Oh goody! That are some really groundbreaking news coming from matrixsynth. Tom Oberheim plans to redo the SEM-Module! Analogue, not digital or whatever. The real thing! All those old synth-pioneers are back to business for good!

So I´d already posted about the Gakken DIY-Synth SX-150 that I ordered. They also did a Mini-Theremin-DIY-Kit. I´d be getting that perhaps too. But on my researchs about the Mini-Theremin I dicovered some really funny movies involving the Mini-Theremin and cats. Watch here:

So there are more news on the Chimera Synthesis Site (Chimera Synthesis). I still haven´t bought one of their synths, but the decision is nearing. Now they have released another synth, named bc08, which as they describe it is a “subminiature synthesizer” with an integrated simple sequenzer. There´s not much more info on their site, just two photos, where you can see the SMD (surface mount devices) technique that is used to produce their miniature synths, and which does also explain how they do it, to fit a synth into such a restricted space. So more info and videos coming soon.

So having read on several blogs (Trash_Audio) about the Thingamakit, somehow the big brother of the Thingamagoop with some additional features, I have ordered one. As it seems it will take some time before it arrives here at home. But as soon as I got it I´ll inform you about the construction process and if it will work afterwards ^^.

Get more infos here: Bleeps Labs Thingamakit

Yeah! Finally! MS-10 on DS, that´s like, um.. Tina Turner on Justin Timberlake. The facts are here: 2 synth parts, 1 drum part, 16 beat patterns, very editable, very versatile and gooooood sounding! Lots of tweaking can be done, there is even a Kaoss pad included, not for effects but for live tweaking the different parameters. The drum part can only handle 4 instruments, but for some fat electro or retro electronica this is very much enough. The whole thing feels tight and well thought through, perhaps some minor issues with the tweaking of the knobs with the DS-stick. There´s also an effect section but it´s a bit limited; you get a delay, a flanger and a chorus. These can only be used alone, and then assigned to one part or all. But an overall solid presentation and very intuitive. So if you can get it and if you have a DS, you have no excuses.

Here is an excellent page with excellent schematics and examples for basic CMOS sound modelling:
sea moss

So go get yourself some ICs, Elkos, resistors and a breadboard and go crazy with your first DIY-synth. I´m right now experimenting with a 40106. But actually he does strange things, that he is not supposed to do. Trying to get bhind that mistery. More to follw soon on this topic.

This probably known by most users. But I post it nevertheless, because it is so cool.

From www.korgkaossilator.com:
“KAOSSILATOR “Easter Egg” Lets You Record Four Measure Patterns
KAOSSILATOR does double duty! Yes, those uber-clever designers snuck in a way to record FOUR measure phrases! You can access this capability by holding down the TAP/BPM and LOOP REC/PLAY buttons while turning on your KAOSSILATOR. Once you see “DLY” on the screen, let go. The KAOSSILATOR then allocates its undo memory to recording memory. Once you see program “L.00”, hold those buttons again to enter the length mode, and turn the dial clockwise to select a length of “16” steps instead of the previous maximum of “8”.

Voila! Four measure patterns for twice the enjoyment!”

Yeah!

I am a bit experimenting with CMOS-chips to build myself a DIY-Synth. I found some schematics, but I am having trouble reading those. So I ran some searches on the net and found a little interesting program that helps decrypting the schematics: Schematic Symbol Reference v1.0.

You can find it on the following page:
http://www.aaroncake.net/electronics/software.htm

Have fun!

Tom Whitwell of Musicthing just posted a short demo of random patching on vimeo. That thing really got me. I´ll be ordering it as soon as GAS-Budget´s on level again:

Music Thing: Chimera BC16 mini modular synth demo from Tom Whitwell on Vimeo.

Me again. This time soloing on my gear. The audio is a bit fucked up. But I guess you get the idea of what I like to do with my modular.