Tom at Waveformless put together a fun post taking a look at going vintage on the cheap.

There are a number of really underrated synths that seem to go for consistently low prices. They’re awesome synths, but nobody seems to know about them, which means you can get a great deal.

Here’s the list of synths that he highlights:

1. Casio CZ-101 (typically less than $100)
2. Ensoniq ESQ-1 (typically $150-$300)
3. Moog (Realistic) Concertmate MG-1 (typically $100-$500)
4. Oberheim Matrix-6R (typically $150-$350+)
5. Roland HS-10/80 (typically $25-$100)
6. Roland HS-60 (typically $200+)
7. Roland MKS-7 (typically $200+)
8. Yamaha CS-01 (typically $150-$250)
9. Yamaha TX81Z (typically $50-$85)

See Tom’s post for his take on each of these synths.

Are these great synths? No – but you can get great deals on them and make some great sounds.

As an alternative to the Casio CZ-101, I’d recommend the CZ-1, which has twice the polyphony plus a velocity + aftertouch sensitive full-size keyboard. And is still dirt cheap.

Got other ideas for cheap vintage synths that don’t suck? Leave a comment!

This video, via synthjunk, is a celebration of all that is good – with an emphasis on the pure analog electronica power, using classic synths, sequencers and drum machines.

via synthjunk:

Influenced by electronic music of the 70’s 80’s & 90’s.

Recorded using Ableton live with minimal overdubbing.

Robot featured is home made.

This video captures a session with the Korg Electribe EMX.

via StudioF:

Just a session with the Korg EMX what a wonderful little machine.

Sunday Synth Jam: This is another very nice theremin performance by Peter Pringle, Duparc’s L’invitation au voyage.

Pringle’s intonation sets an example for other thereminists and the intensity and expression of his playing is equally amazing.

via copperleaves:

This is one of my favorite songs from the works of French composer Henri Duparc, originally written to a poem by Charles Baudelaire. I have taken certain liberties with the arrangement in order to make up for the absence of the words which are extraordinarily powerful.

Duparc lived an unhappy, tormented life and did not write many compositions. Along with composer Camille Saint-Saens, he founded the National Society Of Modern Music in his native France.

I should mention that I probably would not have been able to play this on my Moog Etherwave Pro theremin if it’s volume circuit linearity had not been greatly improved by the addition of the EPVM1345, a tiny module invented by French engineer Thierry Frenkel.

This is the music video for theminist May Roosevelt’s Phantasma, made for the Moog Halloween Theremin contest.

This video’s fantastic on a lot of levels – including Roosevelt’s performance and the video filming and editing.

Let me know what you think!

via MayRoosevelt:

My video for the Moog Halloween contest using the etherwave standard!

Music by May Roosevelt.

Video done with the help of Alex Al.

Sunday Synth Jam: This Berlin School style sequenced synth jam takes a few minutes to take off – but then the hypnotic synth sequences and guitar work really kick in.

via angelometz:

I started patching it when the power went down. I finished patching in the dark!

Pure analog sound on the night of Halloween, for the Moog Music Halloween Theremin Contest 2009.

via SemenCritico

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!

Night Of The Theremin is a terror-filled short about a strange encounter on a dark, desolate highway.

Here’s the sequel – Dawn Of The Theremin:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Happy Moogloween!

via iloveanalogue:

Learn more about the Moog Etherwave Theremin at http://www.moogmusic.comLearn more about Bob Moog’s Legacy at http://www.moogfoundation.org

The following actions are supported:

• Full editing of all Little Phatty preset parameters via MIDI CC messages
• Automation of all LP parameters in real time through the VST host application
• Save/Load presets to and from the Little Phatty
• Presets can be saved in VST Editor format

Supported VST Hosts:

PC – Windows – VST 2.4

• Steinberg Cubase SX 1-3, Nuendo 1-2
• Mackie Tracktion 3
• Imageline FL Studio (Fruity Loops) *see issues below
• Energy XT
• Cockos Reaper 3.11
• Presonus Studio-One
• Plogue Bidule
• Tobybears’ MiniHost
• Hermann Sieb’s VST Host

Mac – VST 2.4 (OSX)

• Steinberg Cubase SX, Nuendo
• Plogue Bidule
• Mackie Tracktion
• Cockos Reaper 3.11
• Presonus Studio-One

VST Little Phatty Editor for PC and Mac is available now for $69 USD.

This is part 2 of Mitchell Sigman’s interview with analog synthesis legend Tom Oberheim about the new Oberheim SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) analog synth module.

See this previous post for part 1 of the Tom Oberheim interview.

The new SEM is available via audioMIDI.com.

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.

This is a gorgeous transcription and performance for theremin of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s song, Opus 21 #7, Zdes Xorosho (How Fair This Spot).

Peformed by Peter Pringle.

via copperleaves:

According to the New York Times, Rachmaninoff attended a demonstration of the theremin in 1930, given by its inventor, Leon Theremin (a fellow Russian), at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Apparently there was a woman in the audience who leapt to her feet after the first number applauding and shouting “Bravo! Bravo!” Rachmaninoff who, according to the article, was sitting behind her, loudly exclaimed, “Sit down Madame! You Exaggerate!”

At the time, the instrument was unknown and there were no musicians, other than its inventor, who were competent to play it.

Although Rachmaninoff never wrote anything for the theremin, one of his compositions, VOCALISE, has become one of the standard transcription compositions for the instrument. In regard to this song, HOW FAIR THIS SPOT, written for piano and voice in 1901, I found the following information on the internet:

“Rachmaninoff and his wife were on their honeymoon when he composed the work, which, not surprisingly, he also dedicated to her. Moreover, he had recently recovered from a depression caused by the disastrous 1897 premiere of his Symphony No. 1, which undermined his confidence and ability to compose until the appearance in 1901 of his ever-popular Piano Concerto No. 2. This was obviously a blissful time in his life, then, true to his nature, Rachmaninoff was moved to write music here about romance and passion, leaving out the sunshine and merriment he must also have felt. The song features one of the composer’s most soaring, beautiful vocal melodies that would not have been out of place in a slow movement of one of his concertos or symphonies. The accompaniment is appropriately subdued and just as romantic as the vocal line. The text, by G. Galina, describes a pastoral scene where young lovers have come to be alone with nature and themselves. This lovely song typically has a duration of just over two minutes.”

via MacbethSynthesizers

This video captures A J McCluskey playing around with one of the last M5Ns that went to that famous French guy!

Recorded neat into a Nikon D90 cam using a 50mm F1.4 lens and a 18~105mm VR Nikkor lens. Some of the vid is shaky. Basic editing on Windows Movie maker…

Sunday Synth Jam: This synth jam comes courtesy of Ken MacBeth – the designer behind the MacBeth Studio Systems line of analog synth gear.

via macbethsynthesizers:

Ken MacBeth plays two X-Series Dual Oscillator modules with two of the ‘Backend’ Filter combo module prototypes. Used here are a Korg Prophecy being utilsed as a controller keyboard with a Kenton Pro4- this is doing the octaving arpeggio. The main lead stuff is being played via the first X-Series Keyboard 1 prototype- this is a totally analogue keyboard assembly! Recorded on a Fostex FD-8, ART LTX processor and filmed on a Nikon D90 camera using a Nikkor 18~150 VR lens on manual…enjoy!

Sunday Synth Jam: When The Moogist gets his jam on, don’t expect prog riffs, but do expect to see him give a Moog a percussive workout.

via timtsang3:

Moogist jamming out to “Explode”, a track by Skream. Sept 29, 2009.

Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) does Kraftwerk’s Hall of Mirrors.

via spacemetalizer:

Here he is! Finally, after many years, I got a chance to see the great Pete Kember (aka Sonic Boom, formerly of Spacemen 3)… I filmed this at the Toronto record store Sonic Boom, in their basement where he did a 3 song set- February 4, 2008.

The tune is ‘Hall of Mirrors’ by Kraftwerk.

This is a trailer for The Italian Moog.

RE_production is producing a documentary movie on Moog instruments in Italian music, directed by Ernesto Romano.

Description:

The movie shows all the most significant Moog experiences of the Italian music history, from the Progressive Rock to the nowadays electronic experimentation, through the voice and the notes of the main musicians.

All of them, from the milestones to the youngest artists, express an endless passion for all the Moog inventions, since they have been introduced in Italy during the Seventies, until the last products.

Finally, all the musicians express an extraordinary love for Bob Moog, as everybody say, the father of synthesizers.

This is a sneak preview of MacBeth Studio Systems‘ upcoming all-analog keyboard synth controller.

via macbethsynthesizers:

As you can see- this prototype is not housed yet so it moves around a bit- but none the less- it gives you some idea of what is going on!

The unit features two LFOs- inspired by the Sonic Six!

I hope that you enjoy

Ken M

shot using a Nikon D90- Tamron 80-210 of old.

This video captures some images of an early synth built by Bob Moog for Austrian composer Max Brand (1886-1980).

Moog designed electronic sound equipment for Brand starting in the late 50’s. This modular is believed to be from around 1967-1969.

via klubmoozak:

Please note that this video is intended to show the machine – the included audio track does NOT demonstrate it’s capabilities – most of the audio being heard on this video is not even from this machine!