This is a tribute to Katrina Dawson & Tori Johnson.
Two young people whose lives were taken away too soon.
Everyone I know is devastated and we are all thinking of their families, friends.
This horrible act was meant to divide us. Instead it will make us stronger
#Illridewithyou #prayforsydney
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Friday, 12 December 2014
NonLinearCircuits - panel 7 & 8 installation (Vox & Drum)
Finally getting these puppies installed. The NLC synth is close to finished.
(One panel to go).
These are pics of the VOX panel:
The Veena module is based on a circuit that simulates Indian Instruments.
It takes its name from the family of Indian plucked string instruments bearing the Veena title.
Their origin can be traced back to the ancient yazh, a stringed instrument, similar to the Grecian harp.
There are many manufacturers of Indian electronic instruments. Probably the largest is Radel
Veena build MANUAL includes schematic (27/2/13)
(One panel to go).
These are pics of the VOX panel:
The Veena module is based on a circuit that simulates Indian Instruments.
It takes its name from the family of Indian plucked string instruments bearing the Veena title.
Their origin can be traced back to the ancient yazh, a stringed instrument, similar to the Grecian harp.
There are many manufacturers of Indian electronic instruments. Probably the largest is Radel
Veena build MANUAL includes schematic (27/2/13)
Initial installation tests. Fits perfectly. :-)
These are pics of the Drum Panel (8):
Andrew has based the Dr GoGo drum on the old Roland Dr 55
Andrew has based the Dr GoGo drum on the old Roland Dr 55
The dual drum module named 'Die Blechtrommeln' is based on some old Japanese circuits.
It takes it's name from the 1979 German film 'The Tin Drum.
(the added 'n' is the plural form) http://youtu.be/_x-dJaSS3Og
For more info check out Andrew's Blog
The Envelope follower can also be used as a attack-release envelope Gen.
+ 2 LFOs (triangle / square)
The QUO = Quadrature Oscillator.
There is also a low pass filter with chaotic feedback in this section.
The 2 VCAs are also ring modulators. These are based off an EMS Synthi E circuit.
Bethlehem - The Palestinian Territory - West Bank
The city of Bethlehem is located in Palestinian territory - in the West Bank.
It's a easy 30 min bus ride from Jerusalem.
Even if you don't have one religious bone in your body it's still worth seeing.
Dating back to about 1350-1330 BCE --- apparently King David was crowned King there.
Of course it's most famous claim to fame is as the birthplace of Jesus. The city has a Muslim majority but is also inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Today it's in a poor state of disrepair. The economy is centred mainly around tourism,
the peak of which is during the Christmas season when Christians make pilgrimage to the Church of the Nativity. This has been going on for over 2000 years.
Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Muslims, ......... this city has seen a lot. If only the walls could talk.
For more travel links click here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/travel-postcards-index-my-travel.html
It's a easy 30 min bus ride from Jerusalem.
Even if you don't have one religious bone in your body it's still worth seeing.
Dating back to about 1350-1330 BCE --- apparently King David was crowned King there.
Of course it's most famous claim to fame is as the birthplace of Jesus. The city has a Muslim majority but is also inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Manger Square, Bethlehem
Today it's in a poor state of disrepair. The economy is centred mainly around tourism,
the peak of which is during the Christmas season when Christians make pilgrimage to the Church of the Nativity. This has been going on for over 2000 years.
Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Muslims, ......... this city has seen a lot. If only the walls could talk.
The streets of Bethlehem, Christmas Eve 2013
For more travel links click here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/travel-postcards-index-my-travel.html
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
EMS - Pitch to Voltage converter
A problem I constantly encounter is how to modulate or control synths
using old instruments that don't use any triggers/clocks or any other type of voltage control.
Buchla use the 130 & 230 modules for this task. ARP have their envelope followers.
Moog Modular used the 912 Envelope Follower. Gentle Electric had their Pitch & envelope follower. Roland had their SPV355 Pitch to Voltage Synthesizer. Even Korg got in on the act with the External Signal Processor that you will find on the MS-20.
I picked this up at a recent auction. It's a EMS Pitch to Voltage converter from the 1970s.
Maybe this is what I've been looking for.
Some photos:
These often come housed in beautiful afrormosia wood cases. Sadly in this case, the wood is gone (maybe it was never there). It's mounted in a standard 19" rack. It's 1.7" (44mm) high.
Four inputs, six outputs.
The P to VC converts an audio input into a DC voltage whose value is proportional to the pitch of that input signal.
The trigger outs seem on average to be about +4 to +5V.
Pitch Voltage:1V per octave ( invertible) .This is unusual considering most EMS gear uses a 0.33V/octave standard.
Envelope Voltage: 1V per 6dB gain (log. or lin., invertible).
The control voltage output is selected by a dial to give 6 settings.
They are 2 for a pitch-following output., 2 for a exponential output, and 2 for an envelope-following (loudness) output.
There are 2 types of trigger. - Hold On & One Shot.
"One Shot" gives a 20 millisecond pulse every time the input level rises to a level set by the sensitivity dial.
"Hold On" gives an output all the time the input signal exceeds the trigger set level.
The reference oscillator provides a test tone input. In the middle position the Osc is off.
The switch at the "f" position turns the oscillator on. The "2f" setting will to raise its pitch exactly one octave. (f=256Hz)
Connections to and from the modules can be made either from the jack sockets on the front panel or via the multi-way facilities socket at the back.
using old instruments that don't use any triggers/clocks or any other type of voltage control.
Buchla use the 130 & 230 modules for this task. ARP have their envelope followers.
Moog Modular used the 912 Envelope Follower. Gentle Electric had their Pitch & envelope follower. Roland had their SPV355 Pitch to Voltage Synthesizer. Even Korg got in on the act with the External Signal Processor that you will find on the MS-20.
I picked this up at a recent auction. It's a EMS Pitch to Voltage converter from the 1970s.
Maybe this is what I've been looking for.
Some photos:
These often come housed in beautiful afrormosia wood cases. Sadly in this case, the wood is gone (maybe it was never there). It's mounted in a standard 19" rack. It's 1.7" (44mm) high.
Four inputs, six outputs.
The P to VC converts an audio input into a DC voltage whose value is proportional to the pitch of that input signal.
The trigger outs seem on average to be about +4 to +5V.
Pitch Voltage:1V per octave ( invertible) .This is unusual considering most EMS gear uses a 0.33V/octave standard.
Envelope Voltage: 1V per 6dB gain (log. or lin., invertible).
The control voltage output is selected by a dial to give 6 settings.
They are 2 for a pitch-following output., 2 for a exponential output, and 2 for an envelope-following (loudness) output.
There are 2 types of trigger. - Hold On & One Shot.
"One Shot" gives a 20 millisecond pulse every time the input level rises to a level set by the sensitivity dial.
"Hold On" gives an output all the time the input signal exceeds the trigger set level.
The reference oscillator provides a test tone input. In the middle position the Osc is off.
The switch at the "f" position turns the oscillator on. The "2f" setting will to raise its pitch exactly one octave. (f=256Hz)
Connections to and from the modules can be made either from the jack sockets on the front panel or via the multi-way facilities socket at the back.
Monday, 8 December 2014
ELECTRO-HARMONIX DRM16 DIGITAL-RHYTHM-MATRIX DRUM
This beautiful drum machine was made in NEW YORK in 1978.
It's nearly 40 years old.
DRM = Digital Rhythm Matrix
The DRM 16 is a lovely red with a chrome metal sheen.
The 16 is the first in the DRM series (DRM 16, DRM 15 & finally the DRM 32)
They were also colour coded. The 16 is red, the 15 is blue & the 32 was green.
The DELETE dial is interesting. It allows you to remove various sounds such as the wood block and long and short cymbals.
The space drum switch adds an extra ?? into the beat. You can turn it off for 'normal' drum sounds
As far as I know, the 8 drum sounds (kick, snare, open & closed hi-hat, conga, wood block, space drum and handclap) are the same in each machine.
In my opinion, none of these sounds are anything like their "real" counterparts. I love this. It's cheezy and doesn't try to be anything but itself.
There are three outputs.
Outs 1 and 2 are the same. The 'Bass' output is logically, for the bass drum only.
The DRM 16 has (surprise, surprise) 16 available rhythms.
You need to use the two lower STYLE & COLUMN to select the available pattern.
The chart has 4 funk patterns, 4 disco, 4 rock (hard, boogie, soft, and slow), and 4 misc. (latin, reggae, cntry (country), and shuffle.
It's nearly 40 years old.
DRM = Digital Rhythm Matrix
The DRM 16 is a lovely red with a chrome metal sheen.
The 16 is the first in the DRM series (DRM 16, DRM 15 & finally the DRM 32)
They were also colour coded. The 16 is red, the 15 is blue & the 32 was green.
The DELETE dial is interesting. It allows you to remove various sounds such as the wood block and long and short cymbals.
The space drum switch adds an extra ?? into the beat. You can turn it off for 'normal' drum sounds
As far as I know, the 8 drum sounds (kick, snare, open & closed hi-hat, conga, wood block, space drum and handclap) are the same in each machine.
In my opinion, none of these sounds are anything like their "real" counterparts. I love this. It's cheezy and doesn't try to be anything but itself.
There are three outputs.
Outs 1 and 2 are the same. The 'Bass' output is logically, for the bass drum only.
The DRM 16 has (surprise, surprise) 16 available rhythms.
You need to use the two lower STYLE & COLUMN to select the available pattern.
The chart has 4 funk patterns, 4 disco, 4 rock (hard, boogie, soft, and slow), and 4 misc. (latin, reggae, cntry (country), and shuffle.
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
KORG MR16
Korg released the MR16 in 1985.
This is not exactly a drum machine. It doesn't possess a sequencer so you will need to trigger this with external hardware such as a MIDI keyboard, MIDI sequencer, or a computer equipped with a MIDI interface.
But if you like Korg's pre-MIDI drum machines such as the DDM110 and DDM220 then the MR16 will find a place in your studio. It uses their sampled sounds with all their glorious digital PCM quality and adds to this MIDI. (the DDM110 & DDM220 had DinSync).
Plus there are16 outputs for most of the sounds. The Snare & Rim share an output as does the Cow Bell/ wood block.
Accents can be effected by MIDI data. The MR 12 can be set to receive on any MIDI channel. Will also produce metronome sound based on MIDI timing clock.
Metronome-time Settings (4/4, 3/4)
These drum sounds each have their own level, pan control, and individual output. NICE.
The sounds are: Bass drum; Snare; Rim Shot; Low and Hi Toms; Closed and Open Hi-hat; Crash and Ride Cymbals; Hand Clap; Low and Hi Conga; Timbale; Tambourine; Cow bell; Woodblock; Cabasa; Low and Hi Agogo.
POWER SUPPLY: DC 9V 300mA
DIMENSIONS: 404(W) x 220(D) x 69(H) mm
WEIGHT: 2.5 kg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more info on the history of Korg Drum Machines Click Here
This is not exactly a drum machine. It doesn't possess a sequencer so you will need to trigger this with external hardware such as a MIDI keyboard, MIDI sequencer, or a computer equipped with a MIDI interface.
But if you like Korg's pre-MIDI drum machines such as the DDM110 and DDM220 then the MR16 will find a place in your studio. It uses their sampled sounds with all their glorious digital PCM quality and adds to this MIDI. (the DDM110 & DDM220 had DinSync).
Plus there are16 outputs for most of the sounds. The Snare & Rim share an output as does the Cow Bell/ wood block.
Accents can be effected by MIDI data. The MR 12 can be set to receive on any MIDI channel. Will also produce metronome sound based on MIDI timing clock.
Metronome-time Settings (4/4, 3/4)
These drum sounds each have their own level, pan control, and individual output. NICE.
The sounds are: Bass drum; Snare; Rim Shot; Low and Hi Toms; Closed and Open Hi-hat; Crash and Ride Cymbals; Hand Clap; Low and Hi Conga; Timbale; Tambourine; Cow bell; Woodblock; Cabasa; Low and Hi Agogo.
POWER SUPPLY: DC 9V 300mA
DIMENSIONS: 404(W) x 220(D) x 69(H) mm
WEIGHT: 2.5 kg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more info on the history of Korg Drum Machines Click Here
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Electro-Harmonix Rhythm 12
The EH Rhythm 12 is ElectroHarmonix' very first drum machine.It came out in 1976.
It's pretty unusual isn't it. Nothing like their later pedals & effects.
It is actually made in the UK by a company called SoundTech.
This example must be a late model as the first examples had a EH sticker over the Soundtech logo.
The TOUCH plate is really cool. Its a touch sensitive on/off switch. This reminds me of a similar switch found on the old Roland 77 drum machine.
The sounds are of course all analog. There are 4 voices. They aren't realistic but put through some effects pedals they can sound quite narly which I like.
The dimensions are: 4" x 6" x 7/8".
There are 3 controls : Volume, Tempo and a preset selector.
There are 12 presets but sadly these can't be combined with one another like on similar drum machines from the period.
The unit is powered by a DC 18V psu.
On the left end of the unit are jacks for the audio OUTPUT, F/S footswitch) , and 18V (the PSU).
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