A simple Music Easel patch into a Pigtronix Echolution Ultra Pro. Both the Easel and delay were real-time twiddled. For the introduction I slapped the Music Easel to vibrate the spring reverb. :)

Recording chain: Easel > Echolution2 > UA Apollo Twin Duo

No EQ or compression used, but Slate VTM, VCC, and FG-X were put on the track and buss for vibe.

Buchla & Echolution2 A

Another scribble showing the sounds of the Buchla and Echolution. I set up a simple 5-step sequence and modified the oscillators' levels through the low pass gate while varying the spring reverb and master volume. Echolution was set to deliver taps at both 1:1 and 1:3/4 time. Delays were using the 'tape' filter setting, and both ping pong and duck. I jacked up the 'verb and repeats at the end by hand.

Buchla & Echolution2 B

Buchla Music Easel thru Echolution Ultra Pro set for LFO-sync'd light chorus and ping pong delays at 1/2 time. I ran two pairs of leads from both the sequencer and random voltage (sequencer) to 'touch' various input patch points (mod osc frequency and mod osc modulation primarily) during the improvisation. Sequencer was driven by the arpeggiator around a Cm sus2 chord.

Buchla & Echolution2 C

Buchla Music Easel into Pigtronix Echolution Ultra Pro. Experimenting with the 'Phi' delay setting (2/3 and Phi taps). Preset Voltage Source modulating Arpeggiator speed with 80% reverb on the beginning sweep. After that, tweaks of Complex Oscillator's timbre and waveshape. Major delay freakout at the end (intentional). Fun Fun.

Buchla Echolution2 D

Buchla Music Easel to Echolution2. Some UA EMT 250 added for additional space. Mostly a demonstration of the tonal variance of the complex oscillator. Four note pattern with timbre/wavefolding alterations, and varied oscillators mixes through the low pass gate. Evolving tones are one of the strongest features of the Buchla synthesizer.

Buchla Echolution2 E

Maximum gain (oscillators full volume, VCA envelope full) versus optimized gain (oscillators 65%, VCA 65%) comparison

Prophet Max Gain Master 1

Prophet Optimal Gain Master 1

Sequential Prophet 6 demo. All synthesizers are Prophet 6. Also used: NI Grandeur, Heavyocity Evolve, Arturia Spark, and NI 80s Drums. Additional hardware: Pigtronix Echolution2 Pro, Red Witch Empress, TC Electronic SCF, JHS Colour Box, Pigtronix Keymaster, and Boss DM-2w. Mixed with Slate Digital plugins.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by James Meeker

Oracle Gate Main Theme

Solus

Kubrick

Acroyear

Deepwater Horizon

Synthesizer demo of the Meris Mercury 7. This demo was recorded without any effects except the Mercury 7, including internal effects (if available), straight into a Universal Audio Apollo Twin Duo. Every clip used mono input and stereo output, set to line level on the Mercury. No equalizer or compression was used, although the Slate Digital FG-X was used to raise the volume, however, no peak limiting was applied.

For all audio snippets, the DRY sound is played first, followed by the Mercury 7. I focused more on typical reverb sounds throughout, rather than special effects. Lastly, this demo only features the Cathedra algorithm. The UltraPlate was not used at all.

0:00 - Sequential Prophet 6
3:49 - Oberheim OB-Xa (8voice)
6:25 - ARP Odyssey (reissue)
7:44 - Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard

Mercury 7 - Synthesizer Demo

Demonstration of the Mercury 7 on drum sounds. First the dry drums play and then a series of effected sounds. Drum sounds used (in order): Roland 808, Roland 909, Linn Drum, and Roland 606. Samples taken from Arturia Spark, sequenced and recorded in Cubase 8.0 using a Universal Apollo Twin Duo. All audio was routed through the Apollo outputs, to the Mercury 7, and back. The final waveform was raised in volume using Slate FG-X, but all other processing was bypassed (in other words, I did not use FG-X for anything except raising levels). No other processing, plugin, effect, or hardware was used.

Meris Mercury 7 - Drums

Signal chain: Prophet 6 to Pigtronix Echolution2 UltraPro to Meris Mercury 7.

Meris Mercury 7: Prophet 6 Arpeggio

Short demo of the Prophet 6 and Electro Harmonix Small Stone phaser (1976, rev 2). Meris Mercury 7 used for reverb.

A completely dry version of the track is at the end for comparison. The Prophet 6 can do phenomenal "string machine" sounds!

Small Stone Phaser and Prophet 6

Waldorf Blofeld demo, focusing on PPG-like sounds. Meris Mercury 7 for reverb. No other processing.

Waldorf Blofeld PPG-esque Demo

Raw Prophet 6 unison bass line. 100% dry. No internal or external effects. Patch secrets: 4 voices with pan spread set to 100%; slop set to about 65%.

P6 Monophonic Bass

Sequential Prophet 6, DSI Prophet 12, DSI Evolver MEK, (K)ARP Odyssey, Waldorf Blofeld, Moog Grandmother, Eurorack modular.

The Hyperreal

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