Tuesday, 13 January 2015

EML Electrocomp 400 & 401

A few videos of the old EML electrocomp 400/401

Great synth / sequencer combo.

I'll be getting this out of storage soon.

...

Monday, 12 January 2015

Synton Fenix 1 - VCOs, EGs & VCAs

I though I'd upload some pics & a brief description of the VCOs, envelope
generators & VCAs of the Synton Fenix 1.

First the oscillators:


There are three VCOs. The first is the most complex with no fewer than 7 CV ins.
CV 1 is fixed to 1v/oct. We also have a CV2, PWM , sync source  & sync level input.
There is also a CV in for FM, and a CV to control the phase of the sub-oscillators.
The sub oscillators are both square an octave & 2 octs down..... great for some deep bass.




 There are 5 audio outs. - sine, square, ramp (reverse) and I've mentioned the square subs already.
The bottom dial is a phase shifter. - allows you to un-sync the phase of the sub-oscillators for added vibrato or to thicken up the sounds if mixed with other waveforms.

VCOs 2 & 3 are simplier. They have square and sawtooth waveforms with individual outs & four CV inputs
------------------------------------------

The VCAs are pretty standard:
Each have an audio  & CV input, and one out.


 The envelope generators are very different to your standard fare. EG 1 is described as a APDSR.



What's the P stand for?
P = Peak Hold.... this is a time control where the envelope is held between the attack and decay phases. (In EG2 the Peak Time is only active if the decay-release switch is set to the decay position)
In EG1 & EG2 the top pot sets the length of Peak Time.


From what I can decipher, EG1 can actually be used as TWO separate envelopes:
Top: A(P)DR.
Bottom:  a simple AD

EG 2 is like nothing I have seen before.
Firstly it has three outputs & there is no sustain control.
It has a switch which allows you to select between a APD envelope or APR envelope. We have pots for the attack time and peak hold time, plus a knob and a CV input for the Decay/Release time.

So it looks like the EG2 can be broken up into 3 separate envelopes:
EG2(a) = 1 which is the APR or APD (depends on the switch setting)
EG2(b) = 1 + 2 {a combination of EG2(a) + EG2(c)}
EG2(c) = 2 which is a APD envelope.

Goodness gracious me !!! :-)

EG3 is also very unusual.
Again, there are 3 outputs.
The upper one is your envelope.
The lower two are outs for gates (positive & Neg).

The envelope itself  has only decay & delay settings.
It behaves like a simple AD envelope with a sharp attack (immediate)

The Delay knob is a time delay. It delays the start of the envelope.
The delay will also delay the gate outputs relative to the gate inputs.

Fenix 1 & 3 - Sequence 1

The first pairing up of these two beasts.






Here is the full unedited version of the video

Fenix 1 filter section

I'd thought I'd upload a pic of the filters in the Fenix 1.  As discussed earlier, there are 3 and they are all different.


VCF1 and VCF2 are the simpliest. They both have a single audio input and two Cv inputs
CV2 in both is a variable input with a corresponding pot.  CV 1 is fixed to 1v/oct - to be used for filter tracking Both have 12dB/octave LP; 12dB/oct HP, and BP and there are three controls plus 3 outputs for each.

VCF 3 is more complicated. there are 3 audio inputs with their own pots (a mixer)
The LP filter has outputs for both 12dB/oct and 24dB/oct 
Again there are  two Cv inputs.CV 1 is fixed to 1v/oct. CV 2 is variable.

Sunday, 11 January 2015

Synton Fenix 1 - Filter modulation

A first test of a Synton Fenix I.

This has the serial No 18. She was built on Feb 10, 1998 for CW.
I'm very very lucky to find this (esp in Australia) as these are no longer produced.
These puppies are pretty rare. I understand that that only 75 exist.
I'm hoping she will intergrate well with my Serge, Driscol & NLC synths.

The Fenix uses the standard 1V/Oct for pitch.
Audio levels are 4V peak to peak.
Control volatges are  -4/+4 or 0-8 Volts.


One of the really nice things about its design is the seperation between
the knobs & the patch points. A common problem with my Serge is that mass of interconnecting
cables hiding access to the knobs.
The Fenix has a nice clean organised design
Audio outputs are green, CV outputs are blue, and all inputs are black.
Nice & simple.


In the video I'm using just three modules (excluding the mixer):
VCO 1 - sine,square,ramp (& sub-oscillator 1 (a square wave 1 oct down) and sub-oscillator 2 )
VCF 3 - A low-pass filter. It has both 12db & 24db slopes plus 3 audio inputs.
LFO 1 - +ve triangle & square.

You can download the audio here:
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/zj8654iunihcqwh/Fenix_1_stereo-filter_modulation.wav

Another thing I like about the fenix is that every module is different.
Every VCO, LFO & filter is unique within the system.
There are 3 VCOs, 3 LFOs, 3 filters, four VCAs, 5 mixers, 3 EGs, 2 Ring modulators, etc etc.
Wow.

Everything is sequenced by a Doepfer Dark Time.

Links
http://m.matrixsynth.com/2007/05/mystery-synth-used-by-coil.html
http://www.audiopaap.com/
http://www.dutchsynth.nl/Fenix1.html
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb99/articles/syntonfenix883.htm
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjt83IaFT-8xk006gCVurA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-8nJkrmeCA

Saturday, 10 January 2015

Aphex Twin - Brain dancing, gear list, etc

Two Thousand and Fifteen is here.
The first album I listened to this year was an oldie -
Aphex Twin's "1995 - I care because You Do".
It's 20 years old and I still love it.

The new Aphex Twin Album, Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 EP, is coming out on Jan 23rd 2015 (only 13 sleeps to go).
And his gear list is to die for.
...... probably most famous for the three Korg PS 3300s (He also has a korg 3200 according to the list). I'm so happy to see their use on "Syro". The PS3200 in particularly is very under-rated.
I think the 3200 was used on the second last track (no 11) : s950tx16wasr10 [163.97] (earth portal mix).

So as a first post for 2015 I'd thought I'd sort through his most recent gear list
which you can see on his latest album "2014 - Syro".
There is a lot of speculation as to it's authenticity. Is it real or did James do it all in Fruity loops and post this list for fun ??? Anyway, there is nothing wrong with FL. :-)

We can only guess.

In the drum category listed are;
Tongue Drums
Meinl Water UDU --Liquid drum ...  the bottom is filled with water (Fibreglass construction)
Roland TR727
Roland TR909
Simmons SD53(??)
Roland R8/ROM(?)
Roland TR606 / 666?, modded
Roland TR808
Pearl Syncussion
Pearl SC40
Musicmaid Claptrap
Korg Minipops7
Yamaha RX11 - drum
HAT Mechanical Drums ???? Maybe these are the Godfried-Willem Raes (GOD) robots
                                                 that I read about recently.  Here is a link to a interview.
Be warned .... he is naked half way through :-)

I'm surprised that there is no use of Elektron gear though I'm sure he has that too.
Maybe on the next album. ????

Interesting that Richard is using a  Atari 1040.
I have one of these dinosaurs in storage. I remember it did have the tightest timing
back in the day. Maybe I should blow the dust off mine too. ??

He has used lots of different vocoders:
Synton Syntovox 221 x2 
Sennheiser VSM201  
EMS 2000
Bode Vocoder

The Synths used on this album:
ARP 2500
Casio FZ10 + FZ20M + NXC
Crumar Bit01 White
Cwejman RES4 x3
Cwejman VC06
Disklavier MKIV Pro Custom
EML 101. modded
Ensoniq ASR10
Intellijel Rubicon
Jomox Sunsyn V1 x2
Kawai K5000R
Korg DS8
Korg PS3200
Korg PS3300 x3
Make Noise DPO
Marion PROSynth x2
Midimoogs x2
Modular Systems/Eurorack
Moog Memory Lintronics
Oberheim OBX, racked
Oberheim Modular SEMs, racked
Rhodes Chroma
RMI Harmonic Synth (Rocky Mountains Instruments)
Roland SH-101s, modded
Roland D550 - this is the rack version of the D 50.
Roland MKS-50
Roland MKS-70
Sci Prophet VS
Sci Prophet5, racked/keyboard
Serge Modular 9-panel
Yamaha CS80
Yamaha DX100, modded
Yamaha DX11
Yamaha EX42 - Electone from 1970 - electronic organ
Yamaha FS1R

And the nine panel Serge -- :-)
If anyone has any info or pics please email me.

The official list is:
A Designs Reddi
A Designs Pacifica
ADT Toolkit x4
Akai S950HXC - sampler
AKG Contact Mics
Alice Mixer
Allen Heath Mix Wizard
Allen Organ Spring Reverb
AMS RM16  --- reverb
API 3124+
API 55A
API 550A orig - the classic 3 band EQ
API 550B API 560
API 8200A
ARP 2500
Atari 1040 + Midi Expansions + HXC
Avedis E27
Bode Vocoder
Boss BX16 -- 16 channel mixer
Boss BX8 - 8 channel mixer
Boss GE7
Buzz Audio Arc1.1
Calrec Minimixer
Calrec RQP3200
Casio FZ10 + FZ20M + NXC
Chandler Delay Black
Chandler Delay Cream
Chandler Zoner Limiter
Cirklon Sequencer
Court Acoustics Graphic - Graphic EQ
Crumar Bit01 White
Cwejman RES4 x3
Cwejman VC06
Disklavier MKIV Pro Custom (I'm guessing this refers to the Yamaha piano ???)
DPA 4052
Drawner Stereo Gate Dytronics FS1
Elysia Mpressor
EML 101. modded
EMS 2000 Vocoder
EMT 140 Plate/Stereo/Tube
EMT 240 Gold Foil
EMT 252 FX
EMT 258 x4 Filters
Ensoniq ASR10
Eventide DSP4000 - Harmonizer
Eventide H3000 DSE
Eventide H949 x4
Focusrite ISA110 Orig x8
Focusrite ISA430
Fulltone Tape Echo
Harrison 32EQ 
GR500 ??/ The roland GR500 ??
HAT Mechanical Drums
Helios x2 ---- ??? Maybe this is a Helios Type 69 Mic Pre/EQ Module
Intellijel Rubicon
JH ARP Quadra Phaser (A Jurgen Haible clone)
JH Storm Tide FLanger x2
JH Tau Phaser
Jomox Sunsyn V1 x2
Kawai K5000R
Klark Teknik DN780 -  digital Reverberator/Processor
Korg DS8
Korg Minipops7 Midi. sepouts
Korg PS3200
Korg PS3300 x3
Lexicon 480L - digital effects
Lexicon PCM70
LPG ---- ???? Low Pass Gate ????
Lynx Aurora 16 - analog to digital/D-A converter
Make Noise DPO
Marion PROSynth x2
Meinl Water UDU
Micmix Dynaflanger
Micmix Masteroom 2
Midas Venice Desk
Midimoogs x2
Modular Systems/Eurorack
Moog Memory Lintronics
MIT Ensemble
Mum & Dad Vocals
Musicmaid Claptrap x4
Nagra IV-S
Neotek Elite 64 Channel Custom
Neumann V473 x2
Oberheim OBX, racked
Oberheim Modular SEMs, racked
Orla DSE24
Pearl SC40
Pearl Syncussion, racked/midi/mod x4
Plugins, various
Pultec EQP-1A3
Quad Eight 248 x2
Quantec Room Simulator
Retro Instruments Powerstrip
Rhodes Chroma
RME Fireface800
RMI Harmonic Synth (Rocky Mountains Instruments)
Roland 101s, modded
Roland CE1 - The famous Boss Chorus Pedal
Roland D550 - this is the rack version of the D 50.
Roland MKS-50
Roland MKS-70
Roland R8/ROM(?)
Roland TR606 / 666?, modded
Roland TR808
Roland TR727
Roland TR909
Sci Prophet VS
Sci Prophet5, racked/keyboard
Sennheiser VSM201 - vocoder
Serge Modular 9-panel
Shure Auxpander
Siemens V78 x2
Simmons SD53(??)
SM Pro PEQ505
Songbird Tri Chorus x2
Sound Devices 772 - portable audio recorder
Soundcraft Ghost
Soundworkshop 262
SPL TD4
SSL 4000 Channel Strips x5
SSL X desk
Studio Electronics Code8 Full
Synthoma Elkorus
Synton Syntovox 221 x2 - vocoder
Tantek Flanger/Delay
TC1210 - effects processor.
Tongue Drums
Valley People Gain BrainsValley People Kepex x10
Wildlife
Yamaha CS80
Yamaha D5000 --- digital delay
Yamaha DX100, modded
Yamaha DX11
Yamaha EX42 - Electone from 1970 - electronic organ
Yamaha FS1R
Yamaha RX11 - drum
Yamaha TX16W x2 - 12bit sampler
Zither AFX-scale -- what is this ???  Dunno. A Zither is a class of stringed instrument

Saturday, 20 December 2014