Buchla 259 | Episode 02 | Playing the Oscillators

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"In episode 01 I started with the Main/Principal oscillator. But a complex oscillator also has a modulation oscillator. In episode 02 I am going to focus on the 'dual oscillator' side, which could be useful for anyone with two VCO's in a case. The original title was 'surfing the oscillators' because it's inspired by a @vgermuse Todd Barton live improvisation from 2012 where he actually played the 259 on instinct, just fiddling knobs. Part one of the video is music from the actual recording: https://soundcloud.com/user7621213/bu...

Playing the oscillators by hand is possibly the most fun and gratifying experience with your modular. Just have a big reverb nearby! So I hope you have FM inputs to play with. I am saving the modulation/FM bus for episode 03 and I may finish the series with a 'build your own complex oscillator with anything you can find'. In this episode I am also revisiting the Furthrrrr Generator with the 'strong zero' core. I mentioned that the digital core may not be the best choice if you're looking for an analog 259 experience but this does not mean it's bad. It's quite the opposite.

We'll stay in complex territory this month. Next up will be a Cosmotronic Vortex video because all the material I shot for this series deserves a separate item. If all goes well, I'll have a Cs-L video planned and finally a Lubadh 'reel life' episode with 2.0 firmware. So plenty to study and hopefully something to look forward to."

Steiner-Connolly Synthacon In the Works

Spotted this one over at Synthtopia.

Here's what Steiner-Connolly had to say about it:

“For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, the Synthacon is back!

This is an authentic, discrete, through hole recreation of this iconic 70’s synthesizer under the direction of Nyle Steiner himself.

We have added midi via a FATAR keybed, and a couple new features, but this unit has been tediously recreated right down to the original circuit board design and vintage components.”

The Steiner-Connolly Synthacon is available now to pre-order for $3,000 USD. Contact the company at support@steiner-connolly.com for details."

You can find tons of posts mentioning the Synthacon and various adaptations including individual modules and systems in previous posts here. One of my favorites though, is this demo by Todd Barton aka vgermuse. That sucker sounded brutal.

Djangosfire Vgermuse Duo improv

Published on May 10, 2014 Todd Barton·163 videos

"one of the duo improvisations of Todd Barton and Adam Scramstad from the Eugene gig of 5-8-14. enjoy!"

Richard Lainhart’s Buchla For Sale

Via Todd Barton:

"Caroline Meyers, wife of the late Richard Lainhart has asked me to help her find a buyer for Richard’s Buchla. She is interested especially in anyone desiring to continue Richard’s legacy by exploring his massive patch.

I know that Richard had a patch on his 18-module system that he explored and performed on for almost 3 years. The current 12-module system (see photos) was his 'traveling system' which was paired down from his original 18-module setup.

The modules were all purchased in 2009 and are 2.x firmware, however, Caroline is happy to upgrade it to 3.x firmware before shipping to a buyer.

The modules are:

207e Mixer/Mic Preamp/Envelope Detector
210e Control and Signal Router
225e MIDI Decoder/Preset Manager
261e x 4 Complex Waveform Generator
266e Source of Uncertainty
281e Quad Function Generator
291e x 2 Triple Morphing Filter
292e Quad Dynamics Manager
Cabinet and Buchla Power supply

All modules are in pristine cosmetic and functioning condition and includes the cables pictured. Caroline is asking $15,300. A similar new setup would cost $16,640 (without the cables). It would come with detailed instructions for replicating Richard’s patch."

If interested contact Todd at vgermuse@yahoo.com.

New Buchla Music Easel Sighting

These in via Todd Barton aka vgermuse.

via Muff's: "So. . . I was hiking through the forests of the great Pacific Northwest when I tripped and feel into a Hobbit hole. . .there I discovered a klatch of Easel Weasels!"

BTW, Todd will be at this years Knobcon as posted here.  He will be running a Buchla clinic along with a performance. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a new Buchla Music Easel sighting there as well. :)

Buchla Skype Tutoring with Todd Barton

Todd Barton is offering Buchla Tutoring via Skype. You'll find the full details on his website here.

You'll find a ton of video posts by Todd featured here and previously under his vgermuse alias here.

Buchla Break no. 4 recap

Published on Dec 3, 2012 by vgermuse
"Every Friday at 9 a.m. PST at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/buchlabot (that stream has better video quality but has commercials) I'm going to try and do a 10-15 improv or patchplay and continue the discussion later at the Buchla, EMS & Serge forum at muffwiggler.com. A slightly higher resolution video is available and archived at the above ustream url
cheers, Todd"

Todd Barton aka Vgermuse Featured in Oregon's The Mail Tribune

"Music Director and resident composer Todd Barton is retiring after more than four decades with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Barton was first hired in 1969 to play instruments. He became OSF’s music director in 1972."  Todd will be performing this coming Saturday: "Barton will play with other musicians during concerts on Dec. 1 and Jan. 5 at The DanceSpace, 280 E. Hersey St., Ashland. Both concerts start at 8 p.m."

Read the full article here.

This one in via Brian Comnes.

serge madness

Published on Nov 24, 2012 by vgermuse
"just another day exploring live performance techniques. . ."

Buchla Break no-3

Published on Nov 23, 2012 by vgermuse
"Every Friday at 9 a.m. PST at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/buchlabot (that stream has better video quality but has commercials) I'm going to try and do a 10-15 improv or patchplay and continue the discussion later at the Buchla, EMS & Serge forum at muffwiggler.com. A slightly higher resolution video is available and archived at the above ustream url
cheers, Todd"

random light

Published on Nov 16, 2012 by vgermuse

"a little self-generating random patch using the Buchla 266r. A higher resolution audio here:
http://soundcloud.com/user7621213/random-light"

Buchla 222e play

Published on Nov 15, 2012 by vgermuse

"a much better audio of a similar performance is available here:
http://soundcloud.com/user7621213/buchla-222e-play"



Update: Just a quick reminder:  Todd Barton aka vgermuse will be broadcasting live this Friday, Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. PST at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/buchlabot a rather complex patch this week.

Looping the Buchla

Published on Nov 12, 2012 by vgermuse

"A friend requested a basic intro to how I personally use a looper pedal with my Buchla. To keep things simple I am just using a Buchla 259e oscillator, a Boss RC-20 Loop Station pedal, and a very cheap videocam mixer.

Also my other youtube videos Buchla Break and Live Buchla Improv Concert are examples of looping the Buchla

More looping"

Buchla Break with Todd No. 1

Published on Nov 9, 2012 by vgermuse

"Every Friday at 9 a.m. PST I'm going to try and do a 10-15 improv or patchplay and continue the discussion later at the Buchla, EMS & Serge forum at muffwiggler.com
cheers, Todd"

Todd Barton Live Buchla Video Stream Tonight!

Just a reminder, Todd Barton live in Ashland, OR, will be on USTREAM tonight starting around 7:45 PM PST. I'm not finding the embed code, so just click here to watch when the time comes.

Update: embed for the recorded performance added below.

Update 11/5: YouTube and SoundCloud embeds added below.




Video streaming by Ustream

Todd Barton Live Buchla Improv Concert

Published on Nov 5, 2012 by vgermuse

"Saturday Nov. 3: a live improv concert featuring Todd Barton on the Buchla Electric Music Box. No keyboard, no controllers, no samples, no pre-recorded playback, just a bunch of analog synth modules and lots of knob twiddling. For higher res audio go to:
http://soundcloud.com/user7621213/buchla-improv-11-3-12" [embed below]

Buchla Improv 11-3-12 by bartonmusic

buchla 100 clone fun

Published on Oct 8, 2012 by vgermuse

"the first exploration of a lovely set of Buchla 100 clone modules made by djangosfire: 158 Dual Sine-Saw Generator; 180 Dual Attack Generator; 110 Dual VC Gate. First a quick sweep through the oscillator then some wild S&H stuff to show the variety of attacks/decays of the 180 -- no effects just straight into a keyboard amp, and of course (unfortunately) the flipcam mic, ugh. I'll try and get a nice soundcloud track up soon, hopefully you'll get a glimpse of the possible sounds from this rough video. See djangosfire youtube channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/djangosfire"

Buchla 249e for Sale

via Todd Barton aka vgermuse
"This Buchla 249e is in pristine cosmetic and operational shape. I am the original owner. It is, of course, pre v30 and comes with original documentation and firmware card. A very rare and amazing module!

Paypal is the way to go. Free shipping in the US (lower 48).

249e $4,750
Update: price reduced to $4,650

Please contact me at bartonmusic@mac.com if you are interested. All best wishes, Todd "

Click the pic for the super size shot.

Buchla 222e goes Vegas

YouTube Published on Aug 22, 2012 by vgermuse

"OK...I hope this never happens to you...the other day my Buchla 222e flipped out and looked like it went to Las Vegas -- blinkin' blinky lights randomly going on and off . . . scared the $#&*@) out of me. After some sleuthing it turned out to be a loose ribbon cable going to the 222e. Enjoy the light show -- any synchronization of sound and image is deeply random."

EML-200 trianglewave s&h

YouTube Published on Aug 12, 2012 by vgermuse

"simple sample & hold using just the triangle wave from the Master Oscillator on the EML-200. fun predictable and unpredictable sequences!"

timbral planes ii

YouTube Published on Jul 28, 2012 by vgermuse

"a brief haken continuum improv with companion higher resolution audio at:
http://soundcloud.com/user7621213/timbral-planes-ii this, like the first timbral planes (audio only) [below] uses just the continuum internal sound no.1 "fm synthesis 1" routed through some effects in Ableton Live. Excuse the surface noise that the flipcam picked up -- definitely check the soundclound link above for better audio"

timbral planes by bartonmusic
timbral planes ii by bartonmusic