Testing out various vintage drum & tape machines during repairs including some major custom modifications by Dani in the workshop...

All recordings Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

The Secret World of Vintage Delays, Drum & Tape Machines...

The result of some of the many random experiments with sound in The Lab over the years...

All recordings copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

Random Experiments With Sound in The Lab...

A sneak preview of Hideaway Studio's new Klockwerks realtime DDS Clocked FX System in action...

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Introducing Hideaway Studio's Klockwerks

Various test recordings of a number of custom and low volume studio equipment designs over the years by D.A.Wilson (Hideaway Studio) including a number of tube hybrid rackmount audio processors originally conceived and built for Jean-Michel Jarre...

Studio Equipment by Hideaway Studio in Action...

Made with Korg Wavestation being utterly mangled by Hideaway Studio's infamous Klockwerks DDS Clocking system under MIDI control...

There was no pitch bending on the Wavestation - that was all created in real-time by Klockwerks sliding the clock rate to an old ART MultiVerb LT by the same MIDI notes sent to the Wavestation with a slow slew rate dialled in to create a weird sliding effect.   Because the clock rate is not musically related to the pitch, the results are very much atonal in this case.  The Multiverb LT is running 100% wet to achieve this effect.

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Here is a segued demo of the Klockwerks system in action:

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/klockwerks-sneak-preview-ii

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2021.

Wavestation & Klockwerks: Temporal Slyders...

Having a go washing through a cute little 1983 Doctor Rhythm DR-110 analog drum machine through a vintage VA-55 tube mixer with spring reverb paralleled with the kicks fed through a tube amplified Bruel & Kjaer 1615 resonator set in the 63Hz 1/3 oct band.  The result was then washed through an old SONY DAL-1000 digital limiter. The result is quite beefy! :)

PLEASE NOTE: THESE LOOPS ARE FREE TO USE IN ANY MUSIC RECORDING BUT STRICTLY FORBIDDEN FOR USE IN COMMERCIAL SAMPLE PACKAGES OR INSTRUMENTS WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2021.

1983 Doctor Rhythm DR-110: Tube Processed (Free Loops 4U)

My studio archives are littered with long forgotten test recordings I made of vintage studio gear that has been through the workshop for clients. Sometimes I have fun throwing a few of them together and seeing what comes out. In this case its a couple of test recordings from back when I custom modified a number of Adrian Utley's wonders a few years back to be sync'able including his Bentley FR-6, TR-808 and a rackmount Oberheim Two-Voice (TVS-1).

Composition  & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2015.

Locked & Loaded: TR-808, Bentley FR-6 & Obi TVS-1 Sync Retrofit testing...

NEWS UPDATE: The second batch of 25 pre-production units are nearing completion and am now taking pre-orders for delivery in June. A new Patch Editor/Librarian App & VST/AU plugin with full automation has also been developed complete with a new library of over 250 sound patches for Win/Mac/Linux and will be free to all Elfin-04 and 01 owners.

Introducing Elfin-04, Hideaway Studio's Compact New 4-Voice Polysynth Expander...
 
I have been working round the clock for weeks now on my dinky little 8-bit 4-Voice (4 x [2osc+1sub+LFO]) VA Poly Expander with 1960's style transformer-mixed output voicing and finally No's.000 thru 010 are born to the world and receiving very positive feedback from their new owners....... this 4-voice polysynth measuring just 16x12x3cm has full real-time control over her 32 parameters via simple midi ccs and 16 built-in patches. 

Based on an expanded form of a customized software synth-core design by ISGK in Japan, I think the Elfin-04's unique voice ouput/mixing transformers do add something for sure - they are driven full-swing with 60KHz PWM resulting in a lot of additional harmonics/mirror frequencies and some saturation that all gets trapped within the transformers which adds a richness/darkness to the sound (no-doubt inspired in part by my beloved DK Synergy). In the Elfin-04, the 4 voices are passively mixed but, unusually, by the topology of the output-transformers themselves which is a trick that used to be found in some more exotic 1960s valve test equipment where multiple signal outputs were mixed on isolated outputs (eg. my huge old Panoramic TTG-2 tube Dual Sinewave Generator). Also, each voice CPU is independently clocked so everything is genuinely free-wheeling across the voices so even the noise phases slowly when played on multiple notes and unison which is pretty cool.

Any questions, please PM me here on S/C or to EF86 on GearSpace.

All Sound Design & Recordings Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2025.

Hideaway's New Elfin-04 Polysynth: Detuned Unison Mode Montage 01

NEWS UPDATE: The second batch of 25 pre-production units are nearing completion and am now taking pre-orders for delivery in June. A new Patch Editor/Librarian App & VST/AU plugin with full automation has also been developed complete with a new library of over 250 sound patches for Win/Mac/Linux and will be free to all Elfin-04 and 01 owners.

Any questions, please PM me here on S/C or to EF86 on GearSpace.

Introducing Elfin-04, Hideaway Studio's Compact New 4-Voice Polysynth...
 
I have been working round the clock for weeks now on my dinky little 8-bit 4-Voice (4 x [2osc+1sub+LFO]) VA Poly Expander with 1960's style transformer-mixed output voicing and finally No's.000 thru 010 are born to the world and receiving very positive feedback from their new owners...... this 4-voice polysynth measuring just 16x12x3cm has full real-time control over her 32 parameters via simple midi ccs and 16 built-in patches. 

Based on an expanded form of a customized software synth-core design by ISGK in Japan, I think the Elfin-04's unique voice ouput/mixing transformers do add something for sure - they are driven full-swing with 60KHz PWM resulting in a lot of additional harmonics/mirror frequencies and some saturation that all gets trapped within the transformers which adds a richness/darkness to the sound (no-doubt inspired in part by my beloved DK Synergy). In the Elfin-04, the 4 voices are passively mixed but, unusually, by the topology of the output-transformers themselves which is a trick that used to be found in some more exotic 1960s valve test equipment where multiple signal outputs were mixed on isolated outputs (eg. my huge old Panoramic TTG-2 tube Dual Sinewave Generator). Also, each voice CPU is independently clocked so everything is genuinely free-wheeling across the voices so even the noise phases slowly when played on multiple notes and unison which is pretty cool.

All Sound Design & Recordings Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2025.

Hideaway's New Elfin-04 Polysynth: Polyphonic Patch Montage 01

Elfin-08 No. 000 (basically two stock Hideaway Elfin-04 Poly Expanders bolted together running modified firmware with a stereo output) fires up for the first time on all 10 of its 8-bit processors and 8 output transformers!....

The allocation of the 8 voices has been distributed between the left and right audio outputs with even voices on one channel and odd voices on the other giving a rather pleasing stereo effect. The Detuned Unison Mode on the 8-voice is just massive!

All of the sounds in the test recording are factory Elfin-04 patches loaded up from the new Elfin Controller VST/AU/Standalone (win/mac/linux) patch editor which currently has around 260 patches built in.
 
NB: I am building these 8-Voice proof of concept variants in very limited numbers for those who can't wait for the official Elfin-08 otherwise the current Elfin-04 offers the very same sound but with less polyphony.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2025

Hideaway Elfin-08: 8-Voice Functional Prototype Awakens...

Hideaway Studio's ultra rare Dual Tube Hybrid Filter in Action - Originally designed and built for Jean-Michel Jarre in 2011 by D.A.Wilson as a live performance filter the unit features a complex and unusual union of a diode ladder with multi-mode input mixer and a resonant tube based band-pass filter tube buffered and mixed in parallel with a phase reversal option.  

The filter can be used in live performances via its 9 CV control channels using a modulation matrix and a hand controller.

The demo shows when used in this way various aspects of the filter can be sequenced as the filter is opened and closed.

Only two examples of this beast were ever built.

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2011.

The Dual Tube Hybrid Filter In Action...

A sneak preview of Hideaway Studio's new Klockwerks realtime DDS Clocked FX System in action...

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source.  This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear.  Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime.  Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer.  This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.  

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Klockwerks System in Action: Sneak Preview

A rare demonstration of what is perhaps one of the most complex and exotic analog phasers ever devised.   The Triple Tube Hybrid Phaser was originally designed for Jean-Michel Jarre by Dani Wilson at Hideaway Studio and is one of only a very small handful ever built.

On a huge custom pcb it comprises of three 4-stage phaser blocks similar to the Small Stone with tube (ECC83) pre-amp and post amps and tube buffers between each phaser.  The OTA based phasers are combined in an unusual series/parallel arrangement with their own regen paths each modulated by one phase of a triple phase LFO generator thus allowing the phase spread to be set between each phaser block from  all three on top of one another for a huge plunging effect to being 120 degrees out for a swirly effect.   There are variable controls for the LFO offset, depth, rate and spread as well as a variable regeneration level (heard being turned up in the first minute of the demo).

The stuttering effect heard later in the demo is where the spread control is being set to a new position thus allowing the phasers to realign and commence on new phase spread angles.

Please note the phaser was recorded into delay to generate some stereo spread.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio

Triple Tube Hybrid Phaser: An Uber Rare Beast In Action!

Having another play with Hideaway Studio's truly insane Klockwerks system.

Here a classic Korg Minipops 45 is being fed into the a MultiVerb LT (patch 09) modified as a "donor unit" for the Klockwerks system.  The LT is being modulated with various LFO rates and waveforms from one of the clock modulator programs on the Klockwerks handset....  in this case the LFO shape, depth, offset and rate are being tweaked on the fly by hand but these can be acurately controlled from a MIDI sequence using up to 4 separate CC channels as well a CV input.  LFOs and slide effects can also be synchronised to MIDI clock at various clock rate divisions.

One powerful and unique aspect of the Klockwerks system is that it binds clock modulation patches with patches on the donor FX unit to form an instant recall system.  Such patches are stored in NV memory and then called up instantly via MIDI program changes.

Patch 09 on the MultiVerb LT seems to respond well to this sort of thing!... the resulting output is truly mangled beyond recognition!!

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

Klockwerks System in Action: Mangling a Korg MiniPops 45!

An 1969 Solartron Pseudo Random Generator modulating  a lab oscillator in a 5 level probability distribution of pitches mixed with three drones slightly modulated with the bandwidth filter set to 3.5Hz producing something a little more musical than I was expecting from an old piece of lab test gear!

Original Sound Design & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2019

1969 Solartron Pseudo Random Generator: JM1861 Bagpipes

A bizarre watery effect created by feeding back the output of an ART LT FX processor to its input whilst randomly modulated by the Klockwerks System.. the regenerative path was created with a Binson tube Pre-Mix fed back via a DBX II 128 classic limiter and the Hideaway Dual Tube Hybrid Filter centred around 1KHz in tube resonance.   The resulting chaos was then further filtered with two Hideaway Studio TEQ-9B All Tube Gyrator EQs.   Before each plunge effect was wild self-oscillation which was removed using a mixture of Izotope RX and cut/paste.   Each plunge effect itself was created by rapidly winding down the clock frequency just at the point the self-oscillation was tamed.  No deliberate tone or noise sources whatsoever were used in the making of this recording.

I love this kind of pseudo chaotic self-making stuff!   Its a pig to setup but when it works it can be really interesting..

Original Sound Design & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson

Klockwerks: Regenerative Waters...

Demonstrating the stock Windy.+# patch on a Hideaway Studio Klockwerks handset in this case driving a old ART MultiVerb LT modified for Klockwerks..

In this demo the MultiVerb is being modulated with a random LFO program.  The Klockwerks system is being fed from a Roland JX-8P (factory patch ArcoString) - first you hear the 8P directly into a conventional reverb - then the output from the Klockwerks system is brought into the mix.  Although lo-fi in nature, the effect can be really quite beautiful when used with care...

This is one of all manner of interesting effects the Klockwerks system can create.

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

More demos of Klockwerks in action here:

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/klockwerks-sneak-preview-ii

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson 2019.

Klockwerks: Windy.+# (Mangling the Roland JX-8P)

Made whilst testing out a gorgeous 1978 Ibanez AD-230 all BBD analog delay heavily modified in The Lab at Hideaway Studio to permit full CV control of most of the major front panel controls including Vactrol controlled regen levels adding a whole new slant to a great sounding modulated delay jam packed with Bucket Brigade Delay chips!...

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2020.

1978 Ibanez AD-230: Under Full CV Control...

This thing is just plain nuts when you start injecting LFO signals onto the pins of the ADC MUX chip for the front panel control CV channels!!

All segments of this were made with a simple one note sequence whilst the pitch, sample, decay and repeat parameter CV channels were modulated by an LFO with a roughly time related period to the tempo thus causing all manner of evolving natural patterns - this includes the entire section at the end of the recording which was made the same way!..

I feel some serious circuit-bending coming on as none of these parameters are available via midi or CV in stock form...

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2020.

1986 Simmons MTX9: Messin' With Its 'Nsides!...

Testing out Adrian Utley's infamous and very awesome 1979 Maestro Echoplex EP-4 after it developed some capstan motor issues.

I love old tape delays - they all have a sound and character of their own and the EP-4 sounds particularly chunky with a great vibe and really cool sounding regerative feedback.

In this case a factory drum sequence from the Alesis Micron I keep in the workshop as a useful test source was fed into the EP-4 - and what a transformation!...

My archives are littered with literally hundreds of test recordings like this!

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2020.

1979 Maestro Echoplex EP-4: Drum Munging Beast..

Having just invested in a crazy number of never used, still in their boxes, JAN (GE) ECF82 Triode-Pentode tubes I spent the afternoon determining whether I'd got myself something worthwhile or a useless pile of glassware..

- the answer?  Well I managed to lash up a working pre-amp, VCA, ring-mod and superhet mixer and then proceeded to have great fun going a bit nuts with it all...  yup - I think there are some interesting projects to come out of all these tubes!

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2020.

ECF82: SuperHet Soup

Testing a 1964 Mk 2 Watkins tube Copicat during initial wakeup and assessment on the bench on the isolated variac following essential repairs to free up a seized capstan motor...

Made with two overdubs - one with a lab sinewave generator through the Copicat and one with some drums from the little Alesis Micron in the workshop also being munged to great effect by this lovely sounding all tube tape echo!

Some people say they prefer the sound of the solid-state Copicats but having owned and worked on both I'd say I prefer the tube units for their mojo.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2020.

1964 Watkins Mk2 Tube Copicat Awakens: Drum & Sines...

D.A.Wilson is an Electronic Engineer, Sound Designer & Vintage Synth Specialist with a particular interest in combining vintage tube, classic analog and modern digital technologies working as a synth engineer looking after a very considerable amount of vintage studio equipment for Will Gregory (Goldfrapp / Moog Ensemble) and a number of other internationally celebrated electronic musicians and producers.  Having undertaken several major restorations and produced custom electronic designs for a number of major artists including Jean-Michel Jarre, Dani is also known for fully restoring two out of the world's four remaining 1979 Crumar GDS and partially restoring 1938 Novachord 346 (the only known operational Novachord in the UK) to playable order along with developing and producing the new Elfin family of 8-bit polysynths and the popular MIDI Front Panel Animator (FPA), Filter Defeat Module (FDM) and XD-280 Drive Emulator upgrades for the AKAI S612 sampler.

Demos of the S612 Upgrades in Action: 

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/sets/hideaway-studios-s612-front


Hideaway Studio Kontakt Sound libraries may be purchased directly from: 
https://www.lootaudio.com/category/kontakt-instruments/hideaway-studios
 

..and a nice introduction by Cory Pelizzari to the Hideaway Studio Kontakt Libraries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-C7a3ChC9U&feature=emb_title


For more on releases from Hideaway Studio for Kontakt please visit the blog at:  www.hideawaystudio.net