Analogue Solutions

Synthtopia regular, blogger, remixer and synth geek chanteuse Tara Busch sends word about a very cool limited edition box set of her debut album, Pilfershire Lane:

Maf (Lewis) & I were given the freedom to fill the box with whatever our hearts could dream up.

As the album was complete, Maf let rip his exquisite design sensibilities to come up with 3 more luscious gems with which to fill the box:

• a one off Polaroid 600 photo
• a beautiful 16mm film and, last but not least
• a stainless steel pop- up model of my stage set-up with interchangeable face plates for the synths. This also includes a recordable mini sampler circuit for the model, complete with a microphone and speaker..

The pop up model is presented in the box as a kit that you get to assemble (And of course we encourage all the circuit bending & hot rodding & modding to your hearts content!)!

This thing looks like $50 of cool.

Busch has put together some great music on Pilfershire Lane and, with Lewis, has come up with fun artifacts for the box set. Putting a Polaroid and the film segment in the box makes each set unique. And the pop-up model lets you complete a process that Lewis and Busch started.

Details on the box set below. And, if you’re not familiar with Busch’s music , check out her video for This Is Love.

Read more…

Stefan Breitenfeld has updated his online modular synthesizer planner:

The all-new Modular Planner v1.1, which is a complete redesign of the (ancient?) original version, is now finally available. The most important changes are:

• new design & improved usability (at least I hope so)
• forum included
• mostly MSIE-compatible
• Google maps with dealer and manufacturer locations (to be extended, make suggestions!)
• first multi-manifacturer version (thanks to all of you for your support)
• exchange rates loaded directly from ECB
• atch drawing engine (beta).

The planner should make it easier than ever to make your plans for world synth domination.

Breitenfeld adds, “Enjoy it and feel free to link to it, report bugs and module updates, contribute images, patches & experience and make suggestions for further improvements!”

via MatrixSynth

Dave at Attack Sustain has published a fun post looking at the secret “easter eggs” that are hidden on his Analogue Solutions synth modules.

If you look closely at the PCB above, you’ll see “my precious”. Leave your thoughts on what this means below.

I remember seeing some secret drawing on a Sequential Circuits Pro-One circuit board when I opened it up; you can see photos taken from another Pro-One here.

Do you know of any other secret “easter eggs” hidden on other synths? If so, or if you know the stories behind any of these synthesizer secrets, leave a comment or a link!

Bakis Sirros has announced a new Parallel Worlds release – DiN32 – Shade.

Shade is scheduled for release on March 23rd, 2009, and looks like it will be a treat for fans of synth music.

Sirros notes:

This album is full of analogue modular synths, including the Serge modular music system, Analogue Systems RS-Integrator modular, Doepfer A100 modular, Arp 2600, EMS VCS3, Technosaurus Selector system D, Livewire/Plan B/Harvestman modular, Metalbox/CGS modular, Analogue Solutions Concussor modular, Korg MS50, Oberheim 4 Voice modular, etc…

Shade is the studio album follow-up to Obsessive Surrealism (DiN26 – 2007) and is the fifth CD release by Parallel Worlds (the main musical project of Greek electronic musician Bakis Sirros).

via Bakis Sirros in the synth forum

Eurorack modular synthesizers have been growing in popularity over the last few years. Eurorack modular synths are relatively inexpensive, compared to larger formats, and pack a lot of functionality into a small space.

There are now over fifteen companies making Eurorack synth modules, giving Eurorack owners more options than just about any other modular synth platform. If you’re planning a Eurorack synth, there’s an online modular synth planner you should check out – the Mega Modular Planner.

Here’s a list of active Eurorack modular synthesizer manufacturers, along with links to recent coverage of their synths at Synthtopia:

Eurorack Synth Modular Manufacturers

1. Analogue Systems (UK) – makes the RS line of synth modules, and unique keyboard controllers like the French Connection. Analogue Systems on Synthtopia
2. Analogue Solutions (UK) – creators of the Concussor synth modules, along with a variety of synths and sequencers, including the Red Square, the Leipzig, the SEMblance, the TBX-303 and the Oberkorn.  Analogue Solutions on Synthtopia
3. Bananalogue (USA) – makes several synth modules, including a couple of Serge-influenced modules. Their site is currently missing in action. If you’ve got additional information, leave a comment. Bananalogue on Synthtopia
4. Bubblesound (US) – makes Eurorack synth modules with original components to more accurately capture the sound of vintage gear. Their site is currently missing in action. If you’ve got additional information, leave a comment. Bubblesound on Synthtopia
5. Cwejman (Sweden) – Cwejman makes semi-modular synthesizers and also a large variety of Eurorack synth modules. Cweman on Synthtopia
6. Cyndustries (USA) – Cyndustries makes synth modules in Blacet, DotCom, ModCan, MOTM & Eurorack formats. Their best known modular is the Zeroscillator, a high end modular oscillator. Cyndustries on Synthtopia.
7. Doepfer (Germany) – manufacturer of electronic music instruments, ranging from keyboards and MIDI controllers to complete analog modular synthesizer systems. Doepfer on Synthtopia
8. Elby Designs (Australia) – makes the Panther series of Eurorack analog synthesizer modules and kits, based on Cat Girl Synth designs. Elby Designs on Synthtopia
9. Flight of Harmony (USA) – currently has a small line of synth modules, including the Plague Bearer quad voltage-controlled resonant bandpass filter. Flight of Harmony on Synthtopia
10. Future Sound Systems (UK) – Future Sound Systems makes synth modules in MOTM/Modcan/Dotcom and Eurorack formats. You can customize your modules with special panels and LED colors. Future Sound Systems on Synthtopia
11. Harvestman (USA) – makes a very original line of voltage-controlled digital signal processing modules, including the Malgorithm, Zorlon Cannon, Tyme Safari and a Polivoks filter. Harvestman on Synthtopia
12. Livewire (USA) – Livewire makes a small collection of very interesting synth modules, including the Dalek Modulator, Dual Cyclotron & the Vulcan Modulator. Livewire on Synthtopia
13. Makenoise (USA) – makes a small collection of synth modules, including a Quad Multi-Mode Gate, modDemod and the Format Jumbler. Makenoise on Synthtopia
14. Metasonix (USA) – specializes in vacuum tube based synth modules. Metasonix on Synthtopia
15. MFB (Germany) – makes a variety of drum synth modules in addition to standard modular synth components (VCO, VCF, sequencers). MFB also makes semi-modular and mini-synths. MFB on Synthtopia
16. Plan B (USA) – Peter Grenader’s line of synthesizer modules features a wide variety of modules, many of which are influenced by classic Buchla designs. Plan B on Synthtopia
17. Tiptop (USA) – makes a small, but cool line of synth modules, including the Z3000 Smart Voltage Controlled Oscillator and the Z5000 Voltage Controlled Digital Signal Processor. Tiptop Audio on Synthtopia

If you’ve got additions, corrections or comments about any of the manufacturers, please leave a comment below!

via MusicOfSound, MuffWriggler; image: thumbuki