Author: catsynth

CatSynth Pic: Lali and Juno 106

Sometimes Juno is the cat, sometimes Juno is the synth. Today it is the synth, as Miss Lali sits proudly atop a JUNO 106. Submitted by Caroline Sommer via our Facebook page.

Miss Lali with the Juno 😊🐈❤️

A little on the JUNO 106 from Vintage Synth Explorer:

The Juno-106 is a very common and widely used analog polysynth. It continues to be one of the most popular analog synths due to its great sound and easy programmability. It was the next major incarnation of the Juno-series, following the Juno-60. While it has virtually the same synth engine as the Juno-60, the 106 added extensive MIDI control making it one of Roland’s first MIDI-equipped synthesizers. There was also increased patch memory storage, up to 128 patches instead of the 56 patches available in the Juno-60. However, the Juno-60 is often said to have a slight sonic edge over the more advanced 106. The 60 had the ability to modulate oscillator pulse from its envelope and has a “punchier” sound quality.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/juno106.php

CatSynth Pic: Marcel, Crumar Bit One, and Italian Vintage Synth

It’s turning out to be a week of black cats here at CatSynth. Today, our friend Marcel from polynominal.com returns, this time with a Crumar Bit One and an (unnamed) Italian vintage synth. From polynominal.com on Facebook.

We at CatSynth were not that familiar with the Crumar Bit One, so we looked it up on Vintage Synth Explorer:

The Bit One is a 6 voice programmable polyphonic analog synthesizer with digital control that rivals the Roland Juno-106 synthesizer. The 61-note keyboard is equipped with velocity which is a rare option among similar synths! The 2 computer controlled oscillators, 6 voltage controlled filters, 6 VCAs and 2 LFOs each per voice, easy hands-on editing and a double/split mode keyboard make this one phatt analog polysynth!

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/bitone.php

Wordless Wednesday: Zigzag (Polk Street)

This building on Polk Street has long intrigued me. It feels very out of place style-wise with a more 1960s modern-tropical vibe compared to its more “classic San Francisco” surroundings. It houses some Asian businesses and otherwise seems vacant. I personally like both modernist angles and its dissonance.

CatSynth Pic: Pansona, Arturia MiniBrute 2B, Roland TB-03 and TR-08

Pansona with MiniBrute 2S, Roland TB-03 and TR-08

Adorable black cat Pansona with a MiniBrute 2S synthesizer and Roland TB-03 and TR-08 Boutique synthesizers. Submitted by Vito del Valle via our Facebook page.

Pansona (Fatgirl) with an Arturia Minibrute 2S, Roland TB-03 & Roland TR-08… She’s wondering why I’m not yelling at her to get off the table…

Far from yelling at cats to get off the table, many of us not only tolerate but have grown to enjoy their antics on our music-making surfaces. We at CatSynth certainly feel that way.