Testing various prototype custom midi interfaces designed by D.A.Wilson at Hideaway Studio for the control all manner of old kit...

Player Robots: Prototypes In Action...

A series of test recordings made whilst testing Hideaway Studio's brand new prototype MIDI Front Panel Animator retrofit for the AKAI S612 finally giving David Cockerell's infamous 30 year old sampler full realtime control over the infamous 612's Sample Start & End Splice points, the Filter Cutoff and the Vibrato controls under 5 MIDI CC Controllers. 

The FPA Modules are in production and have been proving very popular..

AKAI S612 MIDI Front Panel Animator (FPA) Test I

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

Testing out my newly designed & built prototype MIDI to Velocity Sensitive Trigger Interface first driving the toms on Pearl Fightman FM8, then all 9 trigger channels and then the 5 triggers channels on the UP5X analog drum modules...

The interface should drive most pad triggered analog drums such as the Simmons SDS8 in a similar manner.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2018

1983 Pearl Fightman FM8 & UP5X Drums: Prototype MIDI To Velocity Trig I/F

A live improvised test recording made by configuring the prototype MIDI Joystick to control the levels on 4-channels of a VM-3100 digital mixer using 4 CC channels to implement a vector mix on 4 instruments played in unison...

The result feels more fluid and intuitive than simply riding the sliders... and besides you can still operate the joystick and play the keyboard at the same time this way :-)

Naturally you can also record the vector movements in the sequencer.

Source Instruments in Vector Mix:

Studio Electronics - Omega 8 (Brass I) - the beast's VCOs clearly still warming up!!
Crumar Bit 01 (Brass II) - it has its moments...
Sequential Prophet 2002 (Choir) - a gorgeous sounding old hybrid sampler!
Oberheim Matrix 1000 (Detuned Synth) - a surprisingly powerful little box

In this case two takes were recorded and then mixed with each take panned slightly left and right.

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

Prototype MIDI Joystick: The Vectorsphere

It works!!!!   The prototype MIDI Input Interface (M5KMIDI) for the Music 5000 system bursts into life playing an excerpt from Mozart's Piano Sonata No.1  

The interface is connected and powered by the User Port on the BBC Micro and emulates a standard Music 4000 keyboard controller including the sustain pedal from a midi source.

This just may be the first time a Music 5000 synthesizer has been played via midi as the system never offered a midi input facility!...

Several of the Hideaway M5KMIDI interfaces were built for Music 5000 owners but I'm sadly now out of pcb stock.

Music 5000 (Acorn BBC Micro): Prototype MIDI Input Interface Test..

Using some of Chopin's more finger blurring moments as a test bed whilst ironing out some of the remaining tweaks to the firmware (which has proven a little tricky to say the least!) for the prototype external MIDI2SIA Interface which allows pre model II+ models to be driven from MIDI.

In the form of a small external interface box the MIDI2SIA should run with any DK Synergy as long as it is equipped with a 25 pin SIA port and running V2.45 firmware or later.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2018

1982 DK Synergy: Prototype External MIDI2SIA Test (Chopin Op. 23. In Gmin)

The first successful test of Hideaway's new Dual Channel MIDI2CV interface pcb playing a somewhat down-tempo rendition of the harpsichord solo from the first movement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (Allegro)

In this case one channel from the Dual MIDI2CV is driving three oscillators in unison on a classic Moog Modular System 55.. each of the two parts were overdubbed.

NB: In this quick test no VCAs were used so the oscillators are heard throughout the recording. 

Designed as both a small external interface box or in internally installed applications as a MIDI retrofit the interface supports two CV output channels spanning 4 octaves in 12-bit accuracy and two gates which are link selectable at 5 or 9 volts or Moog S-Trig.  

The interface supportings a number of modes such as pitch + velocity on two CV channels, a Duophonic Mode and two pitch channels assigned to separate MIDI channels as well as a variable delay mode between CV1/2 and Gate 1/2 which is ratiometric to the MIDI clock...

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2018

1977 Moog Modular System 55: Prototype Dual MIDI2CV Test

Another test of Hideaway's prototype Dual Channel MIDI2CV interface driving a 1977 Minimoog playing part Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in unison with the Music 5000 on the BBC Micro via Hideaway's new M5KMIDI interface. 

Designed as both a small external interface box or in internally installed applications as a MIDI retrofit the interface supports two CV output channels spanning 4 octaves in 12-bit accuracy and two gates which are link selectable at 5 or 9 volts or Moog S-Trig.

Prototype Dual MIDI2CV Minimoog & Music 5000 M5KMIDI play Bach!

My first go at writing Korg Hz-V CV control firmware for the new Dual CV2MIDI Interface and retrofitted the prototype to a 1977 Korg Micropreset M-500 as a test bed.   The floating point exponential maths proved a little tricky and the calibration is not quite there yet but its getting close!..

Update:  The interface is now also driving the filter cutoff via MIDI Note_On velocity which adds a whole new dimension to the little M-500 - a quick test appended to the end of this recording...

Wind instruments - Korg Micropreset / Harpsichord - Alesis Micron

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2019

1977 KORG Micropreset: Prototype Dual MIDI2CV Hz/Volt Interface

Having another bash at improving the exponential pitch control calibration in the new Hz-V control firmware for the new Dual MIDI2CV interface.  The prototype has been retrofitted in a 1977 Korg Micro-preset M-500.

Here is the Micro-preset playing oboe and the Matrix 1000 playing Harpsichord.... (last movement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.5)

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2019

1977 KORG Micropreset M-500 & Matrix 1000: Lets Play Bach..

Testing a classic Bruel & Kjaer type 2010 BFO retrofitted for MIDI Control using one of the Hideaway Studio Dual MIDI2CV interface pcbs using the Korg Hz/V firmware!...

MIDI Controlled Bruel & Kjaer type 2010 VCO!

My 1979 Korg Sigma playing Mozart (KV279)on a ring modulated brass patch via a newly installed prototype Hideaway Dual MIDI2CV interface...

Harpsichord on the Alesis Micron.

The Low Pass Filter is being modulated by the velocity on the second CV channel.

The test installation has highlighted that I need to improve the calibration of my Sigma but it kind of adds to the charm in this recording!....

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2019

1979 KORG Sigma: Brassed On MIDI (Mozart KV279)

A quick test recording of my 1979 Korg Sigma playing Bach via MIDI on a ring modulated brass patch from a newly installed prototype Hideaway Dual MIDI2CV interface now with tweaks to the firmware to improve the Legato note handling...

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2019.

1979 KORG Sigma: Brassed On MIDI (Bach) Improved Legato Handling

Testing out a brand new prototype of a major upgrade I designed for the super rare 1979 Linn LM-1 Drum Machine which implements a separate MIDI velocity controlled analog VCA on each of the 12 drum channels thus giving this pioneering beast the dynamic control it never had.

The upgrade also has a gating mode allowing MIDI note-offs to cut drum samples short - great for those moments of particularly intricate programming.

Only around 500 Linn LM-1s were manufactured but it was to become the first model of a line of some of the most influencial sampled drum machines ever made including LinnDrum which found its way onto countless best selling albums of the 80s.

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

1979 Linn LM-1: Prototype 12 Channel MIDI VCA Retrofit

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