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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject:
Amazing Tube Oscillator Module |
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http://www.youtube.com/v/SMy04e0M0ec
yeah, this thing is AWESOME! I slightly selfishly wanted to wait until the auction is over to post this, but the guy that makes these has others in the works and I wanted to give electro-music folks a heads-up on these. Here's pics:
I'm amazed that the low price I got it for, this thing is gonna be the centerpiece of my modular! Any thoughts on these oscillators? Metasonix is getting great reviews for their tube synth, but I sure can't afford one of those. |
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EdisonRex
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Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 4579 Location: London, UK
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:12 am Post subject:
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It is certainly odd. The demo reminded me of a flock of seagulls circling a fire engine.
It actually looks like a set of neon lamp oscillators, which is a bit thinner than the thyratrons that Eric uses. Also I didn't see where there is any patching to external modulators, it seems like it's self contained.
Very Steampunk design, though. _________________ Garret: It's so retro.
EGM: What does retro mean to you?
Parker: Like, old and outdated.
Home,My Studio,and another view |
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BobTheDog
Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 4044 Location: England
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:24 am Post subject:
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Looks nice, sounds awful. |
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andrewF
Joined: Dec 29, 2006 Posts: 1176 Location: australia
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:50 am Post subject:
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I think it is great, though more of a noise machine than musical instrument.
It was funny to see this as i am right in the middle of building a neon version of a CGS psycho lfo. |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:09 am Post subject:
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Yeah, I would agree with that for sure. Alternative / random chromatic relationships and stuff interest me greatly, as does harsh-ass oscillator noise. That said, a filter will likely come in handy |
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andrewF
Joined: Dec 29, 2006 Posts: 1176 Location: australia
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:
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A few thoughts about neon oscillators
Rene's neon VCO sounds fkn excellent, nothing weedy about it.
you can hear it here -
http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/purple.mp3
Neon oscillators and dividers were commonly used in old organs right thru to the 60s. Neons were also used in vintage analogue computers, for clocks, AND gates and OR gates, flipflops and ring counters.
A standalone neon oscillator usually has a cap running to ground. when using more than one neon bulb, the caps can be connected between them. That is what this device is doing, though the caps can be switched in and out of the circuit. In this setup, with caps connected between bulbs, only one bulb can be lit at a time, and it is difficult to predict which bulb will be lit next, and you can set up 'groups' of oscillators to interact whilst ignoring the actions of other 'groups' it means a huge variety of patterns are achievable depending on your switch settings and clock rates....huge meaning virtually infinite. I am happy to see someone appreciating the qualities of neon bulbs, they are deceptively simple but the more you use them the more interesting they get.
A circuit i am currently developing uses just three neons, depending on the settings of the pots the firing order changes in different patterns - 12323123231
12123121212321
I have it set up to operate as a chaotic envelope generator, operating frequency is between 0.2-0.5Hz. So I am trying to get a control voltage out of it rather than an audio signal.
This is where neon oscillators are really interesting - they can produce chaos, that strange nether region between order and random
L.Chua, developer of Chua's circuit, wrote a paper on the chaotic properties of neon bulbs, worth a look if you can access engineering databases. |
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dougcl
Joined: Feb 08, 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:
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EdisonRex wrote: | The demo reminded me of a flock of seagulls circling a fire engine. |
Ha ha, I read this right as that part was playing. |
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metasonix
Joined: Dec 28, 2003 Posts: 34 Location: CALIFORNIA
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:11 am Post subject:
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Cute! He ought to make a PC board for it so it's easier to build.
His soldering work is first rate, but it's not practical to produce this for customers. Especially for $200.
It's a clever hack, and might have musical application. I once saw a small electronic organ that used only neon lamps as active devices. Needless to say, the pitch was none too stable. |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:41 am Post subject:
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I got the Octillator yesterday and I am blown away! This thing is great: solidly built w. great craftsmanship, I had seen the pictures but the instrument itself is gorgeous. It's function/controllability is outstandingly nuanced, with the tubes contributing just the right amount of variability/randomness. One becomes aware of the signal/voltage path via the glowing tubes and playing the Octillator quickly becomes very intuitive. Watching the tubes allows one an amazing amount of fine-control for the sort of vacillating[oscillating?]-between-two-semi-stable-states this thing is great for. Rhythmic elements can be bounced around, changed, tuned, etc. to an amazing degree of versatility.
But what about the sound? The youtube video did NOT do this thing justice! The tube oscillation sounds great; it has a moderate,rippling sort of distortion.
...I was concerned somewhat that the Octillator would be a sort of "one-note pony", or just good for drones or choppy stuff. Really I must stress the versatility and endless possibilities with this instrument,*alone* or as part of a modular system or effects. Funny things happen, some you expect, some you definitely don't..It lends itself much better to performance than one would think. I expect to gain further control as I perform with it. I couldn't be happier with the communication w. the seller, expediency of shipping, packing job, or the instrument. Great ebayer, amazing inventor. I'll make a track soon and post a link. |
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EdisonRex
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 4579 Location: London, UK
Audio files: 172
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:
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well, you sound rather chuffed. You should at least do an mp3 post here when you come up for air. _________________ Garret: It's so retro.
EGM: What does retro mean to you?
Parker: Like, old and outdated.
Home,My Studio,and another view |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:
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I guess music is still fun for me, sorry chief! |
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EdisonRex
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Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 4579 Location: London, UK
Audio files: 172
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:28 am Post subject:
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Don't be sorry, it's nice to see another person so excited about something. There've been a few here lately that have made me smile.
But I'd love to hear something better than seagulls and fire sirens. _________________ Garret: It's so retro.
EGM: What does retro mean to you?
Parker: Like, old and outdated.
Home,My Studio,and another view |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:
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My mistake. I'll have a track up in a day or two! |
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dkcg
Joined: Jul 19, 2008 Posts: 23 Location: LA
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject:
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Looks pretty cool...like a steampunk Neuronium.
Looking forward to hearing some tubey warmness. |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:38 am Post subject:
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Does anyone know a convenient way to host mp3's/wav's? I have a little 'Octillator!' demo I wouldn't mind sharing if anyone wants to hear it. |
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EdisonRex
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Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 4579 Location: London, UK
Audio files: 172
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:25 am Post subject:
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Just add it as an attachment to your post. Look down at the Options below your posting window, click Add an Attachment, browse to your mp3 and add it. _________________ Garret: It's so retro.
EGM: What does retro mean to you?
Parker: Like, old and outdated.
Home,My Studio,and another view |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
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Per
Joined: Jun 09, 2004 Posts: 165 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:12 am Post subject:
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It sound like nothing else. Where can this strange piece of gear be bought?
Per |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:
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I got it off ebay.. it's strange, that's for certain. I'm enjoying it.
The guy said people are showing some interest (though the auctions didn't net him much), and that he's going to make several. the one I got was a sort of prototype, he said. |
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Per
Joined: Jun 09, 2004 Posts: 165 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:
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Hope he does. The youtube video looked so great, and the sound far away from anything heard before.
Per |
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JohnLRice
Joined: Jul 29, 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Western WA USA
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:
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[quote="EdisonRex"]It is certainly odd. The demo reminded me of a flock of seagulls circling a fire engine.
quote]
Good analogy. Although at one point near the beginning it sounded sorta like a bunch of hyenas at a chain-saw party . . .
I think it looks really cool and has an interesting sound. I like it although I doubt I would buy one. |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject:
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I like these analogies.. analog..geez! |
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telstarmagikistferrari
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Audio files: 43
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