Synth Porn Saturday: This video captures an Analogue Systems workshop at 4Sound Stordahl Musikk – or as Audiobersjerk calls it, a giant wall of manly Analogue systems modules.

Ahhhh. You can almost smell the patch cords……

Great Bolshy Yarblockos!

Big City Music just received this awe-inspiring Analogue Systems System 8500 modular synthesizer, with a double sequencer cabinet and and extra top cabinet yesterday.

This thing costs more than a car and would probably necessitate an addition to your house…but it would be worth it, don’t you think?

Image: jobenbelgium

Saturday Synth Porn: This is a pretty sweet room corner, featuring an ARP 2500 with the Analogue Systems TH48 Analogue Sequencer:

Check the same knobs used on the sequencer as on the ARP 2500 modular synthesizer. Knobs should still be for sale at Analogue Systems.

via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

WMD Geiger Counter Eurorack Module -Sequencing Wavetables

via bigcitymusic:

The WMD Geiger Counter in eurorack has finally arrived!

This is a simple squarewave drone from a Cwejman VCO-6. We are sequencing the wavetables of the Geiger with an Analogue Systems rs200. Partway through we add in another sequencer row modulating the sample rate which has an attenuator. Awesome!

This is a very short demo of the Analogue Systems rs430 Distortion Module.

via bigcitymusic:

First dry, then wet…This cool little module is based on the classic Univox Super-Fuzz pedal. The Super-Fuzz is considered by many to be the holy grail of fuzz pedals. We’re using the Cwejman VCO-2RM oscillator, the ADSR-VC2, the INS-2MX and the MMF-1 multimode filter. The rs430 has CV input for distortion amount and dry/wet mix. The rs430 uses two germanium diodes to produce the unique squarewave clipping and — it — sounds — sweet!

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

The EuroRack Monster Planner is an online application that lets you make your plans to rule the world with synth power!

It’s the crack cocaine of synth fantasies, because you can use the Regular 12U Planner to design a relatively reserved modular synthesizer or you can choose the Monster Planner and plan your TyrannoSynth.

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

There are some great examples of what you can do with the EuroRack Monster Planner at MusicOfSound.

And if you use the EuroRack modular planner to create an awesome modular synth of your own, put a link to it in the comments!

This video captures a bit of modular synth bit-crushing, courtesy of the Analogue Systems rs290:

Besides an incredible sounding high-quality stereo digital delay with built LFO and a hard to beat voltage controlled sampler mode, the rs290 can crush your sounds too. This great little trick doesn’t even require the unit to be engaged. Just select sample size, reduce, and abuse. 

Our sound source is the Elektron SFX-60 Mk II MonoMachine.

Getting your bits crunched never sounded so good, did it?

via bigcitymusic

This is a demo video for the Analogue Systems rs110 Multimode Filter:

The Analogue Systems rs110 Multimode filter has the unique ability to process the resonance externally.

Bob Williams with Analogue Systems showed us this trick where we send the “Notch Out” back into the “Res In”. Sending the filter resonance to a phaser or some modulation effect can yield very cool results.

We’re using the Low Pass output to our speaker.

via BigCityMusic

A demo of the Analogue Systems rs215 Eight Octave Filter.

The rs215 Eight Octave Filter is an incredible sounding, 8-band, pure analog filterbank. This module sounds beautiful and is perfect for fitting your modular sounds into a mix.

via BigCityMusic

Nortec’s Pepe and Ramon visit BigCityMusic, and check out one hundred and one synthesizers in two minutes. 

“This is one our many visits to Bigcitymusic, one of our favorite analogue synthesizer store around, we really thanks to Roger and all bigcitymusic family we love you guys.” – Pepe & Ramon.

You can see here at least a knob or slider from Analogue Systems modular systems, LL Electronics, Metasonix, Cwejman, Mellotron, Sherman, Jomox, Vermona, System 8500 modular, French Connection Martenot-style controller, rs-420 Octave Controller, rs95e VCO, rs370 Polyphonic Harmonic Generator, rs300 CV to MIDI and others. 

See anything else in the video? Leave a comment!

In this short video, from the guys at BigCityMusic, monster guitarist Blues Saraceno plays his Les Paul into the Analogue Systems rs35 External Source Processor module, which is a pitch to voltage (1 volt per octave) module. The rs35 is triggering a pair of rs95 voltage controlled oscillators, which are then processed through several other A.S. modules.

The final sound is coming from the tiny 5″ Yamaha speaker which was mic’d with a handheld SM-57.

This is an overview of the synthgasm that is the Big City Music booth at NAMM. 

You can see shots of the new Metasonix eurorack modules and the new KV-100 Assblaster. You can also see the new Signal Arts Tetra Maps sequencer, the new Sherman Rodec Restyler, all of the Jomox Products, a giant Analogue Systems modular, pieces from Diabolical Devices and Folktek, as well as Cwejman, King Capitol Punishment, Bleep Labs L.L. Electronics Rozzbox, Schippman, Malekko, Vermona and more.

This is a demo of the Analogue Systems rs35 External Processor eurorack synthesizer module, being used to control a modular synthesizer with an electric guitar.

The rs35 is a frequency (or pitch) to voltage converter. It can turn virtually any sound source into a one volt per octave voltage allowing you to control an analog synthesizer. 

The patch runs a Strat into the Barber Electronics TonePress compressor pedal for added sustain. The guitar signal is then run into the low pass filter section of the A.S. rs110 Multimode filter to roll off some of the highs. 

From there, the guitar is patched into the rs35 ‘Frequency In’. The rs35’s voltage out goes to the rs95 voltage controlled oscillator. From there, various modules alter the oscillator sound, including the rs100 Low Pass filter, the rs120 Comb Filter, and the rs290 voltage controlled digital delay/sampler.

Radiophonica provides a library of sounds that recall the BBC Radiophonic Workshops early work on seminal TV programmes like Doctor Who; as such, they embrace those appealing analogue, organic, retro scifi sounding characteristics of early synthesiser soundtracks.

All 200 samples 24-bit/44.1kHz mono WAV, crossfade looped where appropriate were created using Boddy’s personal collection of old(er) and new(er) analogue synthesisers (Roland System 100-M, Analogue Systems RS Integrator, Doepfer A-100, Analogue Solutions Concussor, EMS VCS3, Moog Minimoog, Metasonix TM-2) and recorded directly into an Apple Mac running Logic Studio via an RME Fireface 400 FireWire audio interface with additional EQ or compression processing provided where appropriate using Audio Ease PeriScope, Waves Renaissance Compressor, and Waves L1 Ultramaximizer. All audible flanging, phasing, reverb, or echo effects are from the various analogue components of the modular systems themselves for absolute audio authenticity.

Native Instruments KONTAKT 2 patches with a basic envelope, low-pass filter, and modulation wheel assigned to filter cutoff are also provided for convenience for each program, allowing users to add effects and modulations to the finished sounds, as well as audition programs for all the sounds in a single category.

Ian Boddy Waveforms products are available from the following download stores, priced at £24.95 (including VAT):

• www.soundstosample.com
• www.timespace.com
• www.zero-g.co.uk

Nice subtle demo of the Analogue Systems Rs240 Bode Frequency Shifter via Stordahl Musikk.

Rhodes piano thru Rs35 External Source Processor picking up the dynamics of the piano and modulate the depth of the Rs240 creating a nice panning effect.

This demo, via BigCityMusic, shows the Analogue Systems rs390 Echo Module and rs200 in action:

The Analogue System rs390 is a very clean (24-bit converters) digital delay in Eurorack format with up to three seconds of delay time. There is a fun little range switch which allows you to cut your delay times on the fly You have CV control over the the delay time and the wet/dry mix. It is a stereo delay, capable of great sounding ping-pong delays but this is a mono video. 

We’re also using two rs200 Sequential Controllers to great effect as well as two rs150 Sequential Switches, the rs280 Signal Trigger/Clock Divider and a bit of the rs260 Voltage Quantizer (Quantiser!) for the chord modulation. The rs200 can send end pulse outs to trigger the next row and there are a centerline of switches to turn on or off trigger pulses for each row. Trigger 3 is on all the time.

This bigcitymusic demo video showcases a large Analogue Systems power supply & Eurorack Modular Synth Case.

The video goes into a lot of detail, explaining the features of the power supply and case and how modules are connected.

Eurorack modules from a variety of manufacturers can be used in Analogue Systems cases as they come standard with both Analogue Systems sockets and Doepfer-style sockets. Analogue Systems power supplies are set up for both 115 volts and 230 volts (international power supply.

http://www.bigcitymusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/bigcitymusicdotcomhttp://www.bigcitymusicblog.blogspot.com

In this Big City Music demo, the Analogue Systems RS300 CV/MIDI Eurorack module is used to take a control voltage and convert it into MIDI messages:

In this case we’re using the Analogue Systems RS35 External Processor module to convert the Moog Cherry Etherwave theremin audio into a pitch control voltage. That control voltage in turn is controlling the pitch bend of the Dave Smith Prophet ‘08 keyboard. By setting the pitch bend range on the DSI you can decide the range of the theremin’s control. The RS300 module can actually control multiple midi parameters at one time. For recording synthesists the RS300 can be an invaluable tool for recreating complicated modular patches and sequences.