, but I'm waiting on kits to be in stock (should be sometime this week).

[Jinsai]

Would one of you be kind enough to tell me (I don't know shit about synths) which is better (in sound and in variability/options) between the KORG MONOTRIBE ANALOGUE RIBBON STATION ($199 on amazon) and any one of the KORG VOLCA SERIES SYNTHS ($160 on amazon). Maybe it's not even close? The analogue ribbon station is on the left and one of volca synths on the right.



I haven't played with the Monotribe enough to really offer an informed opinion on it (seen some cool DIY mods of v.1), but I do own all the Volcas... The only one I have yet to really dig into is the Sample. These are great units, but they're not without problems. For starters, the fact that the only way to get the audio out is via the 1/8th" headphone jack is a bummer for me. Even in contained scenarios, these are noisy units. True, you can mostly fix this with a gate when you're recording them, but...

Also, these are very dedicated bits of hardware, and the only one that feels really "true" the original that it's emulating is the Bass. I love the drum machine and the keys, but these are seriously limited bits of hardware that do specific tasks very well. For instance, on the drum machine, you cannot control velocity of steps. This makes for a very old-schoool "machine-gun" sound at times. I've been using the Beats more unconventionally lately, and I've been playing around with the shuffle function a lot to get some drifty swing hi hats. I love hats on this thing... and it provides a good crunchy snare bottom... not so sure about snare top. And I've never been a fan of those "classic" 808 standards like the cowbell and the clap, though it's got those.

The biggest killer for me on all the Volca units, and I hate having to work around it, is the limitation of 16 steps on the sequence. Am I missing something here? Is there a way to program a 32 step (or larger) sequence on these things that I haven't figured out?

SIDE NOTE: got my MIDI pal and about to finally mess around with it. Maybe I'll plug it into the Volca Keys.
@blackholesun (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=124) if building kits appeals to you (wish it did for me, I'm terrible at soldering) check out the Shruthi kit (http://shop.mutable-instruments.net/collections/kits) from Mutable. These are going to get phased out soon I guess, which is a bummer. Also, I broke mine while trying to build it, but if you're good at this stuff, make a x0xbox!!! http://www.willzyx.com/collections/x0xb0x

[blackholesun]

Jinsai The Volca Sample allows you to chain patterns together in a "song mode", but then you can't tweak the samples themselves. The best option I've found is to use an external sequencer or change patterns manually, but that can be a pain.

I've indeed heard of the Shruthi and x0xbox, though I hadn't seen the x0box being sold in the States as a kit, so this is awesome! I may have to dive into that. It sounds like the Shruthi will live on through Laurentide Synthworks (https://www.laurentidesynthworks.net/). With Mutable's blessing, they are sort of repackaging the Shruthi and the Ambika. I will definitely get to those if I keep doing the kit stuff, plus they are way cheaper and in the States.

[Jinsai]

@Jinsai (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=272) The Volca Sample allows you to chain patterns together in a "song mode", but then you can't tweak the samples themselves. The best option I've found is to use an external sequencer or change patterns manually, but that can be a pain.

I'm very excited to really dig into the VSample. I downloaded the app but still haven't loaded any samples into it...

On a side note, and probably equally relevant to this page as to the Computer Music thread, making music with an iPad is a great and amazing thing. The number of unique and incredible cheap (and free) instruments and workflow methods is staggering. I'd always kind of dismissed the idea of making music with an iPad as kind of a novelty.

I'm starting to think this is the future. The fact that you can buy a five dollar synth on your phone that is just as powerful and fully featured as something you could still pay $1k+ for is mind blowing. Then there's stuff that is really inventive and takes the touch interface to heart, and you get some really new and unique ways to create music.

For anyone with an iPhone or iPad who hasn't dabbled in iOS music apps, the following will cost you a grand total of less than my tascam cassette 4 track:

Auria - basically a fully functioning DAW, with iap plugins... one of which is Fabfilter's Pro Q... which is in and of itself insane.
Audiobus - lets you route audio from app to any other compliant app (like Auria). Most of the apps are compliant now.
SAMPLR - seems simple at first, then it blows your mind
Lemur LIINE - turns your iPad into a Lemur... which is/was a customizable control interface for MIDI and OSC messages.
Earhoof - The best five dollars you will ever spend period
Sector - sheer madness. What the fuck is even going on. Instant autechre.
Sunvox - deep as all hell, modular sound design environment.
Impaktor - sampler that uses the mic to build rhythmic loops. Yields awesome results while you ride the bus. Literally.
Borderlands - amazing granular sampler
Bebot - cute robot theremin
Korg Gadget - a collection of groove boxes,drum machines and synths with a simple sequencer. You can build a whole song in here, and it could be great.
Rebirth - Propellerhead's original modular rack of classic gear that was the precursor to Reason.
Animoog - not what you'd think of w/ Moog... but you can pull some really great metallic sounds out of this
Electribe - great little drum machine / groove box... not a replacement for the hardware, but it's twenty dollars.


Then there's the collection of "classic" synths... The iMS20, Thor (from Reason), Z3TA+, Sunrizer, Korg Polysix, Arturia iProphet. It's only recently occurred to me that the iPad is a serious musical instrument. Soon Audiomux is coming out, so with Audiomux and Midimux apps you can connect to your DAW on your computer and route the audio and MIDI there. It's almost scary how fast it's developing.

[GoodSoldier333]

blackholesun and Jinsai, huge thanks for the help. I just wanted to see what somebody else had to say.

[Jinsai]

@blackholesun (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=124) and @Jinsai (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=272), huge thanks for the help. I just wanted to see what somebody else had to say.

Another thing to consider? The Meeblip Anode synth is on sale for 100 bucks for the rest of the day... http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/03/12/meeblip-anode-sale/#more-62536

[catiua]

I'm probably going to purchase a Teenage Engineering OP-1 in the near future. I always wanted to go the path of portable music recording, especially with the ease of the iPad and small interfaces and instruments now. That path seems really inspiring and personal.

For a while, I wanted the Minimoog Voyager but I can't afford to shell out 3000 plus dollars for a synth since I'm just now building up my own recording space. I have the Minitaur though and was blown away at the quality of it for it's price and size.

[Leviathant]

I'm probably going to purchase a Teenage Engineering OP-1 in the near future. I always wanted to go the path of portable music recording, especially with the ease of the iPad and small interfaces and instruments now. That path seems really inspiring and personal.

I do some of my best work when I've extracted my Tempest from it's spot in my setup and have dragged it somewhere else in the house. That's not quite the battery-portabilty an OP-1 affords you, but it's definitely important to get away from even the best laid-out routines. And there are enough quality iPad music apps out there that finally bring it into the realm of something I should maybe own. Funnily enough, I own a few iPad apps, mostly because there were stupendous deals I couldn't pass up. I got Animoog for something like $5, figuring someday I'd get an iPad to use it on.


For a while, I wanted the Minimoog Voyager but I can't afford to shell out 3000 plus dollars for a synth since I'm just now building up my own recording space. I have the Minitaur though and was blown away at the quality of it for it's price and size.

Forget the Voyager, get a Sub 37.

[catiua]

I do some of my best work when I've extracted my Tempest from it's spot in my setup and have dragged it somewhere else in the house. That's not quite the battery-portabilty an OP-1 affords you, but it's definitely important to get away from even the best laid-out routines. And there are enough quality iPad music apps out there that finally bring it into the realm of something I should maybe own. Funnily enough, I own a few iPad apps, mostly because there were stupendous deals I couldn't pass up. I got Animoog for something like $5, figuring someday I'd get an iPad to use it on.



Forget the Voyager, get a Sub 37.

How's the Tempest? It looks really awesome. You are right about getting away from your normal routine and recording environment - something about that becomes exhausting to one's creativity. The iPad is really a surprisingly powerful musical tool. I will definitely buy one once I scrounge up enough cash.

Honestly, I was going to buy a Sub 37 but I decided against it, thinking the Voyager would be a better investment. I understand they're both very different instruments but I wanted a synth that would give me leads to use. I use the Prophet '08 and Minitaur for bass a lot already. People keep making it seem like the Sub 37 is mostly good for bass but I've also heard it do other nice sounds. I think the Sub 37 has a more modern sound than the Voyager even though it is much more affordable.

Side note - I have a love/hate relationship with the Prophet '08. There are a few great sounds that I've been able to get out of it, but sometimes I can't get away from the retro/80's/vintage tone it naturally has and it frustrates me. Someone please convince me that this synth is worth keeping. I admit I'm still a noob to analog synthesis so there's an aspect to this I have to patient with.

[Leviathant]

How's the Tempest? It looks really awesome.

Best piece of musical equipment I've bought. Maybe tied with the Sub 37, which is fantastic, but more focused in purpose.


Honestly, I was going to buy a Sub 37 but I decided against it, thinking the Voyager would be a better investment.

If you want to make investments, work with a financial adviser and put money in the stock market. I bought a Sub 37 to make music with, not to make money. In the unlikely scenario where my electronic music makes me money, that's just a bonus.


I understand they're both very different instruments but I wanted a synth that would give me leads to use. I use the Prophet '08 and Minitaur for bass a lot already. People keep making it seem like the Sub 37 is mostly good for bass but I've also heard it do other nice sounds. I think the Sub 37 has a more modern sound than the Voyager even though it is much more affordable.

The Voyager, which was debuted as a prototype 15 years ago, is obviously a nod to the Minimoog, which is over 40 years old. It goes well beyond the capabilities of a Minimoog Model D, and is no doubt, a beast. But I think the Sub 37 is Moog really hitting its stride - particularly once the 1.1 firmware comes into play.


Side note - I have a love/hate relationship with the Prophet '08. There are a few great sounds that I've been able to get out of it, but sometimes I can't get away from the retro/80's/vintage tone it naturally has and it frustrates me. Someone please convince me that this synth is worth keeping. I admit I'm still a noob to analog synthesis so there's an aspect to this I have to patient with.

My suggestion whenever someone expresses frustration with a complex synth is to practice, practice, practice. Treat it like a musical instrument - 45 minutes a night, every night. I say this out of my own experience with the Tempest, which came with really terrible preset sounds and patterns, and which has deep programming capabilities. The first year or two I had it, I was on and off with it. Kind of disappointed, especially having forked out for a pre-order. But I set up a rule for myself - no new gear until I use the gear I have. I put aside time to work with the Tempest... a lot of that time was spent doing sound design. I was disappointed in the handclap samples that came with the machine, but knew it had a signal path that would let me program my own analog handclaps, so I learned how to do that. I thought the kick drums sucked, so I studied the design of 808s, 909s, and my 606, and came up with a nice range of weird analog kicks. Likewise with snares, and with different synth sounds. Usually after a week of just making sounds, I'd have enough together that I could write a pattern of music with it. This is the very first thing I did with my Tempest (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/tempest-first-noise) three years ago, and about a year ago, after a couple of weeks of 'practice' I put this together in a night (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/drum-a-day-sketch-1) using the sounds I'd made. A couple of weeks later, after practicing bass synth sound design, this happened (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/its-a-sweep). You have a very powerful machine in the Prophet 08. Get to know it.

I went through a similar period of, "Huh. This seems really beefy but I can't get good sounds out of it" with my Poly Evolver Keyboard when I got it. Started up a practice regiment just doing sound design ("I want to make... a burbling, evolving atmospheric sound"), and this happened (https://soundcloud.com/leviathant/the-jupiter-widows). If you're getting retro sounds out of the Prophet 08, focus on doing things retro synths can't do - which usually means learn about the modern modulation options you have. Analog polysynths lend themselves very easily to the kind of sounds popular in the 80s because that's the easiest thing to do with them. Same thing with a 909 - sit down in front of one of those and you accidentally make four-on-the-floor dance music. Or you can use the same machine and write the beat to Hunter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyM5wow-hUk), something jazzier (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0I51i8UwGg) a la Squarepusher, or something like Phil Collins might do (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRY1NG1P_kw). So, yeah, make your Prophet work harder.

[Jinsai]

I hear that these synths aren't immediately pulling out "modern" sounds, but they are capable of it. It's just they're built around very similar designs of the classic gear, and the sounds appealed to people in a certain way during the synths' heyday. So, in keeping with those "classic sounds," the presets frequently cater to that.

You can absolutely pull out a very modern growling bass sound out of the Voyager. You can make a squealing grinding lead sound too. You can also make those classic tones that have been played to death.

For me, lately I'm mashing up everything. Maybe I'll want a round classic wave lead from the Moog, but I'll make the top end of the sound in a different synth so I can get an evolving rhythmic distorted layer. Also... the Voyager can pull out some truly explosive end-of-the-world sounds, especially if you're taking advantage of the aux CV ins.

[catiua]

Thanks, Jinsai and Leviathant. I nearly returned my Prophet '08 but decided against it after spending so much time making patches on it. It's starting to reveal its capabilities and beauty already. I know you can't judge a synth by its' presets but I use them as a glance at what the synth is capable of. It seems that the Prophet name is kind of catering towards people who want that vintage analog sound, so they decided to make presets hinting at old Sequential Circuits instruments. The Prophet is amazing though if ones works towards making it so. I am writing music very differently now because of it. The design and interface also lends itself to more creativity. I have a Nord Lead A1 which I haven't spent much time with because I was trying to deal with the frustration the Prophet was giving me. I think the two synths will compliment each other nicely though.

I've seen a handful of videos showing the true capabilities of the Voyager and the instrument is stunning. One of the main reasons why I'm attracted to it, as Jinsai said, is because of the CV ins. I know many synths have CV ins but through the Voyager, things have an especially unique sound.I'm interested in the sound of that classic Moog sound with other synths you mention.

[elevenism]

So i got a Yamaha QY-70 and i fucking love it, but i'm having a bit of a rough time with some of the midi programming.

It doesn't have a knob or a wheel so you have to input a LOT of events one by one, as opposed to creating several by the turn of a knob.

Does anyone know of a good tutorial or guide for this sort of programming?

[Jinsai]

So i got a Yamaha QY-70 and i fucking love it, but i'm having a bit of a rough time with some of the midi programming.

It doesn't have a knob or a wheel so you have to input a LOT of events one by one, as opposed to creating several by the turn of a knob.

Does anyone know of a good tutorial or guide for this sort of programming?

Hmmmm, I've never heard of this thing. It looks kind of cool though.

If you wanted to avoid menu diving and assign a bunch of controls, you could do it with any MIDI controller... just get the CC mappings and assign them to the knobs, wheels, and sliders on your controller :)

[elevenism]

Jinsai , the thing is awesome. i used a qy-22 for years. this one is a step up...519 voices, 20 drum kits, 16 tracks, and plenty of jobs to move things around, plus quantize functions and such. It does a LOT of the work of a big programmable keyboard, but you can work on it in bed.

but even to just program a pitch bend, jesus. have you ever looked at all the midi data associated with a long pitch bend? you have to insert those pieces of data one by one on this thing. there IS a "continuous change" function that does it like a curve on a graph, but it's trial and error, you know?
and i'm trying to go hard like year zero, goddamnit. year fucking zero! ;)

so ohhhhhhh ok.

if i get another machine with knobs and wheels, then i could assign the cc's to those knobs and wheels and use THEM to create the data?
i feel you.

[Jinsai]

if i get another machine with knobs and wheels, then i could assign the cc's to those knobs and wheels and use THEM to create the data?
i feel you.

Yeah, you just need to dig up a list/map of the different CC assignments on the QY-70. They usually have the CC list in the instruction manual.

[elevenism]

Yeah, you just need to dig up a list/map of the different CC assignments on the QY-70. They usually have the CC list in the instruction manual.

i've got that.

so let me ask you this...what's a good, cheap, bare-bones midi controller. i don't even need a keyboard on it...just knobs.

[Jinsai]

i've got that.

so let me ask you this...what's a good, cheap, bare-bones midi controller. i don't even need a keyboard on it...just knobs.

Hmmmmmm... well, advantages could depend on what software you're using.
If you're using Ableton, this could be a good option (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LaunchCont?adpos=1o1&creative=55226083081&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjwotmoBRCc6LWd2ZnkuBYSJACyt2qub8l6s6N0 pKg6w9Qr-cNFfU3i16gLIDykVbBET8altBoCtoXw_wcB)

Also, I'm not a big fan of Behringer, but I've used one of these and I thought it was pretty solid (https://www.google.com/shopping/product/12891204146690195723?client=safari&rls=en&q=BCR2000&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=RVIXVcL5Cs3ioATBkIDYDA&ved=0CH0QuSQ)

I've also got one of these that I was looking to sell. The led light on the second fader is dead, but otherwise it's in good shape

http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/jan04/images/evolutionuc331.l.jpg

[elevenism]

https://soundcloud.com/tvilaysack/prophet-demo

I tested the Prophet '08 today in Live using a simple reverb and delay. Going to trade in one of my synths so I'm going to give them all one go before I decide which one it is.

well, the qy doesn't interface with the computer at all. it's a completely stand-alone sequencer from the nineties.
it DOES have midi jacks.
i just wish it had a couple of knobs on it.


edit:actually, it DOES interface with a computer, i'm just not sure how.
it came with a data filer on a floppy disk.

what i do is record patterns into my r24, then export them to an sd card as wav files, and arrange them with guitar, vocals, and wav files from on fl studio, on audacity

[elevenism]

Jinsai , i will buy that UC 33 from you.

hit me up!

[Jinsai]

@Jinsai (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=272) , i will buy that UC 33 from you.

hit me up!

ok cool. I just need to get it back from a friend that I've been lending it to.

[elevenism]

sorry Jinsai , i didn't mean to blow you up. i just didn't want you to sell it to somebody else.

[Substance242]

So, I was interested in new Roland JD-Xi (SuperNatural - though not complete Integra-7, drums, sequencer, and - after many years - analog in one affordable package? great!), but... somehow the demos don't impress or inspire me very much. But, something else does... Roland System-1, now cheaper maybe because of new "modular" digital System-1m. Finally something that sound really good to me, both on its own and also with the "plug-outs" SH-101, SH-2 and ProMars, with hopefully more coming. Price 499 €... I don't NEED it, but kinda I want to. ;-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cf5RgPXKiA
(This is of course not real-time, analogs - DSP modelled using so-called "ACB" in System-1 - are not multitimbral.)

I owned Roland Alfa Juno 1 (should have kept this one), D-110, XP-10 (mistake), XV-5050, but I am Roland-free now and it seems that's going to change soon... Generally, Roland is on the roll recently. And where is Yamaha??

[Leviathant]

Quick note about the System-1: The keyboard version is on sale, and comes with the SH-101 plugout for free, but they're no longer packaging the SH-101 plugout with it starting in May.


(This is of course not real-time, analogs - DSP modelled using so-called "ACB" in System-1 - are not multitimbral.)

ACB or no, the discerning ears at MuffWiggler have done blind tests and preferred the SH-101 Plugout over an actual SH-101 by a large margin.

I gotta say, between the JDXA, the System-1m, the AIRA modules, and heck, even the System 500 stuff (even though I avoid modular), Roland is killing it. Especially the AIRA effects modules. If you could buy that entire rack they have at Messe for $3000, I would actually be tempted. I don't know where I'd get the money because I'm pouring it all into the my new place right now, but that's a lot of power they're packing.

[Jinsai]

I've been working a lot lately and saving up, and I think I'm about to make the plunge and start assembling a eurorack modular. Kind of terrifying, but really exciting.

[blackholesun]

I played with the Aira System-1 at Guitar Center (ew) a few days ago and it played and sounded way better than I thought it would. I can't get over that ugly green design that the Aira stuff has, but Roland isn't messing around.

Was also thinking about Eurorack stuff recently, but it's just too damn expensive for me right now. I'm mostly interested in the kind of innovative stuff that Mutable Instruments and Bastl Instruments have been putting together. Bastl's entire line of instruments look and sound extremely fun.

[blackholesun]

So I bought an Octatrack. I think I need all the Elektron stuff now. This should hold me over for a few months while I save :p

[Jinsai]

So I bought an Octatrack. I think I need all the Elektron stuff now. This should hold me over for a few months while I save :p

Octatrack is awesome...

Elektron stuff is amazing, but I don't know about needing it all. I personally am not that big of a fan of the Analog 4 (I know, heresy)...

I'm really interested in that new analog drum machine they're making though. Also, that Overbridge software integration sounds really interesting... but maybe that's for the "computer music" thread...

[blackholesun]

I was mostly being tongue in cheek, but I think the Analog 4 or the Monomachine would be what I would want next if I go that route. Recently I've been enamored by the Vermona Perfourmer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yb3MIMmXbg

The Octatrack has been great. The learning curve was not as steep as expected, though it definitely helped watching some Youtube tutorials, in conjunction with reading the manual, because some their verbiage is hard to follow. Have had tons of fun sampling and destroying the PO-12.

[Leviathant]

I'm selling the Poly Evolver Keyboard I recently bought. Not that it's not a great machine, but I got a really good deal on it, and bought it with money I had up until that point been saving for a Sub 37, and I told myself that I could always just sell it again. It was really difficult mentally for me to list it on Craigslist though. I'm raising money for the theater I bought and am renovating, and know that I can always get another one down the road.


...but I'll probably get a Pro 2 instead.

[elevenism]

can someone explain to me this: in midi, the numerical relationship between cc74 (brightness) and the numbers of the cutoff knob? i'm still entering everything by hand on this qy and have no actual knob to turn.
i'm trying to figure it out through trial and error but it's been all error.

[Jinsai]

can someone explain to me this: in midi, the numerical relationship between cc74 (brightness) and the numbers of the cutoff knob? i'm still entering everything by hand on this qy and have no actual knob to turn.
i'm trying to figure it out through trial and error but it's been all error.

CC74 is an arbitrary controller assignment... and unfortunately, a descriptor like "brightness" is a little vague. If it's referring to the cutoff frequency of a Low Pass Filter, then at 127 it would be fully open, as in the high frequencies have not been attenuated at all. If it's at 0, it's fully closed, meaning that depending on the slope and the range of the filter it would be cutting off at least all of the high end... and in most cases, everything else as well.

"Brightness" is one of these musical words that doesn't have a direct clear meaning. It usually refers to the higher frequency content of a sound. The thing is, the CC may be assigned to adjust more than one parameter related to the high frequency content. It could be opening and closing the filter within a set limit range, as well as adjusting the resonance, or even doing something unexpected like adding reverb.

This is really just to suggest possibilities should your results be unexpected. But in general, CCs are are always limited to a range of 0 - 127. This is a limitation of the MIDI format. You can only adjust a parameter in divisions of 128ths. These can be assigned to more than one function, and the range of the sweep of the knob can be made to be limited, but no parameter can have a larger range than 128 clicks (except the pitch bend wheel, but anyway).

Chances are, value 127 = cutoff frequency fully open, and no frequencies attenuated. It's unfortunate that they're applying a term like "brightness," which is vague, like "dark" "buttery" "round" "tubby" "warm" are all kind of suggestive words without truly clear definitions.

Regarding that knob controller, I spoke to my friend, and now he wants to buy it off me... I went over to his place and he'd applied console tape to every parameter and had mapped it out as a control surface for a bunch of his sets, so he's kind of in deep with it I guess? Either way, I'm going to talk to him again today when I get off from work and ask him to be clear. If he really wants to buy it, I might have to sell it to him because i originally lent it to him with the option to buy it if he got attached.


I'm selling the Poly Evolver Keyboard I recently bought. Not that it's not a great machine, but I got a really good deal on it, and bought it with money I had up until that point been saving for a Sub 37, and I told myself that I could always just sell it again. It was really difficult mentally for me to list it on Craigslist though. I'm raising money for the theater I bought and am renovating, and know that I can always get another one down the road.

Although I'm currently putting money aside to start building my modular rig (I'm going to start with some intellijel modules, probably their SH101 homage called the Atlantis) but... how much were you thinking of asking for the Evolver?

[elevenism]

Thanks Jinsai , and it's all good if you have to sell the knob controller to your homeboy.

brightness is what they call CC74 on yamaha synths.

i noticed that when i have entered CC74 data and the pattern or whatever is running and i'm looking at the little picture of the "knob" that says cutoff in the voice edit mode, it's moving.

[Leviathant]

Although I'm currently putting money aside to start building my modular rig (I'm going to start with some intellijel modules, probably their SH101 homage called the Atlantis) but... how much were you thinking of asking for the Evolver?

A few points first: It's serial #176, and still uses encoders (which I prefer to the pots, to be honest):
1) It went nine years before the program change knob started to glitch out. Being kind of lazy, I just avoided the knob and used the number pad, but then the cutoff knob started to glitch, so I bought a bottle of DeoxIT and hit every single pot in that sucker, and it's as good as new. Of course, after I tweeted about that, @dsiSequential replied and said that if I'd asked, they would have sent me DeoxIT for free. Sometimes I forget that flagship products get flagship customer service.

2) I'm selling it with a Gator hardshell case that retails for $300+ new (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/gator-gkpe-61-tsa--61-key-keyboard-case-with-wheels). It's pretty heavy duty, but that also means shipping would cost that much more. One of the latches is broken, and Gator will replace it for free, but it's got three other latches and that's been enough for me.

3) It comes with the original power supply and a manual for the Mono Evolver Keyboard, because of course DSI didn't have a PEK manual ready in time for shipping their first batch.

I've reluctantly listed it on Craigslist for $2000 even for the whole kit n' kaboodle, although it wasn't a very convincing ad (the title was literally "I do not want to sell my Poly Evolver Keyboard") and I didn't have any photos, although a fellow in Cleveland expressed interest.

For ETS I'd do $1800, which is a pretty good price for the combo, but if you don't need a hardshell case, you can probably wait around for someone to list one without and get a good deal without the hassle of shipping. You're in LA, right? It's probably the one Craigslist/Reverb market that beats out New York as far as music equipment listings go.

[Jinsai]

it's a good deal, but it's too rich for my blood right now. I feel if I'm going to stick with buying more synth hardware, I need to start building my eurorack. I have five drum machines, 7 synths, and various random things that either fall into the FX or CV/MIDI manipulation box. It's time. This will be my first purchase.

I really need to dive into that modular I'm planning on building... I played with the modules, and holy shit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekOioJ7gm9A

Holy shit, but goodbye 700 dollars.

[blackholesun]

Still trying to stay away from modular, but I recently watched I Dream of Wires and the lust is stronger than ever. I'm especially interested in the Buchla stuff. So damn expensive.

And as I say that, I just dropped $800 on a Ciat Lonbarde Sidrax Organ (http://www.ciat-lonbarde.net/sidrax/index.html). Everything about the way it sounds and the way it's played appeals to me. Plus it'll be perfect food for the Octatrack. The gf is not happy ;)

[Jinsai]

Still trying to stay away from modular, but I recently watched I Dream of Wires and the lust is stronger than ever. I'm especially interested in the Buchla stuff. So damn expensive.

And as I say that, I just dropped $800 on a Ciat Lonbarde Sidrax Organ (http://www.ciat-lonbarde.net/sidrax/index.html). Everything about the way it sounds and the way it's played appeals to me. Plus it'll be perfect food for the Octatrack. The gf is not happy ;)

In the modular world, Buchla stuff is like buying a Ferrari. There's a lot of more affordable modules out there that are amazing. I've been looking at a lot of the Intellijel stuff

[blackholesun]

In the modular world, Buchla stuff is like buying a Ferrari. There's a lot of more affordable modules out there that are amazing. I've been looking at a lot of the Intellijel stuff

I was reading recently that the latest Buchla stuff is very poorly made and Don Buchla is suing the company. I need to do some more research on that. The Intellijel stuff looks and sounds great and is pretty decently priced for what you get. Would love to hear if you end up getting the Atlantis and your thoughts on it. I know I'll probably go down this rabbit hole sooner than later, hell even Roland is getting back into the modular stuff. Who woulda thought that a few years ago? I'm not interested in the Aira stuff, but I wonder if this means bigger companies getting back into this stuff.

The Euro stuff that really has me frothing at the mouth is the Mutable Instruments, Make Noise and Bastl stuff.