Volt Per Octaves Video!

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:51 pm

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheVPOs

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:55 am

THat was cute!

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:28 am

hehe that was me when i got my micromoog...except for the being a little girl part...

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:25 pm

How do you like that Micro?

Did you get the original owners manua?

MarkM · Post by **MarkM** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:10 pm

Such a cute kid! That was a very nice video.

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:51 pm

EricK wrote:How do you like that Micro?

Did you get the original owners manua?

I LOVE my micro! I didnt get the original manual but i got a photocopied one. For my first really synth (all i had before was and electribe em1) it was a great choice

thewaag · Post by **thewaag** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:08 pm

Thanks for posting this Kevin.

What a cute little family! I always try to see Nick and Anna when they come to Portland.

I love the part with their daughter taking the keyboard to bed with her.

Kinda scary watching Nick open up the keyboard, though... Nick, do you know what you are doing there??

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:56 pm

Thanks.

I thought it was a really cool video too.
Simple and heartfelt.
Roger Manning Jr also helped out on some of the synth work for that song.

I think Nick lives vicariously as a synth tech as I do, a performer.
I've performed and he's repaired synths, but they're not our normal gigs.

As for that Baldwin, Nick *did* repair it.
It uses the same sliders shafts as Arp 2600s and all of his were broken off.
I was happy to get him what he needed.
(I have over a thousand of them in stock.)
However he did all the work and was apparently successful doing the job.
To manage a day job, a band, a family and synth repairs is an accomplishment all by itself.

Henfield · Post by **Henfield** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:55 pm

Kevin Lightner wrote: As for that Baldwin, Nick *did* repair it.

I guess that you partially answered my question as to the make and model of the synth in the video. What is the model number? Is there anything remarkable about it?

Why didn't they use a Moog?

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:09 am

It's a Baldwin Synthasound I think.
I don't know how great they are sound wise or whatever.
They're very rare though.

They did use several Moogs on the track, but I imagine Nick was excited to have this beast running and so featured it instead of a Moog.
If he didn't have it, I'd bet he would have used a Moog without hesitation.
But I don't want to speak for Nick.
I'm sure he'll pop in here sometime.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:26 am

Sometimes when I turn my Moog on, i get this really good feeling, especially when i know that im going to lay down a track. Its one of those feelings like when someone on Wheel of Fortune spins the wheel and they know they are about to get big money.

Nick Montoya · Post by **Nick Montoya** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:39 am

Wow ..

Thanks Kevin... For the support, publicity, kind words, synth parts, custom stickers, my model d, and your friendship!!!

The Baldwin Synthasound (No Model #, Ser# 151) was as far as I know, the only synth that the famous piano company made. In 1971 when it was released, obviously the Minimoog and 2600 were dominating the synth market. Baldwin tried to cash in, but no one bought them and production wrapped up as quick as it started. Less than 100 made, I understand.

SUPPOSEDLY some have a ribbon controller, but this one DOES NOT... Havent seen another to compare it to..

It isn't mine actually, it belongs to my friend Ross "Rossangeles" Harris! (He actually plays guitar on SCIENCE).He bought it for 20 bucks at a flea market in bad but playable condition. All slider broke off, keyboard semi-functioning etc etc...

He told me about it and that I should borrow it... So I tore it apart, cleaned just about everything inside and replaced all the sliders. Kevin also sent me ARP style slider caps to match the corresponding sections of the synth..

Just a few quick specs.

It has 3 sections to create sound, :
FLUTES (like on an organ, but monophonic)
PRESETS (sax, trombone etc like an organ but monophonic)
SPECTRUM ( this is the OSC section)

All off these are routed to the LFO, that has 2 controls : Rate (speed) and Extent (depth/amount to filter).. Also has a Slide (glide control) with an insanely LONG glide time.... High note priority keyboard too....

The key to the sound is also that is has an awesome spring reverb unit built in as well as built in speakers (one in each wood end cap)...

It sounds like a cross between an Octave Cat and a Moog Modular... yeah!

Dick Hyman is probably the most well known user of this synth as it is ALL OVER the Dick Hyman MOOG album, Eclectic Electrics of ....

I believe he recorded a "demo" disc that came with the Synthasound...

When I have time I will do a YouTube video for it.. Just messing around on it..

museslave · Post by **museslave** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:52 pm

Nick Montoya wrote: When I have time I will do a YouTube video for it.. Just messing around on it..

Please do!

sir_dss · Post by **sir_dss** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:41 pm

Good people...cool band.

space_nerd · Post by **space_nerd** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:47 am

A big THANX for Nick, VPO and family for creating the track and video,
and a big THANX for Kevin who share it with us.....
It's one of these moments that you feel happy and proud about the power of music.
...and yes, music has a world of it's own, peaceful and happy....
thanks again

Nikos