How to Use a Subtractive Analog Synthesizer is a short section taken from a commercial video series on the principles of subtractive synthesis.

via metakinetics:

This is a brief sample of an extensive introductory video tutorial on the principles of subtractive synthesis. Knowing these principles is essential to creating the evolving sounds often heard in various forms of electronic music. This video tutorial uses the Logic ES1 and ES2 as example virtual instruments to demonstrate the principles. Topics covered include signal flow, waveforms, filters, envelopes and LFOs.

This is a great video to get you started with one of these instruments: LinPlug Albino, Native Instruments Massive, Native Instruments Pro-53, Propellerhead Reasons Subtractor, Ableton Live Operator, Ableton Live Analog, Moog Voyager, Dave Smith Evolver, Prophet 5, Alesis Andromeda, Access Virus, Nord Lead Waldorf Q, Alesis ION, Alesis MICRON, Logic ES1, Logic ES2.

Denkitribe’s “ER-1 + Evolver” techno jam.

via ghostradioshow

Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver

The Poly Evolver Keyboard is the king of the Evolver line of performance synthesizers.

It is a four-voice synthesizer with a 5-octave keyboard, pitch and mod wheels, and a ton of knobs and switches in a clean, clear layout.

According to Keyboard Magazine’s review of the Polyphonic Evolvoer:

“Skeptics who insist that it’s too expensive just need to get an earful. It’s like a mint Prophet-5 plus a PPG Wave in a single reliable box that easily tucks under your arm and lights up like a night out on Coruscant.

The PEK is a player’s axe whose layout programmers will flip for. Whichever you are, this is nothing less than a future classic and a major event in synth design.”

Features

• Each voice is a complete Evolver with four oscillators per voice, two analog and two digital.
• True stereo signal path with separate Curtis analog low-pass filters in each channel for each voice. Each voice has its own independent effects (feedback, delay, distortion, high-pass filter, etc.).
• Highly accessible sound control for easy, intuitive operation: 78 knobs and 59 switches.
• Clocked, pulsing blue LEDs and hardwood end-panels.
• Each voice has an independent 16 x 4 step sequencer. Everything (sequencer, LFOs, and delay) syncs perfectly to MIDI.
• In Program mode, all four voices play the same sound. In Combo mode, voices can be allocated however desired: stack all 4 for a huge unison sound, split or layer the keyboard in any configuration, and/or play one or all sequences at the same time. Each voice can respond to a different MIDI channel.
• Multiple Poly Evolvers can be daisy-chained for increased polyphony. “Poly Chain” mode (with dedicated MIDI output) handles voice assignment overflow for effortless expansion.
• Each voice has its own stereo output in addition to the mix and headphones outputs.
• Stereo audio input that can be routed to any or all of the voices, enabling parallel audio processing of external stereo or mono signals. The output of one voice can be routed to the input of another for interesting double-processing effects.

Resources:

• Polyphonic Evolver page at Dave Smith Instruments
• Keyboard Magazine review
• Retrosound’s Prophet 600 page

Tupapupa mapped the functions of the Dave Smith Instruments Evolver onto a Behringer BCF 2000 in order to use the Evolver like a TB-303 – but with more options.

This video, by abre ojos, is third in an ongoing series of live sound & visual improvisations using a modular synthesizer, Dave Smith Evolver, Nord Micro Modular and Quartz Composer on a Macbook Pro.

Artists comment:

abre ojos is a term mentioned in a book called 1606 – An Epic Adventure by Evan McHugh. 1606 is about the multiple discoveries and voyages to Australia before the “official discovery” by Captain James Cook in 1788. “Abre Ojos” was a constant saying by the Spanish and Portuguese sailors while navigating the dangerous reef infested waters surrounding Australia’s coastline meaning “Watch Out” or “Open Your Eyes” there is danger all around.

Dave Smith Instruments

The evolver features the same powerful sound of its siblings; and like all Evolvers it can be chained together for more voices. Smith hopes to ship in April, and the street price in the USA is targeted at $1,199. Additional details are to come.

The keyboard has 4 voices, each a complete Evolver identical to the mono Evolver and Poly Evolver rack. For additional polyphony, Poly Evolvers can be chained via poly MIDI output.

The keyboard provides 512 Programs, 384 Combos, 78 knobs, 58 switches, blinking LFO and sequence blue LEDS, and backlit wheels, making this one of the most advanced polyphonic analog synths ever created.

DSI will be demonstrating the keyboard at NAMM, and hopes to be shipping by April. Price has yet to be determined, but street price should be in the lower $2K’s.