Deviant Synth

a few assorted obscurities

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:31:07 +0000

First, Russian DIYer Dmitry Morozov, better known as vtol, has a website full of his colorful instruments. Nice panel art! He apparently makes limited issues of some of them for sale.

Then, Flickr user “jugger-naut” built a tube synthesizer in plug-in module form.

And Joe Paradiso built a hybrid synthesizer into a CAMAC crate, to be controlled by a PDP-11 minicomputer, in December 1979. Don’t throw it away, Joe, it’s a priceless historical artifact!

Dr. Zee

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:04:31 +0000

Mike Zee is a musician and prolific DIY builder in Poughkeepsie, NY. (That’s like saying Sean Connery is an “actor of some repute in Scotland”, I suppose.)

His main site for custom work is here. His cabinetwork is so beautiful, it will make you cry. Be warned, you will be exploring every link there. He has schematics of almost everything he’s built — clever designs, easy to reproduce.

He has a Soundclick page if you want to hear samples of his music. And he has a YouTube channel.

The “Synthelog” and Godfried-Willem Raes

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:55:50 +0000

Seen on Matrix, with no information. It was, as it turns out, based on a Texas Instruments sound-effects IC (probably an SN76477). It appears to be built into an old tube tester cabinet. In case you didn’t know, Raes is a notorious Flemish artist, founder of the Logos Foundation—and dedicated nudist.
Here is a list of Raes’ DIY instruments.

Seen Theresa Andersson yet?

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:58:36 +0000

The technology to do this has been readily available for at least 30 years. What gets me is that very few actual working musicians seem to be capable of doing a decent one-person-band. (She also appeared on Conan O’Brien last year.)

Sonodrome – small, twisted and elegant DIY

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:08:45 +0000

You won’t find more simpler obscure gadgets than the ones sold by Sonodrome. They even have PC software to go with their little bits of hardware. PC boards come in four colors. (And MAKE magazine’s market is selling the amplifier kit, along with the Atari Punk Console.) Enclosures are up to the builder. YouTube videos here.

JAZARI…..a little something Matrix didn’t catch

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:02:17 +0000

Using two Wiimotes feeding a Macbook via Bluetooth, to trigger solenoid-played drums.
Jazari’s website, and a post on Engadget. (Yes, cowbell.)

Found: a homebrew modular synth.

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:18:58 +0000

Dave Wright found this at a “junk shop” in Tucson. It uses two CEM 3394 chips, plus a PAIA MIDI-CV and a few assorted circuits. It was very well-made, almost commercial quality. The maker’s identity is a total mystery.

Video:
mystery homebrew synth

For you guitarists who feel left out: a deviant controller

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:48:03 +0000

The Misa digital guitar.

Great idea, and the controller is based on Linux, allowing you to mess with its operation. Mentioned on Slashdot.

(Why does it make me think of the Korg Kaoscillator? Isn’t that odd.)

Obscure keyboard of the month

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:34:26 +0000

—if not the decade.

Lambdoma Keyboard

Is it still being made? I can’t tell, the order form was on an AOL homepage, which has since been pulled down.

cheap metasonix knock offs on black market

horchacha — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:03:01 +0000

angelfire genki genki

here is an audio selection

angelfire genki genki face

dave wright