Sunday Synth Jam: Sound designer Diego Stocco is always doing something amazing and this short promo piece is no exception.

If you’ve been dreaming about a new synth or new app, see what Stocco does with a bunch of old junk:

A short abstract piece created during one of the sessions I did for an upcoming project.
I used an old dismantled piano, antique zithers collected in the past few months and metallic wind chimes. Played with piano hammers and a dulcimer bow.

See more of Stocco’s videos at his Vimeo site.

Sunday Synth Jam: Voltage Controlled Passacaglia, Pages 1 & 2, by Paul Hembree (Premiere)

Performed on the CRuNCh lab 1972 Moog Modular synthesizer, with video projection of an attached oscilloscope.

Executed from a score with parametric envelopes assigned to different performers. Rough synchronization is achieved with stop-watches, and four short sections in the piece (each about a minute long) allow for some controlled improvisation.

Paul Hembree, Chris Rippey, Steve Snowden, and Curtis Peel, performers.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Voltage Controlled Passacaglia, Pages 3 & 4, by Paul Hembree

via PHIntermedia:

Can anyone figure out what the ground-bass theme is?

Also thanks to Brandon Vaccaro and Sean Brady for help with the MAX panning patch (the only digital aspect of the work… sadly we didn’t have enough voltage controlled amplifiers, nor enough mixer channels on the Moog to produce 4 channel spatizalization).

This has been on MySpace video for a while because they do not have a ten minute time limit. However, I figured I should expose this work to YouTube, so I cut the piece in half and I’m posting both chunks.

This video captures a symphonic electronica synth jam by Karel Post.

via karelpostthuis:

In the studio testing my revived Emulator 2.

It gave me such an inspirational sound that I created this “grande” musical piece. If you like this music, mail me to get your own FREE high quality copy of a first mixdown. It will NOT be available on CD or other medium, so if you like it you can only obtain your copy by contacting me personally.

I like comments too!

Bedtime Stories is am improvisation on custom made Monome 40h running Press Cafe sending MIDI to Logic Pro 8.

via rishabhrajan

Struggling to figure out the latest software/controller/update?

Then watch your back – because there’s a new generation coming. Check out this drum and bass improv by an 11-year old kid, if you have any doubt.

via strrrangemen:

brother playing around with ableton live He took the whole afternoon to learn Ableton Live Basics, now

i’m proud of him

He’s 11 and decided suddenly to play with my stuff

David Vorhaus Analogue Electronic Music 1979

In this historical video from 1979, American-born UK synth pioneer David Vorhaus talks about two of his analogue inventions – the MANIAC analogue sequencer, and the Kaleidophon.

via JeffreyPlaide:

The MANIAC (Multiphasic Analog Inter-Active Chromataphonic (sequencer)) was an analogue sequencer having variable step lengths, and the ability to split sequences into several smaller groupings giving considerable sonic potentiality. Addition and subtraction of events was possible, as well as the possibility to chromatically correct the output during performance. David could program his MANIAC sequencer to play a background rhythm or combination of musical events, to then improvise over the top with another instrument or synthesizer.

The Kaleidophon was a double-bass-like instrument using four velocity-sensitive ribbon controllers instead of strings. The instrument is played entirely using the left hand, leaving the right hand free to manipulate the sound via a number of controllers and a joystick.

David speaks about the processes of making electronic music, and the developments that such possibilities can provide for the imaginative electronic musician. This excerpt is taken from the BBC 1979 documentary entitled “The New Sound of Music” hosted by Michael Rodd.

Sunday Synth Jam: Synthtopia regular Torley takes a break from Second Life and amplifying your awesome to unleash a very soothing synth jam, Magic Music Time.

You can check out Torley’s music at Torley.com and his videos on Youtube, too.

Sunday Synth Jam: Mickey Mouse Abuse – Some excerpts from Kamoni’s live set using Ableton Live and a DrumKat.

Includes jungle, dubstep and dnb improvised freestylin’.

via kamoni:

Moonpie From Planet X

Theremin duo Art Harrison and Rupert Chappelle playing, respectively, a Harrision Instruments Theremin and a Big Briar Etherwave Theremin, on August 16, 2009.

Also used – Alesis Microverb, Boss Digital Delay and Behringer Tube Distortion Box – recorded live to camera microphone.

via saintrupert

Sunday Synth Jam: This video captures a Vangelis-style improvisation on organ and synthesizer.

Used: Yamaha HS7, Roland D70, Computer with VST: Hypersonic2, Nexus,The Grand.

via Avigoorn:

Go to http://www.arnaudvanbeek.nl/ for more information.

Sunday Synth Jam: A nice experimental ambient synth jam from Sarah Nicolls & Tim Exile.

via timexile:

This was filmed in a rehearsal at the Bluecoat in Liverpool in April.

Sarah is playing her crazy modified piano (complete with robotics). I’m live sampling, processing etc… it’s all improvised as usual. It’s a great accompaniment to a sunny morning in Berlin I tell thee…

Filmed by Sam Meech, edited by Neringa Plange.

Sunday Synth Jam: This video captures a keytar jam, featuring a DIY “cello-keytar”.

via Owam1986:

Me improvising with my homemade keytar, my first DIY project.There are some mistakes… don’t mind…

Sunday Synth Jam: An electroacoustic jam/happening by Lucky Dragons, live at Sculpture Space, Long Island, Queens.

Lucky Dragons is an experimental music group consisting of Luke Fischbeck and Sarah Rara. Lucky Dragons’ performances include live music, video projection, and sounds created in collaboration with the audience.

Based in Los Angeles, California, the band are noted for their unusual sound, described as having the ability to make “‘everyday sounds’ become alluringly other”.

via majimafia

Sunday Synth Jam: A little Berlin-school style fun from the German housewife mit die synthesizer, Synthiefrau.

And, if you’re a synthesist, Synthiefrau may just be your match:

Synthesizers are my life.

If I can two Synths take on a lonely Island, I want my Mini and my Dot.com Modular. The two are the best.

I want to marry a synthesist;-)))

via Synthiefrau

So, if you’re a synthesist…..

Sunday Synth Jam: Desolation Path-Bladerunner Atmosphere Part II is a luscious bit of symphonic electronica improvisation, via mik300z:

You guys seemed to like my other BR video so thought I would share this. Far as i am concerned I should have called it “Demolition path” for what I have done to this beautiful Vangelis piece! It was quite difficult , way beyond my ability, but enjoyable.

ESQ 1 comes in here again as a Yamaha CP-80 electric piano, did quite a good job for the chords at the beginning. A lot of this is nonsense, but fun all the same:)

In this video, like Bladerunner Atmosphere Part 1, mik300z really channels Vangelis’ sound palette. Check out his other Vangelis covers on YouTube.

Leave a comment with your thoughts!

Update: Removed on account of synthtoxication. : (

Sunday Synth Jam: A little experimental noise improvisation from rezzn8r:

built a thingamakit the other day, so thought I’d try it out with the moogerfoogers.

nothing serious, just havin’ fun!

The thingamakit works much better in the dark, but it sounds ok with sunlight, too!

Sunday Synth Jam: In this video, German housewive and synthesist Synthiefrau jams old-school Berlin-style with analogAudio1.

Notes Synthiefrau:

We are friends since ten years and that is a sample of our first synth jam!

Christa (Synthiefrau) plays: Minimoog, Dot.com modular
Chris (AnalogAudio1) plays: Minimoog, Moog Satellite, Farfisa Syntorchestra

Sunday Synth Jam: This synth jam, Synth Blues Improv with Alesis Micron, is “is a blues jam obviously inspired by Vangelis Blade Runner, but it isn’t a cover. It is to show the Micron’s amazing capabilities.”

Nice, but watch out for the abrupt ending…..

via hdebbache2000:

The sounds are custom, and I’m especially proud of the brass patch.

In a while I’ll start doing some more rythmic pieces like jarre and such, for now I just wanted to master this synth, so here is a relatively simple improv. Enjoy!

Synthtopia regular Torley posted this very nice PianoTeq piano solo/new age jam.

One commenter on the video declared this “So Soothing. Better than watermelons.?”

Give it a listen and see if you agree.

via Torley

The Moogist -”Music is Finished” – Glenn Gould Mashup

Tim Tsang, aka The Moogist, jams with a style that’s heavy on the knob-twiddling and light on the prog-style pitch bending.

Is music finished? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

via timtsang3