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CatSynth Pic: Arturia MicroFreak and Elektron Octatrack

House panther with an Arturia MicroFreak, a current favorite of ours at CatSynth. From Mark Mosher via Facebook.

My cat is helping me rehearse for my performance at meetup on Tuesday “Intro to the Arturia MicroFreak + Performance by Mosher-Deane” https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Syn…/events/264937585/

I can has Octatrack?

CatSynth Pic: Gracie and Korg Poly 61

Gracie is back, this time with a Korg Poly 61 synthesizer. From Alsún Ní Chasaide (Alison Cassidy) of Synthetic Dreamscapes, who repaired the instrument.

This unusual Korg Poly-61 with factory MIDI retrofit (not Poly-61m) is finally finished and working perfectly. As usual, the last 20% takes 50% of the time!


In this case, the non-working panel buttons were traced to severe oxidation around two connectors on the MIDI board. Both pin headers *and* connectors had to be completely replaced / rebuilt for this to be long-term reliable. Also, one new rubber key contact set was needed, and Andrej’s new CPU board from yesterday.


And after a tune-up – perfect!! Ready to go back to its local owner 👍🏼😊

Gracie is the Quality Engineer for these repair projects 😸🎹

Extended Weekend Cat Blogging with Sam Sam and Big Merp

It’s a three-day weekend here in the U.S., and our cats demonstrate how to best enjoy it.

Sam Sam in front of the E-MU modules

Sam Sam is a cat who knows how to relax. In addition to the blankets, one of her favorite spots of late has been the patch in front of our (mostly de-commissioned) E-MU 1U modules.

Sam Sam in front of the E-MU modules

But she also knows how to have fun, as in this Instagram where she makes a game of playing with her new toy, washing, and finishing up with a scratch’n’roll.

We’ve been busy, too, doing another video with an original soundtrack featuring both hardware and software synths (including the new MOK Waverazor virtual instruments). And of course our little cat buddy makes a cameo.

Video scoring with MOK Waverazor in Pro Tools

On the other side of the bay, Big Merp is enjoying his extended weekend, too.

Big Merp!

This portrait brings out the character and soul in his face. He has had a great many experiences in life. But he loves his home comforts.

Big Merp resting after an outdoor adventure

The tears around his eye seem to happen when he goes out for one of his multi-hour outdoor adventures. It clears up fairly soon after coming back indoors. We are figuring that it is some sort of allergy.

We hope you are all enjoying your three-day weekend, or your Monday wherever you are.

CatSynth Video: Particle Smasher + with Cat

By electro-lobotomy on YouTube, via matrixsynth.

“The Particle Smasher + is a sound generator and sound processor. Please visit my etsy shop for more info..
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElectroLobo…”

“Particle Smasher +
Sound Generator and signal processor. Experimental sound device with touch controls and a filter wave shaper section.

Features:
* 2 Oscillators
* Modify switch for oscillator 1
* 2 Modify switches for Oscillator 2
* Power starve knob
* Choke knob
* 3 way variation switch
* Gain Knob for input
* Feed knob
* 2 feedback switches
* Effect bypass switch
* 1/4″ audio input
* 1/4″ audio out jack
* DC power jack ( 9v center = – // sleeve = + )

*I will include a detailed diagram of unit and it’s functions.

**9v battery to DC jack is included. (Battery not included)

*The unit can also be powered with a 9v power supply with a negative tip.”

CatSynth Pic: Cat and “Blue-Eyed” Korg Polysix

We recently found this pic featuring a cute cat and a Korg Polysix on matrixsynth.

Cat and Korg Polysix

More from the matrixsynth post, where you can also see more photos:

via this auction

“Sadly, something has to give. Too much kit in my life!

This is a 1982 Korg Polysix in excellent condition. It’s been fully restored within the past two years, and is in really good cosmetic condition. If you’re looking here, you know the specifications already, so no need for copypasta here.

Work done:

Old NiCad battery replaced with a brand-new NiMH battery. Not a lithium cell. The CPU card was blissfully unharmed by the usual battery leak problems that these get – check the photos.
The power supply transformer has been replaced with a super quiet, efficient toroidal unit, capable of running at 220V as well as 110V.
One VCF chip – an SSM2044 – was replaced with a brand-new old stock item.
Synth was completely recalibrated and tuned and is working perfectly.
A Tauntek MIDI input board was fitted. This really enhances the machine by allowing MIDI note in, as well as syncing the arpeggiator clock over MIDI.

Yes, I changed out the LEDs for blue ones, while replacing some scratchy, worn pots. Series resistors were recalculated to dial back the intensity. It’s not as piercing as in the photos. Will take some more pics soon. I think they really match the panel decals well, by YMMV. I’m happy to change them back to generic red (or anything, really) for the lucky buyer.”

No, it does not appear that the cat is included.

Additionally, there is a sample of a bass line played on this synth.

“A rather familiar bass-line. I’m just testing a newly-repaired Korg Polysix. This is playing in unison mode, although with only five ganged voices. No effects other than a small amount of reverb.”

When I went synth shopping for the first time in the mid 1980s (right after a birthday), among the first I encountered was one of this instrument’s more modest successors, the Korg Poly 800 II. The Polysix was long gone from the catalogs by then, and it was the time when digital synths were eclipsing analog instruments. I was quickly pulled in the direction of the Yamaha synths that dominated that era.