[BLOK] is a new modular synthesizer for Windows, originally designed as a platform for teaching audio synthesis to students.

Features:

• Classic synthesizer modules such as Oscillators, Filters, Envelopes and Effects
• Easy to use interface. Blok was originally created as an educational program to teach audiodesign principles. This means that each module is simple to understand.
• Connect everything. There are no limits on connecting blocks together.. if a block generates a signal, connect it up!
• Versatile DSP engine. Additive, Subtractive and FM synthesis are all possible. Let Blok be your synthesis swiss army-knife.
• Full undo/redo. Dont like what you have done? Go back to a time when you did!
• Low in cpu. Blok was made to run well even on low-end computers. On today’s machines, it tears up the track! This will let you make more complicated setups and get more bang for your synthesis buck.

[BLOK] is currently a free download, but the developer notes “only the buzz version is officially supported at this point! the standalone and VST versions are under heavy construction, use at your own risk.”

U-He has announced ACE (Any Cable Everywhere) – a new modular software synthesizer.

Description:

The selection of modules and clear layout make ACE the ideal instrument for newcomers delving into the fascinating world of modular synthesis. The number of ways to connect modules together is practically infinite, and you will soon discover how much more fun it is to make your own sounds in ACE than in a non-modular synthesizer.

Here’s what we know so far about U-He Ace:

• ETA: early December 2009
• pricing: 69EUR (includes 19% VAT, ca. 85 USD net when bought from overseas)
• formats: VST on Windows, VST/AU/RTAS on MacOS X
• system requirements Mac: Apple Macintosh Computer running MacOS X 10.4+ on a G4 processor or newer, Intel Core 2 Duo or better recommended
• system requirements Win: VST2 compatible host software on a PC with SSE2 supporting processor, Intel Core 2 Duo or better recommended
• number of presets and such: tba

Synthesis Bakis Sirros, aka Parallel Worlds, sends word via the synth forum that a new Serge M-odule has been released:

Its the ‘KlangShifter’ m-odule.

it includes the following modules (from left to Right):

DTG (Dual Transient Generator), MIX PRO (Mixer Processor), FREQUENCY SHIFTER, C/M (a Gate switch, plus lin and exp attenuators), X-Fader.

the official price is 2400 USD.

it is a great m-odule for anyone wanting to get the Serge Frequency shifter module in M-format, plus of course , vc-dual envelope generation, vc-slewing, vc-audio/trigger dividing, vc-gate delay, envelope following, cv mixing/scaling/offseting, vc-X-fading, audio vca, attenuation (exp. and lin.) and manual gate generation

If  you’ve used the Serge Klangshifter, leave a comment with your thoughts on it!

Sunday Synth Jam: this video captures an ambient synth jam, Annunaki, on a Synthesizers.com modular synthesizer.

via davidryle:

A live take. Trance induced polyrhythmic ambient piece. It reminded me of something old – hence the name. The Watchers from the Sky. The Annunaki are the ones of Heaven and Earth in the Sumerian lore.

The synthesizer is an Arrick modular.

The delays are a Lexicon MX200 and a T.C.Elecronic D-TWO.

Six oscillators are used. Two are tone generators and four are modifiers. I also used a noise source for the random sample & hold to an instrument interface which generated odd accent timings for the noise source through a Cyndustries Quad Low Pass Gate.

The moving line is the sequencer run through a Suit & Tie Guy Soundlabs Sea Devils diode ladder Filter module.

The monotone drone is through an Arrick Q150 Transistor Ladder Low Pass Filter. The drone timing was designed by using two low frequency oscillators’ pulse waveforms into a Ring modulator (balanced modulator). The syncopated output was sent to an envelope generator that fired the amplifier and filter.

The resonant octave-sweeping sound is a manually modified FM oscillator tone fed through an Arrick Q107 State Variable Filter in band-pass mode.

No attempt was made to synchronize the various oscillators and sequencers. This gave me a polyrhythmic feel that seemed organic.

A Pan/Fade module sweeps the sounds in stereo for a dimensional effect.

This is a demo of the Synthesis Technologies MOTM-650, a 2U wide, full-featured 4-channel MIDI-CV converter.

Features include:

• Voice allocations settable as four 1 voice, two 2 voice, or one 4 voice group – each voice group separately addressable via MIDI
• Voice assignment modes on a per voice configuration: Poly 1, Poly 1 steal, Poly 2, Poly 2 steal, Unison, Solo Unison, Solo, Solo Rotate.
• Dual arpeggiators, each arpeggiator assignable to any active voice group – one arpeggiator per voice group
• Arpeggiator clock sources – MIDI IN Clock, internal clock (60-238BPM weighted), or external
• Arpeggiator clock divisors /4, /3, /2, /1.5, 1X, 1.5X, 2X and 4X the clock rate
• Arpeggiator note order as up, down, up/down, and down/up
• Arpeggiator modes are normal, ordered, ping pong, and random
• Portamento – per voice group configurable as constant rate or constant time
• Each voice group is independently configurable
• Firmware updateable via MIDI (Windows and Mac OS 9 update utilities provided)
• All MOTM-650 options settable via MIDI CCs or MIDI System Exclusive commands as well as the front panel user interface
• MOTM-650 Settings and state are remembered across power cycles
• Patch storage for MOTM-650 settings (up to 32) – recallable via MIDI patch change command
• Microtuning per MIDI spec
• Pitch bend adjustable from +/- 0 to 24 to be added to note CV on all voices
• Each of 4 AUX outputs assignable to pitch bend, channel aftertouch, or any MIDI CC.
• Velocity jack on each voice can be configured to be velocity or a trigger – providing a 5ms pulse when the voice is retriggered
• LEDs to monitor MIDI IN activity, internal/external/MIDI clock, and voice gate operation
• 8X2 LCD with variable backlight and 4 buttons for the user interface
• External clock in jack
• Transmits MIDI clock if set to external or internal clock

The MOTM-650 retails for $499.

Image: exoct

Saturday Synth Porn: One of a set of nice shots of a portable Doepfer modular synthesizer.

via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

Here’s what they have to say about their service:

We specialize in acrylic cutting and etching, specifically to create blind panels for you modular synthesizer system. Please browse our stock design gallery of over 125 designs. We can modify any of our existing designs or create something completely custom for you if aren’t graphically inclined. Custom graffiti can also be done by an actual NYC graffiti artist.

Please select a design or download a template and let us help bring your vision to life. We are ready to provide you with great service and stand 100% behind the result. If you are not satisfied, we will not stop until it is right. Your satisfaction is our top priority.

Vector art is preferred so if you need to create your artwork with a raster based program like Photoshop, please keep it black & white, high in contrast and have strong lines. Keep artwork solid black and white. Black is what will etch, white will be substrate.

We can also do other custom etching and cutting – DIY module panels for instance. And although we do not offer any metal cutting, we can etch your supplied aluminum faceplates, laptops or whatever you might need.

Be sure to see our examples page with images of the work we can do for you.

via RichardDevine

Synthwerks is offering a sneak preview of their modular synthesizer, which is still under development, at their Facebook page.

They’ve announced an interesting array of modules, including a “thumbstick” joystick controller; force sensing resistor modules; and this iPhone/iPod touch Player Module, designed to integrate an iPhone into your modular synthesizer.

Synthwerks is a small company in Seattle, Washington which designs and makes synthesizer modules in the Eurorack form factor.

According to Synthwerks:

Synthwerks will be focusing initially on making alternate controllers and modules for processing/modifying CVs. We will make some other modules that will be aimed at filling the gaps we find in the available offerings by other companies or to compliment modules they make. Some will just be for fun.

In other words you probably won’t see a standard VCO or LPF with a Synthwerks logo on it. Those who are on FaceBook, you will find a Synthwerks page there, and you are encouraged to comment on the modules and make suggestions for ones you may want. If interest is high enough, our modules may be offered in kit form. Stay tuned…

via Matrix

Thomas P Heckmann’s studio is more than just a working studio – it’s a synthesizer museum with a fantastic collection of some of the hottest synths ever made.

This video, in German with subtitles, features Heckmann talking about his music, his amazing synthesizer museum and why he prefers making music with vintage synthesizers.

via robotstv, rebellen

Sunday Synth Jam: Simonsounds’ Macbeth’s Ghosts is an exploration of the sound generating possibilities of the Macbeth Studio Systems M5N semi-modular synthesizer.

via simonsound1:

Just got this synth (on loan) yesterday and I’ve spent the day exploring its functions. So far I’m loving the built in spring reverb (watch/listen to what happens when I shake it!) and the voltage controlled panning. Here is a very short clip of some spooky halloween sounds. Looking forward to using this in some tracks and for some FX in the upcoming Simonsound podcast mix.

Don’t forget, The Simonsound cover of Tour de Mars is out on the 2nd of November!!!!

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.

Saturday Synth Porn: This video is a quick demo of the very sexy Moon Modular M569 Step Sequencer.

The M569 is a Moog-style step sequencer, but offering up to 32 positions, arranged in four rows.

Each row can be controlled independent from each other, so that the user has practically up to four separate sequencers at his disposal, each with its own clock- and reset-input jacks, and – at the same time – different running directions (up, down, random and “ping-pong“).

via JohnLRice:

I just couldn’t resist playing around a bit with my new Moon M569 sequencer! It has so much great potential for doing interesting sequencing it’s really exciting!

Let’s pretend for a moment that the recession doesn’t exist and see what these Buchla bad boys have to offer.

System #1

The first system contains 8 panel units and sufficient blank panels to fill the voids.

• 1 Model 201e – 12 Powered Cabinet
• 1 Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 2 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 1 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 1 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager

Total Panel units – 8
System Price – $9950

The Addition of a Router, a Source of Uncertainty and an Arbitrary Function Generator bring us to the second suggested system:

System #2

• 1 Model 201e – 12 Powered Cabinet
• 1 Model 210e Control and Signal Router
• 1 Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 1 Model 250e Arbitrary Function Generator (2 panel units)
• 2 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 266e Source of Uncertainty
• 1 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 1 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 1 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager

Total Panel units – 12
System Price – $14,000

Here’s a fully loaded 18 panel unit system that features the 222e:

System #3

• 1 Model 201e – 18 Powered Cabinet
• 1 Model 210e Control and Signal Router
• 1 Model 222e Multi Dimensional Kinesthetic Input Port (4 panel units)
• Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 1 Model 250e Arbitrary Function Generator (2 panel units)
• 3 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 266e Source of Uncertainty
• 1 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 1 Model 285e Frequency Shifter / Balanced Modulator
• 1 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 1 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager

Total Panel units – 18
System Price – $19,650

System #4

Here’s a system with 24 panel units, all crammed into our new 201e-24 cabinet. This is not a system to be packing around from gig to gig, but it’s certainly great for the studio.

• 1 Model 201e – 24 Powered Cabinet
• 1 Model 210e Control and Signal Router
• 1 Model 222e Multi Dim Kinesthetic Input Port1 Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 1 Model 250e Arbitrary Function Generator (2 panel units)
• 1 Model 256e Control Voltage Processor
• 4 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 266e Source of Uncertainty
• 2 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 1 Model 285e Frequency Shifter / Balanced Modulator
• 2 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 2 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager
• 1 Model 297 Infinite Phase Shifter

Total panel units – 24
System price – $26,800

System #5

System #5 substitutes a 206e mixer / preset manager for the 297 Infinite phase shifter and two smaller cabinets for the monstrous 201e – 24.

• 2 Model 201e – 12 Powered Cabinets
• 1 Model 206e Mixer / Preset Manager
• 1 Model 210e Control and Signal Router
• 1 Model 222e Multi Dim Kinesthetic Input Port
• 1 Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 1 Model 250e Arbitrary Function Generator
• 1 Model 256e Quad Control Voltage Processor
• 4 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 266e Source of Uncertainty
• 2 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 1 Model 285e Freq Shifter / Balanced Modulator
• 2 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 2 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager

Total Panel units – 24
System Price – $27,050

Their next system offers one 12 panel unit and one 18 panel unis:

System #6

• 1 Model 201e – 18 Powered Cabinet
• 1 Model 201e – 12 Powered Cabinet
• 1 Model 206e Mixer / Preset Manager
• 1 Model 210e Control and Signal Router
• 1 Model 222e Multi Dimensional Kinesthetic Input Port (4 panel units)
• 1 Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 2 Model 250e Arbitrary Function Generators (2 panel units each)
• 1 Model 256e Quad Control Voltage Processor
• 6 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 266e Source of Uncertainty
• 3 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 1 Model 285e Frequency Shifter / Balanced Modulator
• 2 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 3 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager

Total Panel units – 30
System Price – $33,300

And finally, the gourmet system, with all but the kitchen sink squeezed into two 18 panel unit cabinets:

System #7

• 2 Model 201e – 18 Powered Cabinets
• 1 Model 206e Mixer / Preset Manager
• 1 Model 210e Control and Signal Router
• 1 Model 222e Multi Dimensional Kinesthetic Input Port (4 panel units)
• 1 Model 225e Midi Decoder/Preset Manager
• 1 Model 227e System Interface (2 panel units)
• 2 Model 250e Arbitrary Function Generators (2 panel units each)
• 1 Model 255 Control Voltage Processor
• 1 Model 256e Quad Control Voltage Processor
• 1 Model 260e Duophonic Pitch Class Generator
• 6 Model 261e Complex Waveform Generator
• 1 Model 266e Source of Uncertainty
• 4 Model 281e Quad Function Generator
• 2 Model 285e Frequency Shifter / Balanced Modulator
• 2 Model 291e Triple Morphing Filter
• 4 Model 292e Quad Dynamics Manager
• 1 Model 297 Infinite Phase Shifter

Total Panel units – 36
System Price – $39,80

So there you have it. These are out of the price range of people that spend their spare time blogging about synths – so leave a comment and let me know which one you’re going to be buying!

Sunday Synth Jams: Astral Flyover, a live modular synth improvisation.

Details on the patching below.

via davidryle:

Arrick modular synth live performance. Used Cubase 4 and Addictive Drums vst plug-in to clock into the Q960 Sequential Controller.

From the department of “just because we can” comes Expert Sleepers’ demo of using a modular synth to control an iPhone.

If you start getting prank calls from modular synthesizers, you can blame these guys.

Patch details below.

via expertsleepers:

Demo of Expert Sleepers Silent Way CV To OSC allowing a modular synth to control TouchOSC on an iPhone.

Angelspit’s Destroyx talks semi-modular synthesizers & the Doepfer Dark Energy.

via krankhaus:

Destroyx looks at Semi-Modular Synths.

Semi-Modulars are are great way to bridge from analogue synths to modular synths.

More BLIPVERTS from Angelspit

www.angelspit.net/blipvert

Automatic Drone Machine – a modular synth patch via dougcl.

Patch details:

Eurorack modular synthesizer generating a random selection of drones. The main sound is a Cwejman VCO-2RM sine ring modded with a Blacet Miniwave. The “percussion” part is the same audio further ring modded with a PlanB M15 sine wave, or a Cwejman VCO-6 ring modded with a Doepfer A-117 (selected by a Doepfer A-134-2 crossfader at random) then passing through the Makenoise QMMG low pass gate. The pitch control of all the VCOs is shared and selected via Doepfer A-148 sample and hold

This is a video introduction to the Moog IIIc modular synthesizer of btpro.

The first video offers an overview of system and modules.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Moog IIIc has two series of VCO, 901 and 921. This video introduces 901 VCO series.

Holistic Additives – Modular synth + Monopoly + Volta

I’m not sure about Dr Vague’s math – but I’m pretty sure it adds up to a computer-controlled modular synth jam.

via doctorvague:

Volta, 4 trigger streams to a switcher to a Moon Modular trigger sequencer and on out to a Monopoly arpeggiator etc.

It’s as fun as it looks. I jammed to a different loop than you’re hearing

Richard Devine does beta test on the $280 Make Noise MATHS prototype synthesizer module, available at Analogue Haven.

Details below.

Description:

maths builds on the tradition set into motion in the 1960’s by don buchla when he adapted the circuits found within analog computers common to engineering labs, for musical purposes. buchla’s “algebraic processor, model 257″ changed the way music synthesizers utilized control voltages. maths, a mash-up of the buchla 281, buchla 257 & serge dusg, continues this great tradition of sculpting the control signals we use to sculpt our sound signals.

channels 1 and 4 are identical, each being able to scale, invert or integrate an incoming signal. with no signal applied, these channels may be made to generate a variety of linear, logarithmic, or exponential functions, lasting as long as 25 minutes, upon the reception of a trigger, or continuously when the cycle switch is engaged. the cycle switch also contains a led which indicates the activity on the associated channel. one small difference between ch. 1 and 4 is in their respective pulse outputs; ch.1 having end of rise and ch. 2 having end of cycle. this was done to facilitate the creation of complex functions.

channels 2 and 3 are identical, each being able to scale, amplify and invert an incoming signal. with no external signal applied, these channels will generate dc offsets.

all 4 channels are normalized to a sum and or bus via their respective outputs, so that addition, subtraction and analog logic or manipulations may be achieved. all outputs are capable of driving a passive 4 way mult without loading effects (no buffered mult needed here).