Nord Micro Modular

So I recently picked one of these up off of craigslist. The guy who was actually selling it was an editor for Engadget (a gadget blog that i read on occasion) so that was really cool to meet him under such unusual circumstanes.

Right now im freaking out and playing with it far too much and writing new things on it (its sounds are really inspiring).

Anyways, you can expect a review of it soon!

Blade Runner with a Arp Axe and Micro Korg

The Arp Axe was a monophonic single osc and its making some incredible sounds.

The Never Ending Story - Radical Geometry

Arp Quartet Demo

So I've heeding my craigslist addiction again and almost nabbed an Arp Quartet for 50 bucks, He listed it for that and I replied about ten minutes later but no response..
Anyways, while I was full of excitement thinking I was going to acquire one of these bad boys, be the owner of an ARP, I started watching demos. This one was by far the most impressive.



PS: That Cure at the beginning is tasty.

Sequential Curcuits Six Track Synth Demo

I just found this demo and really thought it was impressive. Enjoy.


PS: do you recognize where youve seen one of these recently? Neon Indian has one!

LCD Soundsystem's Song Influences..

So everyone has heard of LCD, some love em some hate em. I personally really enjoy his music. He drops some lyrics that normally tend to hit pretty close to home with me and, what, I mean his junk is pretty synth too lol.
So I was reading an interview of the guy on Pitchfork, a few minutes ago and he was talking about The Knack being a big influence. They're the band that had a movie made out of their single "That thing you do". So I checked out their song which I have at the bottom of this and said "whaat?" Yes, compare and you be the judge if he totally yanked the main riff.

Also a little background aswell, ehy? So earlier this summer some people on the internet realized a tune off his second album was pretty much a Telex song, Brainwash. (http://shittydj.tumblr.com/post/689524754/released-1981-riyl-lcd-soundsystem)
Here you can see the new one that I just found. (listen to the guitar riff and the piano riff)

	The Knack - Radiating Love .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Reason outfits?

I was looking through the series of tutorials on the Propellarhead site and noticed their shopping page. I dont know about you, I'd like to throw that reason badge on.


https://www.propellerheads.se/shop/index.cfm?fuseaction=product_detail&ID=20870&Cat=6000

Video Review of YAMAHA SK-15

Finally!

Gary Numan - Are Friends Electric

In an honor of his upcoming US tour and my self being a huge fan, I thought I'd post this. Its my favorite song by him and there is some great synth shots in there. The moog Voyager and many others.

Show Last Night

So I played a show in Manhattan last night and it had its normal ups and downs though the piece that has really stuck out, that really made it for me was how incredibly nice the people working there were. The woman working the door greeted me offering to help with things and give suggestions and the guy on sound set up the majority of my equipment and even let me borrow some keyboard stands for the show.




During the set I was improvising some synth stuff that turned out really well that I think I'm gonna have to record sometime soon, though the friendlyness was still the highlight of the night. I'd play there again a thousand times.

PS: I just realized that the hand stamps they were using say "PAST DUE" Hah! Seems people have been keeping up with their rent so the stamp had a change of hands.. In more ways than one.

Upcoming Review of YAMAHA SK-15

So I bought a new board today. Thanks to some rapid craigslist searching for the past few weeks and a really cool person named Lucy, I bought a Yamaha SK-15 today! So my plans are to open her up this weekend and de Lint/dust her and then try and do a video review/demo either after that or next weekend. She is really gorgeous with a solid wood shell (Kinda adds to the weight.. When your carrying it on the subway.)

Here's a little taste.

Korg Poly 800

So I its about time for me to post a review of the Korg Poly 800, owned it for about 2 weeks now.

I really love the thing. It has so much more personality than any of my other hardware synths, from its guitar pegs, lush sound, and even the color choices of the board, it has an awesome 80s synthpop feel to it. Over all the built in sounds are pretty good. None of its sounds are mind blowing but they all are sort of what you would hope to find out of it, from synth strings to synth bass. It can be functional for a number of uses. The joy stick allows the normal pitch bend but also dco and vco control. I normally use this to get a dub step synth type sound.

I picked it up used for 80 and would definitely recommend it to anyone else.




PS: It also has the potential for some extra knobs on top. Alot of people have modded theirs with the "Moogslayer Mod" to give them filter and res control with 2 knobs on top. Would love to find a local willing to do this for cheap..

Interview with Shazy Pop and his comments on Reason 5!

So here is an electronic artist going for a more modern Synthpop sound. Well, lets jump right in.



Who is one of your largest inspirations? Musical or non.
Oh that's easy, ever hear of a guy who goes by Adam Young (Owl City). Before I heard any of his music, I didn't think anyone else but me held such a passion for bubblegummy, poppy, dreamy and sometimes nonsensical musical expression. It was him and all his recent success who put the fire under my shoes to bring back to life my long dormant synth-pop project now known as Shazy Pop. Until then, I didn't think anyone would be interested in this type of music!

With your electronic sound, do you normally write your music on hardware or software instruments?
My studio now is almost all digital. The only hardware I really use is my guitar and some guitar pedals.

What are your favorite instruments and gadgets in your Studio?
Oh wouldn't you like to know... well all I can tell you is I am building an instrument that takes the cake for this question. Expect to see it at a live show coming up...

Where do you come up with your vivid lyrics?
I honestly don't know. While most people have a tendency to sometimes think outside the box, I feel like I'm not even really in it. I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. I write fantasy fiction also, and a lot of my musical inspiration in general comes from that. Look for my first book in a series called The Adventures of Taz coming out in the future because I plan to write a sound track to go with it!

So your new album Pop Goes The Shaz is your first release with Mystic Productions/Sony-Warner Digital. Are you planning in working with them again in the future?
Yes, the contract includes 3 albums.

Is there a main theme to this new album?
Ohhhh yessss. Do what you want, not what your told, be happy, and don't take life so seriously!




So through the grapevine aka your Twitter feed I see your one of the lucky Reason users to get to beta test for Reason 5 and Record 1.5, what was your initial impression?
Definitely worth the upgrade cost!
As many of us know there are many new features in the newer versions such as Live Sampling, the Kong Drum Designer, OctoRex, and improved song construction, which one of these features is turning out to be your favorite and why?
Kong is king I would say. Forget about looking for that perfect snare or kick, etc...just make it! Or modify one with such control and precision that you get the exact sound that fits your mix.

I've found myself being most excited for the kong drum designer, how much control have you found in the creation of drum sounds?
Complete control, I don't think it gets better than this!
Do you have anything else you would like to add about the new software?
Well I can't go into a lot of detail since I agreed to a non-disclosure statement. What I would like to say is that it's noticeably faster in almost all functions. This release is worth paying for the upgrade in my opinion. For the price, nothing can beat it. I now use Reason with Record as the main production tool in my DAW. And the duo is turning out to work great as the backbone of my live shows/sets.

Genre Lines. With a hint of lime.

This morning I got on the 4:57 train into Grand Central. The Today Show was having one of their Free Friday concerts. When walked up the stairs, to real life, I found my self in a hilarious nightmare. Rockefeller Center was absolutely swamped with the very young and the very old all covered in that awful lighting bolt, often by the likes of a sharpie marker.



Around 6:40 everyone who didn't stay over night began to hear her sound check. I said everyone who "didnt" stay over night because you couldn't get anywhere near seeing her from the front when I arrived. Alot of people chose to stand around the corner, where they could at least hear the music. After listening the the mixture of the wall of people who were blocking my view, mixed with drowned out pop music, I decided to find a new spot. Ended up behind the stage, where we at least saw a bit of the band and her back from time to time.
So, the reason I've chosen to post about this is because of her performance. Alot of people call her music SynthPop or Electronica.
This is why all of those people are wrong.
Most SynthPop musicians and bands begin creating their music for their love of the instruments. Just being a Synth Fan and a Synth Enthusiast. When your jamming all the time its sometimes inevitable to put out a few songs. Though, I'll reiterate, it normally stems from the love of the instrument.

Today her performance was comprised of Bass Guitar, Piano, Various Brass instruemnts, and Live Drums. NO SYNTH. Can everyone please take note that the Synthesizer community is either saying "No thanks, we don't really want you in" or "Sorry girl, your out."
Thats all I got right now. Cya later.

Analog review: Pet Shop Boys Edition

So since alot of this blog is about vintage synthesizers, I thought why not throw up a post on vintage music (though I kindof already have with Kraftwerk and Human League posts..

Well some pros on the boys are

Incredible sound. Their rendition of "Always on my Mind" actually blows mine.
Their vocals. Though a number of people have told me they dont enjoy their vocals I like their difference to many bands of their time and genre which were going for the deep sound.
Most Successful UK Duo. Guinness Records named them as such in 2008. Not that I think they were great for making hella money but that they made hella money and kept under the radar from so many of my friends who like to say they "know" music.

Cons
Quality not Quantity. So these guys put out some fantastic songs, 2 of which I'm posting via youtube, but I'd say the number of songs that have repeat value out of them is only 5.
The Name. I have no problem that its not catchy. My problem actually comes from something they had absolutely no control over at all. So I'm sure many of you have heard the song "Party Like a Rockstar" and If you haven't you should probably do just that. Bleh, well it was written by a rap group called the "Shop Boys" who are actually from my hometown of Atlanta, Double bleh. They actually performed at my college a few years back and had 12, I counted 12 people on stage. Oh yes and those twelve, not a single had an instrument.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1dj17y-Wjk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slKFIWVqtl0

So the Pet Shop boys, Id have to give them a 4 outta 5 Synths.


PS: I posted links the videos because youtube has rejected embedding. They are really forfeiting the war with vimeo...

Reason 5 Live Sampling

So Propellerhead put out a new Reason 5 tutorial a few days ago. Its really awful how theyre killing us with this stuff, I've watched so many tutorials on this new software and dont even have it yet. Its set to drop at the end of the summer as one of this summer's most hyped music softwares.

Even if your not a big reason fan, check out the beginning its pretty funny.



These guys have a great sense of humor.

Moog Monday?

Not sure If I'll get a posting moog stuff every monday tradition going but today I'll start it, even if its only today.

So this guy made a nice little SynthPop demo vid of his moog mg-1, cool to hear a tune where every sound is strictly one instrument.



PS: I saw a band called "Islands" this past weekend. They were really great live and had soo much analog on stage! This moog mg-1 as youve just seen in this video, a Juno 60, a Korg ms-20 (live patch design), A Sequential Circuits board and a nord electro 2. Tasty.

Synthiefrau

So one of our fellow Synth Geeks has recently posted a new video. Pretty good stuff, not ever sure whether I'm more of a fan of her broken english or her synthetic tunage. Enjoy her stuff! If your new to her, check out her older videos, she has put more money into synths than I have in my college education (not true).



PS: I think that is a moog keytar in the front of the video.. Starts with an "L"

Software Guitar Efx

Wow, well not to just repost another synth blog but this video was really surprising. So its software guitar effects. Nothing too new or suprising from the look of it, everyone has heard of Garage band and Logic doing a good job of it. Though this is the second version out of Linn design and sounds great. I actually watched/"listened while googling" to the whole video. Some really cool sounds from like Coldplay to NIN.
Kinda lost around minute nine with the noise beats but then some synth loops came in and scooped me back up.. enjoy.
PS: Linn Design also has some really good free drum samples floating around on the internet, just google the junk.



Coming outta Synthtopia!

Nord Rack 2 vs Korg Radias Rack

So, Was bored and watchin some synth demos and found they sell the Korg Radias in a rack version, prices ranging from 700 to 1100. I've always thought the Radias was a beautiful synth after I saw one played at a concert a few years back, its knobs and buttons all lit up looking pretty. Today I decided to compare it to the Nord Rack 2 (comes between 1000 to 1200), on some things that I really dont feel like going into the detail of (honestly).




Radias Rack version still has all of its pretty lights and looks exactly the same, same sound as you would also expect. Though it seemed very strong since it came first, the Nord Rack 2 really came out as the heavy weight by the end. If I had to buy one of these It would be the nord, no questions asked, three hundred totally worth it.


Here's a fun little youtube video of the nord getting demoed for ya to enjoy.

Craigslist Addiction?

I don't know about you guys but I have an awful Craigslist addiction. Just this last week I bought a Korg Poly 800 and the Limited Edition yellow M-audio Axiom. Bleh..

Lately I find myself checking the musical instruments section as often as I check Synthopia..


^^^^Here you can see the Yellow Axiom on the left and the right, my Korg Poly 800 with a strap I put on, hah and in the backleft is my MicroKorg, back right is a little drum machine^^^


You start reading it really often and you start arguing with the ads, this one guy put down a bunch of posts in a row for guitar effects and they were all in CAPS, I mean cmon, you arent Kanye, thats not Okay.

Anyways. I just watched Chemical Brothers - Midnight Madness, That freaking goblin sure gets alot better at free running when the CGI him...


It wont let me embed it sorry :(

YOUUuuuUUU Tuuubeee

Human League

Anybody know who inspired the "waitress at a coctail bar" lyric? Im super curious.




Update: as wiki points out Susan Ann Sulley was never the coctail waitress even though some speculated she was. ARGHH who was then?!?

Fm Bellfast

So heres a band outta Iceland that really hasnt gotten much press from the synth community. The way I actually found em was hearing them play on a local college's radio. So these cats are putting together a pretty original sound with some wavey sounds and some catchy lyrics. Not Gossip poppy but not Washed Out droany. Some of my favorite music right now.



Myspace
Wiki

Neon Synth?

Its weird how neon colors and the word neon have been correlated to synthesizers for so long. Dont get me wrong, theyre pretty colors, look great in visualizations, just something I noticed. From today's Neon Indian (who has an ms-20 that I'm really jealous of) to some of the ground breaking boys in Kraftwerk with their song Neon Lights (one of my favs from them).




PS: What are some things other genres are correlated to that your glad ours isnt?
I'll start us off with fighting, Us synth dudes, we dont really get into fights much.