Orion returns, and handsome as ever! His collection of Serge Panels seems to be growing 😺. We do see the Sequential P6 off to the left. Behind him, we see some classic audio gear including Culture Vulture, Joe Meek, and a Retro Revolver compressor.
Submitted by Justin Sullivan, aka justin3am. You can check out some of his music and other media via his website.
Goose and Duckie show of a Sequential (Dave Smith Instruments) Prophet Rev 2. Submitted by Ian Alexander Ratzer via our Facebook page.
These kitties have a great synth – very playable – and I’m a little envious.
Doctor Zoom is back, and once again showing off his impressive collection of desktop instruments, including (from left to right): Erica Synths DB-01 Bass Line, Roland MC-101, Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal, Behringer Neutron (custom panel) and Crave, Arturia Keystop Pro and MiniFreak. That last one above the MiniFreak is left as an exercise for the reader. He seems particularly proud as he perches above them.
Submitted by Steven Palacios via our Facebook page. You can see Doctor Zoom’s previous appearance here.
Mackie looks at his namesake synth, the MacBeth Studio Systems M5. Submitted by Phil Walling via our Facebook page. Apparently Mackie is a little shy, something we at CatSynth can sympathize with.
The MacBeth Studio Systems M5 looks quite a lot like an ARP 2600, and has a similar set of modules and patch points, but is its own instrument with its own sound and features. From Vintage Synth Explorer:
At first glance, it looks like an ARPÂ 2600. A very big ARP 2600. But this is actually a modern analog synthesizer; it is the MacBeth M5. While reminiscent of the 2600, this is not a clone. It’s a semi-modular synthesizer that features a significant array of real-time analog controls with absolutely no digital circuitry at all…There are two discrete filters on-board: a 24 dB/oct lowpass transistor-ladder type filter and a 12 dB/oct with Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass and Notch filter types. Both filters can self oscillate and feature ADSR envelope generators. There are two LFOs with four waveforms: Rising Ramp, Falling Ramp, Triangular and Rectangular. Each LFO features its own Rate control, output, and trigger outputs. Sample-And-Hold is also possible with LFO 2 (and also from the Noise Gen). There are four VCAs in the M5. One for each of the two voltage-controlled filters, and the other two VCAs are incorporated into the Voltage Controlled Panning circuit / stereo output.
https://www.vintagesynth.com/macbeth-studio-systems/m5
Bellyneck sits proudly next to a massive MU Modular system. Submitted by Peter Herres via our Facebook page.
This is my boy Bellyneck on my MU modular. He isn’t supposed to be up thereÂ
As is our tradition here at CatSynth, we look back on the year that draws to a close with a collage and stats. It’s always a challenge to pick photos to represent the year, these were just a few that covered some of the themes. We made more music than ever (mostly in the studio here at CatSynth HQ). We had many explorations and adventures. It was the first time attending the NAMM show since the pandemic. It was our first time going back to New York since the pandemic, and we went twice! In some ways, the year was divided into three sections based on different day jobs (or lack thereof), but the images and memories connected to them transcend these divisions. And as always, the arbitrary ending of a year leaves us with a full queue of things not yet done and still to do – and in this particular passing of the year a sense of dread, not so much for us at CatSynth but for the world around us. Again, the images and memories anchor to what is important.
And now, some stats. Here on the CatSynth blog:
And on CatSynth TV, it’s been a banner year. 35% increase in views, 30% increase in watch hours (that’s the big one they care about over at YouTube), double as many new subscribers as 2022. We launched “shorts” to complement our full-length numbered episodes. A few other stats for the year.
Most Viewed Videos
Most Popular new videos of 2023
It’s interesting that some of the most watched overall were not new this year. I like to think of that as representing that there is enduring interest in our videos from previous years over a longer period of time.
And that is the final thought heading into the new year, enduring and being resilient even has chaos, difficulties, and challenges abound. As always, we’ll keep doing what we do.
Last week we featured a “CatSynth pic” with Sam Sam, so it’s only fair that this week we feature Big Merp. As we’ve seen before, he likes to get up on the equipment while I’m working in the studio.
Merp is sitting on our “trusty red keyboard”, the Nord Stage EX. To the right, we see a couple of our more colorful modules, the Strymon Starlab and Dreadbox Euphoria. Behind him are a couple of audio processing units, a tube compressor, and a mic preamp (from Golden Age Project); in the left corner are the same E-MU modules that we saw with Sam Sam last week.
You can see our reviews/tutorials for the Strymon Starlab and Dreadbox Euphoria, respectively, below.
