Thalassa’s Berlin School Moments is a retro live synth jam, featuring Moog MG-1 + Synthesizers.com + Yusynth + MFOS step sequencing.

“Berlin School” synth music is music that’s inspired by the tradition of 70’s German electronic music pioneers like Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. Key characteristics include step-sequenced basslines, “spacey” effects, Moog synth leads and Mellotron pads.

Details below.

via Thalassa77:

Synthesizers.com and the MFOS Sequencer: main sequence

Moog Realistic MG-1 lead sounds.

Redtron : Mellotron Sounds.

No MIDI sequences were used , all was recorded on one take and no further mixing after recording, Everything is improvised,please forgive my mistakes ( a lot of them )

This video captures a little old-school style step sequencing with a Synthesizers.com modular synthesizer.

An analog delay module like the Blacet Time Machine would be the icing on this cake.

via marsl808state

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.

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!

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

The Berlin School lives on, with Martin Peters’ hypnotic interlocking sequencers + symphonic electronica synth jam, Another Symphonic Theme.

Details on gear + patches below!

via attorks:

This theme is somewhat like the symphonic theme I uploaded in February of this year, yet it is also quite different

The 3 rows of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer drive 4 voices. The first voice you hear is one Q106 VCO through the CGS Steiner Synthacon VCF and the Oakley Equinoxe phaser. The second voice one Q106 VCO through the Q150 transistor ladder filter. These first 2 voices have the same 4 step sequence running on row 3. Then you hear the self build Modular running on row 2 and after that the Creamware Minimax ASB running on row 1. These 2 voices start each with a 4 step sequence which after a while is varied between 5 and 8 steps manually. Then the bass and the theme are played on the Waldorf Q keyboard with a PPG-like sound. The Mellotron-like strings are played on the Roland XP-80. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1.

I noticed the video is gradually getting out of sync with the sound; I don’t know what caused that and I also didn’t know how to fix that when editing the clip. So, sorry for that.

Moon Modular has released a new teaser video – this time for their new MIDI2Clock M553 module, running with the Moon Modular M569 step sequencer.

Paired with the M569, it looks like Berlin School style step-sequencing nirvana.

Update: Here’s additional info, via Moon Modular:

The M553 is a module, which converts a MIDI clock into analog clock and gate-signals, to synchronize, for example, analog step-sequencers to MIDI-hardware- or software-sequencers.

The MIDI clock (MIDI real time message) has a native resolution of 1/96 notes (24 ticks per quarter note) of which the M553 derives the following signals:

Variable Clock

The divider value of the left clock-output can selected among the MIDI original clock (1/96) and these fractions:

• 1/48
• 1/32
• dotted 1/32
• 1/16
• dotted 1/16
• 1/8
• dotted 1/8
• 1/4

Fixed Clock

The right clock-output supplies a fixed clock signal, divided down to 1/16 notes.

Start/Stop

Whenever the MIDI device puts out start- and/or stop/reset-commands, these jacks supply relevant trigger-signals to e. g. – control an analog sequencer via suitable inputs – or reset an analog sequencer – skip notes, trigger switches etc.

Note-on

Both „Note-on >C3“ and „Note-on <_C3“ jacks supply gate signals, derived from MIDI note-on commands. This way the user can utilize one ordinary MIDI-track in a MIDI (software-)sequencer to create two streams of defined trigger signals, to be used – via the M553 – to synchronize/control analog equipment.

The left output generates a gate signal, whenever a MIDI note- on command below C3 (= MIDI note number 1-59) reaches the module. The right output reacts accordingly, if a note-on command of C3 or above (= MIDI note number 60-127) arrives in the M553‘s input.

These „note-on to gate“ activities work in parallel to the „normal“ MIDI to clock conversion.

Midi-Channel

To select the MIDI channel (for the „note-on to gate“ function): Dial the rotary switch to the„channel select“ position and initiate a MIDI-channel message (e. g. strike a note on a keyboard); the module sets itself to the most recently received MIDI channel (this setting is saved even if the unit is switched off).

via moonmodular:

The new MIDI2CLOCK M553 module soon on sale.

Patch details below.

via davidryle:

Arrick Modular live recording of a patch.

Heart of the patch is of two sets of Q117 S&H and Q118 Instrument Interfaces fed off of one Q110 Noise Generator. Instrument Interface’s were output to two Q961 Interface modules for long gates, then routed to two Q128 Switches to select a control voltage for the oscillators from the Q960 Sequential Controller stages.

This created a random combination of two pitches for each step from the sequencer even though the control voltages were still tuned. Some of the voltages were sent to more than one oscillator which in turn fed either soft sync or low frequency oscillators. Some oscillators were sent through a Q116 Ring Modulator. A Q105 Slew Limiter modified one oscillator for down glide pitch modulation.

Yves Usson Gate Delay (STG Soundlabs) module was used for late timings and slew into a couple of oscillators for some of the background effects.

Three filters were used. A STG Soundlabs Sea Devils Filter, a Q107 State Variable Filter and a Q150 Transistor Ladder Filter. Four envelope generators, two mixers, four amplifiers, a distributor, a multiple and a Pan/Fade module rounded out the patch modules.

Two Behringer DD400 digital delay units were used in line with some of the oscillators, and a Lexicon MX200 was used for final delay.

The last few seconds were a fade in of the drone oscillator used in the background without the sequencer running. Audio mixed in Cubase 4 by Steinberg and the video edited in iMovie by Apple.

This is a sneak preview/teaser, via moonmodular, of “the last analog moon module you´ll ever need…”

When it comes to teaser, there’s usually a little steak to go along with the sizzle.

If you’re a Moon Modular user and you have any ideas on this, leave a comment!

Sunday Synth Jam: Every Sunday, we like to features some videos that aren’t news – but are just interesting examples of musicians using synths to make music.

This video, via synthesist Richard Lainhart, features Jordan Rudess performing Pink Floyd’s On The Run from Dream Theater’s live version of Dark Side Of The Moon at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, October 25, 2005.

Modular synth programming by Lainhart.

Mattias demonstrates treating an Korg Electribe ER-1 drum machine through his Synthesis Technology MOTM/Synthesizers.com modular synthesizer.

via RothHandle

Eric Satie’s Gnossienne No 1 for Modular Synthesizer

This is another of Satie’s beautiful melodies done using just analog sequencers.

It uses the Synthesizers.com Q119 and Q960 and the Analogue Solutions Oberkorn 3 as well as the MoonModular M563 trigger sequencer. It also uses MoonModulars M564 and Club of the Knobs C962B sequential switches.

The M564 is used to switch the gate busses and the COTK is used to play the three rows of the Oberkorn and then 16 steps of the Q119. The M563 is used to control the timing of the bass and chords. Trying to synchronise the three step sequencers, two sequential switches and the trigger sequencer with each row shifting at different rates proved to be very challenging.

The only effect used apart from the Modcan digital delay is a little reverb.

via justwaving

Next Life Progression is a Berlin-school style modular synth jam, courtesy of Morbius (Cybertron).

Crank this one up to enjoy the sequenced ping-pong echoes!

via morbius001:

Just a little sequencer “noodling” (playing around)… using the ‘pattern bussing’ technique I use to alter the ‘reset-points’ of the analog modular sequencer. No digital, or soft-synths were used to create this piece.

Morbius demonstrates pattern bussing with a Synthesizers.com step sequencer in a Moog-style modular synthesizer.

via morbius001:

This is only a DEMO showing how easily the anlog-modular Q960 sequencer can be used to change sequence patterns ‘on-the-fly’, which is especially great for improvisational work. Imagine you have other music-tracks playing (or even other instruments in a band)… and you wish to change-up how the sequence patterns sound… not just ’skipping’ notes, but completely re-ordering reset-points. My technique works really well when you’re looking for “that feel” that works with what you’re doing or hearing at that time.

This video captures the “drunken debauchery” of the Muff Wiggler Forum July 2009 Gathering.

via scootermccrae:

On July 18th, 2009, I had a number of strangers who I know (or know of) from the muggwiggler.com forum come to my apartment to have fun working with the modular analog audio equipment I had lying around or the machinery they brought over themselves to integrate into whatever systems we were spontaneously creating.

So there was much drunken debauchery and noise-making to be had amongst the participants.

Keep in mind that this is just a non-linear overview of the day that demonstrates how people traveled from one room to another to patch cables and twiddled knobs. Over the course of the nine hours that people spent in my apartment, there were many audio breakthroughs and learning experiences that would be impossible to document here without a far more thorough camerperson than myself at the helm.

Needless to say, as the cameraperson, I’m not in this video — so it’s NOT a Mondo Modular episode (so I apologize to any subscribers expecting otherwise).

Please enjoy and thanks as always for checking this out.

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…..

Here’s a few clips from Meeting of the Knobs 2009, held June 27th in Bedford, Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth area.)

It looks like MOTK 2009 was a great chance to see incredible and rare synth gear and to meet some of the people responsible for the renaissance of analog synthesis.

If you made it to MOTK 2009, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Click here to view the embedded video.

via zibbybone, , davidryle

Meeting of the Knobs 2009, a day devoted to tweaking, vintage and modern analog synths and drooling, is scheduled for June 27th, Bedford, Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth area.)

The event will be held from 10am-5pm at the Bedford Library.

Details here.

About the event:

Looking for People to Bring

Modular synthesizers of all kind
Vintage heros like Moog, Arp 2500/2600, Roland 100/700, Oberheim 2V/4V, etc.
Mellotron
DIY instruments
Magazines, Books, Sales Lit

Itinerary

Doors open at 9am
We will order pizza or other take-out for lunch
Photographer will be available for individual and group shots
Close doors at 5pm
Dinner at local cafeteria

Don’t Forget

Headphones
Camera
Extension cords and power strips
Wear a Synth T-Shirt

For all you fans of cute synth videos – two boys making some noise, with a giant modular synth.

Every kid should be so lucky, right?

via chromeeumm:

Joseph (6) and Michael (3) testing out Dad’s late night assembly work on the modular synth.

Synthiefrau, the Synthesizerwomen from Germany, is back with another jam from her synth shrine.

Synthiefrau describes herself as a German housewife that loves analog synths.

“I love Jean Michel Jarre, Tangerine dream and all other synthetic music. Welcome and enjoy to the analogue sound universe;-)”

Could you tell?

via Synthiefrau