Grady plays us a drone on the Yamaha DX11 FM synthesizer. From Doug Llewellyn (@doug_whoever) on Instagram.
The DX11 is essentially a version of the Yamaha TX81Z with a keyboard. It is a four-operator FM synthesizer with the added ability to switch waveforms on each operator (something the 6-operator synths like the DX7 didn’t have).
You can see Grady’s many other appearances on CatSynth via his tag.
Tina blissfully sleeps in front of a rare Tama Techstar TAM500 drum machine. Submitted by AxWax via Mastodon.
The TAM500 is a relatively uncommon and lesser-known analog drum machine from the 1980s. It has 5 sounds, each with its own mixer channel and output. You can hear a bit of it in this video.
We at CatSynth have a soft spot for lesser-known drum machines of the era (i.e., outside the ubiquitous Roland TR series). This includes our Yamaha RX5, which I favor for musical projects over the more common options. A TAM500 would be something very different, but also fun to try.
You can see Tina’s previous appearance here.
Adorable kitten Octave explores the Moog Messenger synthesizer. We also see the rackmount versions of the Ensoniq ASR-10 and ESQ-1.
Submitted by End If via our Facebook page.
We have a keyboard version of the ASR-10 in a closet here at CatSynth HQ. As for the ESQ-1, we recently reviewed Cherry Audio’s software recreation.
Fang sits proudly atop a vintage ARP Axxe synthesizer. Submitted by Pete Jay via our Facebook page.
The ARP Axxe was a slimmed-down version of the classic Odyssey with a single oscillator. Note that it shares the same Helvetica and black-and-orange look as the Odyssey and other later ARP instruments (my favorite of their design themes).
The venerable Milo poses with a Korg KMS-30 MIDI Synchronizer. From our friend Keith Winstanley via Facebook.
The KMS-30 is an old device that allows one to synchronize MIDI gear to older gear that used analog DIN sync. Quite useful if one uses older drum machines and sequencers. And this unit still works.
You can see Milo’s previous appearances here.
Pepper poses adorably among various bits of studio gear, including two Moogerfooger pedals, an Erica Synths Resonant Filterbank, a Universal Audio channel strip, and more.
From Yluko via Facebook.
Mixing Zybergeist this morning, loaded up the first track and the kick is so phat and ridiculously loud in a a good way, as it booms out, pepper runs to the speaker like what is this sound. She enjoyed the whole mix session.
Pepper does remind me a lot of Luna.
You can see Pepper’s previous CatSynth appearance here.
Pip sings (or perhaps yawns) while sitting atop a Roland JD-800 synthesizer.
Submitted by miunau via Mastodon.
The adorable kitten Octave stands atop the Ensoniq SQ-80 as she explores the synthesizer jungle.
Submitted by End If via Facebook.
Juno poses with a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer. A purrfect combination.
Submitted by Pete Jay via our Facebook page.
