As promised in yesterday’s Weekend Cat Blogging post, here is Big Merp with our main modular system.
He always wants to be wherever the action is, and at that moment the action was in the studio, where I was editing our latest episode of CatSynth TV, which itself has a feline theme.
A beautiful calico cat sits behind an (also beautiful) Buchla 208 system. From macron_electron via Instagram.
The 208 is really just the top half a Music Easel, i.e., the synthesizer without the touch plate controller. Recently, my interest in Buchla gear at HQ has been rekindled, first by the announcement of the still elusive Red Panel series at NAMM, and then by the demo that we got from Thomas DiMuzio at his rehearsal for the Outsound summit.
Lilly scampers on top of a Eurorack system that is still brimming with potential. From coresect23 via Instagram.
Yogi found a nice place to sit atop an Oberheim Matrix 6R rack-mount synth module. By Sayer Seely via Facebook.
The 6R is the rack-mount module version of the classic Oberheim Matrix 6 from the 1980s.
The Matrix 6 was one of the last few synthesizers from Oberheim to come out during the mid-eighties following the classic OB-series. The Matrix 6 utilized high-tech but less expensive digital and midi features and still retained a totally analog sound. It did this by using DCOs (digitally controlled oscillators) to provide stability, programmability and more. All the Matrix synthesizers featured Matrix Modulation which allows for extremely wild virtual patching for almost unlimited range of sounds and modulation capabilities!
http://www.vintagesynth.com/oberheim/mat6.php
A cat sits atop an original Arp Odyssey. From the appropriately named arpodyssey on Instagram.
Another Original ARP Odyssey in, this one has a problem moving the sliders! Can’t think what the problem may be 😂
Today’s CatSynth video features our very own Big Merp. I was trying out an old photo theremin that I bought years ago, and decided to try playing it in front of Big Merp. Hilarity ensued. Definitely watch the video all the way to the end – the look on his face is priceless.
The photo theremin consists of a simple analog oscillator that uses a light-sensitive resistor (i.e.,a photocell) to control the frequency. So you can move your hand or other objects around it to change the light and thus change the pitch. This one also as an LFO for added sonic variety, and came in a really cool translucent blue case.
Gracie is back, this time with a Korg Poly 61 synthesizer. From Alsún Ní Chasaide (Alison Cassidy) of Synthetic Dreamscapes, who repaired the instrument.
This unusual Korg Poly-61 with factory MIDI retrofit (not Poly-61m) is finally finished and working perfectly. As usual, the last 20% takes 50% of the time!
In this case, the non-working panel buttons were traced to severe oxidation around two connectors on the MIDI board. Both pin headers *and* connectors had to be completely replaced / rebuilt for this to be long-term reliable. Also, one new rubber key contact set was needed, and Andrej’s new CPU board from yesterday.
And after a tune-up – perfect!! Ready to go back to its local owner 👍🏼😊
Gracie is the Quality Engineer for these repair projects 😸🎹
A cute tuxedo cat shows off a Korg Poly 800 synthesizer. From Cesar Inserny via Instagram.
True meownalog synthesizer.
The Korg Poly 800 was a popular affordable polyphonic-analog synthesizer. The first synthesizer that I considered was its successor, the Poly 800 mk2, though was steered away from it because of its lack of velocity sensitivity and small keyboard range. They can still be picked up rather affordably for those interested in trying this instrument out.
