Posted on 12/02/2014
Posted on 21/03/2012
A powerhouse engine The Virus TI synth engine is very well equipped, and enables a wide range of sounds – from classic analog emulations, to dazzling, distorted arpeggios. The synth based on Virtual Analog technology with its 3 oscillators, dual multimode filters, generous modulations and beefy effects. The keyboard feels heavy and reassuring, and a […]
Posted on 01/07/1995
Eurorack is a specification for modular synthesizers, invented by Dieter Doepfer in 1995. Using the classic synthesizer CV/Gate interconnections Doepfer created a string of modules for his system, and other manufacturers eventually followed. From 2010 and onwards the format has grown dramatically, with many smaller boutique manufacturers making specialised modules – all following the same […]
Posted on 01/01/1995
I have created a fully integrated Logic Pro X MIDI sysex editor for the Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter MIDI Sound module. The editor mimics the functionality of the original MPG-80 programmer for the MKS-80 and adds several extra features: Simultaneous view of the Upper and Lower parts for easier layering of sounds Arpeggiator A Chase […]
Posted on 01/10/1986
Posted on 01/04/1986
The Oberheim Xpander was a very ambitious synth for the time (1984). It features a very flexible analog subtractive engine, and adds a Modulation Matrix that gives it a lot of extra flexibility compared to fixed signal path synths prevalent of the period. It’s 6 voice can be split in 6 fully independent monophonic synths, […]
Posted on 12/03/1986
Acquired: Autumn 1985. Sold: 1987 After the inital novelty effect of the Fairlight CMI had settled, a range of more affordable samplers were expectably popping up. The first of these – the Ensoniq “Mirage” sampler had a basic sampling and synth engine, and was able to record short samples in only 8-bit resolution. It was […]
Posted on 06/08/1985
The Roland MKS-70 is a rack mount version of the quite well-specified Roland JX-10 Keyboard. The JX series has a somewhat different architecture from the Juno and Jupiter series. It started with the JX-3P keyboard which had a different sound and approach. The JX-3P was followed by the JX-8P which expanded the feature set, and features a […]
Posted on 05/03/1985
The Roland MKS-80 was launched as a rack successor to the big and beautiful Jupiter-8 synth – the unofficial king of the 80s polysynths. The MKS-80 had several additions to the JP-8, with MIDI and Velocity response as the most important. This made the instrument a lot more expressive, than the sweet sounding but more static […]
Posted on 01/10/1984
Same, same – but different Synclavier is an FM synth with add-on sampling. Fairlight is a sampler with additive synthesis capabilties. This is the major conceptual difference between the machines, that also have major operational differences. I was a long time resident studio programmer in PUK studios using both machines in the 80s. Had them […]