Big Merp with Big Modular

Brown and white cat posing in front of a very large modular synthesizer system with multiple cases.  Several patch cords are connecting modules between different cases.  This is also a camcorder sitting on the desk.

Today, we feature our very own Big Merp, who is posing handsomely in front of our large modular synthesizer installation. Other bits of gear can be found on the desk, which is where we do many of our synthesizer video demos.

The makers of all the modules are too numerous to list here, but we do list them in the tags.

Merp and Modular

Our very own Big Merp leads off the new round of CatSynth pics after NAMM and Buchla & Friends.

Behind him, we see the large modular system, with the Make Noise Tempi, Buchla Red Panel 158, Stymon Starlab, Sputnik Dual Oscillator, Dreadbox Euphoria, and many other modules. Next to so, and slightly under Merp, we see the Korg SQ-1 step sequencer.

Ziggy Cat Cool (ARP TRAX)

We found this gem via our friend Bill T Miller, a musician, engineer, filmmaker, photographer and kook. You can hear and download the track from his Bandcamp page.

We see several ARP instruments, including an early Odyssey and a 2600. We also see a Buchla modular system and a Eurorack modular system. Bill and Ziggy have a great setup.

You can find out more about Bill’s multi-faceted work via billtmiller.com.

Although we connected recently, via our mutual friend Dina Pearman-Ifil of the ARP Foundation, it turns out Ziggy was featured in this post several years ago.

Cammi Granato (plus Eddie Lack) with Synths, Pedals, and More

Cammi Granato sits comfortably next to a live board featuring Red Panda Context, Particles and Bitmap pedals, Make Noise 0-coast and Strega standalone synthesizers, and an AKAI MPX-8. Above is a Roland SE-02 synth, monitors, and “an electro-acoustic thing made by Flesh Vomit.”

Canine Eddie Lack chills nearby as well, providing us with a rare DogSynth pic.

From our friends Scott and Deb via Mastadon. They are a big part of the group that made the recent Wonder Valley Experimental Music Festival happen. You can see our highlight reel of all the acts from the festival in the video below.

Practice is Over (Triangle Synth Party)

From our friends at Triangle Synth Party in North Carolina via Instagram. Grady is a new cat there but has already made himself at home in the studio.

We see some Make Noise systems behind the cat and a Hologram Microcosm in front. The remaining gear is left as an exercise for the reader.

Ed, NLC Modules, Euclidean Circles, Make Noise

Edward (Ed) finds a cosy spot next to a large Eurorack modular system. We see a Euclidean Circles modules from vpme, several DIY-built modules from Nonlinear Circuits with the colorful knobs, a Make Noise Maths, and a Volts Platz from Frequency Central.

Submitted by Gareth aka PnP Modular via Instagram.

Infiltration has occurred…

Big Merp on the Modular Desk

Big Merp loves attention and always wants to be where the action is. So it’s fairly common to find him on this spot between the MacBook Pro and the Modular system. And in this instance, he struck a particularly handsome pose 😻. You can see quite a few of our Eurorack modules, including our prized Metasonix yellow and silver tube modules in the upper left corner of the case, as well as many others that have appeared in our recordings and videos over the years. A full list of brands is in the tags.

This is also where we shoot a lot of our hardware demo videos, so it often ends up cluttered. But we always make sure there is space because you never know when Merp is going to jump up and say hi.

Our 500th Episode of CatSynth TV!

We are celebrating our 500th episode of CatSynth TV! Hard to believe we have made so many of these, but we have and we’re still having fun with it.

This one features numerous synthesizers, including the Octave CAT, Pocket Gamelan, and various instruments from Arturia, Cherry Audio, Moog Music, Strymon, MOK, Buchla, Metasonix, Make Noise, and more. There is also an appearance by Sam Sam at about the 1-minute mark.