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Category:Studio Diary

Roland SH-101

Roland SH-101 (Wall Mounted, Bad Paint Job)

Brand: Roland
Model: SH-101
Link: http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/sh101.shtml

BLURB:
This is my oldest synth!!! It was the second synth I purchased.
The custom paint job was allegedly done by FRANKIE KNUCKLES (!!!) during the early 90s at a bush rave (Doof) near Byron Bay – back in the day when “Raves” and glow sticks were cool. This horrible paint job also acts as insurance…no-one wants to steal it.

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I like your old stuff better than your new stuff…

I’m on an (insert “old and established” artist here) binge. Everything from his first demos to the latest stuff – nearly 30 years of amazing music. His old stuff is raw, experimental, full of mistakes, poor production and AWESOME.

His new stuff is clinically brilliant, but lacks something. Like he’s lost that edge that comes with learning, making mistakes and not giving a f*ck.
Don’t get me wrong, i think the guy’s brilliant and he’s been a profound influence on me and millions of others.

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STUDIO SNAPSHOT : The OberMoog

Brand: Oberheim and Moog (allegedly)
Model: The mythical “OberMoog” Pro-type *Modular* Synth made by Moog and Oberheim
Link: NO LINKS EXIST.

BLURB:
I bought this in an auction after we lost the bid on a MiniMoog (the Obermoog started our modular addiction!!). The guy we bought if from told me he bought it in Germany in the early 80s.

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Modular questions for Zoog

Techmaster originally posted on Angelspit’s Forum:
http://krankhaus.net/forum/index.php?topic=5307.0

Check this thread because there’s been a lot of cool conversation since the original post.

Modular questions for Zoog

Can you share any info on extra equipment you’ve added to your rig, like why you chose it, and how well it serves its purpose, etc… I’m sure modulars are just like anything else, no one brand is good at everything, and you kind of have to find what brand is best at what…like Doepfer might have the best oscillators, but Blacet has the best LFO, Analogue Solutions has the best distortion unit, etc…

Can you share any info on extra equipment you’ve added to your rig, like why you chose it, and how well it serves its purpose

 

Anyways, after seeing/hearing what you’ve accomplished with your modular, and what other people are doing with them, I’ve decided to take the plunge. I purchased a Doepfer kit today to build my rack, it comes with the rails and power supply. Before I started ordering any modules, I figured I’d ask Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, what he recommends getting as far as the modules.

Firstly, go here and read this:
http://www.angelspit.net/modular_synth-int/

i think your attitude to this is really good – take it slow!
modulars allow you to dissect sound on a very detailed level….patience and persistence young jedi!

 

So will these recommended setups sound like these other guys, or will it sound like all hell is breaking loose?
Anyways, here’s a brief rundown:
Mini basic system (1 row of modules):
2 VCO’s, 1 ring modulator, 1 random noise, 1 VCF, 1 log VCA, 1 log mixer, 1 ADSR, 1 LFO, 1 midi interface

if money is tight, get this one. you can do A LOT with this!
be aware: i think this filter is the A-120…and it’s rather plain.
Basic system 2 (2 rows of modules):
2 VCO’s, 2 ADSR’s, 2 LFO’s, 1 ring mod, 1 audio divider, 1 VC wave processor, 1 random noise, 1 VCF1, 1 VCF2, 1 linear VCA, 1 log VCA, 1 linear mixer, 1 log mixer, 1 dual S&H, 1 trigger divider, 1 trigger sequencer, 1 dual slew limiter, 1 multiple i, 1 midi interface

this one is awesome, but there’s some stuff here that you might not use:
1 VCF1, 1 VCF2 – interesting to find out what these are. like i mentioned, the A-120 is plain…but the A-102 is AMAZING! (and it’s also cheaper)
The Trigger Divider and Trigger Sequencer are not overly useful unless you’re using analogue trigger sequencers.

You’ll notice eBay is crawling with trigger dividers, trigger sequencers and dual slew limiters…this is because people buy this package and sell the stuff they never use.

Also you’ll need more that on multiple…they’re easy and cheap to make!!

Advice:
Either way, you will want to add to your system….start with a GOOD oscillator and a GOOD filter.
Doepfer oscillators are ok…they have a habit of loosing their tuning over several octaves, but they have some awesome strengths – they’re cheap and they respond wonderfully to FM.
Important thing to remember about Doepfer power units:
They can power A LOT more than 10 moduals – there’s a “Studio Planner” Excel sheet somewhere that will let you plan your set up. It will add up the voltages to make sure you don’t blow the power….and you can power MANY (like 15-20) modulars from the one power unit…which is handy to remember, because the power units are the most expensive part of a modular.

Different oscillators and filters from different companies sound completely different. A Doepfer oscillator sound different to an Analogue Solutions oscillator.

 

I was thinking of basically piecing together the 1 row setup, then slowly add pieces to make the 2 row setup.

I think this is the best option. Keep me posted on how it grows!

CYBER JAM MAYHEM WITH ZOOG

On January 31st Zoog streamed a jam session with his modular synths. Angelspit have made the files FREE for use in your tracks.

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STUDIO SNAPSHOT : Floating Jupiter-8 Pads

We’re laying down pads for a new track. They need to sound like EVIL CLOUDS…here’s how we do it:

1) Two similar pads sounds. Slow attack and slow decay. Super slow LFO modulating Freq Cut-Off (Resonance applied to taste…the more resonance the more alien it will sound). HiPass filter applied so it takes the “guts” out of the pads.

2) Pan pad [A] 70% left, and pad [B] 70% right. Add reverb and chorus, but pan the reverb+chorus for Pad [A] 100% hard RIGHT, and Pad [B]’s chorus+reverb 100% hard left.

The mirrored wet to dry signals will add to the stereo field
The variation in panning will add to the perceived width of the stereo field
The HiPass filter on the pads will add to the perceived depth

…and yes, call me a liar, I pushed the UNISON button on the Jupiter8

Industrial Guitars

Ghost.7 from our Forum asked this question:

http://krankhaus.net/forum/index.php?topic=10839.0

so..I’ve been playing guitar for a while now, and I’m getting more and more in to industrial music.
So do you have any ideas how to get a nice aggressive industrial guitar-sound?
Like what pedals/modules can I use? What do you use?
I’ve been looking att the moogerfooger freqbox (mf-107), kinda nasty, not to cheap though :/

Thanks for this. To make an aggressive industrial guitar sound you need an aggressive industrial attitude and the tools to realise it. You need the following things to make AWESOME GUITARS happen:

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Pissing your life away…

I am increasingly frustrated by people who have great plans but lack the courage to make them happen.

Talent amounts to nothing. if you ain’t got BOLDNESS, you ain’t got anything.
I’ve met so many gifted composers who make the most amazing music…but are content with burning a few CDs for friends and uploading onto their Bandcamp, constantly working and re-working the same tracks, building up an arsenal of gear, dreaming about rock-stardom…and lacking the boldness to take the step and DO IT.

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Metasonix TM-2

Brand: Metasonix
Model: TM-2
Link: http://www.metasonix.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=30

BLURB:
The guy who designed this really thinks “outside the box”. You can create standard (yet distinctive) bandpass filter sounds, or you can seriously and brutally mash the sound. The resonator does something scathing to the audio…it does not distort it, it HURTS it!
This is a double bandpass filter (2 Bandpass Filters working in Parallel approx 1 octave apart), so it sounds different to a Low Pass Filter (most filters are Low Pass). At it’s core is a valve…and you can really hear it’s influence on the sound.

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Question about Religion

 

Recently, Kala Gombos asked me this question via email. I thought it was such a good question I’d post it here…
I’d love to hear other your thoughts on this topic.

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