The I Love Analogue Blog

P-Mama's I Love Analogue Word Scramble

2012-01-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

P-Mama’s I Love Analogue Blog Word Scramble!
(Made by a 7-Year Old Girl)

1) ogmo _ _ _ _
2) rituar _ _ _ _
3) roingi _ _ _ _ _ _
4) lopcdiksfopy _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Answer Key: (No Peeking)

1. moog
2. arturia
3. origin
4. floppy disk

Review: Korg Monotron DUO and DELAY

2011-12-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

Sonic State and Korg have built a couple of beautiful new synths for Christmas! Here's the review.

Erasure "Be With You" by Robbie Ryan

2011-10-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

I recently made a new film for the band Erasure.
It features lots of talking phones, televisions, walls, and benches, and some old analogue synths as well. Enjoy! Did I mention there was Erasure in the film as well?

"The Cowz Are Werkin on Sunday" A Chick Fil A Film by Robbie Ryan

2011-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

I Love Analogue Kids and I love going to Chick Fil A for yummy snack and great drinks. I decided to make the "ultimate fan film" with my kids and the lovely staff of our local restaurant. I used my spiffy new Korg MR2 Recorder, as well as my usual stable of goodies, like my Arturia Origin and sweet drum samples from Goldbaby's IamMs20 Collection.

FINALIST: "What Would You Do for A Korg Kronos." RRy

2011-06-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

My film about the Korg Kronos is a top ten finalist. Please watch the video and share it. This is a wonderful opportunity from a great Analogue Partner.

Fantastic 303 Documentary

2011-05-30T10:44:00.001-07:00

Like many of you, I've always been fascinated by the sound of analogue instruments and the TB303 is no exception. Here's a video to tell you why it's so awesome, but that you shouldn't pay boatloads of money for an old one.

KRAFTWORKER Trailer Demo HD bestservice

2011-05-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have always loved Kraftwerk and now Best Service have a fully functional Kraftwerkian virtual instrument! I can do most of this with the hardware I have now, but this is still pretty fascinating!

What I Would Do For A Korg Kronos

2011-05-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

I love making videos about synthesisers. It's even better when the companies ask me to do it, so I get to make films like this.

Short Circuit - Flood Producer Interview

2011-05-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Flood, one of my favourite producers ever, speaks with Sonic State inside an abandoned railway station. He talks about the difference between being a producer and an engineer and while he's a hardcore "hardware man."

Sonic State Interview: Gareth Jones

2011-05-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

I've long known the name Gareth Jones through his work with Depeche Mode, Erasure, and Anything Box. He's a great guy with loads to say about mixing, synths, and what true success in the music business is. Sonic State interviewed him at the Short Circuit show, and someone I've known about has now become one of my heroes. Awesome!

Korg Monotribe Pre-Review Un-boxing

2011-05-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

Korg have done it again with this tasty treat. The drum and synth sounds are great, and the box looks to have amazing build quality.

Free Moog Stuff! (For a Good Cause.)

2011-05-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is the greatest month ever for fans of Moog.
They have a new website, chocked full of videos and documents about Dr. Robert Moog and his work.
If you sign up for their website (It's free, and AWESOME!) you will be automatically entered to win a Moogerfooger analogue delay.

And in the most random of randomness,
Arturia is giving away an ACTUAL 1975 Minimoog to one lucky winner (it won't be me, I assure you!)
after entrants take a short (EASY) quiz.
Arturia have not only the beautiful Spark drum machine coming out in June, they also have a special package of The Minimoog and Moog Modular virtual instruments, the "Moog Movie" DVD, a Bob Moog book,
and Moog Foundation button for a special price for a limited time.
All profits from this package will go to the Bob Moog Foundation.

And speaking of special, Spectrasonics is giving
away an OMG-1, a special instrument combining a Moog Little Phatty, a Mac Mini, 2 ipads, and 2 iphones to create
a one of a kind instrument.

They are doing a special composition contest for the release of a special Bob Moog tribute pack, which also benefits the Bob Moog Foundation. Whew! That's a ton of potential Moog freebies, so get clicking!
Time's a wasting! :)
Bob Moog Foundation.

Free Moog Stuff! (For A Great Cause)

2011-05-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

This is the greatest month ever for fans of Moog.
They have a new website, chocked full of videos and
documents about Dr. Robert Moog and his work and the devices that bear his name, as
well as links to the Bob Moog Foundation. If you
sign up for their website (It's free, and AWESOME!) you will be automatically entered to win
a Moogerfooger analogue delay.

And in the most random of randomness,
Arturia is giving away an ACTUAL 1975 Minimoog to one lucky winner (it won't be me, I assure you!) after
entrants take a short (EASY) quiz. Also, Arturia have been a huge friend to this blog, and they
have not only the beautiful Spark drum machine coming out in June, they also have a special package
of The Minimoog and Moog Modular virtual instruments, the "Moog Movie" DVD, and a Bob Moog book
and Moog Foundation button for a special price for a limited time. All profits from this package
will go to the Bob Moog Foundation.

And speaking of special, Spectrasonics is giving
away an OMG-1, a special instrument combining a Moog Little Phatty, a Mac Mini, 2 ipads, and 2 iphones to create
a one of a kind instrument.

They are doing a special composition contest for the release of a special Bob Moog tribute
pack, which also benefits the Bob Moog Foundation. Whew! That's a ton of potential Moog freebies, so get clicking!
Time's a wasting! :)

A Brief History of the Minimoog, 1970s

2011-05-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Retro Reviews: The Diary "Page One."

2011-03-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

Back in 1995, I freelanced in journalism by writing music reviews of bands I was interested in for various indie publications, most notably Control-Alt-Delete. Here is one of the reviews I did for the band The Diary.

The Diary of Claude S:

After years of stateside and international success fronting Anything Box, Claude S has released Page One by the pseudonym The Diary. This is a more introspective body of work that shows the darker side of Claude’s writing, but also sheds light on music hitherto unheard of by fans of Anything Box. From the structured simplicity of ”Simpleton” to the emotional grandeur of ”Interleave,” Claude inspires and incites, with traditional instrumentation to augment his voice and machinery. While his inspirations are obvious throughout, the centerpiece of the CD, a full instrumental version of Joy Division’s ”Love Will Tear Us Apart,” makes the influence of Ian Curtis a prominent one, even though Claude’s own ”World Without Love,” is in fact, a better song. The crunchy ”Degenerate” and the piano interlude of ”Sadness” shape the sound and concept of this ground-breaking album, and the closing piece, ”Dusk” a five minute soundscape of rain, makes the perfect soundtrack for the soul, with Claude’s definition of “Alternative for the Alternative” more true than ever before. Page One is a timeless record, fulfilling the promise of Worth and leaving a legacy for Claude’s work to follow, as The Diary goes back in ”The Box.” While not so much a pop album, The Diary’s Page One harkens back to modern classics like The Cure’s Disintegration and Martin L. Gore’s Counterfeit E.P. It seems that for years Claude S has been making records to make us happy, and with Page One, he has finally made one for himself.

You can find The Diary on Facebook.

Jupe Jupe - Something About Love (Tunnel Mix)

2011-02-28T09:45:00.000-08:00
My friend MY and his band Jupe Jupe have a new clip out for their track "Something About Love." It features a Korg Monotron solo (the first I've seen) and a great performance by the band.

Röyksopp "The Alcoholic" -An Animated Film by Robbie Ryan

2011-01-24T16:44:00.000-08:00
I directed and hand animated this film for the Norweigan duo Röyksopp.

Dave Smith and Roger Linn Designs: THE TEMPEST Drumbox

2011-01-13T09:54:00.001-08:00

If you've been waiting the past few years for the "Boom Chik" or "Linn Drum II" from Dave Smith Instruments or Roger Linn Designs then your wait should be over in June 2011! Smith and Linn have announced The Tempest, and they offer full demos below of the sequencing and sound generators on the device. It will be about 2 grand, so start saving your pennies, friends!

ARTURIA SPARK Creative Drum Machine

2011-01-13T07:34:00.000-08:00

Our friends at Arturia have dropped an amazing piece of kit with their Spark Hybrid hardware/software drum machine. It can do analogue synth drums, acoustic drums, and physically modelled drum kits, as well as all the classic drumboxes of yesteryear. This is a ferocious beast and I can't wait until it pounces!

Goldilox and The Three Gummy Bears

2010-11-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

Erasure "Symphony" A Film By Robbie Ryan

2010-10-29T07:18:00.000-07:00
I posted a new film that I animated with music by Erasure.

Pictures from Dallas Synth Meet 24 October 2010

2010-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, ILAB went to cover the Dallas Synth Meet hosted by Brandon McWhorter in Grand Prairie, Texas.
We will have video posted soon, but Ryan Harris took these fine pictures of the festivities.

A gorgeous Minimoog D.

The Get To Know Your Moog Show-Special Moogfest 2010 Edition

2010-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00
Moogfest 2010 is coming up and Punkin Face and Pussy Willow are, as always, in on the action. They interview singer/songwriter/all around synth girl Tara Busch about her feelings on the Moog Etherwave Theremin before total violence ensues.

Moogfest 2010
Tara Busch Official

Experiencing Origin Keyboard

2010-10-20T12:20:00.000-07:00
The Arturia Origin is truly a player and a programmer's synthesiser.
Here is a fantastically shot and recorded demo of a masterful player on this amazing synth.

Arturia Origin Keyboard Ships Today!

2010-10-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

I got a very enthusiastic email from Arturia about the imminent release of the Origin Keyboard. This has the same specs as their amazing Origin Desktop, but now includes a full keyboard and ribbon controller. There's also a new website that will be available today at 8PM CST, which is available right here.
If you have the means and are interested in possibly the last megasynth you will ever need to own.

Moog SlimPhatty Picture-Leaked

2010-10-11T13:07:00.001-07:00

slimfat
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog
I Love Analogue Synthesisers. That's the whole reason that this blog, or even its author, exists. As much as I love Moog, I've been waiting for the perfect product that I could integrate with my synthesiser setup. Could it be the SlimPhatty? I had heard the NAME of this synth a few weeks back, but this ad from AMS means that it might actually be REAL, and coming before Christmas. Very exciting, and I hope there is more (official) information posted from Moog and others. It's funny that they're releasing the Minimoog XL, which is a monster, and this one, the smallest and most affordable in the current line, in the same year. Regardless, I'm excited and interested about this new device.

Crystal Method feat. LMFAO: "Sine Language" by Robbie Ryan

2010-10-06T08:02:00.000-07:00
Robbie Ryan's Award Winning Film for "Since Language" from the album "Divided by Night."

Vuvuzela Anthem 2010 by Linzer Tart feat. L. Day and Rabba Rizz

2010-09-22T13:57:00.000-07:00
This is a film made for a Virus competition. Fingers are crossed!

Vuvuzela Anthem 2010 by Linzer Tart feat. L. Day and Rabba Rizz

2010-09-22T13:55:00.000-07:00
This is a film I made for the Access Virus competition. Fingers are crossed!

Any Day is Good For Campbell's

2010-09-13T11:38:00.000-07:00
I finished an advert for Campbell's Soup about a year ago and posted it today.

Artists and ARTURIA #7 Jean-Michel Jarre

2010-09-12T09:06:00.000-07:00
I've listened to Jean Michel Jarre for decades now and I'm happy he is also a fan of the many wonderful synthesisers from Arturia.

Vuvuzela Anthem 2010 by Linzer Tart feat. L. Day and Rabba Rizz

2010-09-10T06:56:00.000-07:00
I compiled this film for an Access Virus Snow competition. The band in the video is a fictional one me and L. Day started back in 1991. This is our first release!

Synthesizer Club - part 2

2010-08-31T21:09:00.000-07:00
I hate the DX7, and am glad Rory Daniels feels the same way.

KORG M01 Movie #1

2010-08-31T10:53:00.000-07:00
I miss my M1, but it never sounded this cool.

I Love Analogue Blog Artist Series #1 Treewave

2010-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:00
Robbie Ryan sat down with experimental artist, programmer, and 8 bit auteur Paul Slocum to discuss his band, Treewave.

Treewave.

I Love Analogue Kids: P Mama Vs. The Thereguin (Live From Switched On Au...

2010-08-30T12:29:00.000-07:00
P-Mama and A-Train discovered a penguin-shaped theremin @ Switched On Austin.
Here is their report:

Dirt Bag, Urban Grooves Sample CD, Breakbeat Samples, Funk Grooves, Hip Hop Loops, AMG Gold

2010-08-27T11:37:00.000-07:00
Check out these fresh loops.
Dirt Bag, Urban Grooves Sample CD, Breakbeat Samples, Funk Grooves, Hip Hop Loops, AMG Gold

Division of Beat Performance Review-1994

2010-08-25T11:41:00.001-07:00

dob94
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

The Party

The party was infinitely cool. I left my hotel at about 6:15 and decided to risk the Central Expressway. I survived and found myself at the Lizard Lounge at 6:40. Around 7:15, Pop Culture and friends pulled up next to me, so I decided to follow them in. I wandered in and met a few people, all the while scanning to find ::TheCat::. For those of you who have not yet met ::TheCat::, I suggest you start looking into getting plane tickets to Houston. Jeri is a really terrific person to talk with and know. It was worth the whole drive just to meet her. Jeri mingled, awarded prizes, took pictures, handed out CDs, and more.
I was also lucky enough to meet several other band people. What amazed me was how honestly friendly everyone was. By "honestly" I mean they weren't trying to fake being nice for the party. They were all very interested in everyone they met, and they all thanked me when I asked for their autographs. Robbie Ryan and Rimas Campe were especially friendly. Eric Holt recognized my name (Wow!) and several other people knew me as "the Delphi guy". It is true what everyone says about Dania being amazingly happy. She really radiates it too.
Everyone listened with much interest to the CD; Special Editions were open everywhere with people reading bios as the songs were played. I have to admit that I was a little surprised. Everyone looked and acted just like ordinary people, yet they posses tremendous musical ability.
I thoroughly enjoyed the performance by Division of Beat. These guys have a very impressive sound with a show to match. They put a great deal of energy into their performance, including Robbie Ryan literally jumping up and down in front of his keyboards. At times it was difficult to see Cleve from where I was positioned in the crowd, but from the way he looked after the set, I am certain he had energy to match Robbie’s. It was a really great show from a really great band. Later, Rimas Campe treated us to the newest Total Devotion video, Telepathy. Rimas is an exceedingly talented video producer, and everyone loved his work.
Around 11:30, people started to go their separate ways.

“Thanks, Nick for that great review!”
-20 Year Old Robbie Ryan

Nick Rhodes Chat from Studio

2010-08-25T09:02:00.000-07:00
Some synth noodling from Nick Rhodes, who I'm not sure has ever spoken.

The World's Biggest Drum Machine

2010-08-24T12:33:00.000-07:00
Leave it to our favourite Swedes to make an incredible user interface.

Artists and ARTURIA #6 Herbie Hancock

2010-08-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Look Around You....The New Synthesisers

2010-08-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Analog Suicide, I got to enjoy the future of
synthesis...today!

Crystal Method Loves Them Some Arturia Origin

2010-07-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favourite bands,
American Big Beat prognosticators
The Crystal Method
are big fans of Arturia soft synths,
and now (of course) they love The Origin.
Here’s a film where they wax lyrical about the synth, including great stage shots.

Here’s a video that I did for them for a track called “Sine Language.”

New Robbie Ryan/Crystal Method Film: "Sine Language"

2010-06-29T14:05:00.001-07:00

I just posted my latest film, which is a collaboration between The Crystal Method, LMFAO, and myself. It features performances from the artists, as well as my own hand drawn animation.

Dave Smith Mopho Keyboard Posted on Sonic State

2010-06-29T08:27:00.001-07:00

Sonic State posted a very nice review of the DSI Mopho Keyboard.
As beautiful as the instrument is, I already have a Mopho desktop, but if you’re in the market for a dedicated analogue monosynth for under $1,000, you could do much worse.

"The Coke Fairy"

2010-06-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is a short film I produced as a pitch to Coca Cola with actress Kennedy Surch and P-Mama.

I did the score and edit using Arturia Origin, microKorg, Roland JV880, JoMoX Mbase 01, Korg Er-1, and Akai S900(with Casio SK1 Percussion Samples.)

Kennedy Surch Official Website.

Sonic State Reviews The Korg Monotron

2010-06-11T07:45:00.001-07:00

I’m going to say it: I <3 Korg. Ever since my first keyboard back in 1989, the Korg M1 there have always been Korg instruments in my stable in one form or another. Currently it’s a microKorg and a Korg ER-1 drum machine, but now Korg have got me a little excited again with their MonoTron.
Since I’ve flogged my Frostwave MS20 filter, I’ve kind of missed that element, but here Nick @ Sonic State demonstrates that it is alive and well and small and cheap in the Monotron.

Arturia Origin: My VA Can Kick Your A's Ass.

2010-06-09T08:04:00.001-07:00

robbie_ryan_origin_grand
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

The Arturia Origin is a magnificent synthesizer, no two ways about it. It has that rare quality of electronic musical instruments that makes it both simple to play from the beginning, and incredibly deep for the experienced user.
Quick disclaimer, Arturia gave me one, as a result of a film I had made for their Tenth Anniversary Celebration. I’ve been using closed-architecture synthesizers for 20+ years, and I find this synthesizer to be amazing in all respects. Granted, it is pricey. It isn’t for everyone, to be sure. But when I hear about people dropping $2,000-$8,000 for vintage dinosaurs like original Prophet 5s and Jupiter 8s, it’s a bargain. I’ve been using VA synths since the beginning, but this is the first one that actually sounds like the instrument it’s modeling. Aside from that, Arturia are working around the clock to develop and improve the Origin UI and feature set, and are now even offering new banks of presets based on the work of synth pioneers like Keith Emerson, Joe Zawinul, and Herbie Hancock. It’s almost like teaser pricing, as I’ve seen retailers in the US offer this item for as low as $1,800. What’s going to happen with this synth over the next couple is anyone’s guess, but I think it’s destined to be a classic. I love making music with it, and I only wish I had more time to really dig under the hood of this amazing machine and check out its capabilities. If you can afford it, and are already planning on dropping cash on a vintage heap of circuits, consider this one as a viable alternative that will continue to enrich you years into the future. That is, unless you plan on running a museum.

Arturia Official.

The Akai S900 Makes Me Love Samplers Again!

2010-05-27T09:10:00.001-07:00

IMG_6765
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with digital samplers for decades now. I love them because I love the idea of inserting random beats, vocal drops, and even the idea of having an entire vocal track available with just a press on the keyboard. I love the time stretching and squeezing abilities of samplers, and I love the fact that you can adjust the speed, tempo, and pitch of a beat or chop it up within the sampler’s parameters.

What I don’t love about samplers are the arcane operating systems that vex the typical user, from the terrible hex display on the Ensoniq Mirage to the GUI of the Roland S760. At one point, I also had a Korg Electribe ES-1 but that was fun for one-shots, but since it also was a 3 digit display I couldn’t do any kind of editing on the fly.

But I’ve always WANTED a sampler. Especially one that could do what I wanted it to do, namely play back drum machines that I couldn’t afford and play back breakbeats from James Brown records. Not a tall order.

So, in 2009-2010 there were two rays of hope for my Samplelust. One was Korg’s Microsampler. You could load samples in via USB, and I am already a fan of Korg’s “Micro” series. The only rub is that it’s plastic, and I honestly don’t have room in my rig for another keyboard.

Another option is Elektron’s Octatrack, which will be out Q4 2010. I’ve always liked Elektron’s vibe, ever since I first heard of the original Machinedrum and Sidstation. They have a real sense of fun, while offering a great build quality and beautiful design. The Octatrack has been buzzed about as a “hardware Ableton,” giving users the option to do massive, flexible tracks, limited only by the memory inserted by the user. But, since it’s a quality instrument it will probably be $1,500 to $2,000. For what I want, that’s a little much, since so much of what you pay for with Elektron’s non-Sid instruments are the very capable hardware sequencing functionality.

So what did I buy? After trolling craigslist last week, I found an Akai S900. for under $100. I had always heard good things about the Akai S-series, and they’re all right! The specs themselves are comical in 2010. 3 rack spaces (big), extremely heavy, and the sampling capacity onboard (non-expandable) is 750k! Considering you can buy an iPod for $50 that holds 500 songs, and you can buy a cheap flash card with 4 gigabytes of memory for $10, it is miserably small. But the beauty of the S900 is the build quality, programming interface, and the sound quality. And the sound quality is what I call “Gloriously Crappy.” Vocal samples and drum loops take on an amazing quality. I did a bunch of samples last night and they sound like they’re coming off a cassette.
There’s a great blog that I found last week that has a whole bunch of samples you can download right off the site and pump straight into the S900.. Akai S900 Blog.
I’m just having a great time sampling drums and vocal drops from movies like Dolemite. Since I already have a variety of synths, drum modules, and sample playback devices, my needs from a sampler a really limited, and the gritty sound of the S900 suits me just fine. Here’s a great little film about the Akai S-Series from Sonic State.

ILAB Studio Report

2010-05-25T08:57:00.001-07:00

IMG_6753
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

Since 2004, I have maintained a small project studio in my home for film scoring, song writing, and jingle work. What started off as a Korg M1 keyboard and a Macintosh Classic has “blossomed” into a full-featured composer’s suite, with an array of synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines, all run by a 12-year old Power Macintosh 9600 and Opcode Studio Vision Software.

When we moved into our new home, I was allowed (I’m married) to use a small workspace nestled into the back of our garage.

The only rub with this is, that my garage is not insulated. I live in Texas, and while the winters are mild, the summers are hot and the garage studio was unbearable last year. I took a small cadre of instruments into the living room last year, but my wife suggested that this summer I make it more permanent.

We have a large bedroom, and a good portion of the space in there was underutilized. My wife suggested we construct a curtain as a divider. Once that was finished, I started moving my instruments in. While the space isn’t huge, it did give me an option to set up two stations, Vangelis style, as opposed to the vertical storage system which I had been using in the garage.

On the right hand side is where I put the M-Audio Axiom 25 keyboard, as well as the CRT monitor for the mac.

The new desk I acquired for the room could not accommodate the tower, so that was put to the left side, in between the two desks.

I recently acquired some extra long MIDI cables, so I used those to add instruments to the shelves above my monitor and keyboard.

On the left is a Roland JV880, a sample playback synth that is very useful for bread and butter sampled sounds such as pianos and strings, and a full complement of orchestral sounds. To the right is a small module called a Nanobass made by Alesis. It has a wide variety of both sampled acoustic, electric, and synth basses.
It also frees up your other synths to do things besides basslines.

Below that is a microKorg which was my first VA (Virtual Analogue) synthesizer which is great for leads, sequences, pads, and basses, as well as a vocoder. To the right is the Korg Electribe ER-1, a virtual analogue drum machine that includes sampled cymbals. The ER-1 was unfairly marketed as a 909 clone when it was released, but it is so much more than that. It has a wide variety of kicks, snares, and percussion that cut through a mix and have their own built-in digital delay.

On the left desk is my Arturia Origin, a modular synthesizer that is a self contained desktop unit. Inside are the capabilities of routing oscillators from a variety of classic synthesizers such as the Moog miniMoog and Roland Jupiter 8 to a variety of different filters to create any imaginable synth sound. The mixer to the right is a Mackie 1202, which has served me well over the years.

Below deck from left to right, is a Dave Smith Instruments Mopho, a true monophonic analogue synth that is a descendant of the Sequential Circuits Pro One. Thanks to modern technology, its analogue circuits and Curtis filters now fit in a small tabletop box and offer a wide variety of leads, basses, and percussive sounds at the click of the button or twist of a knob. To the right is the Jomox Mbase 01, which is a monophonic synth dedicated only to bass drums. It does the smallest, tightest kicks, to the huge TR808 and 909 bass drums, and since it’s a true analogue circuit, sometimes the oscillators drift just like the real drum boxes of yesteryear.
Finally on the table is the Alesis Picoverb, which handles all the effects that the modules themselves don’t do. Its digital delay and reverbs are fine for my needs, which are minimal.

Finally, we have the rack at the bottom of the left desk which includes an Akai S900 digital sampler, whose 12 bit quality sample rate gives drums and percussion a gritty, fantastic vibe. Below that is a Roland R8M PCM drum module, which has a variety of kicks, snares, and toms, as well as a bunch of different electronic percussion and FX sounds, thanks to the 3 cards it has nestled in its front panel.
On the bottom is the heart of the system, an Opcode Studio 5lx MIDI processing unit (which actually has its own “brain” for routing of 256 possible MIDI channels.) This, combined with my Power Macintosh 9600, and Opcode’s Studio Vision software, enable me to have a computer dedicated only to sequencing.
You might ask, why all the old crap? Why are you running everything with hardware instead of software synthesizers? The answer is, I like this. I like having everything in a physical space, unencumbered by USB transmit rates and slow CPUs. I like being able to reach for a knob and change anything I like. As long as manufacturers continue to equip their instruments with MIDI ports, I’ll be able to use any new instrument that comes along, as well as classic modules from the past. With the combination of true analogue synthesis, virtual analogue, and samples and sample playback, I can create a rich tapestry of sound that should service me for years to come.

I Am Not A Cynical Bastard, But Sometimes I Feel Sorry for Idols.

2010-05-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Let me start off this piece by telling you that I am not a cynical bastard just because I am too old to audition or compete on American Idol.
Yes, I am a serious music fan, and yes this show is a guilty pleasure. I do enjoy it because I like to spend time with my wife and watch it with her.
I also enjoy watching young people really do their best and try to compete for a population that is largely indifferent and fickle and be judged by people whose criticism ranges from somewhat helpful to vague to ridiculous, all hosted by a man whose teeth cost more than my house.

If you look at Idol’s track record, or any reality show for that matter, the fame and commercial viability of each contestant, winning or not, tends to fade immediately after each season ends. I personally can count the number of contestants that are now making hit records on one hand. It’s a tough pill to swallow, for sure. For the most part, the people that are on the show mostly come from humble stock. With the exception of a handful of contestants, most have not had even a marginal career performing beyond the odd talent show, pageant, or karaoke night. So to expect these individuals to be able to be pop superstars, winning Grammys, and doing all the things that they’re supposed to after 6 months of being on a reality show is a difficult task at least. There’s enormous pressure on them, and for the most part, they have little experience to prepare them for life beyond the gilded gates of Idol.

So I watch the show…I get goosebumps when the right “moment” happens on stage. I cheer the people I like, I boo the ones I don’t. All from the privacy of my own home, I might add. I cringe whenever the audience waves their hands back and forth, just because it’s “that kind of song.” And while the people are cheering for the individuals, for sure, they are mostly cheering for the concept…the system.

So I’m watching the show, and it’s down to 3 people. (This would be last night.)
And towards the end of the show, the Idol folks organize little “hometown visits” for the Idols where they go back to their hometowns, make promotional appearances (for the show) and do little concerts for thousands of screaming fans. Screaming fans that, mind you, lived in the same town with these people nine months ago and paid them no mind. The people that are returning home as conquering heros have not cured cancer, or built museums that house science and knowledge, or even made a musical recording of original content that has inspired people. They’re just normal people, from normal lives, that are on a reality/competition show.

And that’s what I’m afraid for. Afraid that it’s all going to come crashing down. Yes, these folks have won the 2010 reality TV equivalent of the lottery. Yes, they will be able to regale their families and friends for generations. I just don’t think it’s fair to them to build them up to be this “thing” with all sorts of expectations that mere mortals cannot hope to live up to.

I do hope that I’m wrong. I’m proof that even someone with no talent can make at least a minimal impact on the world of music, and I hope that even though these young people will be finishing their careers as television singers, they will be able to navigate through the waters of the worst music industry doldrums ever to forge a meaningful career and entertain people the world over for generations.

Arturia Artist Series #3 With Steve Porcaro

2010-05-20T09:07:00.001-07:00

While I’m not a big fan of Toto, synth legend Steve Porcaro is a force to be reckoned with. I’m currently watching a show called Justified starring
Tim Olyphant that he is the composer for.

In addition to that, Porcaro is also the proud owner of an Arturia Origin
And has nice things to say aplenty about Arturia and their soft synths. Here’s a video from their website.

New Roland Gaia Synth Sonic State Review

2010-03-29T10:37:00.001-07:00

gaia
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

Sonic State recently finished their rounds at
MusikMesse2010 and have brought back a prototype of the new Roland Gaia SH01 virtual analogue synthesiser.
It's gorgeous, a very slick design that harkens back to the original SH series of synths with a nod
to the digital powerhouse JD800, which honestly, I don't even know what it sounds like.
From a design perspective, this is a nice departure from the big ugly silver fantoms and even the
faux-Juno designs of recent years. The sound set is somewhat generic VA, but it's a step in the right direction.
Also generic are the GM2 sounds included that can ONLY be accessed via external MIDI.
Nick did a cracking review (as always) that you'll see below.
It's not really my cup of tea, but this is the right kind of synth for Roland to make.
I hope to see it on many rigs in many studios in the months and years to come.

Vince Clarke Studio Synth Porn

2010-03-19T08:50:00.001-07:00

I've been a fan of Vince Clarke since I've known what a synthesiser was.
I think his use of analogue and digital synths, samplers, sequencers, and drum machines
is amazing and has left an indelible imprint on popular music in general and my life
specifically.
Here's a great interview with him, from Dell of all companies, and it showcases
his beautiful Maine cottage with a bevy of analogue goodness.

New Fictional Movie Made To Demo Sound Effects

2010-03-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

I recently made a fictional action film with my daughter Piper to demonstrate the use of sound effects
in the story telling process of a film.

Bad Lieutenant "Twist of Fate" Video by Robbie Ryan

2010-03-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite artists of all time is Bernard Sumner, one
of the founding members of Manchester groups Warsaw, Joy Division, New
Order, Electronic, and now, Bad Lieutenant.
The band recently put out the word that they need a new video for their
"Twist of Fate."
Naturally, being me, I threw my hat in the ring with the following video.
With the exception of a couple of transitions, it was entirely hand-animated.

Bad Lieutenant "Twist of Fate" Video by Robbie Ryan
Uploaded by KungFuGirlsClub. - Explore more music videos.
Bad Lieutenant Official.

Secret Life of The DSI Mopho

2010-02-27T06:42:00.001-08:00

dsi_mopho
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog
When I was checking out Sound on Sound for a review of the DSI Mopho, there was a rumour that the "working title" of the instrument was actually Pro One II. As any fan of analogue will tell you, this makes perfect sense, as the previous instrument was called a Prophet 08, in reference or deference to the original Prophet 5, one of the all time classic synths. So, I emailed DSI and asked if this was true. If, in fact, the motherboard of the Mopho had "Pro One II" emblazoned on it. I got a response through email from none other than Dave Smith himself, who said: "Go ahead, Robbie! Open it up, find out for yourself." So, with that, I took my screwdriver and opened up the little yellow box, to find...the truth, as you can see above. Which begs the question, what was the working title for the Tetr4, the 6-Track II? IMHO, Mopho was a better name, as it is a unique instrument, but dang if this isn't interesting.

Legaleze-New :30 PSA

2010-02-22T07:31:00.001-08:00

Legal-Eze Logo
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

I recently finished a Public Service Announcement for the Texas Bar Association.
It features very little score, but it is comprised of 3 little vignettes showing what would happen if there were no legal system or justice
in the State of Texas. I used a combination of stop motion animation and handheld camera to achieve what I hope is a "documentary feel."
Hope you enjoy.

New JoMoX Mbrane Drum Module, plus Xtended Interview!

2010-02-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

I make no secret of my love for all things JoMoX.
When the new Mbrane 11
was announced at this year's NAMM show I was totally pumped.
I'm even more excited now that Big City Music posted a rad video of Juergen Michaelis
demoing the Mbrane.
I know the dude invented it, but damn if he isn't crazy fast on those knobs.
I can't wait to pick this baby up in the spring!

And if you can't get enough JoMoX, and let's be honest, who the hell can?
Here's a couple of slick videos featuring Juergen at his home base (HBase?) in Berlin, discussing his creative process and his work.
It's in German (with subtitles) but crazy fascinating stuff!

Blue and Yellow-New :90 Advert for Best Buy from Robbie Ryan

2010-02-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

I recently made a 90 second advert for Best Buy, featuring dancing
and rapping paper puppets.

New JoMoX Drum Box-And it's just for me!

2010-01-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

What I love about makers of electronic music instruments, especially the boutique
vendors, is that there is often a way to get a hold of the company, and in many
cases it’s a mom-and-pop operation. I have had great experiences with the teams
from Arturia, Dave Smith Instruments, Frostwave, and even Roland.
One individual I’ve had great experience with over the years is Juergen Michaelis, founder of JoMoX. Michaelis started off repairing aging drum machines and synthesizers from his homebase in Berlin before starting off
His own business, building the classic XBase09, a full fledged clone of the Roland TR-909.
I own an Mbase01, a full fledged analogue bass drum module that I have used for years on almost every project I’ve done.
Since I’m happy with the sequencing software I use, I really wanted to get a small module that only did snares, so…flash forward 3 years…the Mbrane a small, (love it) desktop unit that not only does snares, but also bongos, hi-hats, kit drums, fx, and other percussive synth sounds.
This will be a nice complement to my current triumvirate of Mbase 01(analogue kick),Korg Er-1(VA and PCM drums), and Roland R8M(PCM sounds.)
Our friends at Sonic State did a very nice piece from NAMM, and I look forward to picking up this little beast later this year.

JoMoX Official.

New Arturia Products from NAMM

2010-01-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

French synth maker Arturia are making a storm in the states
as we speak with some great new announcements at NAMM. In addition to the Hip Hop
Producers Kit, which we've previously mentioned:

There are also 2 new keyboards in the wonderful Analog Factory series, the 25 key "Player" instrument, as well as the
49 Key "Laboratory" instrument. The original "Factory" 32 Key is still offered, of course, and all the parameters within Analog Factory
can be accessed from these 3 instruments.

It is great news that Arturia, who have been a stalwart of soft synths for more than ten years, are now pushing headlong into
the hardware arena, now teaming up with Akai to produce a combo pack with an Electronic
Wind Instrument and the groundbreaking Brass software.
When I asked Seann from Arturia why they weren't putting out integrated versions of Analog Factory ie: No computer required, he replied that the TAE (True Analog Emulation) algorithms would require the same processing power from the Origin mothership, which would be cost prohibitive for many users.
The final big news is that the behemoth Origin Keyboard will be shipping in March, with ribbon controller and gorgeous case, with
polyphonic aftertouch on the keyboard.
Of course, for my space and my budget, I'm thrilled with the Origin desktop version, thank you very much.

Finally, Arturia announced the 1.1 update to the Origin software, which is free to all Origin owners.
It's amazing to own a piece of hardware that can evolve as time goes by. I'll keep you posted as I dig in deeper.

New Dave Smith Instruments Mopho Keyboard-NAMM 2010

2010-01-15T13:50:00.000-08:00

So, this time the Mopho keyboard is real.
Dave Smith Instruments have officially announced that there will be a new keyboard synth version of the Mopho, one of my all-time favourite monosynths, (who cares if it’s only a year old? I Love It!)
It has lots of knobs, is crazy portable, and will hook right up to a Tetr4 for 5 voice analogue goodness.
Our friends at Sonic State are hitting the ground running, as always, at NAMM and got this great 1 on 1 with Dave, including the obligatory remarks for the oft-rumoured never surfacing Boom Chik or Linn Drum Analog or Linn Drum 2

Pretty Woman-An Electronic Tribute To Roy Orbison

2010-01-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

When I was putting together this electro version of "Pretty Woman," I found a YouTube video from 1986 featuring Roy Orbison and his totally 80s mulleted band performing the track, with drums, bass, guitar, and a whole cadre of synthesizers, including what looks like a Korg MonoPoly and an Emu Emulator.

What's bollocks is that when the band performs "Pretty Woman," there's no synth parts that I could hear. My version is what I feel it should have been back in '86. Since Roy's not here to perform it, it's my honor to do so.
I hope you enjoy.

Roy Orbison's Home Page.

Arturia New Hip Hop Producer Kit

2010-01-06T13:17:00.001-08:00

hiphop_producer
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

Arturia have debuted a full kit for individuals to design and perform cutting edge hip hop tracks right out of the box (you only need a computer, a microphone, and some mad skillz). The main focus is the Analog Factory sounds, but there is also a version of Ableton included, as well as Lounge Lizard virtual pianos and Modern Beats hip hop drum kits.

While I have no experience with the other software, I can tell you that Arturia's TAE (True Analog Emulation) is technology is tremendous, and since it retails at $129 it's a great deal if you're just starting out producing music.

New Electro Remix of Sourya "Stockholm 1973" by Robbie Ryan

2010-01-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

I did a remix for the French band Sourya of their track
"Stockholm 1973."
I produced a quick clip to go with the music.
Hope you enjoy.

Black Dynamite Scored With Universal Audio

2009-12-23T08:56:00.001-08:00

The following is a press release from Universal Audio.
As a big fan of Black Dynamite and Analogue, I wanted to
share this with you, dear reader.

Black Dynamite Composer/Producer Adrian Younge Lights a Funky Fuse with UA’s 1176LN Limiting Amplifier
By Marsha Vdovin

In theaters now, Black Dynamite spoofs the Blaxploitation films of the ’70s, with an amazing soundtrack that’s just been released on Wax Poetics Records. Dripping with vintage analog funk, the score has brought immediate attention to producer/composer Adrian Younge, who amazingly, also edited the film.

ILAB: That’s actually the best combo: an editor/composer.

In creating the score, Younge played almost every instrument, recorded everything to tape, and used as much vintage gear as he could get his hands on. He recently shared some of his secrets with us on capturing that vintage ‘70s sound. Everything was tracked through a dbx 160 compressor and a reissue Universal Audio 1176 in serial.

"It's really the 1176 that’s the essential part of my sound. Everything was run through that. That's the only piece of equipment that everything went through, on that whole album.”

“The main microphone I used was an RCA DX-77 and I mixed through an Audio Arts/Wheatstone broadcast console. I'm outputting my mix through that same compression chain. The dbx adds a little harmonic quality to the chain, but it's really the 1176 that’s the essential part of my sound. Everything was run through that. That's the only piece of equipment that everything went through, on that whole album.”

One of the keys to Younge’s sound is the bass. “In the early ‘70s, the bass sound was very tight. It's an instrument that was often the main instrument, as opposed to today where it's a background instrument. I really like the attack I got with the 1176 as far as the bass cutting through. That’s a big deal, because certain songs would not even be arranged and recorded the way they did, had I not been able to use the 1176.”

“When I use the [All Buttons Mode] on the 1176 on my drums, it makes the drums hit hard, as if you're using an [E-MU] SP-1200 or a percussion sampler.”

Younge also added some contemporary appeal to his score. “I wanted hip-hop artists to want to sample my score. They like to sample things that sound full, and that hit hard. Now, when I use the push-in button technique [All Buttons Mode] on the 1176 on my drums, it makes the drums hit hard, as if you're using an [E-MU] SP-1200 or a percussion sampler. This is something that is very attractive to a lot of hip-hop heads, hard drums.”

“I used the 1176 on vocals also, it was great to get a real brightness to the vocal tracks I was using. Using the RCA DX-77, a ribbon mic, and running all the vocals through a tube preamp creates a dark sound. Running it through the 1176, you kind of get the solid-state harmonics going, brightening the sound.”
Universal Audio Webzine

ILAB Report: Arturia Origin V 1.1 Sneak Peek

2009-12-17T07:44:00.001-08:00

america_tour
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

Recently, I spent some time with Sean from Arturia in Austin, TX,
Where he demonstrated some of the new features of the latest update
of their Origin synthesizer.
One of the cool new features is the ability
To fully emulate a Leslie rotating speaker and even introduce some
Tube distortion, without using the typical pcm or cheap effects.
This is a very compelling addition for organ players in the rock, pop,
Jazz, or country genres, as the Origin is far lighter (and easier on the
Back) than these wood and metal behemoths.

Arturia.
I Love Analogue.
Robbie Ryan’s Twitter Feed.

Robbie Ryan -New Video and Track: "Rustle Crow."

2009-12-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

The other night, feeling a bit inspired, I put together a track that featured
a screaming analogue bass sound, along with a tight, intense drumbeat.
Because you have to name each one of these files, I called it "Rustle Crow"
for no reason, then put in a slideshow of the brooding actor.
For all you trainspotters, the track used Opcode Studio Vision, an
Arturia Origin, a Dave Smith Instruments Mopho, a microKorg,
a Jomox Mbase 01, and a Korg Electribe Er-1.

Richard Devine (Origin Programmer) Interview in EM

2009-12-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

Electronic Musician'sGeary Yelton has done a fine write-up
on Richard Devine, the composer and sound designer responsible for a plethora of presets, including many
for my beloved Arturia Origin. If you look at the pictures,
you'll see the Origin to the right of the studio on the desktop.

Richard Devine Interview.

"Wally On The Run" Video finally posted.

2009-12-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

My first video with a complete banjo score, "Wally On The Run" is now available to view.
It was animated by hand and features music from the fine actor and comedian Steve Martin,
who is also a fine banjo player and composer as well.

Completely Legal Version of My Film "Wally On The Run."
Uploaded by KungFuGirlsClub. - Explore more music videos.

Square Wave Parade Mini-Synth Boxes

2009-11-29T20:42:00.001-08:00

dwn10
Originally uploaded by the squarewave parade

Our friends The Squarewave Parade have some gorgeous little mini-synth effects boxes they would like you to know about. Find out more about Squarewave Parade right here.

New "Whiteout" Limited Edition Access Virus Available Next Week!

2009-11-27T11:20:00.000-08:00

According to Access, they'll be putting out a posh limited edition (only 100) of their TI "Whiteout" desktop synths next week. Probably sounds the same, but Access' LEs are always nice, like the signed Indigo "Redback."http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov03/images/accessvirusindigo2.l.jpg">
Speaking of signed, these will have limited edition serial numbers laser etched on them.
Order now at Novamusik.

Dave Smith Tetr4 Review from Sonic State-Hot off the press!

2009-11-18T15:31:00.001-08:00

Our friend Nick at Sonic State finally gives his take on the Dave Smith Tetr4.
He goes over (in great detail, mind you) the various aspects of the front panel controls, the way it sounds, and the quirky editor/librarian software.
If you’ve been considering this item, and if you don’t have a Mopho or Prophet ’08, you really should check this video out.
I really like my Mopho and it has a quality that “glues” my tracks together.
I’m not in the market for this instrument, but you could be, so take the time to check it out.

Sonic State.
Dave Smith Instruments.

Arturia Origin Demonstration in Austin, TX

2009-11-18T08:50:00.001-08:00

america_tour
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

Arturia will be visiting Austin, TX on 12 December, 2009 at Music Makers from 1-3pm.
ILAB will be there with cameras at the ready. Please email us if you plan on attending.

Butn Pushn Teknohedz "Times Square Breaks"

2009-11-16T13:26:00.001-08:00

A few years ago, whilst between projects, I had an idea to do a concept album
of avant-garde electronic music that would be serious and deep.
After I started working on those tracks, it became clear to me that I should instead
be a fake Puerto Rican duo in New York City called Butn Pushn Teknohedz.
The idea was to make fun and fancy free instrumental electro tracks, and I made them available for free to podcasters around the world, and the songs, such as "City Rock" and "City Beats," have been heard as far away as Australia, all under the auspices of being this underground duo called Butn Pushn Teknohedz.

One of the tracks, "Times Square Breaks" found its way into my iTunes playlist recently, so I thought I should finally give it, and Butn Pushn Teknohedz, its own video treatment.

I grabbed some public domain footage of Times Square, both day and night, and with the help of some enthusiastic and fantastic Korean breakdancers, we have a film for you.

Please enjoy. And keep rockin' them beats.

Robbie Ryan, aka Butn Pushn Teknohedz
November 2009

Butn Pushn Teknohedz on Myspace.

Arturia US Tour Update

2009-11-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

My favourite French synthesizer company, Arturia
Will be visiting the US in a big way during the holiday season.
Here is a listing of the places they will be in the coming weeks. If you are able to go to
One of these clinics, please Email us.
We’d love to see your videos, pictures, or audio!
Here’s more from the Arturia Website.
10YEAR America tour
Come and meet us, we are on Tour all over Canada and USA!

From through till the end of the year, several dates have already been scheduled and more will be announced soon. Check to see if we are about to introduce our latest products and updates near you.

Thursday November 5th,
3pm at Steve’s Music Store, 51 St. Antoine West - Montreal , Quebec
Tuesday November 10th,
4pm-6pm at Sam Ash, 160 West 48th Street - New York City, NY

Wednesday November 11th,
1pm-3pm at GuitarCenter Manhattan, 25 W. 14th Street - Manhattan, New York
Thursday November 12th,
3pm -5pm at Washington Music Center, 11151 Veirs Mill Road - Wheaton, Maryland
Friday November 13th,
1pm-3pm at Pianos N Stuff , 468 Freeport road - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Saturday November 14th-15th,
West LA Music Recording Expo, Los Angeles, California
Wednesday November 18th,
10am-12pm at Leo's Pro Audio, 5447 Telegraph Ave. - Oakland, California
Wednesday November 18th,
2pm-4pm at Bananas at Large, 1504 4th Street - San Rafael, California
Wednesday November 18th,
6pm-8pm at Guitar Center San Francisco, 1645 Van Ness Ave. - San Francisco, California
Thursday November 19th,
11am-3pm at Cutting Edge, 290 Division Street, Suite 103 - San Francisco, California
Thursday November 19th,
6pm-8pm at RobotSpeak, 589 1/2 Haight Street - San Francisco, California
Wednesday December 2nd,
11am-3pm at Sweetwater, 5501 US Hwy 30 W- Fort Wayne, Indiana
Thursday December 3rd,
5pm-7pm at Guitar Center Chicago, 2633 North Halsted - Chicago, Illinois
Thursday December 10th,
11am-2pm at Guitar Center Atlanta, 1485 Northeast Expressway - Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday December 10th,
3pm-6pm at Atlanta Pro Audio, 1776 NE Expressway - Atlanta, Georgia

Arturia Origin Demonstration @ Robotspeak 19 November 2009

2009-11-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

On 19 November 2009, Arturia will be hosting a Q+A demonstration
of their Origin synthesiser at the fabulous RobotSpeak,
They're located in San Francisco on 589 1/2 haight st. @ steiner, and the event is at 6pm.
If you haven't had a chance to see one of these elegant instruments in person, you really should go check it out!
You will not be disappointed in this beautiful machine, and Arturia's staff is awesome.
Please register at the Robotspeak Website or just show up.
Arturia Origin@Robotspeak.

Moog Theremin Contest Needs Votes!

2009-11-10T13:12:00.001-08:00

Recently I went to the Moog Music Forum
and noticed there have been very few votes for the Halloween Theremin Video Contest.
Please click here and
cast your vote to support these fine musicians!

I <3 Axel Hartmann: The Greatest Living Synth Designer

2009-11-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

After taking a 7 or 8 year break from music production, I started researching synths to get back
in the game about 5 or 6 years ago. To give you a brief timeline, I first started messing about
with Cakewalk for MS-DOS back in 1989.
My partner and I used that for a bit, and then graduated to Cubase in the early 90s,
which we also used on a PC.
Flash forward 10 years, and I was checking out electronic music magazines while planning
my newest foray into music production (I was scoring a film at the time.)
I saw a copy of Future Music and on the cover I saw this beautiful synth here:
Which I later discovered was made by this guy:
Axel Hartmann.

It turns out that Axel Hartmann's day job is designing beautiful synthesizers for
companies like Moog
and Access,
but his real passion is making his own synths, like this one here:
Hartmann Neuron.

I was never able to get a Neuron, though, since they were a bit too expensive too produce
and never quite made it to market.
Now that I'm a proud owner of an Arturia Origin, however, I can enjoy a beautiful piece
of Hartmann's work each and every day. Let's face it. A good looking synth can be an inspiring
thing, and Axel Hartmann makes some incredible looking synths.
Arturia Origin.

The Finalists for The Moog Competition Have Been Announced.

2009-11-03T15:13:00.001-08:00

Night Of The Theremin and Dawn of The Theremin are now up for
voting on the best Halloween/Theremin Video on the Moog forum.
Please support your favourite analogue characters by casting your vote for
one of the two movies right here.

Night Of The Theremin-Full Series Posted

2009-11-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

My two horror films, the Night Of The Theremin series, have been burning up the analogue universe of late.

Punk'n Face

If you haven't seen them, and would like to watch them in order:
Here you go!

"Night Of The Theremin."

"Dawn Of The Theremin."

Enjoy! Watch it in 2 installments, if it's too scary.

Analogue MonoSynth Halloween Costumes-Part I

2009-11-02T07:16:00.000-08:00

Halloween has come and gone here in the US, but being an analogue freak, I certainly took the opportunity to dress like a synth and got decked out like a DSI Mopho, complete with the aftermarket knobs DSI provides.
Here's me:

And here's my Mopho.

My friend Brandon took on none other than the MiniMoog,
and here he is with his favourite analogue synth and his favourite Texas beer
(Shiner Bock, natch!)

Here's his costume next to his MiniMoog.

I hope every one had a safe and wonderful Halloween, and if you've got more synthy costumes, send em 'here so we can post 'em!

Night of The Theremin-The Sequel

2009-10-30T21:28:00.001-07:00

punkin
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

I finished a new animated short, Dawn of The Theremin, and it's been very well received. While stop motion is hard work, it's a lot of fun when it's finished, and it looks awesome. I think that it's fitting that I made Robert Moog an action hero, as he is the godfather of the modern synthesiser. Anyway, hope you enjoy the video, and feel free to pass it along to your analogue-lovin' homies.

Robbie Ryan on Sonic Talk Podcast

2009-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Recently I got a quick shout out on the Sonic State "SonicTalk" podcast.
Since not everyone downloads that (although they should...it's a hilarious back and forth about modern music technology.)
I put together a video piece relating to it.

60 Seconds of Analogue Terror-Night of The Theremin

2009-10-23T08:49:00.001-07:00

trois_amigos
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog
I posted an entry into MoogMusic's Halloween Theremin Contest.
It's very scary and not for the squeamish. Enjoy and spread the word!

Red MicroKorg XL @ Robotspeak

2009-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

As dumb as I think this instrument is, I'm kind of pumped that
RobotSpeak is offering
a red MicroKorg XL.
I did see at NAMM that there were some blue or green ones, which
would make this even more exciting.
But Kudos to Korg for interesting colours and instrument design.
Now how about a yellow MicroSampler? Vroom! Vroom!

Eric Archer Light Powered Analogue Drum Machines

2009-10-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

At the recent 5aaasp we were intrigued to see a series of "naked" circuit board-based
analogue drum machines that operate with photoelectric cells and are synced together via infared.
We spoke to their inventor, Eric Archer, who also has a whole mess of other tiny electronic
devices that he peddles and also offers workshops to teach others how to make cool little analogue
devices like the ones below:

He was gracious and took some time to share his machines with us. If you're in the Austin, TX area,
be sure to check out his HandMade Music workshops. You can contact him directly here.

I Love Analogue Blog.

Robbie Ryan/Arturia on Sonic State Website!

2009-10-13T07:57:00.003-07:00

The Arturia results were posted today on
our favourite music tech website, Sonic State.
Here's the direct link right here.

Synth Brittania...I'm way jealous.

2009-10-11T21:35:00.003-07:00

So the BBC "the beeb" is playing this gorgeous documentary about English synthesiser musicians aka my childhood.
Why can't we get programming like this in America? Aren't there enough of us?

ILAB Report: 4ms Pedals Bend Matrix

2009-10-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Recently I met up with Dan Green of 4msPedals and I got a demonstration of his
"Joy Toy," The Bend Matrix, which is an analogue, MIDI-capable
box that sends MIDI note numbers to trigger sounds made by old children's toys.

I had never seen anything like it, but if you watch the interview he'll tell you that it's not technically a circuit bent device. Everything, as he says, is working as it's should, but the step sequencer is just making it do things in a crazy way. If any one out there uses it in proper compostions, I'd love to hear audio examples or see videos as I think it's a very interesting sound and can impart a certain flavour in certain genres of music. Here's the video.

If you like it and would like to purchase it, please click on the following links.
(All friends but not sponsors of this blog.)
4ms Pedals.
Analogue Haven.
Big City Music.

Robbie Ryan WIns The Arturia Competition!

2009-10-11T10:10:00.001-07:00

Arturia Contest Results
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog
The news is true. After what seems like hundreds of videos and songs for all sorts of different products and companies, I've finally come in first place for my video for the French synthesiser company Arturia. I was so pleased to put the work into this and everyone in that company that has contacted me have been nothing less than encouraging and wonderful. I look forward to taking delivery of my Origin synthesiser in the next couple of weeks so I can chronicle my experience on this blog. If synth emulation is your thing, I would certainly look to Arturia and the myriad products they offer. They sound amazing and look very authentic. Thanks to Arturia and everyone that supports this blog! I couldn't do it without all of your best wishes.

ILAB Report: Bleeplabs Thingamagoop (5aaasp)

2009-10-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I met with John Michael (Dr. Bleep) of Bleeplabs to discuss
his Thingamagoop and other ready built and DIY projects he has for synth lovers. They're the first
synths I've seen that can actually double as a retro-child's toy in addition to a musical/noisemaking device.
One of the I Love Analogue Kids was totally stoked by it and wants one for Christmas. More additional
footage from the recent 5aaasp synth party in Austin is included and we'll have some more later this week.

ILAB Report: 5aaasp Analogue Synthesiser Party Austin, TX

2009-10-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

Recently I made a pilgrimage to Austin, TX. to a party called 5aaasp, the 5th Annual Austin Analogue Synth Party.
I was very impressed with the proceedings, and everyone there was very nice, open, and passionate about electronic music and the
instruments that produce them. What I found very interesting is that the performances of the bands at the show was 180 degrees from
any electronic act that I've seen lately. No, these young people weren't "checking their email" like so many laptop artists of their
generation, these guys were actually jamming on analogue sequencers and drumboxes older than they were. In fact, one of the bands
was using a LinnDrum as its main clock source, running his analogue sequencer. Very cool and a bit refreshing.
It makes me feel guilty a bit for using MIDI and computers in the first place, as I have for so long.
Enjoy the video. There will be much more to come in the days ahead. Thanks to the team from the festival! I look forward to next year.

I Love Analogue Blog

New Knobs for My MoPho

2009-10-05T19:30:00.001-07:00

mopho_hero_shot
Originally uploaded by I Love Analogue Blog

Recently, I've been jonesing about getting new knobs for my
Dave Smith Mopho. Today, thanks to the cash I got from
the A1 gig, I was able to purchase them.
Now I won't be embarassed next to a P8 or Tetra.
I picked it up at Novamusik.

World of Arturia-New Robbie Ryan

2009-10-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

This is my latest vid, and please be aware it was designed for a very technical (and French-speaking) audience.

Quick terms:
Analogue Modeling: Using modern DSP chips to emulate the sound of 1970s/80s analogue music equipment
CPU: The "Brain" of the computer, including the one you're currently using.
Software Synthesizers: Computer programmes that provide very accurate facsimiles of the heavy, cumbersome synthesizers you see in the film.

Fast French:
Je t'aime beacoup: I Love You Very Much
Bon Anniversaire: Happy Birthday

The term "Grandest" in the vid is mostly referring to the large size and heavy weight of the instruments themselves, especially that beastly ARP Omni. That's really me struggling!

T-shirt spotting: "Save Alan Wilder" Alan Wilder was the main keyboardist in Depeche Mode from 1983-1995, arguably the best point in their career.

The other t-shirts you see are pictures of old analogue synthesizers.

I Love Analogue Blog.

JoMoX Sunsyn for Sale!

2009-09-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

One of the great unsung heros of the analogue polysynth world is the classic, limited
edition JoMoX Sunsyn. While I've never seen or played one, its reputation precedes it,
with users as diverse as Hans Zimmer and Nine Inch Nails.

Its creator, Jurgen Michaelis, founder of JoMoX, is a friend of the blog and an
innovator in the world of true analogue instruments.

The reason I'm posting all this is because one of the limited edition Sunsyns has come up
for sale recently, and if you can afford it, you should pick it up.

The price is $4500 US, and the seller's name is Damon Menne.
As you can see, this one has been rackmounted, but he is also offering the wooden end cheeks
that have been stored safely since this item was purchased.

For additional questions about this item, or to purchase it, email damon.
Be aware that I'm not selling this, nor has its owner, Damon, offered anything monetary
to this blog. Also, Robbie Ryan and ILAB cannot be responsible for anything regarding
transactions, communications, purchases, or implied quality of the item.

The reason I posted it here is because I'm a fan of JoMoX and the Sunsyn, and these
very rarely come up for sale.
For more information about the Sunsyn, please follow this link
to the Vintage Synth directory.

New Doepfer Mini-Doc reveals the history of nu-Modular synths.

2009-09-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

Dieter Doepfer of Munich, Germany, is a designer and manufacturer of beautiful modular analogue synthesizers and is a hero to this blog.

In this brief documentary, he outlines why his synthesizers are silver, the impact of the 303 clone the MS404 and his relationship with Kraftwerk.

Doepfer Sneak Peek from niamhguckian on Vimeo.

I guess I'm a little bit on the fence here. I absolutely would love to pick up the MAQ analogue sequencer

or the new mini-modular Dark Energy (which is, coincidentally, black!)

but I want to do it all within the parameters of digital
technology, i.e. the software sequencer from the 90s that I use. I find it comical that in the 80s so much work was put into developing modular synths in Germany and then, of course, everybody wanted a f**ing DX7.

Electronic music history is not without its little ironies.

2009-09-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Upon visiting Analogue Haven's website today, I saw
a new product announcement for the Acidlab Miami, a dedicated TR-808 clone with
a full complement of sounds, knobs, and even the TR-style step sequencer. What's it like, you ask?
Well, I had seen a couple of pre-production models from the developer, but to see the actual
model for sale is beautiful. It's absolutely gorgeous.

What does it sound like in action? Well, for traditional 808 style electro, like this:

It's all there, the clippy side stick/clave sound, the thwack of the snare, but does it step sequence?
Why yes, it does!

But, of course, unlike a true 808, this has full MIDI implementation, as seen below:

So, how do I feel about this particular product? I will be completely honest with you: I have loved the 808 since before I
knew what an 808 was. Even now, as I'm in my 30s, the 808 sound set, which many call generic,
is like a warm blanket on a cold day, comfortable and familiar. And while there have been about a zillion ways to
get that sound set over the years, from samples, hardware, and software emulation. The 808 sound is out there if
you want it. I have a Jomox Mbase01 that has a beautiful boomy 808 kick, and I also use an R8M from
Roland for the original PCM sound set from the 808. I also have a Korg Electribe ER-1 that
can get a lot of these sounds through analogue emulation. Anyone out there with Reason or Logic can
do a mean emulation in software, and even my ancient Studio Vision sequencing software offers X0X style drum machine
editing.

So, who needs this? Well, maybe you. This is the first true clone of the 808 that I've ever seen, just as the
Xbase09 from JoMoX is an absolutely true 909 clone. If you are an owner of the original 808
I would unplug it from the wall, put it in a case (like how Ice T does) and worship it for the rest of your life, but
use a bad boy like M1AM1 on your tracks. It looks rock solid, and it's absolutely slavish to the original sound of
the 808, just like the acidlab is a dead ringer, audio-wise, for the TB303.

If I were doing drum machines in any kind of live performance environment, this would be a no-brainer. If I was LL Cool J,
Sir Mix-A-Lot, Afrika Bambatta, Orbital, Moby, Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk, or anyone else who built their
career on the sound of the 808, I would buy one of these in a heartbeat, and then sell the beloved 808
on eBay for a princely sum from a collector. I'm so cold, aren't I?

The fact is, the 808 to me is a classic. Just like a Minimoog, Prophet-5, Fender Stratocater, or Gibson Les Paul.
The M1AM1, which draws reference to the early 80s "boom chick boom boom chick" electro that emerged from south Florida in
the 80s is pricey, but the new circuits and functionality will take it beyond the capabilities of any 808.
This is likely a very limited edition, and the basslines went up in value fast, so if you have the cash to do
so, get one now. Otherwise, you'll be left with a sea of emulations and imitations. This one's the real deal.

Acid Lab.de

Arturia Celebrate 10 Years With A Beautiful Hardware Synth

2009-09-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a for French synthmaker
Arturia so I've had analogue modelling on the brain.

They're celebrating their 10 Year Anniversary, which is great news for any small
business, especially in the world of electronic music.

I won't be able to premiere my video for Arturia on this blog but there is a wonderful review of their first hardware synth, The Origin from our friends at Sonic State.

The Origin would be a fabulous addition to any hardware based studio as
it runs all the computer processing onboard without the need of a fast PC.
The flexibility it offers, with the ability to match up different synths and filters,
etc (all in software) is damn amazing.
I'm looking forward to Arturia's next 10 years, indeed.