tube synths?

spiral · Post by **spiral** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:24 am

Were there any notable tube modular synths in the vintage past?
Or perhaps string machines or some other kind of instrument.

Box · Post by **Box** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:26 am

spiral wrote:Were there any notable tube modular synths in the vintage past?
Or perhaps string machines or some other kind of instrument.

I have to say I've never heard of such an animal.

GeneralBigbag · Post by **GeneralBigbag** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:31 am

Box wrote:
spiral wrote:Were there any notable tube modular synths in the vintage past?
Or perhaps string machines or some other kind of instrument.
I have to say I've never heard of such an animal.

And that's what google is for!
Lo:
http://www.cgs.synth.net/tube/index.html
Paragraphs 4,5,6

synapsecollapse · Post by **synapsecollapse** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:35 am

edit: GBB above tells you about vintage

but there is always metasonic's the wretch machine, or its separate components that could be used in a modular fashion as tube options.

http://www.metasonix.com/

i find it interesting that it looks like the above link provides VCF, VCO, ect. examples when it was written by and links to the folks at metasonic.

GeneralBigbag · Post by **GeneralBigbag** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:07 am

It makes one want to polish one's DIY skills.

spiral · Post by **spiral** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:23 am

Just listened to some samples of that metasonix. Sounds horrible, except for the extremely fat basses.
It either distorts everything by default or they used really annoying patches to demonstrate it.

Big Gnome · Post by **Big Gnome** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:26 am

spiral wrote:Just listened to some samples of that metasonix. Sounds horrible, except for the extremely fat basses.
It either distorts everything by default or they used really annoying patches to demonstrate it.

Hence the name.

synapsecollapse · Post by **synapsecollapse** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:59 am

GeneralBigbag wrote:It makes one want to polish one's DIY skills.

damn straight. ive got GAS for the TM1 and TM6 and i wouldn't mind not needing to spend 900 bucks if i could make them myself. definitely need some polishing before i am anywhere near ready yet though.

spiral wrote:Just listened to some samples of that metasonix. Sounds horrible, except for the extremely fat basses.
It either distorts everything by default or they used really annoying patches to demonstrate it.

while everything is programmable and amounts are not fixed, metasonic caters to clientele looking for a harsher sound. trying to make "nice" noises with a wretch seems to me like using a sledge hammer to push a thumbtack into the wall. possible, but better approaches exist.

GeneralBigbag · Post by **GeneralBigbag** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:12 am

synapsecollapse wrote: while everything is programmable and amounts are not fixed, metasonic caters to clientele looking for a harsher sound. trying to make "nice" noises with a wretch seems to me like using a sledge hammer to push a thumbtack into the wall. possible, but better approaches exist.

I wonder if it's just the way they demo their units and the image that's been built up, like how there seems to be a large group of Sherman users who haven't gotten round to trying it out with the input knob set to less than 5.

synapsecollapse · Post by **synapsecollapse** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:24 am

GeneralBigbag wrote:
synapsecollapse wrote: while everything is programmable and amounts are not fixed, metasonic caters to clientele looking for a harsher sound. trying to make "nice" noises with a wretch seems to me like using a sledge hammer to push a thumbtack into the wall. possible, but better approaches exist.
I wonder if it's just the way they demo their units and the image that's been built up, like how there seems to be a large group of Sherman users who haven't gotten round to trying it out with the input knob set to less than 5.

having had a few weeks to play with a sherman filterbank, i was thinking the same thing. but ... i haven't successfully used a waveshaper softly either, so maybe only some of them could work in a softer environment...

JS & anyone else that has experienced the TMx/wretch products, have you had any success with attempts at subtlety?

Post by **Blue Monster 65** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 12:12 pm

There are/were a couple of members here (once upon a time) who had Novachords. Those, in case you didn't read the linked article above, were a synth-style instrument built back in the 1930's/1940's. If you go here: http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/nova/intro.htm You'll find an entire article on this fascinating machine, including audio examples. It's really quite nice.

Woof! - Scott

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:10 pm

spiral wrote:Just listened to some samples of that metasonix. Sounds horrible, except for the extremely fat basses.
It either distorts everything by default or they used really annoying patches to demonstrate it.

They use really annoying over distorted sounds on purpose. The Metasonix stuff is capable of subtleness. They will never be completely clean and nice...but all of the clips are over the top on purpose.

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:11 pm

GeneralBigbag wrote:
synapsecollapse wrote: while everything is programmable and amounts are not fixed, metasonic caters to clientele looking for a harsher sound. trying to make "nice" noises with a wretch seems to me like using a sledge hammer to push a thumbtack into the wall. possible, but better approaches exist.
I wonder if it's just the way they demo their units and the image that's been built up, like how there seems to be a large group of Sherman users who haven't gotten round to trying it out with the input knob set to less than 5.

Exactly...

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:35 pm

The only tube-modular synthesizer I can think of at the moment would be the Synket (1963/64); SYNthesizer KET after its designer Paolo Ketoff.

http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/pre60/1960/synket.html

Besides John Eaton, the Synket was also very much used by Italian filmcomposers Ennio Morricone (my all-time fave composer) and Bruno Nicolai back in the '60s and early '70s.

Automatic Gainsay · Post by **Automatic Gainsay** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:26 pm

Blue Monster 65 wrote:There are/were a couple of members here (once upon a time) who had Novachords. Those, in case you didn't read the linked article above, were a synth-style instrument built back in the 1930's/1940's. If you go here: http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/nova/intro.htm You'll find an entire article on this fascinating machine, including audio examples. It's really quite nice.

Woof! - Scott

I have a Novachord, and they're wonderful.
Phil's renovation was truly spectacular, and the thing he has created is not only beautiful, but great sounding... however, it no longer really has the sound of Novachord!
His site has lots of great information, though!
There is also my sorely neglected site:
http://www.recondite-media.com/novachord

There is an upcoming Sonic State video series which will feature the Novachord!

tube synths?

tube synths?

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