WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Buchla expert Todd Barton shared this video, demonstrating how to make a ‘Buchla drum machine’ using the new Buchla & Tiptop Audio 242t Programmable Pulser.

The 242t is a Euro-format reissue of the classic 200-series Buchla module from the ’70s. It’s a 3-channel trigger sequencer with a few tricks up its sleeve. The most notable change from the original is that the 242t uses an LED matrix, instead of the pin matrix of the original.

Barton uses the 242t as the ‘brain’ of his patch, using a range of modules in the Buchla/Tiptop line to create a polyrhythmic analog groove with a distinct ‘Buchla flavor’.

Check out the video and let us know what you think of the idea of a Buchla drum machine!

The Synthesizer Museum Berlin has announced its first exhibition, opening February 12, 2025, that will feature over 50 rare synthesizers and other electronic instruments.

They say that the collection offers “an exciting journey through time, showcasing the evolution of the instruments that have shaped pop music like no other.”

“Berlin is the perfect place to celebrate the history of the synthesizer and to make its cultural influence accessible to a wide audience,” explains Michael Soltau, film composer and initiator of the museum. “From the ‘Berlin School’ with Tangerine Dream, to David Bowie’s ‘Berlin Trilogy,’ and the city’s vibrant techno scene, Berlin has played a key role in electronic music history.”

Visitors will also have the chance to try out selected instruments – a highlight for musicians and music enthusiasts alike.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to get a guided tour, with audio experts and musicians such as Thorsten Quaeschning (Tangerine Dream) as their guide. Visitors will learn how famous tracks were created and which synthesizers played a central role in their production.The exhibition marks the beginning of efforts to establish a permanent location for the museum in Berlin. With over 14 million museum visitors annually—70% of whom are tourists—the Synthesizer Museum promises to be a valuable addition to the capital’s cultural offerings.

Location:

Synthesizer Museum Berlin // Exhibition at SchneidersRäumen
Skalitzerstraße 135a
10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg

Hours: Open daily except Tuesdays, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Admission:  €12 per person

Tickets and further information are available at the Museum site.

There will be an Opening Event Tuesday, February 11, 2025

17:00 Uhr Doors
18:00 Uhr Live: Kurt “Pyrolator” Dahlke
19:00 Uhr Live: Thorsten Quaeschning, Tangerine Dream

RSVP for Opening Event pr@synthesizermuseum.info

If the patch cables on your modular synth or in your studio are getting out of control, you might want to drop Aldi and pick up some of their $3.99 color-coded Cable Ties and Cable Labels.

We happened upon these in Aldi’s Aisle Of Shame – the aisle in the center of the store where they have limited-time deals. The stuff is this aisle is priced so low that you find yourself walking out with a cast iron dutch oven and a dog sofa, when you just came for some groceries.

Both the ties and labels are made of ‘self-gripping fabric’, aka knockoff Velcro:

• The Cable Ties are 6 inches long and come in a variety of colors. They have an integrated loop, so you can attach the tie to power cords, so it’s always there when you need it.
• The Cable Labels, below, are about 2 inches long, folded, and are designed so that you can write on them.

The ties look like the ones that are carried at Guitar Center, but at about half the price.

Aldi’s Aisle Of Shame items change regularly, so we picked up several packages of both, while we there. If you miss the deal, though, you can get similar cable ties by the gross at Amazon for about $8.

Got a studio hack of your own to share? Let us know in the comments!