diy

Teenage Engineering OP-1 and Oplab

Teenage Engineering is always fun. That goes for both playing the instruments and visiting their both at NAMM. We remember the OP-1 from the previous show:

Teenage Engineering introduced Oplab this time around. It’s a DIY system with a small versatile connectivity hub and variety of available sensors, including this shoe:

The heart of the system is the Oplab device itself, with CV inputs and outputs (in a format that connects easily to Eurorack format modules, the OP-1 and other devices), MIDI and USB. The USB can used to connect to an iPad to control synth apps or receive control data. Similarly, the analog CV and custom digital connections serve both directions. In addition to the shoe, they have several available sensors, including pressure, tap and rotation, though they strongly encourage users to bring their own.

The little eviscerated hard-drive on the right is an example of the DIY spirit of the system. It turns out one can spin the disk inside a hard drive and generate useful pulses for temporal control. I had never thought of using a hard drive as a controller before.

The Oplab and its related devices should be available later this spring. I’m definitely intrigued.

CatSynth pic: Appliancide (mostly) DIY modular

From Appliancide, where you can read more about the project.

I ordered some knobs and switch covers for the Doepfer modules, so they will blend in with my DIY stuff better. I am working on a second case and the modules to fill it. I will try to do a start-to-finish pictorial on one the modules this coming year. We’ll see. I like to build slow and rock out to music. Taking pictures cramps my style.

Also on matrixsynth:

“Clockwise starting from the upper left:

Doepfer a-111 VCO, Dual CGS/Serge DUSG, Doepfer a-188-1 256 stage BBD, Doepfer a-188-1 4096 stage BBD, DIY manual gate/lag generator, Doepfer a-135 mixer, Doepfer a-101-2 LPG, DIY version of Fonitronik Attenuverting Mixer and Buchla 292C LPG clone using boards from Thomas White.”

CatSynth pic: ZiLaiHong – DDRM “LiangZhiMao” / ZLH-02

From Meng Qi, via matrixsynth:

Passive dual diode ring modulator with internal connections that can be break by inserting audio plugs.
When only input 1 and 2 are used, output 1 is the ring modulation output, output 2 is the singal of output 1 being modulated again by input 2 (de-modulation output).
When input 1, 2, 4 are used, output 1 is the ring modulation output, output 2 is the singal of output 1 being modulated by input 4.
When all 4 inputs are used, it can be 2 totally indepented ring modulators.
Very versatile!”

Apparently, the cats love it.

CatSynth video: circuit bent doomsday device analog synth

From SuperRoss007 on YouTube, via matrixsynth:

Warning: the sound from this circuit-bent device is quite loud and high-pitched. But the cat seems quite nonchalant about the whole thing, casually cleaning herself/himself during the performance.

Luna is a bit like that as well when I fire up even the more esoteric musical gear.

CatSynth pic: Maplin ETI4600 Synth

Originally from this auction, via matrixsynth, where you can see additional pictures.

The description from the auction (below), is worth a quick read.

“Firstly, this is NOT a synthesiser. It’s a machine for travelling through time and space – sideways. Transport yourself to the far flung corners of the universe and beyond. For some of you, it may be a one way ticket…

As is often the case with these rare beasts, a lot of work initially needed doing. Jim at ‘Singing Cat Services’ has been a godsend, performing shamanic rewiring rituals, voodoo based calibration and much cat orientated strangeness…

… So, if you’re looking to recreate the BBC radiophonic workshop, or have just got too old to drop acid, this is the tool for you!

In short, a delicious slice of history.”

Getting ready for today’s performance – noise synth

While preparing for today’s μ-hausen at Camp Happy performance in the Santa Cruz Mountains, I snapped this Hipstamatic iPhone photo of the custom noise synth created by Travis Johns that I will be using.

I think the noisy and somewhat unpredictable quality of some of the Hipstamatic algorithims fits perfectly with this instrument. (Though I do wish the Hipstamatic did a better job of focusing.)

Also in use will be the Wicks Looper, the DSI Evolver, the iPad and the monome.

CatSynth pic: Not Quite Quad Slope

From Appliancide (via matrixsynth).

More info via this link.

“Like most modular synthesizer users and builders, I suffer from Serge envy. Thankfully for all of us, Ken Stone licensed some of Serge’s designs to sell as CGS PCBs.

Here is my first module using these Serge designs”

The cat in the first photo is the “project supervisor.”

As another feline reference, “CGS” is “Cat Girl Synth”.