Synth Geekery 258

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In episode 258 we talked about synths, eurorack, sequencers, drum machines, samplers, effects and software! 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

Ian J. Cole

Ian is a musician, composer, sound designer and producer currently producing solo ambient electronic music. He also runs Sinners Music which is a Record Company and Online Music Retailer in East Yorkshire, England

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IanJCole

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

MPC 3.0 – Standalone Firmware (Public BETA)

Some notes I made:

MAJOR changes to the Main screen
programs no longer exist – makes things less complicated.
clear unused samples on load.
no longer do you need to switch between audio and MIDI modes
you can easily re-arrange tracks (the order of tracks)
2 channel strips – the second strip is contextually relevant to the functions of the first
extra mapping for Q-Links with the momentary feature
XY Pad improvements – per column and per row mapping – with macro mapping! (needs multi-touch and a shortcut)
Disk streaming now (finally) supported – which should free up memory.
I like the new random slice onto one pad option
The looper now has an export to audio option

Price: Free (with sign-up to the Public Beta program)

Link: https://akaipro.com/

Tre Modular Alisa VCO

Alisa VCO offers three classic waveforms Triangle, Ramp and Pulse. In addition to those waveforms there is a waveshaped signal output that serves as a fourth waveform. Waveshaper is the most well known part of Alisa 1377. In Alisa VCO the shape of this signal can be manipulated with a knob or with Control voltage.

Alisa VCO has an exponential FM input, level of which can be controled with its dedicated control knob.

This VCO offers control of the pulse width of the pulse wave both manually and with Control voltage. Pulse width has two modes that are set on the back of the module with a jumper. In one mode it goes from 10% to 50% duty cycle and in the other it goes from 10% to 90% duty cycle.

Alisa VCO is temperature compensated using a transistor pair on a chip and a Tempco resistor that are thermally coupled. We chose both a transistor pair and Tempco resistor in the smallest package that we could get our hands on for additional temperature stability.

Price: $140

Link: https://tremodular.com/product/alisa-vco/

Price Watch

No price watch this week.

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 …..