Review: Francis Bowie EP

Multitalented Dane Francis Bowie provides the perfect soundtrack for the approaching summer months with “Sunny Day”, a track from his EP launched in October last year.

Producing in the electronic/intelligent pop music style, his EP features a range of soaring synthesiser lines together with orchestral backing. The style is light and fresh without falling into the Pop Idol trap.

“IPM is an attempt to put some quality, dignity and honour back into popular music,” Bowie says.

His EP features four tracks. “Endlessly” is delightfully upbeat with plenty of synth evidence.

“Wasting My Time” has an almost sci-fi electronic feel with lots of deep synth action, orchestral strings and piano. Fantastic.

Finally, after “Sunny Day”, comes “Silly And Crazy”, featuring synth zings and altered electric pianos.

Those of you with creativity that extends beyond the music keyboard may also be interested to know that Francis is also a painter, sculptor, designer, writer and gallery owner.

Check out the official YouTube channel, web site and Facebook page. Buy the EP for $3 or more or check out Francis Bowie’s SoundCloud page.

Korg X3 Synthesizer [eBay]

If you want to get your hands on a piece of Korg kit from the mid-90s, check out this auction for a Korg X3.

The Korg X3 is a synthesizer produced by Korg in 1993. The X3 features 200 Programs, 200 Combinations, 32-voice polyphony, a 32,000 note, 16-track sequencer with 100 patterns and 10 songs and a double-sided, double-density 3.5 inch floppy disk drive for song and other data storage types. Korg also released the X2 (76-key) with 8 Mbyte ROM (6Mbyte X3 + 2Mbyte new Piano) in 1994 along with a rackmount version dubbed the X3R, which also had a floppy disk drive.

Many of its samples come from the T3 Series and 01/W Series Synthesizers. The X3 features 339 samples compressed into 6MB of ROM and Korg beefed this synth up in areas where previous Korg synths had been weak (For example, Organs and Strings).

The X3 lacked several key piano samples that had become popular in the M1 and 01/W series, replacing them with different samples altogether, and (arguably) not as good sounding as before. They eventually brought back some of these classic Korg sounds (like the M1 Piano) in the X5D and future Korg synths.

Improv Synth Solo with a dash of Daft Punk’s Aerodynamic [Video]

Here’s a cool little video with great sound, with a hat tip to Daft Punk’s Aerodynamic. A different take (and visual) to Myleene Klass’s version.

“My buddy Colin posted a video of his band playing Aerodynamic by Daft Punk and it inspired me to fire up the old Triton and work the crunchy and dirty patches I had from years ago. I rarely uses the triton as a synth anymore, I rely on Logic and MIDI controllers, but I sometimes long for the not-so-pristine sound that some of my triton patches had.

That said, this is also partially inspired by Ronald Jenkees, who has made it cool to play the synth again!”

Uploaded by Gm7Cadd9 on Feb 19, 2012

EMS VCS3 [Vintage]

Overview

One of the very first synths created, in the late 1960s, by England-based Electronic Music Studios.

The highly portable modular synth featured a three octave keyboard, monophonic sound, noise generator, two input amps, one ring mod, one voltage controlled low-pass filter and spring reverb unit, one trapezoid envelope generator, joystick controller, and two stereo output amps.

Artists to have used these synths include Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, Stereolab, Yes, Aphex Twins, Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, Astral Projection, Depeche Mode, The Who and Recoil.

Specifications

Company: Electronic Music Studios (EMS)
Year First Produced: 1969
Produced Until: 1994
Polyphony: Monophonic
Oscillators: 3 VCOs (subtractive/FM analog synthesis)
LFO: Yes
Filter: Low Pass VCF
VCA: Trapezoid waveshape Envelope generator
Keyboard: No
Memory: No
Control: CV/Gate

Links

• Vintage Synth Explorer
• EMS VCS 3 @ Wikipedia
• Synthtopia
• EMS VCS3 Videos @ YouTube
• Electronic Music Studios Home Page
• EMS Synth Range 1969-1979 @ EMS Home Page

EML ElectroComp 200 [Vintage]

Overview

One of the very first synths created, in the late 1960s, by Electronic Music Laboratories. Similar to Moog and ARP synths, the company designed for the educational market.

The ElectroComp 200 included a number of features including stereophonic sound, a Wave Shaper. It has a great front panel and over 60 patch points. It can be used with other analog synths with the correct type of CV/Gate connections.

Specifications

Company: ElectroComp Labs (EML)
Year First Produced: 1969
Produced Until: 1980
Polyphony: Monophonic
Oscillators: 2 VCOs (sine/triangle/pulse/noise)
LFO: Yes
Filter: Low Pass, High Pass, 2 Ring Mods
VCA: ADS envelope generator
Keyboard: No
Memory: No
Control: CV/Gate

Links

• Synth Museum
• Vintage Synth Explorer
• 1973 Sales Booklet for EML ELECTROCOMP 200 Synthesizer @ Matrixsynth
• ELECTROCOMP EML-200 For Sale
• EML ElectroComp 200 Images @ PhotoBucket
• ElectroComp 200 YouTube Videos
• EML ElectroComp 200 @ Synthfind
• Electronic Music Laboratories Wikipedia entry

Roland intros BK-5 backing keyboard [NAMM12]

Buy the Roland BK-5 Backing Keyboard from zZounds.

Auto-accompaniment features on electronic keyboards are nothing new, but Roland believes it has stepped up the game a notch with the introduction of its BK-5 Backing Keyboard.

Designed for the one-man gigging keyboardist, or to use to accompany others, the BK-5 includes a powerhouse of authentic sounds, a large range of drum kits, a wide variety of accompaniment styles spanning cultures and musical genres, and the ability to handle MP3, SMF, WAV and Rhythm files for greater creative possibilities.

Key features include:

• Self-contained, do-everything keyboard with auto-accompaniment engine and built-in sound system
• Wide selection of sounds, Music Assistants, and Rhythms that cover a wide landscape of musical genres (including East-Europe, Latin-America, Asia, and more)
• Friendly graphical user interface
• Onboard effects, including reverb, chorus, EQ, multi-band compressor, and dozens of multi-effects
• Music rhythm compatibility with Roland BK-7m/E-series/ G-series/VA-series instruments
• Compatible with backing formats (SMF, MP3, WAV, and Rhythm) directly from USB memory; instant audio recording onto USB memory
• Automatic chord detection for SMF files
• Video output to share SMF/MP3 Lyrics with friends or the audience on an external screen

Read more about the features below.

Roland BK-5 Sound Generator

The BK-5 is powered by a state-of-the-art Roland sound engine, packed with over 1,100 great sounds and dozens of drum and percussion kits. The instrument is able to handle 128 voices simultaneously, and is compatible with a variety of voicing formats, including GM2, GS, and XG Lite. Feed the BK-5 a Standard MIDI File, buckle up, and get ready for a great-sounding band!

Roland BK-5 Creative Control

In addition to playing MIDI Files with its internal sound generator, the BK-5 can also play and manipulate audio files. Play MP3 or WAV files via USB and use the onboard controls to change key signature and tempo to best suit your vocal range or performance style. You can also use the BK-5′s Center Cancel feature to minimize the vocals from pre-existing songs to create instant karaoke-style sing-along tracks.

Roland BK-5 USB Compatibility

To expand the capabilities of the BK-5, a USB port is provided for connecting to industry-standard USB storage devices such as a USB key or self-powered USB hard disk for playing and modifying/ saving files. You can also use the USB port to record your performances as audio files (WAV, 44.1 kHz/16-bit linear format) on a USB storage device.

Roland BK-5 Video Compatibility

The BK-5′s composite video output can be connected to an external monitor, which allows the audience or other musicians onstage to follow the lyrics and chord symbols of the performed song. Turn your show into a multimedia experience!

The Roland BK-5 has a list price of $1,199 and is available now. Buy from zZounds.

Nick Rhodes, Duran Duran synth man, talks analog and digital

The Las Vegas Review Journal has published a really interesting interview with Nick Rhodes, the keyboard/synth player in Duran Duran.

Not only do we get a glimpse of some of his influences — including Kraftwerk, Wendy Carlos, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Bjork and Portishead — but an interesting look at how digital is used to take some of his beloved analog sounds on tour.

Rhodes must re-create those synthetic tones digitally, because it’s not practical to drag vintage analog machinery on the road. (Rhodes does bring one digitally controlled analog synthesizer on tour. It’s called the Andromeda.)

So to re-create the album on tour, Duran Duran digitally sampled all their synthesized tones and texture.

“Digital sampling now is amazing,” Rhodes says.

But digital still doesn’t have the same aural response as analog, he says.

“Analog can do things that digital will never be able to do. It’s got a heartbeat,” he says. “Analog instruments are all like wild animals you have to tame. You can get things out of those beasts that you’re never going to get out of digital synthesisers.”

Fred Falke gives tour of home studio

Fred Falke, known for producing music in the French House genre, gave Music Radar a tour of his home studio. As you might expect, it’s pretty impressive.

Take the tour and see his Yamaha CS-80, Roland TR-909, ARP Solina String Ensemble, Korg Trident, Univox Minikorg, Moog Polymoog, plus the all-important rack of effects et al, The Yamaha NS10 speakers, Ableton Live, and his beloved bass guitar.

Ultimate Collection of Synth, Keyboard and Piano Tees

You love your piano or synth, right? But what else can you do to show your appreciation apart from playing it (naturally), taking it on gigs and talking to everyone about the latest pieces of music you’re playing or sounds you’ve created?

Wear a themed T-shirt of course!

We present the ultimate list of piano, keyboard and synth-inspired short-sleeved tops for your pleasure.

We’ve set the bar rather high by calling our list “ultimate”. Call us out on this one — if you’ve seen or designed an amazing (relevant) tee, let us know.

Now go, adorn.

Playable Tees

Who said that tee-shirts had to be merely printed? Here are two designs that can be played. We’re thinking you might get into a spot of trouble if you try to play someone else’s tee, particularly if they’re female, but if you’re wearing this yourself, feel free to prod away at your chest.

Electronic Music Synthesizer Shirt

Synthesizer Battery Operated Keyboard Design

Synth Designs

Red Synthesizer Filter Shirt

Keyboard: Vintage Synthesizer: 3D Model

Vintage Keyboards: 3D Model

If you really have this many synths you may not have any money left to buy this tee-shirt. Unless you’re Rick Wakeman.

The Moog T-Shirt

Robots Are the Future, apparently.

Puppetbox Synthesizer Logo

Some nice knobs going on this three-octave beauty.

Filter Tee Shirt

Frequency, resonance, mod depth. What more could you ask for on your chest?

Moog T-Shirts

Grungy Moog goodness.

Danger Synth Shirt

Perhaps the owner has been circuit bending. I’ve never touched a synth and received a bodily injury, but there could be a first time.

Keyboards != Coasters T-Shirt

’nuff said. If you’ve been there, you know.

Colorful Synthesizer Tee Shirts

It is. Synthesizer.

I Love Distorted Synths

Distortion rules.

Analog Synthesizer Tee

Nice bit of generic synth action and ’80s style futuristic writing on this one.

Schematic of Moog Synthesizer Tee-Shirt

Now you know why nerds keep staring at your chest and smirking.

Modularman Scarab Synthesizer T-Shirt

Weird beastie connected up to a load of synth inputs and outputs. Freaky.

Roland TB-303 Acid Synth Tee-Shirt

303. Unmistakeable.

Korg Originals

Korg MS20

This long-coveted patchable mono-synth has been used by cutting edge and retro artists for decades, and was the first Korg synthesizer to be re-created in software in the Korg Legacy Collection. The shirt features a popular 1970s Korg sticker design featuring one way-cool dude, jamming away on the legendary MS-20.

Korg Trident

The first polyphonic and programmable synthesizer from Korg first turned heads in 1980. Since then, musicians have searched far and wide for their own vintage Trident. With additional string and brass sections, this instrument was three synths in one, hence the Trident name! Taken directly from the original owner’s manual, this design captures all the fun of this VCO, VFO, and LFO-equipped legend.

Korg Mono/Poly

Travel back to 1982 with this old-school Mono/Poly design. This massively fat sounding, four-oscillator lead synth is still coveted by collectors and performers today. The vintage cream colored shirt features the original Mono/Poly logo, dressed up with an “era-appropriate” treatment.

Korg Doncamatic

This style pays tribute to Korg’s very first product—the Doncamatic! First used in a Japanese night club in 1963, the Doncamatic started it all! This artwork is lifted directly from the extremely rare Doncamatic product manual, complete with Japanese text!

Piano Designs

Keyboard vs Piano T-Shirt

I really couldn’t choose.

Embroidered Piano T-Shirt

Cute little neon embroidered grand piano icon.

Piano T-Shirt – No Problem

88 keys – 10 fingers – no problem.

Piano T-Shirt

Grand piano and manuscript music.

Zebra Piano Tee-Shirt

It had to happen. Zebra goes piano.

Piano Text T-Shirt

Simply ‘piano’.

Eat, Sleep, Play Piano Tee

If only there were more hours in the day.

Short Broken Piano Tee

I’m not a fan of smashing up piano keyboards, but this design is kinda cool.

Pianos and Cats

I’m not sure what it is about pianos and cats, but it would be remiss of me not to include a few here.

Game Over Cat on Keyboard Tee-Shirt

Very 8-bit retro video game cat. (Were there ever any video games featuring cats?)

Three Keyboard Cat Moon T-Shirt

Three cats, bathed in moonlight, luxuriating by a piano.

Keyboard Cat Tee

Yes. A keyboard cat.

So there you have it. Perhaps not quite ultimate… yet. Show us your favorites.

Roland shows off Jupiter-80 synth

Synth history meets synth future as Roland unveils its showcase Jupiter-80.

It features proven hardware and a massive sound and integrates the Roland’s latest SuperNATURAL audio processing technology.

Main Features

• Powerful integrated SuperNATURAL synthesis engines designed for legendary vintage synth sounds to realistic organic acoustic sounds and more
• Single Tone is equivalent to the performance of powerful single synthesizer—stack four of these to create a mind-blowing “Live Set”
• Tone Blender tweaks multiple parameters of tones in realtime for complex, emotive sonic movement during performance
• Fast, friendly operation with intuitive front panel and color touchscreen optimized for live performance
• 76-note semi-weighted synth keyboard, and 256 polyphonic voices (varies according to sound-generator load)
• USB-memory Song Player/Recorder for backing tracks or quick idea capture
• Easy integration with computers via built-in USB-MIDI/Audio interface

More Information

Metamorphosis of a Legend

Past, Present, and Future Sound

The JUPITER-80 nods to its past with lethal, multi-layered SuperNATURAL synthesizer tones so fat you’ll need a knife to cut through it, but that’s only the beginning of what this powerhouse synth will do. Gigging musicians will love the stockpile of essential sounds onboard, including Roland’s famous SuperNATURAL grand pianos, strings, brass, and much more. and much more. The JUPITER-80 puts a fast-access user interface under your fingers—a dream for live performance. Its heavyweight design, complete with metal side panels, recalls the legendary JUPITER but with a modern twist.

Tone Blender

You will love the deep possibilities of the stackable SuperNATURAL architecture and unique features such as Tone Blender, which tweaks values of multiple parameters simultaneously and lets you “Capture” any new combination and save it as a Live Set. Create complex, emotional textures that respond, react, and evolve like nothing you’ve heard before. Tone Blender can also dramatically enhance your live-performance capabilities by letting you assign its multiple parameters to controllers such as the D Beam.

Powerful Live Sets Featuring Four-Tone Structure and Registrations

JUPITER-80′s sound engine handles four x tones with dedicated DSP per tone as a basic unit “Live Set” for manual performance. Layering of Upper and Lower Live Sets, plus a specialized “SOLO” part, means the incredibly massive nine-tone-stack sound. Customized complex settings can be saved as Registrations, and easily recalled during live performance.

Full Specifications

Keyboard

76 keys (with velocity and channel aftertouch)

Sound Generator Section

Maximum Polyphony:
256 voices (varies according to the sound generator load)

Parts:
4 parts (Upper, Lower, Solo, Percussion)

Registrations:
256 (including pre-loaded registrations)

Live Sets:
2,560 (including pre-loaded Live Sets)

Effects:
Live Set (Upper/Lower part)
-Multi-Effects (MFX): 4 units (parallel connection only), 76 types per each Upper/Lower (total: 8 units)
-Reverb: 1 unit, 5 types per each Upper/Lower (total: 2 units)

Solo part/Percussion part
-Compressor + Equalizer + Delay: 1 set per each Solo/Percussion (total: 2 sets)
-Reverb: 1 unit, 5 types

Master Effects
4-Band Equalizer: 1 unit

USB Memory Song Player/Recorder Section

Tracks
1 stereo track

Playable File Format
Audio File: WAV, AIFF, MP3

Recording File Format
Audio File: WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit Linear, stereo)

Effects
4-Band Equalizer: 1 unit

External Memory
USB Flash Memory (sold separately)
* Use USB flash drive sold by Roland. We cannot guarantee operation if other products are used.

Other

Arpeggiator
Preset: 128 styles
User: 128 styles

Harmony Intelligence
17 types

Controllers
D Beam Controller
Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever
Assignable buttons (S1, S2)
Assignable knobs (E1–E4)
PART LEVEL sliders (PERC, LOWER, UPPER, SOLO)

Display
Graphic Color LCD 800 x 480 dots (touch screen)

Connectors
PHONES jack (stereo 1/4-inch phone type)
MAIN OUT jacks (L, R) (XLR type)
MAIN OUT jacks (L/MONO, R) (1/4-inch TRS phone type)
SUB OUT jacks (L, R) (1/4-inch phone type)
AUDIO IN jack (Stereo miniature phone type)
DIGITAL AUDIO OUT jack (COAXIAL)
FOOT PEDAL jacks (CTRL 1, CTRL 2, HOLD)
MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT, THRU)
USB COMPUTER port (Audio/MIDI)
USB Memory port
AC IN jack

Power Consumption
25 W

Accessories
Owner’s manual
CD-ROM (USB Audio/MIDI driver)
DVD-ROM (SONAR LE)
USB MEMORY Protector
Power Cord

Options (sold separately)
Keyboard stand: KS-18Z, KS-G8 (Use a stand that causes the height of the unit to be one meter or lower.)
Pedal switch: DP series
Footswitch: BOSS FS-5U
Expression pedal: EV-5
Stereo Headphones
USB Flash Memory
*Use USB Flash Memory sold by Roland. We cannot guarantee operation if other products are used.

Size and Weight

Width: 1,231 mm 48-1/2 inches
Depth: 439 mm 17-5/16 inches
Height: 140 mm 5-1/2 inches

Weight: 17.7 kg 39 lbs. 1 oz.

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