Synth Geekery 230

Posted on December 15, 2023December 24, 2023 by admin

In episode 230 we talked about the best Synth Meme for 2023! Plus all the usual segments! Funny Side, News from the Geekery, Price Watch, Name that Synth …

Show contents:

About
Guests
Video replay
Funny Side
News from The Geekery
Price Watch
Name that Synth
Saturday Sonority

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 Christmas themed selection:

News

Recodrum – Arthur Joy

Analog drum machine with tube distortion and spring reverb.

Price: £1000

Link: https://www.recosynth.com/recodrumspringtube

Arturia V Collection X

The latest offering from Arturia’s flagship software bundle. Includes new instruments:

MiniFreak V, Acid V, CP-70 V, and 3 augmented instruments: Grand Piano, Brass and Woodwinds.

There is also new updates to the Mini V (version 4) and Wurli V (version 3).

In addition, there are 3 new expansion packs.

Price: $599

Link: https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/v-collection/overview

Arturia MiniFreak 2.0 Firmware

The new firmware offers some well received updates and features:

A new wavetable engine.
Enhanced LFO modulation
A new Super Unison oscillator
The software sound store is a new place to store paid and free banks.

Plus some firmware/software tweaks to help you enjoy your synth including macro edit, oscillator freerun, clock and transport send and MIDI CC additions like volumne control via CC7.

Price: Free

Link: https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/v-collection/overview

Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field Firmware 1.5

The new firmware offers a new FX feature called Terminal. The new FX engine has a bit crusher with a filter that creates anti-aliasing effects. There are four parameters, frequency, bits, filter model and the dry/wet mix.

The cool looking FX display features a vintage computer that looks similar to the old Commodore Pet computer. This lures the user into a funky FX interface design which is synonymous with the OP-1:

There are some other new updates included in the firmware 1.5 including a merge drop feature. This enables the user to bounce a track that reduces several tracks to the active track with SHIFT + Drop. This allows you to build and build without running out of tracks.

Price: Free

Link: https://teenage.engineering/downloads/op-1/field

Nibbler – Schlappi Engineering

A CMOS controlled voltage counter in hexidecimal steps of 0 to 15 and beyond. The Nibbler has inputs and outputs for individual bits as well as stepped voltage outputs.

We can use this an a musical way. With slow clock speeds, you can create both rhythms and modulations voltages (or melodies). At high clock speeds (audio rate), you can generate subharmonics with modern noise-like sounds.

Price: $240

Link: https://schlappiengineering.com/products/nibbler-preorder

Gliss – Bela.IO

Gliss is a modulation control module that enables you to record your finger movement and send this via CV to your other modules. It has a back lit LED light that shows the finger movement and provides a visual feedback to the user.

Price: $149

Link: https://shop.bela.io/products/gliss?_pos=1&_sid=0f2303d88&_ss=r

World’s Smallest (Silliest) MIDI Synth

Check out this crazy project where this guy makes a synth with a piezo speaker in a tiny USB-C package.

Price: ??

Link: https://mitxela.com/projects/smsc

Long lost Moog Synth – Cornell University

It takes a University to discover, restore and play this incredible and rare piece of synthesizer history from Bob Moog. This synth pre-dates the modular gear he made and it also pre-dates the business of Moog Music.