Big Merp with Yamaha RX5 Drum Machine

Big Merp the cat sitting on a Yamaha RX5 drum machine

Big Merp has taken to our recently acquired Yamaha RX5 drum machine. I think he will be ready to lay down some rhythm tracks soon. He also has his rear paw on another recent acquisition: the Buchla Red Panel 158 oscillator. Look for these two instruments featured in upcoming episodes of CatSynth TV!

Back in the late 1980s when I was getting into synthesizers, Yamaha’s DX series dominated the landscape (along with Roland’s D series). I got Yamaha’s “After Touch” magazine which featured new releases including the RX5, which became the flagship of their drum-machine line. It was beyond my reach then, but I now I have one and looking forward to seeing what I can do with it in our eclectic studio at CatSynth HQ.

Gucci Boy KOMA Field Kit, Arturia BeatStep Pro, Modular

This cat is posing purrfectly with a Koma Field Kit and Field Kit FX, Arturia BeatyStep Pro, and modular synthesizer. I espy a Qu-Bit Chords and a Mutable Instrument Plaits (right between the ears).

From Jared Grim via the Facebook group KOMA Field Kit Users. Update: this handsome cat’s name is Gucci Boy.

If you haven’t done so already, please check out our intro to the KOMA Field Kit.

CatSynth Pic: Moog One

The black cat is proud to own this Moog One synthesizer. From Jon Sellers via Facebook.

Yet again, I forgot to check the scheduling link to see if the room was reserved

Fortunately, Sam Sam and I have a pretty good arrangement for sharing the studio. Merp, however, prefers to drop in unexpectedly – but we have a good time.

The Moog One is quite an impressive synth for a cat or a human.

 Per voice, Moog One offers 3 newly-designed analog VCOs, 2 independent analog filters, a dual source analog noise generator, analog mixer with external audio input,