Moog Rogue MonoSynth Demo 01 (No Talking)

just-restored Moog Rogue is in the studio. And with some fat bass and analog goodness there was much rejoicing. Raw audio recorded direct via Roland GO:Mixer Pro-X, no post process eq or compression added. Listen w/ headphones or studio monitors to get the full experience! But watch your levels, some signals go into harsh territory.

Be sure to check out my cool Eurorack synth modules available in my Reverb store!

Tweaking Sounds on a Korg MS20 While Sequenced [Demo #5]

Tweaking sounds on an Korg MS-20 while getting sequenced by Beatstep Pro. I'm using a little circuit that converts the eurorack standard to pitch CV and gate triggers the MS-20 can understand.

The Keys To Huge Synthesizer Bass [Tonus VCF Demo #4]

Today in this demo I show some of the keys to getting huge bass sounds. I’m doing this on the Eurorack, but these ideas should work on most any synthesizer.
#1 Choose a quality low pass filter. I’m using my Tonus VCF module, a clone of the ARP 2600 filter. It’s a 4-pole low pass bass that uses a transistor ladder design similar to Moog.
#2 Cobble together as many oscillators as you can. Here, the Pittsburgh Synth Box wields a Tri, Saw, and Pulse along with a Sub-oscillato. Then I add another saw and square wave from the DNA Symbiotic Waves.
#3 For short basses use a punchy VCA/decay combo like the Bastl Skis. If you’re using a hardware synth, route a single envelope to affect the filter amount AND the amplitude at the same time.
#4 Modulate the filter with negative key tracking so that as you play higher on the keys, the higher notes will have reduced frequency cutoff. To do this I am sending the pitch CV to the signal inverter on my Pittsburgh Toolbox. Remember, a signal inverter just mirrors your signal across zero volts. For example, pitch CV goes from 0v to 5v. If you run that through an inverter, the output goes from 0v to -5v.
#5 Modulate the filter with a small amount of LFO to make your bass sound growl.
#6 Bass pads need a longer/slower Attack-Decay-Release envelope to evolve over time.
No effects used, audio recorded direct to Tascam DR-05

ARP 2600 Filter Adaptation - Tonus VCF Eurorack 4012 Module

G-Storm Electro is now on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/gstormelectro

G-Storm announces a new all-analog eurorack module, the Tonus VCF. For a long time I wanted a vintage ARP 2600 synthesizer. Then it dawned on me, all I really wanted was a faithful adaptation of the filter in my eurorack. I'm calling it the Tonus VCF on account that the Tonus ARP logo design was used on the earliest 2600s. Without any further adieu, let’s listen to the Tonus VCF in action!

Great care was taken to keep the Tonus VCF design as close to the original as possible including component selection and transistor pair matching. My modules are painstakingly hand-crafted in the USA in limited quantities. The first units are planned to be available on Reverb.com next week, but my parts suppliers are dealing w/ holiday shipping volumes this time of year. Asking price $200 USD, international shipment available. Full details and specs at Modular Grid.

Korg 770 Analog Monophonic 1970s Synthesizer

In this video I explain and demo the features of the Korg 770 Monophonic Synthesizer. This one is currently available on Reverb. The 770 inherits a lot of DNA from the Minikorg 700/700S models, and it's design is the predecessor to the MS-20 model.

The features are staggering for such a simple looking synthesizer:
- External Input for the filter
- Highpass and Lowpass filter w/ variable resonance (Bright)
- a kind of Pulse Width Modulation (Chorus)
- two forms of ring modulation
- Scale Noise, a noise source which tracks w/ keyboard pitch
- OSC1 vibrato w/ delayed onset
- Automatic pitch-bend, Goldfrapp anyone?
- LFO trigger mode for the Envelopes

Oberheim Matrix-12 Programming Tips + Tricks [#2 Kick Drum]

Quick how-to video making an electronic kick drum on the Oberheim Matrix-12 Synthesizer. You can use any programmable synthesizer that has filter self-oscillation, usually but not limited to a 4-pole (24 db/oct) filter slope. A couple of the tricks I employ here may surprise you, and can be used on other kinds of synth sounds. Be sure to stay for the end of the video, where I fatten my kick drum sound through a vintage audio compressor.

Korg MS-20 Mult-Track Demo #4

This is a Multi-Track demo with all sounds coming from the Korg MS-20 analog monophonic synthesizer. Going for some aggressive Acid House sounds today, putting up some of the patches of these sounds, and a tribute to some bands that have used MS-20 in studio or on stage.

The track is called No Refunds. It is inspired by the VCA noise controversy that apparently spawned a few synth returns in music stores. I shall not be refunding mine. :)