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Synthesist Matthew Piecora – in his latest EZBOT video – expl0res the new Roland TR-1000 drum machine.

The TR-1000 is the first Roland drum machine in over 40 years with true analog voices, and it goes far beyond the 808 and 909 with digital sound and sampling technologies.

Piecora digs into the TR-1000’s production workflow, compares it to recent Elektron boxes, and connects it to an OP-XY and builds some grooves.

Video Summary:

“The TR-1000 is a strange and wonderful machine that constantly has me returning to the manual to see if it can do “this or that” and often finding out it can do most things you throw at it. How does it compare to an Elektron machine? How does it sound? Is the workflow clunky or is it smooth? Could this be an addition to your setup or a stand alone machine? All this and more, this time on 120 minutes. Additionally we will talk smack about the OP-XY while also drooling on it at the same time.

Check it out and share your thoughts on the Roland TR-1000 in the comments!

Today, Loess-Labs introduces the Quad Creek, a semi-modular analog sound generator and effects unit, featuring four voltage-controlled band-pass filters and a variety of CV circuitry.

The multi-purpose nature of the band-pass filters allows for a variety of functions, including melodic drones, plucky percussion, wah-like audio effects, and more. Combined with a white noise module and dedicated CV circuitry, you can craft complex polyrhythmic percussive and melodic structures

The Quad Creek also features a 5 channel mixer, three stereo audio outputs, and two stereo audio inputs.

It will be available as a full unit, DIY kit, and PCBs later this year, and will be free hardware, with gerbers and schematics publicly available.

Visit the Loess-Labs site for details.

Synthesist Andy Whitmore – in his latest video – takes a look at recreating some of the most iconic sounds of Vangelis, using a Yamaha CS-80 and modern effects.

“In this video, I play 8 classic Vangelis riffs on my original CS-80, matching both the synth tones and the iconic effects vibe as closely as possible,” says Whitmore. “This is the CS-80 as it was meant to be heard: huge, cinematic, and dripping in Blade Runner / Chariots energy.”

While Whitmore gets very close with his choice of sound design, using the original instrument and adding a Vangelis-style effects chain, these attempts often have an ‘uncanny valley’ aspect to then. When you know the recordings of Vangelis and have listened to them for years, any difference seem to pop out.

Of Whitmore’s recreations, the Blade Runner Brass patch and String Pad, the To The Unknown Man Intro, and the Blade Runner Flute Intro sound about as close to the original as any recreations we’ve heard. Ultimately, though, we think recreating iconic synth recordings like this is a fantastic way to expand your sound design skills, and a great way to gain an extra layer of depth in your appreciation of the originals.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

00:20 Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire Brass Melody

00:54 Vangelis – Blade Runner Brass Line

02:05 Vangelis – Blade Runner String Pad

03:06 Jon & Vangelis – I Hear You Now Main Theme

04:39 Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire Brass Lick

05:16 Vangelis – To the Unknown Man Intro Melody

06:47 Vangelis – Blade Runner Flute Intro Line

08:14 Vangelis – Blade Runner Brass Line (no bass)

09:10 Outro

Watch the video, and share your thoughts on it in the comments!