Music Links
Communities
EM411 Electronic music co-operative.
Oberheim Abbey Discussion forum for Oberheim Synths.
Oldschool Sound A groovy synth site out of France. Specs, manuals, sounds, forums, all in Continental French. Nice flash programming with some very oldschool sound effects.
Sonicstate Gear listings, reviews, and links.
Sonikmatter Expert forum dealing primarily with Logic Pro and Kurzweil.
Synthtopia Electronic music portal contains news, reviews, interviews, and forums — including the official Metasonix forum.
Tapegerm “The Tapegerm Collective is a creative musicians’ collective which embodies the idea of a sonic organism.”
Theremin World Forums and an RSS feed for all the up-to-the-minute Theremin info you need.
DIY Synth Reference
See also Modular Systems, below
Andy’s Synth Pages Includes the most comprehensive DIY links page I’ve seen to date.
Music From Outer Space is home to Ray Wilson, a.k.a. (and rightly so) ADHD Boy. Many DIY synth resources, plus all the info you need to build your own Sound Lab Mini-Synth (including a link to order the PCB for $30 if you so desire).
musicsynthesizer.com
Papareil Synth Labs Marc Bareille provides DIY synth info and schematics, including design info for the X2 Thyratron, a very cool rack tube synth using VCO and VCF designs by Eric Barbour of Metasonix.
Synth-DIY Mailing List Info and Archives
Enthusiasts and Experts
Atari Launchpad The Atari world according to Hallvard Tangeraas. Lots of archived Atari software which we can only assume is now in the public domain. No longer being updated.
carrionsound is the home of Dave Wright, a.k.a. Not Breathing, and a showcase for his unique original electric and electronic instruments. Dave will also encase anything in clear resin for a fee.
Combo Organ Heaven A Vintage Keyboard Webring page. I’m not sure why anyone would devote a site to combo organs. But the Yamaha YC-30 — the first electronic keyboard I ever owned — is there.
The Knobulator All about synth knobs and their assigned functions. Weird, yeah, I think so too.
Korg MS & PS Analogue Synthesizers Benjamin Ward has created a very comprehensive site with images, specs, and manuals for these late-70s era synthesizers. Includes the very popular MS-10 and MS-20.
Mark Pulver’s Midiwall
Paul Lehrman Dude knows more about MIDI than just about anyone I’ve even heard of. May have written the manual for your favourite axe.
Jim Menard’s Home Page Self-described computer geek and musician. Excellent MIDI reference page.
Simon’s Hall of Electric Pianos A Vintage Keyboard Webring page. Model numbers and basic information on just about every electric piano ever made. Clavs and other related instruments too.
Sound of Music Swedish music production/education company. Their site features a variety of vintage synth links and resources.
Synthfool Kevin Lightner presents vintage synth images, schematics, and other useful information.
Synths ‘R’ Us The synthesizer DIY pages of RenÈ Schmitz. Lots of schematics for a variety of modules, including tube designs.
Tim Thompson Creator of the “KeyKit” MIDI programming language. Many curiosities on Mr. Thompson’s pages, including some web-based compositional tools, MP3s from collaborative Usenet music releases, and pictures and details from several consecutive years of “Woodstockhausen”.
General Music Sites
Cleverjoe’s Musician’s Resource Centre Canadian equivalent to above, but, as one might expect, with a more community-oriented approach.
CreativeSynth Zine.
EMUSIC-L Weblog Electronic music weblog and home to the EMUSIC-L and SYNTH-L list archives.
gearpreview.com Previews and reviews of gear.
Harmony Central Music industry news, new gear reviews.
The History of Electronic Music Become educated.
Tweakheadz Zine.
Kurzweil Links
K2000/K2500 Launch Pad Links and technical info.
K2000 SCSI Help Thinking of inserting your K2000 into your computer’s SCSI chain? Go here first.
Pyramid Sound Third party patch manufacturer. Nothing free.
SonicState K2000 Page Info and links.
Sonikmatter Info, sounds, programming tutorials, and some very useful Kurzweil-specific message boards.
Sweetwater Retail authorities on all things Kurzweil. Free sounds here.
Synthzone K2000 Page Many links, most of them useful.
Young Chang FTP Original factory patches and demos.
Manufacturers
See also Modular Systems, below
Big Briar “Electronic instruments from the mind of Bob Moog.” Home of the Etherwave Theremin, the Moogerfooger line, and the Voyager. Lots of information on Theremin and the man himself.
Blacet Research Some very interesting looking DIY kits.
Hartmann-Music’s Neuronal Synthesizer I’m not quite sure what it is, but the site design is nice.
JKJ Electronics Makers of the CV-4 and CV-5 MIDI/CV interface. The main site seems to be down at the moment. CV-5 specs can be found on Mark Pulver’s Midiwall.
Kenton Electronics MIDI/CV converters, controllers, retrofits.
Metasonix Vacuum tube synths. I’ve got three of these modules now. Fear me.
Pocket Express MIDI devices and interfaces.
Roland Portugal Download Area The only place I’ve found on the net where you can download DART along with all the S-700 series system disks. Plenty of factory patches for older Roland synths as well.
Theremin Maker Tube Theremins by Mark Keppinger.
Yamaha Manual Library Searchable database of Yamaha manuals in PDF format.
YamahaSynth.com Info and resources for current and recent Yamaha synths.
Modular Systems
Analogue Systems (UK) — home of the RS Integrator series.
Analogue Solutions (UK) — makers of the faux Russian “Vostok” monosynth (which features a VCS3-type matrix patchboard.
Blacet Research (US) produces some very interesting modules in pre-fab or kit form.
CGS — Ken Stone’s Modular Synthesizer Ken’s site contains a wealth of information including schematics and PCBs for his CGS modules, plus vacuum tube module schematics and articles by Eric Barbour of Metasonix.
Cyndustries modules are compatible with Modcan systems.
Doepfer (Germany) offers a choice of over 70 modules for their A-100.
Electronic Music Studios (EMS) The makers of the legendary VCS3 are still around. So is the VCS3, for that matter.
Macbeth Studio Systems (Scotland) promise an “exciting modular synth” in the yet-to-be-released M5.
Metasonix (US) offers several modules that can be used as stand-alone processors or combined with modular systems using rackmount converter kits. All modules, which include filters, amplifiers, oscillators and the TM-1 waveshaper/ringmod unit, feature all-vacuum-tube circuitry in the signal path.
Modcan Canadian-made modular.
Oakley Sound Systems (UK) — Home of the MOTM compatible Oakley Modular.
Synthesis Technology sells the popular MOTM synth modules assembled or in kit form.
Synthesizers.com (US) — Roger Arrick’s systems are fashioned after the original Moog modulars.
SynthModules Frac-Rack (Blacet, PAiA, and Wiard 1200) compatible modules.
Technosaurus (Switzerland) — makers of the Selector and Microcon systems.
Paia (US) has been making DIY electronic instrument and audio kits since 1967, and has recently re-introduced a modular line with their 9700 series.
Wiard (US) makes a modular system consisting of six multi-function modules including the “Mixolator”, “Borg Filter”, and “Woggle Bug”.
Reason Links
Pegasus
Propellerheads Makers of Reason.
Raapie
Reason Arena
ReasonFreaks
Repair and Parts
analog.no Analog Synthesizer repair A Norwegian site that offers (among other things) digitized audio files of – get this – cassette-dumps from pre-MIDI synths. Includes the original 120 patches from the rev. 3.3 Prophet 5.
Telesis Gear Replacement LCD backlights for most synths.
Vintage Analog Synthesizer Repair Keyboard Parts Buy kits to repair and maintain your J-wire action synths (Moog, Sequential).
Vintage Planet (The Netherlands) specializes in “rare parts for keeping unique electronic instruments of the 20th century in the best possible condition.” An excellent resource for NOS parts, and the only place I know of where you can find a RAM cartridge for the Yamaha CX-5 music computer.
Wine Country Productions, Inc. Parts, service, and MIDI retrofits for all things Sequential Circuits (i.e. Prophets).
Retail/Rental
Axe Music Western Canadian music chain (BC, AB).
Coll Audio The most comprehensive concert and recording gear rental warehouse in Canada (Markham, Ontario).
Paul’s Boutique is the coolest vintage gear store in Toronto.
Rogue Music New York City.
Saved by Technology Toronto Macintosh and digital audio specialists. Online price list.
Songbird Music Used instruments, Ottawa and Toronto.
Steve’s Music Store Toronto.
Technopolis Vintage gear out of Montreal.
The Twelfth Fret Toronto’s premier guitar shop. Check out the Harrison Guitars page. Makes me wish I could play one.
Urban Music (Tokyo)
Samples/Sounds
Findsounds.com Search the web for sounds.
Electronisounds Cheap samples and loops of varying quality, with some free downloads.
Hollow Sun A pantload of free vintage synth samples, created for the Akai S5000 and S6000. The raw samples are in WAV format. How do they do it? Volume.
Looperman D loops. B loops. D’n'B loops.
Oberheim Heaven Over 1,000 Matrix 6/6r/1000 patches in sysex and MID format.
Partners in Rhyme Search engine and links to free samples and sound effects. I’ve got issues with the implementation, but you get what you pay for.
Pro-Rec Patches and samples for a wide variety of instruments.
SoniVox MI is the new home of Sonic Implants and Pro Sessions. These people have been making some of my favourite sounds for over a decade.
Sound Effects and Music Samples Library
Sample Arena — free sound samples, patches
SampleCity Forum with sample upload/download area.
Big Fish Audio Royalty-free sound effects.
Sound Forest Royalty-free sound effects.
SoundDogs Royalty-free sound effects.
SGroup Roland factory sample archive For S-50, S-550, S-330, and S-700 series samplers.
Sonomic: Instant Access to the Sounds You Need
SoUnDEnGiNe.com — Pro Sounds for Connected Musicians This company boasts an interesting list of employees and contributors, and their product line includes a prepared piano sample set for fans of John Cage.
Software/VST
aRts (analog realtime synthesizer) virtual modular synthesizer for LINUX, distributed under the Gnu Public License.
Celemony Software Makers of Melodyne.
Free Audio Plugins Download free dx, vst, audio units, rtas plugins, effects and virtual instruments.
Ohm Force makes some of the most original looking and organic sounding Audio Unit effects and instruments I’ve ever used.
Propellerheads Makers of Reason.
Steinberg Emagic’s competition: Makers of Cubase, HALion, and creators of the VST protocol.
K-v-R Excellent info site for VST instruments.
Kyma The Kyma Capybara. Is it a sound card? A DSP engine? A synth? A sampler? A soft-synth? Or is it a cute furry creature native to Australia?
[DFX] - Super Destroy FX VST Plugin Pack Interesting, original, and free.
MDA-VST Maxim Digital Autio plug-in effects and instruments.
PSP Professional Sound Projects Mastering effects (VST and RTAS).
VST Central Formerly “Wavetable”. Info site for VST instruments and effects.
xhosaudio VST plugins and audio software.
SY/TG77 Links
Analoguesque — Yamaha SY-77 Reasonably priced analogue emulations by some programmers who are still very enthusiastic about the capabilities of this machine.
SY List Archives Much SY77 information from the now-defunct SY Mailing List. Formerly located at www.neuroinformatik.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ini/PEOPLE/heja/sy-list.html and apparently now defunct itself.
SY99 Home Page — SY77 Some SY77 patches for you to download (free).
Technical Info
Jensen Transformers Where is that hum coming from? Read the white papers and then tell me, because I still don’t know (though I suspect it might be RF from my monitor).
Linear Phase Analog Filters Tim Hooper, retired electrical engineer, offers a filter design service, as well as detailed info on filter design and a comprehensive glossary.
MIDI Reference From Jim Menard’s site.
rec.audio.pro (RAP) FAQ Many pro audio questions are answered in the FAQ for the usenet group. It may be wise to read the FAQ before posting to the newsgroup.
Vintage Gear Sites
Analogue Heaven Archives Search Search for specs, mods, maintenance and repair info.
Eboardmuseum The 700 exhibit electronic keyboard museum in Klagenfurt, Austria.
The Hammonds The fug-ugly but informative Hammond page at Theatreorgans.com.
Lords of the Mini A site dedicated to the MiniMoog and Voyager. Includes serial number registry and discussion group.
Moog Archives Rare documents, photographs and memorabilia pertaining to Moog synthesizers. See also Big Briar.
Music Machines Archive The original. Vast resource for vintage electronic instruments.
Oberheim Abbey Discussion forum for Oberheim Synths.
Old Crow’s Synth Shop Vintage synth repair tips, including extensive information on the Korg Polysix and the legendary Yamaha CS-80.
Rhodes Super Site The Ultimate online Fender Rhodes resource.
Synrise Bilingual (German/English) site out of Germany with a great splash page image.
Synthlinks Was gone for a while, but seems to be coming back.
Synthmuseum.com Another comprehensive database of electronic instruments.
Synthzone Information and links regarding electronic instruments (old and new) and audio recording. A good place to start looking for that elusive manual.
Synthzone Webring Listing Webrings are hit and miss in terms of quality, but sometimes the lone fanatics are the only ones obsessed enough to have documented that obscure piece of information you need.
The Terrey Collection of vintage synthesizers. Virtual museum, with some items for sale.
Vintage Synth Explorer This vintage synth database features good pictures and some sound samples, but reviews are more colloquial than informative.
Analog Synth Gallery
The Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum
effectsdatabase.com
The EMIS Synthesizer Museum Homepage
JetBoy Junction
Synth & Midi Museum @ Synthony Music
