Kawai K1m Retro Digital Synth Euphoria Desktop Module

Today I'm auditioning my original patches made for the Kawai K1m. A very limited digital synth from the 90s. And yet after digging into the architecture was able to harness some very powerful and unique features that are really, I mean, REALLY surprising. You'll hear some cheesy things, some pads, basses. And then there's fat poly action, swirling digital synth soundscapes. And alive motion things that are frankly astounding for such an unassuming little black box. Try to keep in mind when you hear the Mesmerized patch - the K1m has no sequencer nor arpeggiator. No freely assignable LFOs, just a fixed vibrato and that's it. And NO filter ha! Be sure to watch the whole video, lots of my favorites are on the 2nd half starting @3:19. My favorites are Head East, LA Sunset, Liquide and Mesmerized...which ones did you like?

0:00 Steamy
0:22 StringSyn
0:32 MicroMacro
0:45 Meekly
1:04 Spokes
1:18 Bedtime
1:39 SynViolin
1:49 Deep State
1:58 ChordLock
2:08 Sunrays
2:21 StringPad2
2:40 Sine Tones
2:51 ReedyBass
2:57 LectroKeys
3:18 TreeOfLife
3:45 Worn Tape
4:09 Ramp Me!
4:27 Italio
4:42 Hunter Bass
4:52 FlrscntBass
5:02 LA Sunset
5:43 Liquide
6:27 FuturChopz
6:42 Big Chill
7:10 Digipad
7:22 Fat Poly
7:43 Fat Punch
7:50 Head East
8:21 Night Sky
8:37 Artifakt
9:10 Mesmerized

Recorded direct, only the onboard effects are used. No other mastering or effects have been added.
Be sure to check out my Reverb Store for cool eurorack modules and gently owned gear for sale.

Towering Bass Patches | Gyrinx VCF Filter [Demo 5]

Today I'm auditioning a few humongous bass patches featuring the Gyrinx VCF, no effects. Feeding only a couple of 101-VCOs and Pittsburgh DNA Symbiotic Waves. Modulation by 2xADSR and Feedback Modules LFO, Sequenced by Keystep Pro. Headphones or good monitors recommended. Recorded direct to Tascam DR-05, no other mastering just a little normalization.

Gyrinx-VCF is a eurorack filter inspired by the vintage Synton Syrinx filter section using Alfa AS3350 chips. Check my Reverb store for Gyrinx-VCF availability

E-MU ESI-32 for Pure Lofi Sampler Bliss [Demo]

Today I'm exploiting the ESI-32 rack sampler for lofi/crunchy/funky sound in multi-timbral mode. Drums were sampled at mono 22K then downsampled to 12K bandwidth, everything else down to 8K. All you're hearing is the ESI-32 sampler including built-in chorus, and internal LFO applied to autopan/vibrato. The audio was recorded direct to Tascam DR-05, no additional effects or mastering.

ESI-32: bit of an underdog, in that early 90s era when samplers started to overcome their limitations of memory, bandwidth, storage media, and processing capabilities. At a fraction of the current selling price for other vintage samplers of the late 80s that preceded it.

Champion Leccy Swan Hunter [Demo w/ Synthesizers #13]

The Swan Hunter by Champion Leccy.
Beautiful lo-fi, reverb-y (Belton brick) + delay (PT2399) goodess.
Today I'm running some synths through it.
Roland Juno-60
Korg MS-20
Casio CZ-1000
Formanta Maestro
and JV-2080 'Nice Piano' patch going thru my Pro-VCF eurorack filter.

And be sure to check out the Pro-VCF and my other cool eurorack modules available in my Reverb store.

Roland JX-08 Synth Demo | 3 Vignettes in 3 Minutes

Ah the Roland JX-08 Boutique Synth module.
Sold my JX-8P some time ago and was pining for some of that vibe.
The JX-08 does very well, and a fraction of the studio space :D
Making use of the on-board sequencer and/or Keystep Pro.
Patches are derivations of factory presets.
Recorded direct, only the onboard effects are used.
No other mastering or effects have been added.

Be sure to check out my JX-8P synth videos
Demo #1
Demo #2
Demo #3

T2K-VCF Transcendent 2000 Eurorack Filter Adaptation Demo No Talking

T2K-VCF is a Eurorack modular adaptation of the Powertran Transcendent 2000 analog filter. Wavefolded material sounds phenomenal on this, coming from Capt'n Big-O. Op Amp gain compensation means no loss of bass frequencies even at extreme resonance settings. Resonance will self-oscillate and produces a nice aggressive sinewave alone. With some coaxing you can track the self-osc w/ v/oct. At the end you'll hear the filter output going into a phaser and delay.

Sound sources | Capt'n Big-O + GSE 101-VCO
Envelope | GSE 2xADSR
Phaser | GSE Polychrome Phaser
Delay | FX Aid
Recorded direct, no other mastering or effects.

Check my Reverb store for T2K-VCF availability and other cool modules

Feed External VCOs into the Korg MS-20 Synth using KVP [Quick Tip]

Quick Tip using the KVP to send external VCOs into the MS-20.
KVP stands for Korg Voltage Processor, and is derived from the vintage
MS-02 voltage processor no longer in production. As you're already aware, you can use KVP to convert eurorack pitch (v/oct) to the Korg standard (hz/v). And use your sequencer to control the MS-20....

But what about the other (Korg hz/v)-to-(Euro v/oct) pitch converter?
Sure! Use the MS-20 to control your eurorack VCOs.
Take it only one step further to send the external VCO output INTO the MS-20 external input.
To add more VCOs to the MS-20 oscillators for big fat sound.
I will show you how to patch it up.
It works for the vintage MS-20, the MS-20 Mini reissue as well as the Behringer K-2.
And any manufacturer synth using the Hz/v standard.

Some shaky cam footage, I threw this one together in haste...but don't hate :D Hit that LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE now.

Some fx added
Delay: Timefactor
Reverb: Big Sky

KVP and many other cool eurorack modules are available in my Reverb Store
Recorded direct to Tascam DR-05.

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.

Three 101-VCF Modules Polyphonic Filter Demo 03 (Roland SH-101)

Today I deploy THREE 101-VCF modules for some polyphonic synth music.
The three filters are getting their CVs round-robin much like a polyphonic synthesizer distributes their voices.
To do this I use the sequential switch to rotate the firing of envelope contours going to each 101-VCF.

Pittsburgh Synth Box - 101-VCF #1
DNA Symbiotic Waves - 101-VCF #2
Rozendall CEM3340 VCO - 101-VCF #3
Bass - Behringer Model D
Pads - Roland Juno-1
Envelope Contours - 2xADSR dual envelope
Sequencing - Arturia Beatstep Pro Pitch CV and clock
Kick - Future Retro Transient
Hats - Tiptop Hats909
Additional percussion - Roland TR-606
Delay - Timefactor
Small amount of Reverb - Strymon Big Sky

Recorded live in one shot.
Some post-processing in Cubase 7.

101-VCF Filter Higher Pitch Sequence Demo 02 (Roland SH-101)

In my last demo of the 101-VCF 8HP Eurorack module we heard some big phat bass sounds.
So what does higher-pitch sequences sound like going through it?
Answer: Sugary sweet, like a dream.
Take my word for it but watch the video anyway it's a bit repetitious but fun.
Be warned - some delicious high-end pitch resonance ahead!

Oscillators - Pittsburgh Synth Box PWM + Saw, CEM3340 VCO Saw
Envelope Contours - 2xADSR dual envelope
Sequencing - Arturia Beatstep Pro Pitch CV + gate
Kick - Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter
Hats - Tiptop Hats909
Delay - Timefactor
Small amount of Reverb - Strymon Big Sky

Evolving Chords Eurorack Synthesizer Performance Demo

Performance using evolving chord changes with my custom DRE4MTR4CK Euro module. It has 4 independent tracks of polyphonic pitch control:
Track 1: Pittsburgh Synth Box, internal filter
Track 2: DNA Symbiotic Waves, JP-6 Filter clone
Track 3: Disting MK3, Doepfer SEM filter
Track 4: Rings, no filter.

Clocking direct to envelopes, triggering pitch changes manually. Track 1 pitch CV is going through a PM Toolbox slew limiter. Mix is going to Timefactor delay. Recorded direct through a Mackie 802 to a Tascam DR-05.