CatSynth pic: RMI DK-20 (USA) Digital Synthesizer…from 1980s

Image from an auction, via matrixsynth.

“Rare very early digital synthesizer from 1981/2. Three seperate outputs ~ bass/solo & treble ~ in zones across the keyboard. Preset or user-change. Non-velocity basic polyphonic organ/clavinet/lute/bass tones with vibrato variants and decay/sustain features.”

This is not a synth I had previously heard of.

“HISTORY Made in USA by RMI (of 368X prog-rock fame). Imported by KK… The DK-20 was RMI’s attempt at digital synthesis; in 1981 this was the beginning of an age of synthesizers…..ARP/Moog/Oberheim to name a few more famous….”

CatSynth video: Studio Tour with Zac the Black Cat

From hyperdust7 on YouTube, via matrixsynth.

Quick view around the Fernforest Project Studio. My black cat likes sitting on things that are black and stylish. He thinks he fits in well and looks cool.
Synths in order – Doepfer Modular A-100, Moog Etherwave Theremin, Moog Voyager Old School, Schlagswerg analogue drum machine, CP-251 moog control processor, Dave Smith Mopho and Tetra, Mackie Onyx firewire mixer, PC, M-Audio Oxygen 25, NI Maschine and a Monome my brother built.
The music is called “Dark Glow” by me. you can find the whole track on soundcloud.

CatSynth video: IPad, TouchOSC, Buchla 200e demo.

From legionhwp on YouTube, via matrixsynth.

This is an instructional demo from the blog: Http://SynthandI.blogspot.com

The first half of this explains what is needed to connect an IPad running a midi controller App (in this case TouchOSC) to the Buchla 200e modular synthesizer. The second half of this video show a bit about the patch I made in TouchOSC and discussed the possibilities for further exploration.”

Watch for the cat at the beginning of the video.

CatSynth video: Michael Hearst – Ode to Odd Instruments

A video with “odd instruments” and a cat, by Michael Hearst (via matrixsynth).

Including (in order of appearance): Knockman “Chachak,” daxophone, Hohner claviola, bass melodica, stylophone, otamatone, Moog theremin, Elasticbrand Audioware rattle, porter’s bell. Also featuring Maddie the cat.

www.michaelhearst.com”

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.