Thursday, 21 November 2019

List of Synthesizer Conventions

I just returned from a Synthesizer Convention in Tokyo.
I had a blast and have caught the bug.

Here is a list of Synth conventions around the world.
If I have left any out do let me know.
------------------------------------------------------------

 Jan

The National Association of Music Merchants Show
Official Website: https://www.namm.org/
Jan 16-19, 2020

 ----------------------------------------------------------
 Feb
-----------------------------------------------------
March

Synthplex
https://www.synthplex.com/
Around March 26/29
Burbank CA, USA.
March 26 – 29, 2020
 ------------------------------------------------------------
April

Musikmesse
Official Website: https://musik.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
Dates: Wed, 1 Apr 2020 – Sat, 4 Apr 2020
Location: Messe Frankfurt - Forum, Frankfurt, Germany


Moogfest
Official Website: https://www.moogfest.com/
16 April - 19th April, 2020
Durham, NC, USA


Ableton Loop event
https://loop.ableton.com/2018/live/
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/loop/
https://loop.ableton.com/2020/
Berlin April 24-26 2020


Superbooth
Official Website: https://www.superbooth.com/en/landing.html
https://www.superbooth.com/en/
Thu, 23 Apr 2020 – Sat, 25 Apr 2020
Location: FEZ-Berlin, Berlin, Germany


---------------------------------
May


Synthfest France (https://www.synthfestfrance.com/
Nantes, France
22/23/24 May 2020

-------------------------------------------
June
July
----------------------
August

Modular Day, Barcelona
https://www.facebook.com/ModulardayBCN/
30/31 August 2019

KISS2019 - Kyma International Sound Symposium
https://kiss2019.symbolicsound.com/
August/Sept 29/1
 -----------------------------------------------------------
Sept

Knobcon
Official Website: https://www.knobcon.com/
Sept 6/8, 2019
Chicago

Dutch Modular Fest
https://www.dutchmodularfest.com/ 
Sept 27.28, 2019


New England Synthesizer Festival
https://www.facebook.com/events/2324604164460137
Sept 28, 2019
 -----------------------------------------------------

October

Synth Fest UK
https://www.synthfest.co.uk/ 
Sheffield
Oct 5, 2019


Zurich Modular
http://zurichmodular.ch/
Oct, 18-19, 2019
-------------------------------------------------------
November

Tokyo Festival of Modular
http://tfom.info/
16/17 Nov, 2019

 Dallas Synth Meet
https://www.facebook.com/DFWSynths/
Nov, 10, 2019

Soundmit
Turin, Italy
https://www.soundmit.com/en
02/03 Nov, 2019
 ------------------------------------------------


December



TFOM -Sat 16th - Sunday 17th Nov 2019

Some pics from the Tokyo Festival of Modular (2019).
This was held in the Suburb of SHIBUYA, Tokyo.
https://djjondent.blogspot.com/2019/08/tokyo-festival-of-modular-2019.html

 Tenderfoot Electronics

It's an annual event. Hopefully I'll return in 2020.


Address : B2F SHINTAISO BLDG No.4, 2-10-12 DOGENZAKA,
SHIBUYA-KU, Tokyo 150-0043 Japan
TEL : 03-6427-810
Directions: Go through the entrance of Shintaiso bldg parking lot located next to the Seven Eleven Dogenzaka Chuo Shop.



Tokyo Tape Music Center














WYWS - While You Were Sleeping  (Brisbane, Australia)

As well as the manufacturer's displays, there were electronic performances at night.
Videos of the performers to come.

Star wars - timeline

A brief Star Wars timeline.
These are just the personal records of a Starwars fan & are not by any means complete.
I'll add to this as time goes by.
Thanks to the confusing release of the various movies, their renaming & addition of prequels, etc,  it can sometimes be difficult to know where things start & end.  thus this attempt to put order to the chaos.
Please let me know if you think I've left out anything really important.

Year Zero = destruction of the First Death Star
BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin, and ABY stands for After the Battle of Yavin.
The Battle of Yavin ended with the destruction of the first Death Star, ...Episode IV: A New Hope
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Billions ??? of years BBY

+ The formation of the wellspring of life (aka. the Force Planet) in the heart of the galaxy. This is a force planet from which midichlorians originated. The Father, The Son & The Daughter are born.
Daughter = Light side
Son = Dark Side
Father =  Balance between the two in the realm of Mortis

36,453 BBY
The Kwa arrive on Lehon (the homeworld of the Rakata) teaching them about the Force & giving the Rakata advanced technology. The Rakata however, are only interested in the dark side of the Force and use their technology to conquer and enslave other worlds. This is the origin of the "Infinite Empire".
 
35,000 BBY
The Rakata spread out over the unknown regions and into the Western Galaxy.

30,000 BBY - 25,000 BBY
Reign of the Infinite Empire.
 
30,000 BBY
Creation of the Starforge ... a giant automated shipyard.
The cruel Rakata ruled the "Infinite Empire" of 500 force sensitive worlds, several thousand years before the formation of the Republic. They are believed to be responsible for Tatooine's desert climate due to their bombarding of the once wet planet. 
When the Rakata arrive at Dathomir, the homeworld of the Kwa, they brutally suppress the world. This race died out due to the combination of civil war and a virus.
 
27,700 BBY
The Rakata discover the planet Korriban and the Sith species. 

27500 BBY
Humans experiment with Sleeper Ships and seed a number of planets in the Core Worlds and the Tion Cluster.
 
25,783 BBY
Dawn of the Jedi.
A gathering of philophers on the planet Tython results in the birth of the Jedi Order.
The Force Wars erupt.
 
25,200 BBY
The Rakata are struck by plague. The Rakata loose their connection to the Force and The Infinite Empire starts to collapse.

25,100 BBY
The Founding of the Galactic Republic.
The core worlds have freed themselves from the Infinite Empire, and unite to form the Galactic Republic.
The Galactic constitution is signed on Coruscant.
 
20,000 BBY - 17,000 BBY
The Great Manifest Period


10,000 BBY
+ Invention of hyperspace travel
+ The prime Jedi established the Jedi order on the planet Ahch-To, 
    He built the Jedi Temple which contains a mosaic of the Prime Jedi meditating. and in balance 
    with both the dark and light sides of the Force.

8,000 BBY
+ Foundation of The Old Republic ??   
 
7,000 BBY
The Hundred Year Darkness 
A group of Jedi thought that study of the Dark Side was important. They were exiled by the Jedi Council. 
These Jedi create the Sith Order
 
6,900 BBY
Rise of the Sith 
 
6000 BBY ??
The Great Scourge of Malachor
A battle between the Jedi Order and the Sith Empire on the planet Malachor. 
The Jedi attack the Sith temple, which is also a superweapon. All combatants are petrified. They remained preserved for thousands of years and are discovered by Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus & Ahsoka Tano in 3 BBY

5,113 BBY
Birth of the Sith Emperor Tenebrae
Also known to the Sith as Vitiate. 
He ruled the Eternal Empire under the name Valkorion.
He manipulated galactic affairs for 1,500 years.

5000 BBY 
+ The temple of Kyber is constructed on the moon of Jedha
+ The Great Hyperspace war - fought between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire.
    The Republic's armadas annihilate the Sith forcing the Sith Lord Naga Sadow to 
    exile himself to Yavin 4.

+ The Great Temple of Yavin 4 is built by the Massassi (a slave race once ruled by the Sith)
    This was reused 5000 years later by the Rebel Alliance & renamed Base One.
    This temple was evacuated after the Battle of Yavin and the rebels moved to the planet Hoth
+ The start of the Thousand Year War between the Jedi & the Mandolorians

4999 BBY
The Ritual of Nathema 
The Sith Lord Vitiate performs a ritual that strips the Force from the entire planet of Nathema,
increasing his powers and prolonging his life. 


5000 to 4000BBY
+ Mandalorian-Jedi War  (ends around 3966) 
The Jedi win the war and leave Mandalore a lifeless desert. 
+ Old Republic begins to fall.


4500 BBY  to 3500 BBY??
+ Rule of The Eternal Empire  (based on Zakuul led by Emperor Valkorion)
   Valkorion is actually the Sith Emperor Vitiate. He initiates a war between his Sith Empire 
    and the Galactic Republic
 + Valkorion used the Empire's Eternal Fleet to battle both the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire.
   His twin sons, Arcann and Thexan, lead his armies. Arcann is wounded in action on Korriban.
   When the twins return to Zakuul to present their trophies of victory over the Jedi & Sith,
   Valkorion turns his back on them. Arcann lunges to attack his father, only to be restrained 
    by Thexan, resulting in Arcann accidentally killing his twin 
 + As the Emperor's plans near completion, he orchestrates the Mandalorian Wars.
 

3681 BBY - 3653 BBY
The Great Galactic War.
A war between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic.... lasted for 28 years.
The Jedi Order withdraws from Coruscant to establish a new home on their ancient homeworld of Tython.
 
3653 BBY
+ The Treaty of Coruscant.
   This was a peace agreement ending the Great Galactic War between
   the Galactic Republic & the Sith. The two governments met on the Core World of Alderaan where
   they would deliberate the terms of peace. 
   During the meeting the Sith launch an surprise assault on Coruscant. This gives the Sith the leverage
   they need to demand the Republic's surrender.
 

3632 BBY
The Outlander escapes from carbonite imprisonment in the Eternal Empire.
 
3630 BBY
The Eternal Empire is reorganized into the Eternal Alliance. 

1019
+ The old republic transitions to the Repbulic Governed by the Galactic Senate.

1000 BBY
+ Maz Kanata is born.....  before 966 BYY ????

896 BBY
+ Yoda is born

600BBY 
+ Jabba the Hutt is born

200 BBY
+ Chewbacca is born

102 BBY
+  Chewbacca is born

 92 BBY
+ Qui-Gon Jinn is born

57 BBY
 + Obi-Wan Kenobi is born

 56 BBY
+ Galen Erso is born

46 BBY
+ Padmé Amidala Naberrie is born

41 BBY
+ Anakin Skywalker is born.
   Conceived by the Midichlorians, and his mum, Shmi.

 40 BBY
+ Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas comissions a clone army
   from the Kaminoans

36 BBY
+  Ahsoka Tano is born

32 BBY
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 
    (The movie came out in 1999)
+ The Blockade of Naboo.
+ Queen Padme Amidala leads the liberation of Naboo.
 + Obi-Wan slices Darth Maul in two

 30 BBY
+ Lando Calrissian is born

 24 BBY
+ Confederacy of Independent Systems is formed by Count Dooku.
   Leads to the formation of a Separatist Senate.

 22 BBY
+ Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones movie
   The clone wars begin. (The movie came out in 2002)
+ Anakin takes Ahsoka Tano as his apprentice.

 21 BBY 
+ Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - Cartoon TV series
+ Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Series (2008-2015) - Cartoon TV series

20 BBY
+ Construction of Death Star I is started on  Geonosis
+ Civil war on Mandalore starts.
+ Jedi temple is bombed. Ahsoka Tano is framed & tried for the crime, but is eventually exonerated.

19BBY
+ This period is often called the "Imperial Era".
   The Galactic Republic transforms into the Galactic Empire.
   It's a very important date as it marks the end of the Clone Wars, and the beginning of
   the Great Jedi Purge (Order 66).
+ Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
    (The movie came out in 2005)
+ Ezra Bridger is born
+ Anakin becomes Darth Vader.
+ Luke & Leia Skywalker are born

18 BBY
+ Ahsoka Tano forms the Fulcrum Resistance

13  BBY
+ Galen Erso is forced by Orson Krennic, to continue his work on the Death Star.
    This is the start of Rogue One (Movie)

10 BBY
+ Han Solo and Qi’ra try to escape Corellia (Movie : SOLO) 
    (The Solo movie came out in 2018)

5 BBY
+ Star Wars: Rebels (cartoon)
    (The cartoon came out in 2014)
+ Ezra Bridger constructs his light saber (4BBY)
+ Casian series ??

2 BBY
+ Obi-Wan Kenobi kills Darth Maul on Tatooine (Rebels cartoon)

0 BBY
+ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
    (The Rogue One movie came out in 2016)
+ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
    (The original movie came out in 1977)

1 ABY
+ The Rebel Alliance retreats to its secret "Echo Base" on the ice planet Hoth.

2 ABY
+ Poe Dameron is born

3 ABY
+ Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
    (The movie came out in 1980)
+ Battle of Hoth, Luke's training by Yoda, etc, etc 

4 ABY
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
     (The movie came out in 1983)
+ Battle of Endor 
+ Death of Palpatine & Vader

+ Destruction of the 2nd Death Star

 5 ABY
+ The New Republic Era
+ Battle of Jakku This is the last large scale battle of the Galactic Civil War. It takes place on the
   planet of Jakku. This marks the end of the civil war and of the Empire itself.
+ Ben Solo is born.

9 ABY
+ The Mandalorian (Disney 2019 TV series)
(Favreau has said that The Mandalorian is set five years after the fall of the Empire in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) and 25 years before the rise of the First Order).


11 ABY
+ Finn is born

15 ABY
+Rey is born

28 - 33 ABY
+ Luke forms the Jedi Temple in an attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order
+ Ben Solo forms "The Knights of Ren".
+  Ben becomes "Kylo Ren".
+ Luke goes into exile on the island of Ahch-To
+ Star Wars Resistance (Disney cartoon series)

34 ABY
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
     (The movie came out in 2015)
+ Star Killer Base 
+ Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
    (The movie came out in 2017)

35 ABY
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
     (The movie came out in 2019)

---------------------------------------------------

How do you watch all these movies & TV shows.
What is the best order ?
By release date  or chronological order?
I personally think release date is the way to go, as it preserves all the surprises but here are some
of the various other suggested ways. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Star Wars movies, cartoons and TV shows in Chronological order

  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) 
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008~)
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
  • Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  • Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • The Mandalorian (2019~)
  • Star Wars Resistance (2018-)
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Battlefront II - Video Game (2017) 
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
 
-------------------------------

The Skywalker Order 

(Thanks to New Rockstars)

  • Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008~)
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
  • Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
  • The Mandalorian (2019~2022?)
 

-----------------------------------------

The release date order

  • Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) 
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008~)
  • The Clone Wars (Season 1-Season 6)
  • Star Wars Rebels (Season 1 - season 2)
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Rebels (season 3)
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  • Rebels (season 4)
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
  • Star Wars Resistance (2018)
  • The Mandolarian Season 1.(2019)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  • The Clone wars (season 7)
  • The Mandalorian (2020 - season 2)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

  •  

    The Rogue Order

    (Thanks to New Rockstars)

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
    Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
    Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
    Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
    Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) 
    Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008~)
    Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
    Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
    The Mandalorian (2019~2022?)
    Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
    Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) 

    --------------------------------------------

    sci Fi Index

    ----------------------------------------------

National Art Center Tokyo - Roppongi

Roppongi is a suburb of Tokyo situated on a hilly area with great views of the Tokyo CBD.





You can see the Ginza district and the old Tokyo Tower from there.


If you have limited time in Tokyo, this is a great place to go to get your bearings.

Highly recommended are the National Art center (NACT) and the Mori building.







Address:
7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-8558, Japan.


Website:
https://www.nact.jp/english/

The NACT is probably Japan's largest museum


 The building is made up of seven enormous column-less display rooms. 





Architect: Kisho Kurokawa.
He is one of Japan's leading architects and is one of the founders of the Metabolist Movement (along with Kiyonori Kikutake,and Fumihiko Maki )which fuses architectural structures with organic biology.
 

Metabolism (/məˈtæbəlɪzəm/, from Greek: μεταβολή metabolē, "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms..... leading to renewal & organic growth.

For more travel postcards click here:

Shibuya Crossing - Sat night 16th Nov 2019 - Tokyo Japan

I stayed in Shibuya during the recent TFOM (Tokyo Festival Of Modular).
Its a trendy suburb of Tokyo ... very much geared towards the youth & young at heart.




There are lots of nightclubs & designer shops.
Night time is when it really comes alive.




Ginza, in comparison has an older, more sophisticated feel. After the first night

The Shibuya  department store,109-2  has the best views (Mags Park) over the  crossing.

For more travel postcards click here:

Tuesday, 12 November 2019

TT 303 Bass Bot - Higher State of Consciousness - Josh Wink - Jondent remix


Josh Wink's HSOC is one of my favourite acid tracks and it's so simple... just 2 notes : G & B. (the second G note is transposed up from the rest).


Sometimes the simple things in life are the best.
This remix is not intended to be an exact copy.... I used HSOC as a starting point.
Original HSOC video (It"s been described as a porno with great music) LOL: http://youtu.be/VOXw1xz-c8w Thanks to Old Nick for his suggestion.

This is a live remix. I've made it a bit slower than the original.
Sadly I didn't have any scantily clad models at my disposal. :-( Equipment used: Cyclone Analogic's Bass Bot TT-303 for the acid. Korg monotribe (kick drum)
Hard Mod's Ribbon synth - background atmospheric sounds.
The Bass Bot does not receive Roland/DIN Sync so haven't been able to sync it with my TR808.
But the Korg monotribe works a treat. Also, the patterns remain even after the Bott is turned off. This is without batteries. Something the old 303 didn't do. I think this is what is called Non-Volatile memory.

Yamaha FM Chips

Some famous Yamaha FM chips. The numbering system is very confusing.
(This is only a small selection of the total produced)
Many of these chips are still available and are excellent for DIY projects.
ALM Busy Circuits Akemie’s eurorack modules are made with some of these old Yamaha chips (YMF262  aka OPL3).

These came out around 1983
     YM21280 (OPS) operator chip (Yamaha DX7& DX5)
     YM21290 (EGS) envelope  (Yamaha DX7 & DX5)
                                  16 voices (6-op) (32 in DX1/DX5)

1983
     YM2151 (OPM, 4Operator Type-M)
      Used in Yamaha SFG-01 and SFG-05 FM Sound Synthesizer units. & Yamaha CX5M.
      Yamaha's first single chip FM synthesis implementation.
       Used in Sega arcade boards from 1985 & Sharps X1 & X68000(1987) home computer
       The YM2151 chip developed into the YM2164 which found its way into the DX21, DX27, DX100

1984
    YM2203 (OPN) Type N
     4 operators per channel, 3 channels. Eight algorithms.
     Used in lots of video games & NEC computers

1984
     YM3526 (OPL)
      Low cost, 9 channel.
      2 operators. Used in the Commodore 64 expansion as wellas several arcade games ..eg Terra Cresta

1985 - DX21, DX27, DX100, FB-01, SFG-05 + Korg DS-8, 707
    YM2164 (OPP, FM Operator Type P)
     4 operators, 8 voices

1985
     YM3812(OPL2)...... famous for its wide use in IBM PC-based sound cards
     such as the AdLib, Sound Blaster and Pro AudioSpectrum (8bit),
     as well as several arcade games by Nichibutsu, Toaplan and others.

1985 ?
    YM3526(OPL).... 2 operator FM synthesis chip.
                                   used in a Commodore 64 expansion, the Sound Expander,
                                   as well as several arcade games, such as Terra Cresta and Bubble Bobble.



1986 --- used in the DX7 markII , TX802
     YM2604 (OPS2)... operator chip
     YM3609 (EGM) ..... envelope chip

1988
   YM2612(OPN2)..... Sega Mega Drive/Genesis & the DAFM synth
   FM/PCM hybrid chip

   FM channels: 5-6 channels (5 channels with PCM, 6 channels without PCM)
   The YM2612 has six channels with four operators per channel.
   Used in arcade machines, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis (1988), Fujitsu FM Towns (1989)
   8 algorithms. The envelopes, frequencies and LFOs can be changed to get a good range of FM sounds.

    The YM3438 is a modified CMOS version of the YM2612 
   I recently built a DAFM synth using the YM3438.


1987
       YM2414 (OPZ, four Operator Type-Z), 2 LFOs, 8 waveforms
       Used in TX81Z, DX11, YS100, YS200, PortaTone PSR-6300 and PSR-80

1987
         YM2413 (OPLL) .... cost reduced FM synthesis sound chip. Used in the SEGA Mark III &
                                        Yamaha SHS-10 (1987)

        YM2413-B   (OPLL revision2)
        YM2413-F(OPLL-compatible flat package)


1988
        YMF262-M(OPL3-L)
        Used in  many of ALM Busy Circuits Akemie’s eurorack modules... like the castle.
        OPL3 stands for FM operator type L. Mostly SMD format. ... really cheap on ebay.
        The YMF262 was used in many sound cards, such as the Sound Blaster Pro 2.0,
        Sound Blaster 16 ASP and Creative Labs AWE family
         

     Four op FM. .... pairing 2 channels together to create up to six 4 operator FM voices
    4 channel sound output
    4 new waveforms (alternating-sine, "camel"-sine, square and logarithmic sawtooth).
    In addition, 5 different rhythm sounds (BD,SD,Tom TOM, Top Cymbal & Hi hat cymbal) are available.
   Manual


1989
    YM2424 (OPZII, FM 4Operator Type-Z-II)
     Used in the Yamaha V50 synth

1990 ???
    YM2610(OPNB)
     used in  NeoGeo hardware. Needs an external DAC.Four FM channels
     (The YM2610B variant added two extra FM channels for a total of six)
     In the original chip, sound comes from 4 different generators, each having their own channels:
  • SSG (Software Sound Generator): 3 channels -- compatible with YM2149 (Atari ST)
  • FM (Frequency Modulation): 4 channels. 4 operators per channel.
  • ADPCM (Sample playback): 7 channels
  • Noise : one channel

1994
       YMF292 (SCSP)
        Used in the Sega Saturn, Sega Model 2/3
        This is actually a hybrid FM/PCM. It uses 32 channels (4-op).

1994
        YMF271 (OPX)

        used in Seibu SPI arcade board
        Again, its a hybrid FM/PCM chip.
        I think there are 9 channels  .. can configure the number of operators?? (Up to 4 op)

1994 ??
     YMF276-M(OPN2C-upper compatible?)
     It's a 6 channel FM synthesizer based on the Yamaha YM2203c.
     used in  FUJITSU FM TOWNSII

1985
      YM2608B(OPNA)
      Used in the NEC PC98 ... PC-8801 (1985)/PC-9801 (1986)
      16 voices, six FM channels, 4 operators.
      Uses the same algorithms as the DX21 ??


----------------------------------------------------------------------
  
    YM3438(OPN2C)
    YMF288-M(OPN3-L)

    YMF286-K(OPNB-compatible)
    YMF281-D(OPLL Another version?)
    Y8950(MSX AUDIO)

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
**** OPL  is a  FM Operator Type-L

-------------------------------------------

About the different types of Sound chips:
These ICs, were used in arcade game system boards, video game consoles, home computers, and PC sound cards.etc etc.
They are not all FM.

There are 4  main systems:
1. PSG - programmable sound generators
2. Wavetable synthesis
3. FM synthesis
4. Pulse Code Modulation

Link - wikipedia

----------------------------
FM Index
---------------------------

Sunday, 10 November 2019

OTA - Operational Transconductance Amplifiers

I've been building a Jasper wasp lately and been wondering why the filter sounds so darn good.
I never really studied the circuit till recently so always assumed it was a completely digital design.
It uses a cmos 4069.... its an inverter... but the other part of the circuit is a
CA3080 ... a OTA...Operational Transconductance Amplifier. This is used instead of your standard Op-amp.
I'm sure this is a big part of the sound.

So what is a OTA?
It's a amplifier unlike your standard Op-amp.

What the OTA  shares with your common Op-Amp is:
1. a single output.
2. They both have inverting & non-inverting inputs.
3. They both have power lines (V+ & V-)


What makes the OTA different is that it has 2 extra inputs (Ibias & Iabc)
and it's output is a current not a voltage.
So, to put it another way, a OTA is a voltage to current amplifier or a voltage controlled current source.

The OTA can also be viewed as an ideal transistor



Like a transistor,it has three terminals
a high impedance input(base)
a low-impedance input/output (emitter)
a current output (collector). 

There are loads of circuits that use the OTAs like VCOs, filters, VCAs, waveshapers. 

OTA's include:
CA3080 (discontinued)
LM13600 - Texas Instruments (formerly National Semiconductor)
LM13700 - Texas Instruments (formerly National Semiconductor)
MAX435 (obsolete product)
MAX436  (obsolete product)
OPA860 -- Texas instruments (SOIC)
OPA861 -- texas instruments
NE5517 - ON Semiconductor
NJM13660 - New Japan Radio (JRC)
NJM13700  - New Japan Radio (JRC)
V13700 - CoolAudio
BA662A  Roland (manufactured by Rohm in the 1970s)*
BA 662B - Roland (manufactured by Rohm in the 1970s)
IR3109
BA6110  - Rohm

* The BA662A is the VCA used in the SH101, TB303, Juno-60, JX-3P, etc etc.
   It's used for portamento in the Jupiter 4.
------------------------------------------------
CA3080
Lots of old synths use the CA3080 which is obsolete and can be expensive to buy on the second hand market.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

LM13700
The LM13700 is basically two CA3080s on one chip. You can also get these in a DIP (through hole) format. There are also conversion circuits that allow you to use a LM13700 in place of the CA3080.

There are lots of manufacturers still making this useful chip. They may have different part numbers, but the design is still the same one designed by Bill Gross & Don Sauer of  Texas Instruments (formerly National Semiconductor).

Here is the pinout for a LM13700

We basically have 2 identical op-amps.
This is really good for circuits that require matched pairs of amps.

Pin1
Amplifier Bias input
This sets the level of transconductance.
(the relation between the output & input current).

Pin2
Diode Bias A
Current applied here allows the chip to accept a higher differential input voltage.
This will improve linearity & distortion.

Pin3
Non-inverting input A

Pin4
Inverting Input A

Pin5
Output A
The output of the opamp as a current.
This equals the difference in input voltage  between pin 3 & 4 , multiplied by the transconductance.

Pin6
-V

Pin7
Buffer input A
Darlington pair buffer

Pin8
Buffer output A
Darlington pair buffer
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Links
Comparing BA662A with BA6110 VCA chips in the x0xb0x 

-----------------------------------------

If there are any mistakes, omissions or if this is just BS please let me know.

Saturday, 9 November 2019

Synth shops in tokyo


Echigoya Music
Japan, 〒150-0041 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jinnan, 1 Ch
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
http://www.echigoyamusic.com/index.html

Mostly 2nd hand stuff.
Tiny shop on 9th floor.


Opposite Tower records



Hours:
Monday ‑ Sunday  11:00 AM ‑ 8:00 PM






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Otaku Tokyo
Shibuyaku, Japan
Wakabanisi Bld.6F, 1-10-10, Ebisunishi
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0021, Japan

You need to email these guys 1st, if you wish to visit the store
treasure@otakutokyo.com

Reverb address
https://reverb.com/au/shop/otaku-tokyo?locale=en-AU

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/otakutokyo_japan/?hl=ja 

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/otaku.tokyo.jp/?fref=ts

Shop website:
https://otakutokyo.com/

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Five G - Music technology
http://fiveg.net/

Location
Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001
Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 1 Chome−14−2 原宿ル・ポンテ 4F









Hours:
Monday ‑ Sunday 12:00 AM ‑ 8:00 PM
Monday ‑ Friday   3:00 PM ‑ 8:00 PM

---------------------------
Ishibashi Music
Ishibashi Music Shibuya
150-0042 2F Shibuya-BEAM Bldg. 31-2, 31 Udagawa

Hours:
Monday ‑ Sunday
11:30 AM ‑ 8:30 PM

Website
https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/eng/


Google maps
https://goo.gl/maps/drdTRGv6tn1e9tZF9

--------------------------------------------
Hard off
Its part of a department store chain
Japan, 〒180-0002 Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Higashic

Hours:
Monday ‑ Sunday  10:00 AM ‑ 9:00 PM
Monday ‑ Friday    11:00 AM ‑ 9:00 PM
 (This doesn't make any sense I know, it's what is written on the website)

Website
https://www.hardoff.co.jp/shop/kanto/tokyo/hardoff/101079/ 

Map:


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Akihabara Electric Town

Radio Centre    

Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City,


Sotokanda, 1 Chome

Akihabara ( Akiba)
10, Tōkyō-to 101-0021

 Japan Guide

Look for the electronics shops (one man operations to department stores)
Larger stores: Sofmap and Laox

  -------------------------------------------------------------------

Recycling Garden Yoyogi shop

3 Chome-38-10 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0053, J

recycle-garden.net 

English site:  http://recycle-garden.net/english 

Hours: Monday - Sunday, 10am - 8pm


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Ikebe Gakki Kenbando
Kenban-do ̄ , the Japanese name of the store, means "The Hall of Keyboard Instruments"

Hours:
Open seven days,
11am - 8pm




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BIC Camera
4 Chome-1-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan

Website
https://www.biccamera.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/shop121.jsp

Hours:
Monday ‑ Sunday
10:00 AM ‑ 9:00 PM


 ----------------------------------------------------

Links
+ Jonos synthesizer shopping in Tokyo 2016

*Japan
   - Synthesizer shopping in Tokyo
   - Bonsai - Narita
   - Tokyo Akihabara Radio Center
   - Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) - Kyoto
   - Kyoto station
   - Nara
   - Pachinko - Hiroshima
   - Umeda Sky Building - Osaka
   - Osaka Castle

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