Buchla 200e filters - 291e & 296e

Playing around on my 200e.
The sound of a 200e is unique....  it's oh so different from your standard modular. (even from the Buchla 200 & 100 series).
Today I decided to play with the 200e filters... mainly the 296e (spectral processor) & 291e triple morphing filter.
The audio sounds distorted on youtube, but I thought its still worth keeping for the record.

 

This is my 200e case at the moment. I'm trying to restrict myself to 16U of 200e modules.

There are just 3 filters in this system: the 296e,the 292 & the 291.They occupy 4U/16U

Don B doesn't seem to use filtering very much. The Buchla method appears to be more about wave shaping.

It's not your standard "East Coast" style of subtractive synthesis.

Under this mess there is a 291e. Its a wonder !!!

Basically the 296e processes audio from the 2 VCOs. This is passed to the 291e & 292e.
The 296e also has 16 EGs which can be used to modulate to your hearts content.

The 251e. Its an awesome sequencer with a small footprint.

This is a unedited version of the vid

Buchla 230 Envelope follower / tracker

Some pics of a vintage Buchla Triple Envelope Follower (Model 230) which a friend kindly let me upload.
The 230 is part of a proud tradition starting with the 130 module. Today's modern version is the 230e.
So what does it do?

An envelope follower (or a "Tracker" as the boys at Buchla like to call it these days) is a electronic circuit that takes a signal ( audible frequencies) as input and provides an output which is the envelope of the original signal. That is, it produces control voltages & pulses that are in proportion to (or at least resemble) the amplitude of inputted signals.

It's really nice for producing CVs from drum triggers but most audio with sharp attacks will work.

 

To quote the official Buchla website:

"In the direct coupled mode (sustained) , pulse outputs are activated when corresponding control voltages exceed 6 volts. Transient coupling permits the detection of attack transients in the presence of background noise and over a considerable range of amplitudes.

And now for some pics of the rear PCB:

 Electro-Music has lots of great DIY info on the 230

Israel - Golan Heights - Mt Bental

Mount Bental  has an observation point from which Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel can be viewed.
It's part of an old volcano.

There is a coffee shop on the summit where you can have the "highest coffee in Israel".
Outside the coffee shop I found an old Israeli bunker which was open to visitors.

For more travel links click here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/travel-postcards-index-my-travel.html

Buchla Jam 3 - Acid sounds - Cobramatic & Jondent

Some trial patches and recordings from last Sunday night (15th June 2014).
I thought I'd upload this info to help in recalling these patches for future gigs.
DJs Cobramatic & JonDent

The recording is only from a mobile phone so sorry for the lo-fi audio quality. The square wave from the 262v is very special.

And some pics from the night.

Below are some links to extra (unlisted) videos we recorded on the night.
Video 1 , Video 2, Video 3

Arturia Beatstep & a Buchla 200

Testing out Arturia's Beatstep sequencer with the Buchla.
I'm using the Buchla 225e to convert midi to CV.
The 225e is the only "e" module in this system.

Bruel & Kjaer - Precision Sound Level Meter

This is such a beautiful instrument. The Bruel & Kjaer 2203 /2004/ 2209 - Impulse Precision Sound Level Meter..
It's the mother of all sound meters.

When it came out in 1960 it was the world’s first precision hand-held and transitorised sound level meter.
All the other instruments had valves.
Produced for 21 years, it sold a record number of 17300 units.

The build quality is superb !!!  & I love the Danish design.
I own two. It's big, heavy & built like a tank. Still working after 50 years.

 

Below is a later model : The 2209 (peak detector) in it's lovely padded case.

The manual describes it as " a compact & portable instrument for precision sound & vibration measurements".

An excerpt from the manual.

The microphone with its flexible adapter.

This is a windscreen.... used to reduce the noise generated by gusts of wind. The microphone sits inside.

The condenser microphone.

Portable Buchla 16u rig - For live performance

Cobramatic (Paul A) and I (Jondent) are planning to perform live (hopefully in the near future).
This is part of our gear:

 

We are still undecided upon the final choice of modules. The 222e will be a nice addition.

There will be a mix of  Buchla 200e & 200 moduiles, with the odd smattering of Eurorack and a drum machine or two.