Synth Geekery 308

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In episode 308 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

Dual Low Pass Gates – Tokyo Gate 2

The Tokyo Gate 2 is a dual-channel vactrol-based low‑pass gate module inspired by the Buchla 292. It features audio‑grade capacitors and a unique BRIDGE control per channel that shortens decay and introduces a mild distortion at its peak setting. The A input is normalized to B, and occasional “sound leakage” is typical for LPG-style modules.

📋 Features

  • Dual low‑pass gates (stereo or two independent channels)
  • Inspired by Buchla 292 circuit design
  • BRIDGE knob on each channel — shortens decay and adds resonance/distortion at max
  • Audio‑grade capacitors for improved sound quality
  • Vactrol-based design, with the usual small unit-to-unit variation
  • Normalization: Channel A audio is normalized to B
  • Power requirements: +12 V: 14 mA; –12 V: 80 mA; 5 V: 0 mA
  • Format: Eurorack, 10 HP wide × 30 mm depth
  • SMD and through‑hole components, aesthetic panel subject to slight variations, some visible wear possible, and characteristic minor leakage sound expected

💰 Pricing

Retail price on the official site is USD 340, currently on sale for USD 335 (as of August 7, 2025)

Using current mid‑market exchange rates:

  • AUD 1 = USD 0.65, EUR 0.558, GBP 0.48

So, AUD 335 ≈ USD 218, EUR 188, GBP 162.

CurrencyPrice (sale)
USD335
AUD≈ 335 (home listing) ≈ 218 USD
EUR≈ 188
GBP≈ 162

Release Date: While Tokyo Tape Music Center does not state a specific release date, the module appears listed from mid-2025 (videos and postings dated June–July 2025).

Links

Crows Electromusic OVUM for Eurorack

The OVUM Eurorack is the Eurorack module version of the OVUM analog sound explorer. Converted from the original standalone desktop unit into a 3U Eurorack format, it brings the same five triangle‑core analog oscillators, hands‑on control, and pure analog sound to modular systems. It retains the immediate tactile interaction—no digital menus, no quantization—now as a rack‑mountable module you can integrate into your modular synth ecosystem.

🎛 Features

  • Full analog signal path, with no digital processing, screens, or quantization
  • Five independent triangle‑core oscillators, each with:
    • Dedicated controls for volume, pitch, tone
    • Toggle per voice between triangle and square waveform
  • Now in Eurorack 3U form factor, designed for modular rack installations
  • Hand‑built in Vancouver, Canada using aluminum and upcycled wood components
  • Simple, one‑control‑per‑function UI: sliders and toggles only, no menus

✅ Quick Specs Table

AttributeDetails
Module Format20 HP width (Eurorack)
Oscillators5 triangle‑core independent analog voices
Controls per VoiceVolume slider, pitch knob, tone knob, waveform toggle
Output4 indivudal outputs normalled to 1 main output
Power+12V 100mA / -12V 35mA
ConstructionHand‑built aluminum

ℹ️ Notes

  • This is not the original standalone OVUM desktop synth, but the Eurorack module adaptation—same core sound engine, different form factor for modular use.
  • Conversion retains all oscillator and control features, but repackaged for rack integration.
  • Estimated currency prices exclude VAT or duties unless region specifies tax‑inclusive pricing.
  • Module is currently available through Crows Electromusic’s site under Products → Eurorack; shipping to AU/EU/UK regions applies.

💰 Pricing (Currency Conversions)

The official list price remains US $129 USD (tax included for US/EU depending on region).

Based on recent mid‑market exchange rates (May–July 2025), approximate conversions are:

  • USD: US $129
  • AUD: ≈ AUD 195 (1 USD ≈ 1.51 AUD)
  • EUR: ≈ €120 (1 USD ≈ 0.93 EUR)
  • GBP: ≈ £100 (1 USD ≈ 0.78 GBP)

These are estimates only. Final retail prices may vary with local VAT, shipping, tariffs or distributor pricing.

🗓 Release / Availability

  • Original OVUM was announced on March 28, 2023, with shipping beginning mid‑April 2023.
  • The Eurorack conversion was introduced later via the OVUM Eurorack product listing. Launched 6th August 2025 via their YouTube channel, it is currently offered for sale as of 2025 via the official site’s Eurorack product section.

Links

Destiny Plus arc*C

Destiny Plus introduces arc*C, an avant-garde 4-voice polytonal instrument that redefines sound design through deep spectral manipulation, multidimensional sequencing, and generative control. Designed for artists seeking new frontiers in synthesis, arc*C arcs between two independent synthesis engines—a spectral core and a phase distortion core—within each voice. Featuring a 32-complex-envelope modulation matrix, four 3D lattice sequencers, and innovative DSP, arc*C is both sonically rich and technologically groundbreaking.

A powerful AMOLED display, a drawing app interface with Google Gemini API integration (see below), and an impressive preset library round out this futuristic sound creation tool. Whether sculpting drone textures or polymetric rhythms, arc*C offers unmatched control and complexity in a Eurorack-inspired standalone format.

Feature List:

  • 4-voice polytonal synthesis with dual-engine arc blending
  • Spectral core:
    • Over 500 harmonics
    • Custom comb filter topologies for FFT stretching, warping, combing, and morphing
  • Phase distortion core:
    • 2 large experimental LUTs with scanning and 4-quadrant multiplication
    • Advanced phase warping
  • Envelope matrix:
    • 32 complex envelopes, each with up to 80 break-points
    • Full control over segment count, looping, amplitude, rate, and modulation
    • Global and individual envelope randomization
  • ×4 3D lattice sequencers:
    • X-Y-Z sequencing across 8×8×8 grids
    • Parametric constraints including jitter, swing, stochastic ratcheting, shape control
    • Per-cell control over gate %, ratchet %, probability
  • ×4 DSP algorithms:
    • Gorbachev gas 2: 16-pole phaser with through-zero architecture
    • pnp=f: through-zero flanger
    • lorax space 2: Hadamard-matrix reverb with FDN structure
    • time cube: experimental 6-minute regenerative delay
  • 1.91″ AMOLED display for visual feedback
  • Partnered drawing app for painting sound, integrated with Google Gemini API
  • 127 factory presets
  • Highly experimental and exploratory control system

Google Gemini API and arc*C app

Arc*C was designed to be integrated with its paired drawing app. Users can draw using colours mapped to parameters and create unique sound-design patches with their eyes. These colours and drawings can be individually looped and timed. The app can also use a user’s Google Gemini API key, letting the user collaborate with a digital parasitic entity that draws from descriptions. It may not create perfect depictions, but it symbolises a shared reality to map, augment and control timbre—an infection of perception and agency, shifting control from mind to information flows.

Pricing:

Note: Pricing is approximate and subject to change depending on distribution and region.

CurrencyPrice
USD$888
EUR€815
GBP£695
AUD$1,345

Release Date: August 2025

Links

Intellijel MEMS Mic

A compact, yet powerful Eurorack microphone module in just 2 HP, the MEMS Mic (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System Microphone) brings audio capture into your modular system. Fully capable of handling voices, instruments, ambient sounds, or experimental feedback, it’s a small but versatile module made in Canada.

Features

  • MEMS omnidirectional microphone with a flat frequency response (~6 Hz – 20 kHz)
  • Output level adjustable via front-panel slider and optional CV control; when modulated by CV, the slider acts as an attenuator
  • Dual output—patch and modulate two channels independently for stereo capture and effects
  • Visual feedback via LEDs: green for activity, red for overload
  • Fixed low-frequency roll-off switch (~180 Hz, –6 dB/octave)

Specifications

  • Width: 2 HP
  • Depth: 35 mm
  • Power draw: 19 mA @ +12 V and 19 mA @ –12 V
  • Capsule: MEMS, omnidirectional
  • Frequency range: approx. 6 Hz to 20 kHz
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 63 dBA
  • Sensitivity: –45 dB ± 2 dB @ 94 dB SPL
  • Acoustic Overload Point: 130 dB SPL
  • Manual dated August 6, 2025
  • No firmware required

Pricing

As listed on Intellijel’s online store:

  • USD: $99 USD

To estimate prices in other currencies, current exchange rates (as of early August 2025) are approximately:

  • AUD (Australian Dollar): 1 USD ≈ 1.55 AUD → approx. $154 AUD
  • EUR (Euro): 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR → approx. €91
  • GBP (British Pound): 1 USD ≈ 0.79 GBP → approx. £78

(Note: For accurate pricing, local taxes, duties, or retailer mark-ups can affect final cost.)

Release Date

While the product page doesn’t specify an exact release date, contextual clues suggest its launch in mid-2025:

  • Intellijel’s Changelog labels the MEMS Mic as “Out now!” indicating recent availability.
  • Intellijel’s “15 years” August 2025 giveaway features the “brand-new MEMS Mic Module,” implying it is newly released as of August 2025 intellijel.

Thus, it’s reasonable to infer the module was released to market around mid-2025, and was formally available by August 2025.

Link: https://intellijel.com/shop/eurorack/mems-mic/

Price Watch

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

ARP Quartethttps://tidd.ly/4mbgOC9
Roland PB-300https://tidd.ly/4ou2JRM
Moog White Elephanthttps://tidd.ly/3HudjaC
Moog Sonic Sixhttps://ebay.us/7Ej0sK

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 …..