Alex Ball

An overview for the ISLA S2400 that I've been asked about many times. I'm currently working through the video manual for the S2400.

Who wrote the intro to "Beat It"? Michael Jackson? Let's find out...

Want a vintage, Roland, programmable, analogue drum machine but can't afford it? Maybe you can.... One such machine remains cheap to this day, mainly because it was a little accompaniment unit for guitarists to practice along with and not a piece of serious studio kit. That machine is the Boss DR (Doctor Rhythm) 110 from 1983 and whilst limited, it's surprisingly cool.

A quick look at the Roland SH-2 from 1979 , logically the 8th in the SH series ;)

An overview of the new synthesizer OB-E from GForce Software. Based on the God-tier Oberheim Eight Voice, OB-E is a new plugin for Mac that brings all the features of the original with a raft of additions that would make original Eight Voice owners jealous. Well, relatively jealous, they own an Eight Voice after all.

The Roland VP-330 from 1979 is their most sought after vocoder. In this video we look at an original MkII and try to figure out why that is.

The RS-505 or Paraphonic-505 was released in 1978 and was so called because it could make numerous sounds in parallel. The term "paraphonic" has been reappropriated in recent years to refer to instruments (like the 505) that were polyphonic, but that only had one filter and one amp.

A look at the Korg Σ (Sigma / KP-30) from 1979, a rare and strange monophonic performance synthesizer with two joysticks. We discuss its features and history and listen to its suprising sound. Gear used: Korg Σ (1979) Korg MS-20 Mk I (1978) Korg KR-55B (1982) Korg KPR-77 Samples (1983) Korg DDM-110 (1985) Korg SQ-1 (2015) Seekers Voice Spectra Vocoder (00s) Squier Jagmaster Vista (1997) Evans Sound Creator Nova 400 (70s)

A closer look at the legendary Roland Jupiter-8, an iconic polysynth from 1981.

A review of the new software synth "Model 84" by Softube as well as a demo of its use with the sister "Modular" plugin.

Something a bit different, a look at some things you can do with compressors. These techniques can be achieved with hardware or software, so hopefully this gives some ideas of things to try out for yourself.

Roland sent me a couple of their current flagship instruments to see what a lover of their vintage gear thinks of their modern stuff. Before filming anything, I gathered viewer questions on social media which I've attempted to the answer in this video. Let me know if you have any more!

A quick look at Korg's first ever polyphonic synthesizer, the Polyphonic Ensemble (PE-1000) from 1976. Whilst it is a very basic instrument, it has some unusual features and ideas and has some quite interesting sounds despite the limitations. It was also the first step Korg took on a very long polyphonic journey that still continues five decades later.

A comparison between a vintage Prophet~5 rev3 and a new Prophet~10 rev4 (both designed by Dave Smith at Sequential). This is a blind test where you see the same clip twice, but in one you're hearing the Prophet you see and in the other you're hearing the Prophet you don't see.

This is a follow up to this video from last week.

A bit of light-hearted fun with the JD-800 model expansion that was recently added to the host of those available in the Jupiter-X.

Aussie modular specialist Peter Stanchion demonstrates the Radiophonic One "synthesizer" from STG Soundlabs.

A look at the SP 1200 which is a legendary sampling drum machine first released by E-mu Systems in 1987.

was offered a loan of a Super 6 from UDO Audio, which I jumped at. As its features and functions have been covered brilliantly on other YouTube channels, I thought instead that I'd pose a question: Can a modern synth inspire new ideas? In the video I try to explore that using some of what the Super 6 has to offer.

I had an opportunity to put together all of Roland's analogue, modular (or semi-modular) synthesizers in the same place at the same time. System 100 Model 101 (1975) System 700 Blocks 1, 6 and 7 (1976) System 100m Complete (1979) except 182 replaced with Ryk 185 System 500 "Complete Set" (2016)

Erica Synths sent me SYNTRX and so I decided to use it to create the sound FX and theme tune to an imaginery Sci-Fi show, "Omicron 9".

The ARP 2600 is one of the most famous synthesizers of all time and is still in demand fifty years after its initial release in 1971. In this video I explore a few contrasting sounds that can be made with this wonderful instrument.

A look at the original Jupiter synthesizer, the JP-4 from 1978.

A look at the LinnDrum which is arguably the most famous digital drum machine of all time.

I finally managed to get my hands on an ASM Hydrasynth for a video and after looking at all the features and functions I decided to explore whether any of the complexity was beneficial to music making when after all, some of the most enduring and popular synthesizers of all time have been very simple.

Following on from my "Compressors Go Squish" video from earlier this year, here's a look at using different types of echos, delays and reverbs to process sounds whilst recording.

The Mellotron is a wonderful and bizarre instrument from the 1960s, so how and why would someone make new material for it in 2021?

A look at the new ARP 2600 M from Korg.

The Roland CompuRhythm or CR-78 from 1978 is arguably the first famous drum machine. In this short video, I take a look at why that is.

A mini documentary telling the story of Korg's first synthesizer.

A practical look at how to use Mellotron sounds in your productions using the libraries made by myself and Hainbach and GForce Software's new M-TRON Select player.