vacuum tube synthesis

Eric Barbour of Metasonix demonstrates a prototype vacuum tube drum machine at Robotspeak in San Francisco.

Check out BeerNotBombs’ Flickr set for more photos and videos from the event.

So – what do you think Barbour should call his vacuum tube drum machine?

After the AssBlaster & the Butt Probe, the obvious name for a Metasonix vacuum tube drum machine would probably be the Butt Kicker. If you’ve got a better idea for what to name this thing or other thoughts on the idea of a vacuum tube drum machine, leave a comment below!

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…

Metasonix R-52 Multimode Filter Eurorack Module

via bigcitymusic:

Ok nerds. Here’s the ultra-dork demonstration of the new R-52 module from Metasonix.

We start with a square wave oscillator, the Analogue Systems rs95. The R-52 sounds great. It’s the same filter as the discontinued Metasonix TM-6.

You can see when the first cable gets plugged in. That’s when we start modulating the “Sweep CV In” with the A.S. rs200 sequencer. The second cable is another channel of the sequencer modulating the “Resonance CV Input”. Don’t ask about dB response. Just bask in the crusty warmth that is the R-52.

Update: I just talked to Eric. This is the prototype of the R-52. The actual production models will be revised and will self-resonate. Cool.

Looks like interesting and unpredictable addition to a Eurorack modular synthesizer.

If you’ve had a chance to try this out, leave a comment!

Metasonix‘ new line of vacuum-tube Eurorack synth modules is now available via Analogue Haven.

The new modules include:

• The Metasonix R51 Vacuum Tube VCA/Distortion Synth Module
• The Metasonix R-52 Vacuum-Tube Multimode Filter
• The Metasonix R-53 Vacuum-Tube Waveshaper Ringmod

If you want to know more about the man behind Metasonix, read our interview with Metasonix creator Eric Barbour.