Synth Geekery 241

Posted on March 10, 2024March 10, 2024 by admin

In episode 241 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
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 selection:

News

Pittsburg Modular Taiga Keyboard

Features:

Paraphonic synthesizer with unique additive elements
37 note aftertouch equipped keybed with full-sized keys
Fully patchable – use Taiga Keyboard’s components as separate modules with external devices or reroute its internal patching.
24hp powered Eurorack Modular Expansion Bay
64 point patch bay for rerouting internal signal flow and integrating external sound and modulation sources
Controllable via MIDI, CV, and integrated pseudo random sequencing mode
Clock-synced arpeggiator
3x Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer developed 100% analog oscillators, each with dedicated coarse and fine controls
Oscillator waveforms – sine, triangle, and saw – Waveforms can be combined
3x Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer 6 stage wave folder/shaper circuit – folds inputted waves back onto themselves to increase harmonic content
Oscillators include frequency modulation (FM)
Noise generator – pitched somewhere between pure white and pink noise. Perfect for percussion or adding a bit of edge to a sound.
Variable state, multi-mode “Pittsburgh No-Dead-Spots” filter (lowpass, bandpass, highpass, modes can be combined)
Sample & Hold circuit
2x Analog ADSR / envelope generators
Pittsburgh dynamics section – an alternative to an envelope generator and a VCA, the dynamics controller is a Pittsburgh Modular invention that adds a dimension of control over a vactrol-less lowpass gate circuit, adding release time.
2x Dual range analog LFOs with square and triangle wave outputs.
LFO Range High: 2 Hz to 500 Hz Low: 41 seconds to 5 Hz
Dual Channel Mixer – 2 2-channel mixer and a 3-channel mixer joined together, capable of mixing both audio or control voltages.
Preamp that uses a high gain, soft clipping overdrive limiter circuit to increase the level of audio signals. The preamp can be used to cleanly increase the level of external audio to internal signal levels, or it can be used as an overdrive / limiter for internal signals.
Digital multi-mod tool – modulation control via CV, random generator, and extra LFO and envelope generator
Internal clock with tap tempo and can be clocked via an external source.
Built-in clock divider
Echos – 100% analog bucket brigade delay
Included in the box – 1x Taiga Keyboard, 1x Taiga Keyboard wall-wart power supply, 10x Amazing Nazca Noodles Patch Cables

Price: $1299

Link: https://pittsburghmodular.com/

MIDI Goblin

Features:
User defined devices – User’s data determines what devices are supported by their MIDI Goblin.
Patch saving – You can save and load patches to micro SD using your MIDI Goblin. The OLED screen and the ability to name patches makes the process simple. Only devices that use MIDI CC (control change) data for saving and loading patches will be compatible with MIDI Goblin’s patch storage feature.
Arpeggiator – MIDI Goblin reads MIDI Note messages arpeggiates them. Users can arpeggiate up to 8 notes, adjust speed and change modes on the fly.
Sequencer – You can create sequences on the fly of up to 32 steps. You can and, edit or remove notes, change the recording / playback mode, adjust the sequence tempo, length and save your sequence (plus playback speed) to Micro SD.
Auto-Chord – With the press of a key, you can create chords in major or minor key up to 8 notes in length.
Arp-Note – Arp-Note is a combination of the arpeggiator and auto-chord features. Press a note, hear an arpeggio. Users can define the length of the arpeggio (up to 8 notes) in major or minor keys ,and choose the direction of the arpeggio.
MIDI LFO – Using the MIDI LFO function you can automatically modulate any MIDI CC number. You can modulate the CC value based on basic waveform shapes to craft new sounds for your synth.

Price: TBA (via Kickstarter)

Link: https://www.midigoblin.com/

Kurzweil K20 Synthesizers – K2061 & K2088

Both synths feature an updated version of the company’s Dynamic Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology (V.A.S.T.).Features:61- note synth action or 88-key fully-weighted hammer action w/ aftertouch
New industrial design with an aluminum+steel enclosure
Resculpted K2000 synth library
Compatible with K2 era libraries
32 layers per program
Customizable algorithms
Flash sample playback, VA, FM and KB3 engines
2 GB of factory sounds
2 GB user sample memory
Versatile FX chains and master FX section
256 voice polyphony
480×272 color screen
16-zone MIDI controller
Over 30 physical controllers per zone including an integrated ribbon
16 Arpeggiators
16 MIDI CC sequencers
16 RIFF generators

Price: TBA

Link: https://kurzweil.com/2024/02/08/the-k20-series/

AMSynths System 100M Eurorack Modules

These are some of the 16 System 100M Eurorack modules that AMSynths have released that will add and compliment the Behringer range.

AM8111 VCO&VCF

VCO and VCO with internal patching for waveform to filter routing

AM8171 Sequential Switch

The AM8171 features the same four signal gates but adds in the features of a sequential switch whereby each gate can be switched on in sequence. The output of each gate is mixed together and provided as a MIX OUT, in addition to separate outputs. The sequential switch can be controlled by the on board LFO or an external LFO (for example the Behringer 140 and 150).

AM8133 Dual DC VCA

The design is based on the AS3360 chip which contains two precision VCA’s. There are two 30mm CV input level slider pots for each VCA and a rotary pot for GAIN. The sliders have subtle green LED’s and the rotary pots have Roland TR808 style knobs.

AM8131 Audio Mixer

Each channel has its own input and 30mm slide potentiometer with subtle green LED lighting. The original circuit has been modernised with RC4580 Op Amps and a different approach to panning has been taken, which removes the need for dual antilog/log slider pots.

AM8132 CV Mixer

This is a set of two identical CV mixers in one 16HP module with 4x inputs each, and non-inverted and inverted outputs. Each input has its own jack socket and 20mm slide potentiometer. There are also two precision preset voltages controlled by 20mm sliders, providing 0 to +10v and 0 to -10V.

Price: from £89 to £169 GBP via their webshop

Links:

AM8111 – https://amsynths.co.uk/home/products/oscillators/am8111-vco-vcf-100m/

AM8171 – https://amsynths.co.uk/home/products/mixers/am8171-sequential-switch-100m/

AM8133 – https://amsynths.co.uk/home/products/amplifiers/am8135-quad-vca-100m/

AM8131 – https://amsynths.co.uk/home/products/mixers/am8131-audio-output-mixer/

AM8132 – https://amsynths.co.uk/home/products/mixers/am8132-cv-mixer/