Starting from one of the preset performances, evolving to scifi soundscapes. This is my favourite digital synthesizer beside Nord Lead 3.

F5D - Waldorf Microwave XTk demo

The original Alesis Andromeda Trance sounds demo that I posted on Anjunabeats, Gearslutz and Trance.nu forums. The demo consists of a random selection of my personal trance sounds programmed with an Alesis Andromeda A6 analog synthesizer approximately during years 2004-2007, while listening to A State of Trance radio shows by Armin van Buuren, when Trance music was still good and made with soul. I recorded these clips mostly when testing the sounds, so some clips are quantised, some are not. Most sounds have chorus / phaser, delay and reverb in use + compression / limiting. I still have the Andy sitting here by my side, running strong. Will replace the electrolytic capacitors as a preventative maintenance soon.

F5D - Alesis Andromeda A6 Demo V3

The first sounds that I programmed with my Clavia Nord Rack 2X. The sound goes through my typical fx setup for fun. I have had this module for a couple of years, but never really got enough time for it, but now I fired it up and started tweaking! All is unquantized, played while testing / tweaking the sound.

Clavia Nord Rack 2X quick demo

I love the Terminator Theme, so here is a quick play of that using DSI Prophet 08. FX from Roland 330 gear.

F5D - Terminator 2009 (DSI Prophet 08)

Some sounds that I programmed with my DSI Prophet '08 analog synthesizer. More sounds compared to the first upload. Totally unquantized, recorded while testing the sounds.

F5D - Prophet '08 Demo

All sounds programmed using DSI Prophet 08 analog synthesizer. Sound goes through TC Electronic D-Two delay, some reverb and compression/limiting.

F5D Prophet 08 CTR Demo

A texture sound that I programmed for DSI Prophet 08 analog synth. Watch your speaker levels for surprises!

F5D Prophet 08 CTR Textures

Messing with KORG MS-20 kit through Synthoma Elkorus V3 analog ensemble, TC D-Two and some other fx. The noise you hear comes from the BBD chips of Elkorus, when pumped up with compression. 7 patch cables in use this time.

KORG MS-20 through Elkorus V3

Sounds that I programmed using Novation Bass Station II analog synthesizer. This thing has great price / performance, go get one! I also own the original Super Bass Station. They sound close to each other, but the BS II is easier to use, and has a keyboard!

F5D Bass Station II CTR

A short demo that I recorded using my custom Prophet 12 patches, multitracked in logic with some fx. Thank you Dave Smith and DSI for this synthesizer!

Prophet 12 Demo

Testing Sherman Filterbank 2 functionality with Prophet 12 sound. The settings are quite extreme (and not so musical) here, so be careful with your speakers / headphones.

Destroying Prophet 12 sound with Sherman Filterbank

Synth strings patch that I programmed with DSI Prophet 12. The sound uses only 1 layer, no unison, all mod matrix slots in use. The idea was to emulate kind of broken strings with some tape / vinyl or "belt-drive" disturbances. The stronger you play, the more broken the sound gets. No pitchbend wheel was used during playing. The keys are from Aly & Fila remix of Tarja Turunen's song, of which name I do not remember right now. 

Prophet 12 - Belt-driven Strings

My attempt to synthesize / program Boards of Canada (BOC) -style sounds using DSI Prophet 12 digital / analog hybrid synthesizer. No preset sounds of the synthesizer were used, only my custom BOC-inspired sounds programmed from scratch. In addition, I used some sounds that I had recorded using a Zoom H1. I have been listening to BOC alot lately while walking in the nature, and truely enjoy their work and style. The cover photo is a front cover of an actual photo album from the 70's, purchased from Canada.

Prophet 12 - Canada (BoC)

In this recording I quickly test some of my custom Prophet 12 sounds with two analog BBD delays. As we know, the new DSI Pro 2 has a digital BBD emulation. This is Prophet 12 with two real analog BBD delays configured in stereo. With pads, it can sound almost like a reverb. No unison was used in any of the sounds. No reverb was used in any part of the recording. In some of the sounds, there is a 4-stage phaser in use with low speed setting. Surprisingly there is no noise or hum at all, when driving the pedals with T-rex 9 VDC PSU. Still need to sort out a minor clipping issue.

F5D Prophet 12 Stereo BBD-delays

A short recording inspired by the Chariots of Fire Theme by Vangelis. All multi-tracked to Logic using MFB Dominion 1 analog 3-osc VCO synth. For fx, analog guitar pedals have been used, as well as digital plugins.

F5D - Chariots of Fire (MFB Dominion 1)

The purpose of this recording was to compare the envelope snappiness of Roland SH-101, MFB Dominion 1 and Moog Sub 37. In addition, I tweaked the osc waveforms, noise and filters too. SH-101 comes first, then the Dominion 1, and last the Sub 37. No fx was used in most of the recording, only small amount of limiting.

SH-101 - Dominion 1 - Sub37 Snappy Envelopes

Church organ emulation with Alesis Andromeda A6 analog synthesizer. I did not want to have completely clean organ tone, but more of a kind of futuristic sound with analog artefacts, inspired by the movie Interstellar.

F5D - Andromeda Pipe Organ

Organic pad-sound that I programmed using DSI Prophet 12 hybrid synthesizer. The sound uses only a single layer (3 osc + noise) with no unison, but utilizes nearly all mod matrix slots, audio rate fm and the tuned feedback that give the sound organic and unstable character. Parameters are controlled by velocity and aftertouch.

Prophet 12 - Windscale Pads

Quick recording with Roland JD-XA analog synth engine. First half is with LP filter 1, second half is with LP filter 2. Fx are TC D-Two delay + Relab LX480 reverb + compression in Bitwig.

F5D - Roland JD-XA Take 1

Some sounds that I programmed with Roland JD-XA 4-voice analog synth engine. The last sound uses also the digital part for strings. Delay, reverb and compression / limiting were added later, no eq.

F5D - Roland JD-XA Take2

A short track consisting of my custom Solaris patches, most imitating analog synthesizers. Includes also tracks with Waldorf wavetables. Some tracks have additional analog chorus and BBD delay in use + Relab LX480 as reverb. Limiting with Sonnox limiter. Included in the player at johnbowen.com.

John Bowen Solaris - Analog Imitations 2016

Some of my custom Solaris programs recorded in mono with and without fx, through modified Toft ATB analog mixer. Musically not very interesting, but to give an idea of how close to an analog synthesizer the fully digital Solaris can sound. Most sounds have been recorded without fx, but after 2:40 I introduce some analog Electro Harmonix guitar pedal fx (commented in the timeline). In the last two sounds I used the Waldorf wavetables and "Jaws" (JP-80x0 supersaw) waveforms with logic digital stereo delay and Relab LX480 reverb. Some of the sounds utilize the built-in eq of the Solaris, but not the fx.

Solaris Analog Programs - Part1

Going through the analog BBD fx of Arturia Matrixbrute monophonic analog synthesizer. The "fx processor" of the synth is based on analog bucket bricade devices (cool audio) that can be configured for Stereo Delay, Mono Delay, Chorus, Flanger and Reverb. Most of the fx are stereo and the width of the stereo field can be adjusted. The recording goes through these different fx types in this order, first starting with dry signal played by the sequencer of the MatrixBrute. In the Reverb section, I muted several of the notes to better reveal what the reverb does. By no means is this analog fx section meant to compete with the latest digital fx processors, but that is not the purpose. The BBD offers simple but warm / dusty analog fx and enhances the analog experience of the MatrixBrute.

F5D

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