Today I received my latest eBay purchase in the mail: a Suzuki Omnichord OM-84. Add a star to my hipster cred wall. Nevertheless I love the (analog) sound and playability of these instruments. There were a few variations and you can buy new digital models with MIDI called Qchords. If you have an iPad and you want some Omnichordness download the very good Polychord app (link). There’s a good blog that covers old Omnis here: omnichords.blogspot.com. Any of you Wire to the Ear readers own an Omnichord?

“The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument, introduced in 1981 and manufactured by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. It typically features a touch plate, and buttons for major, minor, and diminished chords. The most basic method of playing the instrument is to press the chord buttons and swipe the touch plate with a finger or guitar pick in imitation of strumming a stringed instrument.” – Wikipedia

For more info: qchord.net

I’ve been creating some music with Tom Carpenter. He’s the man behind the wonderful Analogue Solutions synths and modules. He did an unexpected “nice” for me and printed my alias The Horrorist on his upcoming Spring Reverb modules. So I guess I broke some new here… yeah AS has a new Spring Reverb module coming up. If you follow Tom on Facebook you can also see his new very nice looking Telemark Keyboard. The first song we recorded is called “Forever for You” although we could change it to Cold Wave.. what do you think Tom? My friend Gabri is also doing a mix and there will be some other tracks. Samples coming soon…

“Your name is imortalised on the new spring reverb circuit board. hopefully it will be released in a few months!” – Tom Carpenter

For more info: thehorrorist.com and analoguesolutions.org.uk/v2/

I’m a huge fan of Jomox’s Jürgen Michaelis’s work. One of my most favorite pieces in my studio is an Mbrane 11. I suspect like other Jomox products the new Moonwind analog filter will have some interesting quirks that could give you a unique edge in your recordings.

“The Moonwind Analog Filter Tracker is a true analog stereo filter, with built-in step sequencer, an FX chip, 2 LFOs and envelope modulation. Everything is storable and controllable via MIDI.”

For more info: jomox.de

via Synthtopia

Well how about that? An all analog hardware synth from Arturia. The MiniBrute has some unique features including a Steiner Parker filter, supersaw ocillator, “metal” triangle oscillator, Brute factor (re-input staging) and an arpeggiator with tap tempo and 6 swing settings. CV, Midi… 499 Euro, $549 USD!

“MiniBrute is Arturia’s new analog synthesizer. With a pure analog signal path and several innovative features, it sets a new standard for what a hardware synthesizer should be. The pure analog, multi-wave oscillator combined with a huge sounding classic multi-mode filter, and wide range of modulation capabilities will bring new life into your recordings and stage performances. Add to that outstanding features like the Ultrasaw, Metalizer, Brute Factor™, Arpeggiator, LFO with sample & hold, full USB/MIDI/CV connectivity; all of which are housed in a rugged metal enclosure and it is almost too brutal to think about!” – Arturia

For more info: arturia.com

Here’s a pretty boom clik NAMM announcement. Swedish company Clavia who makes the Nordlead keyboards has announced a new Nord Drum module. It’s red and, “…lets you create classic retro-futuristic percussion with analog waveforms or use the harmonically complex waveforms together with different colors of noise for results that both sound and respond stunningly organic.”. EBM bands around the world will be hiring drummer again soon.

“The Nord Drum is a revolutionary 4-channel drum synthesizer that is the result of a creative collaboration between Clavia and drum/music technology enthusiasts Bruniusson & Berg. With an amazingly vast sonic palette and an astounding level of playability it is guaranteed to change your perception of what’s possible with synthetic, sample-free percussion.”

For more info: clavia.se

via Matrixsynth

After my recent post Front 242 Collector I was contacted by a person named Martin who collects 242 himself. He sent me some photos and history of a very unique and collectable piece: one of Jean Luc Meyer’s helmets. He paid about about 150 Euro for it but it turns out the helmet itself even without the 242 connection was originally expensive…

“A few months ago i have sent an e-mail to front 242 collector. But i didn´t get an answer. I think the blog isn´t updated anymore. I regret that there is no real actual f242 forum. I send you a photograph of an item i bought many, many years ago and an old article from a japanese music magazine to compare. Take a look at Jean-Luc. Please let me know what you think. I did a lot of research about this helmet (it is the version whithout the welding shield), i am sure it´s an original. And the story from the guy who sold me this helmet is plausible.

I have bought it from a former dj, who worked in an underground club in the eigthies. I used to go there from when i was 16 or 17 (at that time Depeche Mode released “Black Celebration”). The dj (i don´t remember his name) got a backstage pass for the Depeche Mode concert in Essen/Germany (Music For The Masses Tour), Front 242 were the opener (i was there, brilliant concert). After the gig he had the possibility to talk to Jean-Luc. Jean-Luc gave him some signed posters, as far as i remember a signed flag, and as a highlight his helmet.

You can see the helmets when you watch the beginning of the Front 242 Tape One Video (Paris 1987). While Jean-Luc on stage only used the basic version of this helmet Patrick and Richard wore the version with the welding shield. The helmet was originally manufactured by Racal Amplivox. Today you can buy it for example here: http://www.airwareamerica.com/3mhepaairstream.aspx, (list price: 968,77 $), you see, even today the helmet is to expensive to create a fake.

I have seen a lot of photos from the “f242 museum/exhibition” in Brussels to the band´s 30s anniversary, they showed a lot of stuff, even old clothes, but i haven´t seen any other of their helmets.” Martin

To read the newspaper clipping above in detail: front242articles.blogspot.com

Mini Organs are Japanese collectables that come in a wide variety. Check on eBay and you will find often they sell for $200+. I really like this detuned turntable guy the Panasonic SG-123. Honestly I almost can’t believe so much of this weird stuff ever existed.

“Simply great! Listen to your own favourites and play to them. A masterpiece of a time where mothers were happy and children were creative!” – miniorgan.com

For more info: miniorgan.com/lib/view.php?miniorgan=70

I recently completely rewired my music studio. I now have years of hardware all patched into 30+ inputs via a Motu 828MK3h and two Behringer ADA8000′s. I have all the hardware one click ready in Ableton as External Instrument devices. This means all my hardware is also plugged in powered. One problem I noticed was my Presonus Central Station, Analog Solutions Telemark Synth, Doepfer Dark Time and Ekdahl Moisterizer all do not have power switches. I really didn’t need them all on all the time so after some hunting I discovered the American DJ PC100A. There’s really nothing much to the unit other than a power strip with 8 on/off switches. It works and it’s inexpensive. $29.99 at Amazon.

“the PC100A features 8 lighted switches and a 15A resettable circuit breaker” – americandj.com

For more info: americandj.com/productdetails.as…

For Xmas my brother got me an Olloclip. It’s a clip on wide angle, fisheye and macro lens for the iPhone. The results are really great. Just look at that macro shot of an API 512c micpre knob!

“The API 512c remains faithful to the circuit designs of API’s founder, Saul Walker. Fully featured and still hand assembled, the 512c carefully preserves the original sound character that made it so much a part of the early days of recording. Offering high headroom and a wide variety of inputs and input access points, it is equally at home in the commercial recording studio as it is in the home project studio.” – apiaudio.com

For more info: apiaudio.com and olloclip.com

discover the evo from endeavour on Vimeo.

Here’s an idea that should find it’s way on to all controller keyboards. German company Endeavour has created the Evo which has touch sensitive keys. Perfect right? Well it cost 2800 EUR so about $3,742 USD. Let’s hope they license the technology to someone like M-Audio for the next Oxygen 8.

“The combination of a classic claviature and modern touch-technology. The best of two worlds united in one keyboard.” – endeavour.de

For more info: endeavour.de