Metasonix continues to build one-of-a-kind effects with raunchy, make-your-parents-blush names. No nonsense about tubes providing warm, wonderful sounds. Take the first tube, a vintage model from devices like military radios:

“We use it as a preamp—a BAD preamp. The SCROTUM knob controls input volume badly. No, you can’t turn it fully down. This is intentional because it interacts with the DOUBLE SCROTUM switch. Turning down SCROTUM won’t silence the awful noise and oscillation. It just makes the TM-7 howl and scream at various pitches, intermodulating with your lovely sweet guitar tone. Ha ha ha. Scrotum.”

Two more vacuum tubes and a feedback loop later, well … it’s easier to hear than describe. Our friend, musician, bender, and experimentalist Chachi Jones, has launched a new video blog for the hip San Francisco music gear shop Robotspeak. He tests the TM-7 Scrotum Smasher in a new clip. Cross your legs before watching, gentleman readers:

More videos coming in the Robotspeak Magazine.

Last month, we looked at an upcoming all-tube synth from the twisted minds at Metasonix, as shown at a tube expo. We heard 2006 for launch at US$2500 or thereabouts.

CDM reader Michael Weeks is busy writing the user manual for the synth (aka the S-1000). Result? He’s got a prototype. Michael lets us in on the details of this peculiar beast:

A full multi-part demo, with all synths the S-1000, and all drums processed through the waveshaper and filter:

S-1000 Demo [MP3; click play icon for live playback via del.icio.us]

Also in the directory, there are several other demos of more extended tweaking, just single patterns, or pattern chains, from a future retro mobius with live knob tweaking. And there are some other demos of just the filter section, as it is the same circuit being used in the TM-6.

And, of course - mandatory synth pron - some nice close-up, arty photos of tubes!

Closeup 1
Closeup 2
Closeup 3

Thanks as always, Michael!

The demo certainly delivers on low-fi strangeness. Now I just want to try one out in person — maybe at the upcoming tube expo across the river in New Jersey this spring? I’m guessing this is one better tasted live.

Also on:
Matrixsynth — oh, sure, just because I’m on East Coast time and went to bed! ;-)

Related:
MIDI Optional, Glowing Green Bars Standard: First Look at the S-1000
Vacuum Tube Valley Expo: Where to Show Off a New Tube Synth
Analog Synth Porn with Butt Probe (their product name, not mine)
Metasonix TX-2 Butt Probe Effects Box
Gear Porn: “Spinal Rape” Makes Gear Music Video Star
Vintage Synths: Report from Analogue Heaven

Work in digital, but dream of tubes? You’re the target audience for the Vacuum Tube Valley Audiophile and Music Expo. Apparently, the fall show just took place in Arcadia, CA, but the spring will bring the tubes to my neck of the woods: North Brunswick, NJ, just outside of New York City. This retro-looking show is devoted to “high-quality sound.” Of course, “quality” got redefined by the raunchy folks at Metasonix with their new synth. But don’t let anyone tell you modern sound gear has gotten dull: from audio-geek-chic high-end tube gear to synths behaving badly, tubes live on.

Thanks, Michael, for turning me on both to the new instrument and the show.

Sorry, couldn’t resist running that headline. Michael sends us (via Eric at Metasonix) a shot of Robert Rich’s incredible modular synth setup. That’s one eclectic rig, complete with a Butt Probe TX-1 stomp box squeezed in among other gear. And yes, that’s an M-Audio Ozonic keyboard and a PowerBook running Ableton Live, proving that in his studio — as here at CDM — analog and digital coexist in happy harmony.

Head to Robert Rich’s website for “Organic Electronics and Sonic Surrealism” and more photos like this. That’s Robert Rich, folks, not to be confused with former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich.

To cap off today’s Korg Love Fest, let’s take a moment to remember gear of yesteryear . . . meaning, of course, just a few short years ago. Sure, the latest-and-greatest is always lovely, but I love the fact that Dan Phillips from Korg has an extensive site devoted to the Korg Wavestation (Dan’s photo below), OASYS PCI, and DP patch lists for gems from the Eventide DSP7000 to the Line6 Pod to the tc Fireworx. (I like Dan’s taste in gear.) And why not treat these like real musical instruments instead of just toys to show off. Real instruments take time.

Everything old isn’t always new again — David Battino wondered, rightfully so I think, if anyone really needs a Korg M1 plugin. Yet, there’s something comforting in the knowledge that choice of tools really doesn’t matter when you’re happy making music. And low-budget tools can indeed be had.

Now, does anyone know where I could pick up a used OASYS PCI?