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Prolonged life for
vintage polyphonic synthesizers
Martin Hoewner and Heinz Weierhorst, technicians from Bochum (northern Germany), offer visionary solutions for specific problems with vintage analog synthesizers. One such weak point is the power supply unit. They have specially recreated a new PSU for Roland Jupiter-8, Elka Synthex, Moog Memorymoog and Sequential Prophet-5.
Let’s let them speak for themselves:
“The Jupiter-8 tends to run hot. And there’s a lot of background noise in the Memorymoog and the Synthex, caused by the internal fan. Further, the Prophet-5 PSU tends to buzz. We set out to eliminate these three things. The result is a new PSU – which lengthens the life of the instruments and saves electricity as well.
Four Jupiter-8 in a row. Number 1, 2 and 4 have the new PSU installed. Photo (c) Synthtaste
To the high temperatures: these cause electronic components to age prematurely. So an improvement here means prolonging your instrument’s life.
Another problem is abration of the PSU cables due to mechanical wear caused by frequent opening and shutting of the instruments. This can even cause a blown fuse, which may ruin your beloved synthesizer. A problem we were able to solve, too.
There are no more fan noises and no more electric buzzing because our PSU doesn’t heat up und thus doesn’t need any cooling.
Power consumption may not be something that worries you a lot, but it’s still something to think about. We were able to reduce this considerably. The Memorymoog gives us a great chance to demonstrate this: it now needs 48 instead of the original 118 Watt. The picture below shows the Jupiter-8 …
Jupiter-8 power consumption. Original PSU (left) and new PSU (right). Photo (c) Synthtaste
A pleasant side effect of all of this, is that there is additional room in the synthesizers now for further upgrades. Space for our velocity- and aftertouch modification by means of a velocity sensitive keyboard, for example. A nice upgrade that’s also in our program.”
For further infos see: http://www.synthtaste.de
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GreatSynthesizers has checked out the advantages of the new PSU with the Elka Synthex. The modified instrument now weighs a few kilos less (still heavy enough, no question about that) and it has a new power supply unit (PSU) that doesn’t require that original, noisy fan. The synthesizer remains absolutely quiet. So there’s nothing more between you and the superiour tone quality of the Synthex. Recommendable.
Elka Synthex with new PSU - and without fan. Photo (c) GreatSynthesizers
the evosizer – sound examples
evosizer
evosizer plus the especially designed evo controller and its magic keys: evosizer – sound examples
Endeavour website: endeavour.de/
Roland Jupiter-80 V2 – new Low Pass Filters
Roland Jupiter-80 V2 - three new Low Pass Filters
Version 2 adds three more Low Pass Filters to Roland’s Jupiter-80. The internal EFXs are no longer limited to parallel routing, as Version 2 additionaly brings serial routing.
We recorded four audiofiles to compare the different Low Pass Filters. The settings are moderate and with the exception of the filter mode all parameters are the same in all four audiodemos. No EFX used.
Roland Jupiter-80 V2 - now with serial and parallel EFX routing
We would like to thank Michael Menze of Rolandmusik.de for providing V2!
Find a description of each audiofile in the Listening Room.
Waldorf and Rolf Wöhrmann design pioneering new iPad synthesizer
Waldorf iPad-Synthesizer
Press release:
A long tradition of wavetable synthesis – from first PPG synthesizers to the latest developments in terms of Blofeld and Largo – and Rolf Wöhrmann’s (TempoRubatos) vast experience with the iPad synthesis made it only natural to come up with a wavetable concept for the iPad, which, as a mobile platform, is becoming increasingly more significant to professional and semi-professional musicians and producers.
Thanks to intelligent gesture recognition and plenty of available graphic performance the iPad is perfect for bringing wavetable synthesis to a new level. For the first time it will be possible to plunge into the depths of wavetables and to make their sound content visible with advanced 3-D technology.
The cooperation between Waldorf and TempoRubato, also known for their product line NLog Synth, doesn’t stop here: The application will also offer new possibilities for sound manipulation based on Waldorf’s very latest spectral research.
Completely new and unheard sounds
An innovative approach to wavetable synthesis allows for the transposition of the spectrum and the balance of periodic and sound spectra entirely independent from a wave’s position. The existing wavetable technology is thereby extended by two new dimensions, and it allows for formant shifts as well as numerous other unheard sounds. Also, unlike with typical wavetable instruments, the number and length of waves in a wavetable will no longer be restricted. It’s the era of wavetable synthesis V2.0!
This app will support a huge number of hardware MIDI interfaces, e. g. all Core MIDI compatible interfaces by IK Multimedia, iConnectMIDI, MIDI Mobilizer II by Line6, ioDock or the Camera Connection Kit by Apple, as well as proprietary interfaces such as the SynthStation by Akai.
App collaboration standards like Sonoma‘s Audio Copy/Paste, Intua‘s Audio Pasteboard and Virtual Core MIDI will also be supported like the upcoming AudioBus standard and KORG’s WIST synchronization technology.
Joachim Flor, executive manager at Waldorf Music GmbH is pleased: “We are truly excited about our collaboration with Rolf Wöhrmann from TempoRubato. Considering his great experience with the iPad synthesis we are planning to release this excellent synthesiser this summer. Then it will be available at the Apple App Store. It’s going to be an exciting time!“
Rolf Wöhrmann is also looking forward to the challenge: “The cooperation with Waldorf Music and the Waldorf developers is a great honour. Waldorf‘s long history in wave table synthesis and the new and innovative possibilities of the iPad will create an astonishing synthesizer for musicians, sound designers and producers.”
Further information at http://www.waldorfmusic.de/
Studio Electronics – BOOMSTAR x4
Studio Electronics - Boomstar - 4075, ARP Filter
Studio Electronics introduced for models of its new BOOMSTAR all analog, monophonic Synthesizer.
The main difference between the four different models is the filter. Currently one can choose between the following:
- 4075-classic Arp 2600
- 5089-classic Moog 24db ladder
- SEM-classic Oberheim 12db
- 303-classic Roland TB
The CS-80 Filter, which can be added to the company’s Omega and C.O.D.E. synthesizers, is currently not availble.
MSRP: $799.00
Studio Electronics - 5089-classic Moog 24db ladder, 303-classic Roland TB, SEM-classic Oberheim 12db Filter
Tom Oberheim – Two Voice Pro Synthesizer
Tom Oberheim - Two Voice Pro Synthesizer
Features:
- Mini-Sequencer is enhanced – you still generate a sequence with the knobs ( up to 16 positions ) but you can store sequences from the knobs into flash memory (up to 99 sequences stored)
- Two sequences can be played simultaneously (or play one sequence while also playing on the keyboard, like the old one)
- After sequences are stored in flash memory, you can edit them to add 2-way, 3-way or 4-way ratcheting and you can program the gate length from zero (like a rest) up to almost the complete step length
- Sequences can be chained into songs, and each step in a song can be programmed for sequence number, transpose amount and number of repeats
- Sequencer syncs to Midi Clock
- Keyboard outputs velocity and pressure
- Each module (both SEMs, Mini-Sequencer, Keyboard Control) has mini-jack patch points (over 50 patchpoints)
- Pitch and Modulation wheels
- Pan pots
- Headphone output
- Separate Vibrato LFO
The U.S. price of the new Two Voice Pro is $ 3495
Musikmesse Frankfurt 2012 – u-he
u-he Diva
u-he surprised everyone with a Diva hardware controller concept study.
Musikmesse Frankfurt 2012 – Studiologic Sledge
studiologic sledge
- 3 Oscillators per voice, range from 64′ to 1′ each
- Oscillator 1 with 66 original PPG Wavetables
- FM and Oscillator Hardsync
- 2 Noise Generators
- Multimode Filter (24/12dB)
- Arpeggiator
- Internal Effects
- 5 octaves Fatar TP 9 keyboard
Musikmesse Frankfurt 2012 – Roland JUPITER-80 Version 2
Roland Jupiter-80
With the Version 2 software update, the JUPITER-80 offers new features that enhance its formidable synthesis power.
Three additional Vintage Low-Pass Filters
The filter section is one the most important tool kits for editing SuperNATURAL synth tones. Version 2 adds three types of vintage low-pass filters to the lineup. With the addition of these filters, each with unique cutoff and resonance behaviors, you can faithfully recreate coveted synthesizer sounds of the past. We had the chance to listen to them and they really seem to be an improvement. More details as soon as we get access to Version 2.
New MFX Structures
The previous MFX section allowed only parallel connection of the four effects for one Live Set, but with Version 2 you can select MFX structures that let you place up to four effects in series. By using these five MFX structures, you can take full advantage of the JUPITER-80’s powerful collection of effects to create intense electro-synth sounds and intricate ambient synth textures.
New Registration Play Screen
The new Registration Play screen provides easier access to your sounds during live performance. You can see all eight Registrations in a bank at a glance, and select them directly via the touch screen.
Improved SONAR Integration
The Version 2 update offers smoother integration with SONAR software. A dedicated plug-in for your computer lets you easily map the JUPITER-80 to control SONAR’s faders and soft synths.
If you did not already read our Roland Jupiter-80 review, please find it here.