Synthesizer Gear Porn ;-)

[Rarebird]

Not so fast...

I've got a special relation to the Prophet 5 since I heard it first time in a show in 1979! I've got most of the emulations, including the Arturia and Repro-5 but they are all lacking in feel...

The Model 80 is way closer IMHO and gave that... "<looking around> What happened...?" impressions after a few notes, just like GG Audios excellent Blue 3 Hammond plugin that got me spontaneously look around for the Leslie

I once had a conversation with someone who loved the Prophet 5. I suppose you can't win them all. From my Arturia stuff, I think I use the MiniMoog, the Oberheim SEM, the Moog Modular, the GS-80, the Jupiter-8 and the piano most. The Hammond is also pretty cool. Used it in combination with the Nord Electro on the piece I'm working on.

I suppose the Cherry Audio plugins are next on my list. At some point, I have to limit myself.

[Gizmotron]

So this is a bit of an abrupt left turn, but I like these weird little generative music synths, and the Sonic Labs stuff is especially clever. I've had Fundamental for a while now but upgraded yesterday to the bundle that includes the latest version plus the other synth called Thermo2.

Fundamental is basically a VST of a test oscillator (like the kind you would find in scientific or engineering labs) mixed with a variety of cool controls plus MPE capabilities. As a pure oscillator for a Moog-style monophonic synth it's going to underwhelm, but the video probably gives a taste of what COULD be done:



Thermo is a new one on me so I don't have as much experience yet...it apparently has something to do with thermodynamics and an almost overdriven tone (which is ASMR to the "metal and industrial noise" fan lurking in my brain). I fired it up shortly after installing yesterday and it immediately made me perk up and pay attention so I'm looking forward to exploring this one more fully:



At the core, I think I just love the creativity on display here...there's so much amazing stuff out there for all types of composers and players.

Very interesting stuff, John! Thank you!!

[Rarebird]

Just stumbled on a demonstration of this:
https://www.nonlinear-labs.de/index.html
Interesting piece of equipment. Now I need to win a big price.

[battema]

Ah yeah, I came across the C.15 a while ago online and was very impressed. All these new boutique synths are priced so damned high though...

[Rarebird]

Ah yeah, I came across the C.15 a while ago online and was very impressed. All these new boutique synths are priced so damned high though...

Yeah, but I have to say, it looks cool.

[dropforge]

The C15 is utterly beautiful. Though it excludes many features (by design), it just looks and sounds so damned cool. Doctor Mix did a great demo and he barely scratched the surface. The guy plays pretty well and that vamp on "Money for Nothing" was hilarious (and cool). The guy's videos are great.

That said, the C15 is freakin' expensive!!

[battema]

The C15 is utterly beautiful. Though it excludes many features (by design), it just looks and sounds so damned cool.

[ ... ]

That said, the C15 is freakin' expensive!!

Yes, yes, and DAMMIT YES.

[Rarebird]

The C15 is utterly beautiful. Though it excludes many features (by design), it just looks and sounds so damned cool. Doctor Mix did a great demo and he barely scratched the surface. The guy plays pretty well and that vamp on "Money for Nothing" was hilarious (and cool). The guy's videos are great.

That said, the C15 is freakin' expensive!!

Yes, it's defenitly not cheap. but under $ 5,000 is not really expensive, if you look at synthprices in the past.
I think Dr. Mix can be a bit tiring. A bit to shouty for my taste.

[Progbear]

This is an odd-ball release, but I LOVE it! I've had this weird fascination with the Novachord for years. I can see why some folks won't go for it, but those old organ/synth instruments just have a thing about them....

I too have had an obsession about the Novachord. I mean, a tube-based polyphonic synthesizer made in the 40s? There's something almost Steampunk about that. That said, I can think of three reasons right off the top of my head why it failed.

1. Price. It was a ridiculously expensive luxury item that few could afford. Not that even those with the money would, because of...

2. Utility. Hindsight is 20/20, and it's easy to say how pioneering they were for making such an instrument in the 1940s but the fact was, musicians just didn't have a practical use for such a thing back then. And even the few that could manage to find a way to operate it and work it into their music didn't find much room for it because of...

3. Reliability. Come on, it's a polyphonic synthesizer built on oscillators made with tube oscillators. Probably more reliable as a heater than as a musical instrument!

[dropforge]

Yes, it's defenitly not cheap. but under $ 5,000 is not really expensive, if you look at synthprices in the past.
I think Dr. Mix can be a bit tiring. A bit to shouty for my taste.

I prefigured $3000, but again my shot fell (far) short of the mark. The MSRP is $4799 and from what I see, the tag includes the flight case as seen in Mix's video. With tax, it does lurch across the 5K line.

I mean, yeah, "not that much" compared to what it may have cost way back when, but too rich for me.

[Rarebird]

I prefigured $3000, but again my shot fell (far) short of the mark. The MSRP is $4799 and from what I see, the tag includes the flight case as seen in Mix's video. With tax, it does lurch across the 5K line.

I mean, yeah, "not that much" compared to what it may have cost way back when, but too rich for me.

To much for me as well, though I wouldn't need a flightcase, bcause it would sit comfortably in my home-studio, if I should call the room where I make my music a home-studio.

[Rarebird]

Perhaps not really gearporn, but these books look interesting.
https://bjooks.com/

[battema]

Nice! Would love to see something like that available with a focus on advance sound design (my own Achilles heel).

[battema]

Random morning discovery: https://kodamo.org/mask1

Interesting idea, and bitmask synthesis as a concept is new enough to at least arouse my curiosity. Although listening to the samples, I'm not sure it's radically different from what I might try to get from a Waldorf PPG or even a Hydrasynth. Looks sleek enough though!

[Rarebird]

Nice! Would love to see something like that available with a focus on advance sound design (my own Achilles heel).

Did you see this one?
https://bjooks.com/products/push-turn-move-the-book

[battema]

Did you see this one?
https://bjooks.com/products/push-turn-move-the-book

Yep! It looks like a very lovely overview of various interface designs for synths

[Rarebird]

I prefigured $3000, but again my shot fell (far) short of the mark. The MSRP is $4799 and from what I see, the tag includes the flight case as seen in Mix's video. With tax, it does lurch across the 5K line.

I mean, yeah, "not that much" compared to what it may have cost way back when, but too rich for me.

I saw the pricetag of the Oberheim OB-X8 which is € 5359

[dropforge]

I think Dr. Mix can be a bit tiring. A bit to shouty for my taste.

Yeah, he's on the excitable side. On this, he's a little more reined in.

[battema]

By the way, since I'm not sure where else to post it....SUPER early Jean-Michel Jarre reissue:

https://transversales.bandcamp.com/a...ranges-br-l-es

[Progbear]

A restored Hammond Novachord demonstrated by Maurizio Salvi (New Trolls, Ibis):

[battema]

A restored Hammond Novachord demonstrated by Maurizio Salvi (New Trolls, Ibis):

Meh, I'll just wait for the Steven Wilson 5.1 remix of it

[dropforge]

[dropforge]

By the way, since I'm not sure where else to post it....SUPER early Jean-Michel Jarre reissue:

https://transversales.bandcamp.com/a...ranges-br-l-es

I'm still turntable deprived.

[battema]

I'm still turntable deprived.

I'm not, but I went for the download

[dropforge]

It's barely EP length. The digital purchase = "you get four tracks now, the rest later"??