Synth Geekery 249

Posted on by

In episode 249 we talked about Star Wars synths on May the 4th! Plus all the usual segments! Funny Side, News from the Geekery, Price Watch, Name that Synth …

Show contents:

About the Synth Geekery Show

Synth Geekery is a weekly podcast/live stream (YouTube) show about everything synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, sequencers, eurorack and music technology. We take the “one of the masses” viewpoint, where we are also users of gear just like you (read: we’re not influenced by commercial product placement).

The show relies on the generous contributions of the synth community. You can contribute in many ways including supporting us via our YouTube Channel Membership or Patreon. We also have regular and special video guests: if you would like to take part in future shows – please contact me via email on the about page here.

Your Host

Ranzee (Ranz Adamson) is your show host. He’s based in Perth, Western Australia and has been a hobbyist musician and technologist for most of his life. More information can be found about him here.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ranzee

BandCamp: https://ranzee.bandcamp.com

Guests

This week’s video guests are:

Daren T. Housse

Bandcamp Link: https://darenthousse.bandcamp.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPHxpZgFKKE1wkG9ndto3A

Daren resides in the UK and is one of the first video guests on the show since 2019. He has a large amount of tracks on his youtube channel plus a great album collection over on BandCamp.

SynthAddict

Andy is a musician and technologist from the bay area in California. He has an amazing collection of music tech gadgets and a large knowledge of synthesizers.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUtABvP7q29uvLKi73zIjFQ

Chris – Maikshifter

Chris is a musician and technologist from Perth, Western Australia. He’s always had a love for creating and tinkering with music electronics and has recently embarked on a new journey creating eurorack modules.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Maikshifter

Video replay

Funny Side

The funny side segment is a collection of memes that are somewhat relevant to the synth geekery community. Some of these images are taken from Facebook, Instagram and other social media sources. Please respect the creators. Hope you enjoy this week’s selection:

News

We Noise Makers PGB-1

Blurb

Price: $249

Link: https://www.crowdsupply.com/wee-noise-makers/wee-noise-makers-pgb-1


Make Noise PrssPnt

The PrssPnt is a 4HP module where signals are generated by touching the printed copper wire. Touching PrssPnt, you become part of the circuit, generating a total of four simultaneous signals (two CV, two Gate).

Price: $89

Link: https://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/prsspnt/


Make Noise Ch Svr

The Ch.Svr is a 6HP module that has three channels of signal-processing. Ch 1 & 2 offer Scale, amplify, attenuate, or invert an incoming signal. Ch1 has a DC offset of 5V and Ch2 has a DC offset of 8V if used without an input. Ch3 can be used as a crossfader between two signals, or attenuate one signal. SUM and INVerted Sum Bus for addition, subtraction, mirroring, inversion. Ch1 and Ch2 have individual output and there’s a sum output or inverted at the bottom. As a condensation/extension of the sum/offset/attenuversion aspects of MATHS

Price: $99

Link: https://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/ch-svr/


Frequency Central Dark Star

Dark Star is a 16HP full synth voice. Voltage Controlled Oscillator based on AS3340 with sawtooth, triangle and pulse waveforms
Voltage Controlled Filter with lowpass and highpass options, Drive control, Sweep control which attenuates amount of Release CV
Release generator with CV input for voltage control of release time. Option for sustain via jumper on rear panel.
Voltage Controlled Amplifier
Together they form a pre-patched super versatile analogue synthesiser voice.

Additionally, each section is fully modular in it’s own right, so there are patch points for:
1V/oct CV input
PWM CV input – attenuator doubles as manual pulse width when no external signal is present
Gate input for Release or Sustain/Release
Release CV input for voltage control of Release time
VCF audio input with attenuator, for introducing external audio
VCF CV input with attenuator (1V/oct CV is normalised to this input)
VCA audio input (VCF is normalised to this input)
VCA CV input (Release CV is normalised to this input)
Release CV output
VCO audio output
VCF audio output
VCA audio output

Price: $300

Link: https://frequencycentral.co.uk/product/dark-star/


Bananalogue VCS 2

2 X VCS !! It’s a slew generator (similar to MATHS). 9HP module is a Buchla-style function generator for Eurorack. The VCS 2 is a unity gain voltage follower. The rising and falling slopes are independently and jointly voltage controllable over a wide range. An extremely versatile module, here are some patch ideas for creating and modifying CV and audio:

VC Transient Envelope Generator
A pulse at the trigger input will start the envelope, or a held gate input will sustain the level and the envelope will fall when the gate goes low. Rise and fall are independently and jointly voltage controllable, with variable linear and exponential wave shapes.

VC Portamento
Voltage is slewed according to the rise and fall times.

VC Oscillator
While not as wide ranged, or accurate as a dedicated oscillator module, the VCS 2 is still an excellent audio source. The Output wave can be swept from triangle to saw with linear and non-linear waveforms. End Out also produces a pulse waveform.

VC LFO
When the cycle switch is thrown, the trigger input is connected internally to the end trigger output, creating a VC clock with variable waveform and independent rise and fall times.

VC Non-Linear Audio Processor
If an audio rate signal is slewed, the module responds like a VCF and VCA. The signal can be low-pass filtered down essentially to silence, similar to a low-pass gate.

Envelope Follower
Positive and negative peak detection envelope follower.

VC Pulse Delay
Trig input starts the envelope and a gate will be produced again at the ”End Out” when the envelope completes its cycle.

Sub-Harmonic Generator
If a series of triggers are applied to the VCS 2 faster than the total rise and fall times, the module will divide the incoming signal by a whole number. In the audio range the output will be the sub-harmonic series.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6V7CzwSLog

Price: $220

Link: https://reverb.com/au/item/81762062-bananalogue-vcs-2-brand-new-serge-dusg-eurorack-module


Hieroglyphic Plume

The Plume is a 18 HP Pulsar Generator. A fully-featured pulsar synthesizer for the Eurorack modular system. Using principles adopted from the Curtis Roads white-paper ‘Sound Composition with Pulsars’, Plume presents an approach to sound and rhythm that is somewhere between oscillator, granulator, and clock generator.

Features:

· 96kHz/24-bit stereo outputs.

· Range switch (HI/LO) for use as VCO, LFO, or both.

· Formant and Cluster controls for complex output spectra.

· Continuously variable output wave shapes.

· West-Coast style wave folder.

· 2 types of output masking for advanced spatialisation.

· Continuously variable pulsar window shape and amount.

Price: $280

Link: https://www.hiero-glyphic.com/plume


Atonal Circuits Tone Hack

A classic Lo-Fi synth keyboard now in eurorack, unique module!
99 tones, 4 voices of polyphony
CV for synth crystal oscillator
Chord mode (create your 4 notes chords)
Recall chords + transpose + inversion
MIDI input
Circuit bending “crash mode” function

Price: 133 EURO

Link: https://www.atonal.be/a09-tone-hack/


Strymon BigSky MX

Includes new stereo and convolution reverbs (12 new). This includes the new Impulse: a convolution reverb utilizes Impulse Response (IR) files to create mathematically perfect recreations of recorded spaces. BigSky MX includes a hand-picked selection of IRs, from in-house captures of classic studio effects, to wacky analog gear, as well as natural spaces sourced from 3rd parties. Importing your custom reverb IRs is also possible using the free Nixie 2 app.

Price: $679

Link: https://www.strymon.net/product/bigsky-mx/


Programma 900

Programma 900 is a harmonic musical computer.

Built on fpga and arm cortex technology.

** Programma 900 has 6 polytonal voices, each featuring Odd harmonic, Even harmonic, Harmonic partials, Harmonic tilt and fundamental frequency control.

** Four quadrant multiplication of individual voices

** x32 complex gestural cv buffers allowing 6 min cv recording windows for all x32 mod destinations and voice envelopes

** individual modes for speed and attenuation for each x32 gestural cv buffer.

** 3000 note MIDI record buffer and looper.

** X3 location A-B-C / pan controls

** experimental Stereo regeneration / delay algorithm with over 12 min regeneration buffers, multiple regeneration modes & buffer filters.

** 6x interpolating morphing inputs to each voice

Price:

Link: https://www.destiny-plus.com/programma-900


Dreadbox 70HP Case

70 HP powered eurorack skiff from Dreadbox.

Price: $139

Link: https://www.dreadbox-fx.com/product/70hp-powered-case/

Price Watch

Find below images and links to the items we showed for the price watch segment.

Name That Synth

No name that synth this week – send one in!

If you are after more information about Name that Synth – please check out this page here.

Saturday Sonority

This week’s Saturday Sonority we might talking about …..