Phantastron

Ready to control your synthesizer with a blowtorch?

This video documents a proof of concept test for the Thermatron, a vacuum tube synthesizer controlled by a flame, created and built by Lorin Edwin Parker at Electric Western.

The right mixture of gas, air pressure, high voltage, chemical ions and heat vary the flow of current through a flame. This current feeds into the grid and / or plate of vacuum tubes controlling an Electric Western Phantastron Synthesizer. Read more…

This demo video shows an Electric Western Zia Ribbon Controller controlling a Phantastron vacuum tube synthesizer.

via sheepslinky:

Demonstrating the new Zia Ribbon Controller and the Phantastron from Electric Western.

This setup is played much like a Trautonium. A ribbon controls the pitch and volume is controlled with a foot pedal.

Technical Setup:The ribbon CV is fed into a Solid State 1V/oct oscillator which is fed to the sync input of the Phantastron. Audio is taken from the Phantastron only and delay is added. Volume is controlled by a Roland expression pedal that plugs into the Zia Ribbon’s circuits (which are on the desk behind me) and controls a VCA. The ribbon shown is a prototype, and the nice wooden case has not been built yet…

This is a demo of the Electric Western Phantastron all tube synthesizer processing and resynthesizing guitar.

Electric Western – a new company making an all-tube synth – has moved to New Mexico:

They haven’t updated their site much during the move, but here’s an update on the upcoming Phantastron:

All the parts for the Phantastron release in October are in stock or on the way. I also have some spiffy mods, videos and pictures to add when that DSL line goes through.

If you’ve expressed an interest via email to Lorin, you’ll get first crack at the Phantastrons. However there are more than enough to go around.

The Electric Western Pueblo Post mailing list is now ready for circulation. Subscribers will receive email notifications of releases, specials and technical updates. More here http://www.electricwestern.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1

Also, A phantastron FAQ is on the way, as well as more formal information about the production kit model. Little has changed – except sturdier metal, better power supply (compatible with almost all countries), more extra turrets to create your own mods… etc. Otherwise it’s the same Phantastron.