Gear Log

Rumor: Apple Tablet

2009-08-13T08:35:00.001-07:00

Lots of rumors of a Apple tablet computer that is going to come out in the next few weeks.

This my well be the affordable lemur that will make its way to bedroom studios all over the world. With a army of programmers making the cool app of the week for it. I am thinking about a cool OSC controler for PD that can output CV from my MOTU. We will see.

Group Buy 3.5mm Jacks

2009-07-31T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hurry up and get your order in for some 3.5mm Jacks. Only $.075 each. Link

Thats seven and a half cents! I am getting a 1,000.

Awesome T-shirts

2009-07-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

Not really synth related but sooo bad ass. I mean a Tyrell corporation T-shirt. Hell yes.
wakeuptimetodie.co.uk

M185 Sequencer

2009-07-24T00:21:00.000-07:00

I just scored 2 pcb's of this project. I like how musical they sound. Check out the original post over at electro-music.com

2009-07-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

Just saw this on Matrixsynth... F'ing awesome.

MOTM-440 filter

2009-07-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

The MOTM-440 is a discreet version of the famed SSM2040 filter chip. I am very enamored with the way that this guy sounds. Its just so smooth and well.... nice.

MOTM is making PCB's avalabe to the DIY comunity again.

Check out the sound demos here:
http://www.synthtech.com/motm440.html

Milton Sequencer

2009-07-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

I found a set of PCB's for a Milton Sequencer on eBay for only $40 bucks.

The Milton is a killer design, although it's a controversial project. The original designer is none other than Peter from Plan B. If you don't know why that is a big deal for some people well lucky you. If you relay have the time then check out 36 pages of weirdness at muffwiggler.com

Not to sure when I am going to get around to building this guy, but I think it would go nicely with a Lunetta.

Update: check out this build over at matrixsynth

New x0xb0x's up on the bay

2009-07-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest batch of x0xb0x's I have made.

NE566N

2009-05-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

I just scored another amazing deal off of Ruten last week. Twenty-nine NE566 for only 10 bucks. The 566 is a cool IC to have, you get a saw and a square wave right on it.

The book that made the 566 famous is Making Music with the 566 by Thomas Henry. You can get a PDF of it for $12 over at www.magsmoke.com.

Cheap Vectrols

2009-05-11T01:49:00.000-07:00

I have been killing my self trying to find some cheap VTL5C3/2. This is a common part used in some very uncommon synths. There are so many interesting projects over at electro-music that use this part, but it cost's around 6-7 bucks a pop.

I have found a cheap source of VTL5c4/2 which is not relay a good substitution for the C3's but at $1.50 a pop definitely worth getting a few. I did a quick group buy over at electro-music because I am sure that people would want them, and now I have 30 left over.

I think I might make myself a lo pass gates, or in this case a slow-pass-gate. Check out the video to see what happens when you put a C4 into a LPG.

Custom x0xb0x B# edition

2009-05-11T01:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted. Its been crazy over here! Here is some picts of my custom x0xb0x I have been working on.

Solid State Logic takes on Mackie?

2009-04-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

Looks like SSL is taking another big step into the home studio market. I could defenitly use a compact SSL in my studio.

8x dual input Mono Line channels – 16-channel mixdown.
8x Insert Send/Returns on channels.
Stereo CUE and two Mono Auxiliary Sends.
Cascade with X-Rack and other X-Desks for bigger systems.
Talkback – for artist communication with Dim and Cut buttons.
Independent Main and Alternate stereo monitor outputs.
SSL Stereo Mix Bus with External summing and Inserts.
2x Stereo Returns with Level, Pan and Bus assignment.
Stereo External input on XLRs.
iJack front panel input for portable playback devices.
High quality internal PSU.
D-Sub Channel I/O connection for Studio integration.
RF Screened I/O connections.
19-inch rackmount ears included.

Only €2,299 Not bad for 8ch of SSL and a 16ch summing mixer.

New updates on Novation Remote SL

2009-04-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

I have always like the line of Novation controllers, at least after they fixed the bugs in the early software. Looks like they added touch faders and led rings to the line. I am not sure its the biggest announcement from Musikmesse 2009 this year but its still cool.

Roland RS-09

2009-03-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of the RS-09's that I got off of ruten. I scored 2 of them for $34 bucks. One works and the other one is missing its front panel. I am going to refrub one and strip out the other.

It has 4 BBD chips in it divided up in sections. The Chorus Bord is almost the same size as the panel. Definitely not like a Juno.

Wacom DJ gear... Nextbeat....WTF

2009-03-15T16:35:00.000-07:00

Did not see this one coming. I have always wanted to get myself a wacom tablet for art stuff. But now they are making a DJ control that looks a lot like Stanton's Da scratch which them put out 6 months ago. I hope that this is a big win for wacom so they can then make something like a JazzMuntant Lemur. But I doubt it, were are they going to sell this? Best Buy?
Via: technabob.com

Repair Technique for 80017A ?

2009-03-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Looks kind of promising. I guy is sicking his dead chips in some acetone to remove the epoxy coating. The assumption here is that the epoxey becomes conductive over time and causes the chips to short out. check it out over at Matrixsynth

Homebrew midi-cv box

2009-03-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Nice DIY CV box from Robin Price. He is using the arduino platform and a nice DAC for this protect. Very cool.

link

The sound of electricity

2009-03-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

Old video of Suzanne Ciani doing some sound design for a pinball game. It has some incredible cheesy narration but givis us a look at early digital music tech. I like the part were Suzanne is sequencing her Synclavier.

Unusual Synth Circuits

2009-03-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

Basic site that has nothing but schematics from Osamu Hoshuyama. Lots of designs that I have not seen before. Interesting stuff...... if you are in to that type of thing. Link

Yahoo Japan

2009-03-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

I have never really been a big fan of Yahoo but I have discovered that there is a good amount of vintage keyboards up on Yahoos action site. Japan is a lot closer to me out here in Taiwan so maybe I will be able to find that Korg MS-20 after all. Check it out thank god for Google translate.

MFOS Mini-Controller

2009-03-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Picture via www.musicfromouterspace.com

Cool design for a simple CV keyboard. I think that I need something a little bigger but I might give this guy a try. Nice work as always from Ray Wilson.

Future Retro Orb

2009-03-01T00:27:00.000-08:00

Nice little sequencer from Future Retro.

Grant Richter on East Coast vs West Coast

2009-02-28T22:42:00.000-08:00

Fascinating post, makes me wounder. What if the West coast's designs won out?
From muffwiggler.com

It really starts with the concept of a patch. In the "East Coast" instruments (basically all synthesizer manufacturers except Wiard, Buchla and Serge) you have a subtractive synthesis patch entirely oriented towards the filter. This is your classic VCO-VCF-VCA connection with ADSR type envelopes..........

In the "West Coast" instruments, there are 3 possible synthesis modes. Additive, non-linear waveshaping and dynamic depth FM are the primary synthesis modes. "East Coast" subtractive synthesis is typically not DIRECTLY supported. It was not in the Buchla or Serge (no 24 dB/Oct. resonant filter). Good aproximations of subtractive synthesis can be patch on the Serge with cascaded filters. These instruments are oriented towards controlling with a multiple output sequencer or multiple output complex envelope generator instead of a black and white keyboard. They produce a larger and more importantly, different set of timbres than the simpler "East Coast" instruments. Read the rest over here.

Roland Juno-2044?

2009-02-28T21:33:00.000-08:00

I have been giving a lot of thought on what to do to my Juno-106. It has 2 dead filter chips, and I would rather fix it myself then buy a clone filter chip. In doing some research I came across a post from via electro-music.
mooger5 was working on not a clone of a Juno Filter Chip but a whole new design. His designs were based on the famous LoPass filter on a chip, the SSM2044. Unfortunately the thread just died and after a sending a PM to mooger5 he pointed me to a thred over at Vintage Synth Explorer. After mooger fried a chip its been on the back burner.

I think his idea is a very cool. I have never owned a Juno-106 before so I am not relay attached to the sound of it, and the SSM2044's are easy to get off eBay at the moment. There are a lot of dead 106's out there at the moment, I think this would make a cool project to give them all new life.

I just pulled my filter chips and its all wired to a bread board. Just waiting for the chips to arrive. ; )

New C-Thru Controler AXIS 49

2009-02-28T04:36:00.000-08:00

I always have wanted to play the Axis 64. But out here in Taiwan there is no way I am going to be able to check it out. I might have to raise the funds to get this. No word on price yet. Link

The Pythagorean Lambdoma Harmonic Keyboard

2009-02-28T03:23:00.000-08:00

pic via eBay

I have no idea whats happening here.

"Players of these keyboards have experienced increased physical comfort and spiritual awareness within which they were able to learn answers to their questions including their life's purpose and how to become more spiritually aware." from lambdoma.com
audio is a little off

Reminds me of a C-thru axis controller on a 3 month Acid benge.

Up on eBay right now for $2,995.00 Link

Besides "its about the suzuki omni cord."

Thomas Henry's "Mankato"

2009-02-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

Pic's via Magic Smoke

What I like about Thomas Hennry's designs is his innovation. He shares it all with the D.I.Y community and has helped us look ahead towards the future.
He has wrote a few book's on Synth design. link
Making Music with the 3080 OTA is one that really influences the modular DIY community right now.

The TH-201 is a Voltage control filter that uses the SSM-2164 chip. Whats cool about this project is the flexablity of this module.

• 6, 12, 18, and 24 dB outputs
• inverted 6, 12, 18, and 24 dB outputs
• 45 degrees of phase difference between each output
• 8-phase sine wave oscillator

You can find PCB's at Tom Servos site Magic Smoke. He also sells PCB's of other Hennry's designs.

fonitrOnik stereo PS3100 Resonators / x-fade-panner

2009-02-27T01:57:00.000-08:00

photo from fonitrOnik via flicker.

I have been following the posts over at electro-music.com about this very cool sounding module. Its the 3rd run of a modular DIY project's and all you can do is order the PCB. Unfortunately the run is now closed but maybe if you ask relay nice he may be able to slip you in.

fonitrOnilk also has a very cool site about his DIY modular.

Insaine x0xb0x mod kit

2009-02-26T07:13:00.001-08:00

Picture from ladyada's tea party

Full details over at Matrixsynth.

Killer work from bcbox.

Roland BA6110

2009-02-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

The BA6110 is a VCA on a chip that is very similar to the rare and expensive BA662A. Used in almost all older Roland synth's and most famously in the TB-303.

I got a dead batch from http://www.pacificsemi.com/ in picture.
Apparently the date code of 420 178 is a bad batch.

Subatomic Glue did a comparison between the two in a x0xb0x. Check it out

Roland Juno-106

2009-02-26T06:08:00.000-08:00

Pict's of a 106 that I am going to refurbish.

My Band Album

2009-02-26T02:38:00.000-08:00

Saw this on Facebook spreading like wild fire. Just follow the instructions. Its creepy how many Album covers I have seen so far.

My Band Album

1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random... Read More... Read More”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in.

x0xb0x PCB's for sale 499.00

2009-02-25T23:32:00.000-08:00

I am selling some stuffed x0xb0x's right now on eBay.

Link

NAMM Oddities 2009

2009-02-25T19:28:00.001-08:00

Wired stuff. I check it out every year.
link

Roland's Dying Synth

2009-02-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

The Juno-106's days are numbered. There was a design flaw that made a critical chip fail over time. The Juno-106 was made between 1984 and 86 with around 40,000 produced. Unfortunately most 106s I come across now have one or more faulty chips that make a voice hang or crackle. The chip was a custom chip that Roland manufactured called a 80017a.

The 80017a was a voltage controlled filter with with a VCA built on a chip. Because of demand for them, pulls go for $70us + on eBay. There is little info on this problem chip, except a basic schematic. (pictured)

What you have is 3 chips on a single chip, a IR3109 and 2 BA662's. This was the exact design that was used on the Juno 60 just in a different package.

There are two clones on the market to replace your dead chips.
D'naab's
Synth Restore

The clones are a little pricey and if you wanted to replace all six voices that would almost be the same price of a beat up 106 but at least you don't have to worry about replacing the chips as the cloned 80017a do not have the same flaw.

SSM2044

2009-02-24T23:39:00.000-08:00

Pict from eBay. Here.

The SSM2044 was a popular filter on a chip that was used in everything from a Korg monopoly to a Fairlight. I am getting a couple for a modular project.

If you want to find out more about them check out.
electricdruid's site.

There are a ton of SSM2044 filter chips up on ebay at the moment and the prices keep going up. They stoped making them in the late 90's.

This guy is selling 4 for $13 bucks. I just scored a few. Check it out here.

MOTU Volta

2009-02-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

When!!! ARE YOU COMING OUT.

sighs.....

Ton's of old Logic Envroments

2009-02-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

I came across this site when I was looking for a logic environment for my Kawai K5000. There is a lot of stuff here. The only problem is a lot of it was done on Logic 5 and 4 which is not compatible with 8. Lucky for me I still have my 7 dongle.
Check it out- http://www.swiftkick.com/

KORG MiniKorg 700s

2009-02-24T04:49:00.000-08:00

Picts via Ruten action here.

I have been eyeballing getting two 700s off of Ruten for the last month. I am hesitating because the VCO's were encased in epoxy. Kind of makes it hard to work on. They look like they are in bad shape. Too bad I already have way too many projects right now.

Hmmmm but it is tempting.

Kawai K5000R

2009-02-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Cool video of the K5000 synth. I got one of these right before I moved out to Taiwan. Haven't had a chance to relay play with it yet.

Taiwan's eBay

2009-02-21T04:31:00.000-08:00

I just scored two of theses off of Ruten. One is working and the other is missing the front panel. My plan is to restore one and use the other for a DIY mono synth.

Ruten is the equivalent of Taiwan's Ebay. I live out here so I spend some time looking it over. I got the Roland RS-09 pictured for 1,000 NT which is like 34 bucks in US currency. I have also managed to get a broken Juno 106 for $100 bucks and a MKS-70 for $100 bucks too.

If you are going to check it out it helps to be able to read traditional Chinese.

Link

Resource for all your Synth DIY needs.

2009-02-21T03:41:00.000-08:00

I have been spending way to much time here lately. Home to a very active bunch of enthusiasts that are coming up with the best in synth DIY.

The DIY meta link
http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-22255.html

Check out the rest here-
Link

Omni Cord Inspiration

2009-02-21T03:31:00.000-08:00

Dr. Ronald Chevalier - Inspiring Oneself

Viral for a moive.
Link

The VCO-1: An Uncomplicated VCO That Truly Delivers

2009-02-20T02:09:00.000-08:00

picture for http://mypeoplepc.com/members/scottnoanh/birthofasynth/id33.html

"An Uncomplicated VCO That Truly Delivers"
That's what Thomas Henrey calls his little creation the VC0-1.
The layout of this board is dead simple and
the parts are all easy to get.

er... Except the 2k 3300ppm thermistor.

This is a killer first protect for your first D.I.Y. Synth.

http://mypeoplepc.com/members/scottnoanh/birthofasynth/id33.html

They have a lot of parts

2009-02-20T01:56:00.000-08:00

Picture of a dead Cem chip

Nice selection of stuff. Time to get your broken synth fixed or finish your DIY protect.

Check it out if you cant find it on Ebay-

http://www.vintageplanet.nl/

x0xb0x Stuffed PCB's

2009-02-19T07:29:00.000-08:00

I got 4 x0xb0x's stuffed!

Metasonix Drum Machine?

2009-02-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

Looks like METASONIX is developing a drum Machine.
Post on the midibox forum.

Link

I bet it will have tubes and sound evil.

2007-10-10T22:34:00.001-07:00