Category: Cats

  • CatSynth Pic: LepLoop

    CatSynth Pic: LepLoop

    A rare LepLoop synthesizer and groove box in front of a fanciful feline artwork. From LepLoop on Instagram.

    We at CatSynth are not particularly familiar with the LepLoop, so we looked it up. Here is a brief summary from a 2016 Sound On Sound article.

    The LepLoop is an analogue synth, sequencer and percussion module all the way from sunny Italy. Hand-built into a light wooden enclosure, this tiny groovebox is pock-marked with patch points and able to hook up with MIDI, CV or DIN Sync gear. Regardless of its connectivity, the LepLoop inhabits a wayward world of its own when it comes to traditions such as melody and control. This is because at its heart is a sample and hold generator that provides source material for a looping analogue sequencer. Notes generated at random are captured and — if you like what you hear — worked on until you feel like dipping in again.

    Inside are two VCOs, a noise source, a low-pass filter, a dedicated bass drum, twin VCAs (each with a simple envelope) and a switching system offering near-modular flexibility.

    https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/lep-leploop
  • Wordless Wednesday: Lucky Cat

    Wordless Wednesday: Lucky Cat

    “Lucky cat” figurine purchased in Shanghai, China in 2009. It appears in many of our synth-demo videos.

  • CatSynth Pic: Bill on Quarantine (Vintage Synthesizer Museum)

    CatSynth Pic: Bill on Quarantine (Vintage Synthesizer Museum)

    Bill enjoys the quarantine life with an Arturia MicroFreak and sundry Strymon pedals. Via our friends at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum.

    You can see our visit to the Vintage Synthesizer Museum earlier this year in this video.

    This was from the beginning of February. Not so long ago in time, but a world away from where we are now.

  • CatSynth Pic: Fluff and Roland SH-101

    CatSynth Pic: Fluff and Roland SH-101

    Fluff loves his Roland SH-101. Here we see him ready to tweak the VCF on this classic synthesizer.

    Submitted by Rene Ubachs via our Facebook page.

  • CatSynth Pic: Self-Oscillating

    CatSynth Pic: Self-Oscillating

    We at CatSynth have been enjoying this meme over the last half-year. But this may be my favorite instance to date 😹🎹🎛.

    The first synth I had that could self-oscillate was the Evolver from Dave Smith Instruments (now Sequential). I enjoyed performing with the “fifth oscillator” as I called it. Since then I have found myself experimenting with such phenomena on many a module.

  • CatSynth Pic: Nina and Novation Bass Station

    CatSynth Pic: Nina and Novation Bass Station

    Nina lays claim to a Novation Bass Station synthesizer in this pic from ros_franck on Instagram.

  • CatSynth Video: Jazz Piano and Cat

    CatSynth Video: Jazz Piano and Cat

    Yes, some may debate whether a cat and piano constitute a “CatSynth pic”, but this is absolutely the content we need today.

  • CatSynth Pic: Merce and microKORG

    CatSynth Pic: Merce and microKORG

    Our friend Merce the Cat (@Merce_the_cat on Twitter) rests comfortably against a microKORG.

  • Wordless Wednesday with Big Merp

    Wordless Wednesday with Big Merp

    Merp is ready to share a glass of wine with his human friends.

    With wine, cats, good music, and intellectual and artistic curiosity, we will get through this.

  • CatSynth Pic: 5U Modular Cat

    CatSynth Pic: 5U Modular Cat

    The 5U modular system comes with its own singing cat module. We at CatSynth would love to get a hold of this. We also see a Twinpeaks filter (Epoch Modular / Rob Hordijk) in the upper rack.

    Submitted by Davor Gazde via our Facebook page.