This space given up to GeoCities quest to bore.

You should not normally see this.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Four part Multi-timbral, 32/16-part polyphonic, FM/FS (Frequency Modulation/Formant Shaping) synthesizer. Use of filter cuts polyphony in half. 1U box with detachable IECl power cable. MIDI In/Out/Thru and four audio outputs.

WHY IT IS PART OF HdK: After reading about the FS1R when it was introduced, I knew I wanted it just to play around with. The DX100 proved to me that FM programming was random at best with no correlation between parameters and sound, but FM is capable of truly unique sounds. Original list price of a grand, I said I'd buy one when it gets to $500. I happen to be in a store once and it was priced at 600 bucks. Holding true to my convictions, I didn't bite. Within a few days, I saw grumblings on the Internet about the FS1R being blown out. Went to my local equipment house and picked one up for about $365. This is really a monster programmer, luckily it comes outfitted with nearly every DX7 patch known to man. Using it as a preset machine is great. Someday, I will actually get around to programming this beast. Unfortunately, the manual is next to worthless. Sound quality is nothing like the old FM machines, pure quality throughout. The Formant Shaping holds a lot of promise, but with no decent way of programming sequences, I doubt I'll use it much.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Mono-timbral, 8-voice 4-op FM synthesizer. Four octave mini keyboard with detachable cordwart power supply. MIDI In, Out, & Thru. One analog output. Cassette In & Out. Has breath controller input.

WHY IT IS PART OF HdK: Soon after getting the Roland MC-303, I realized I needed a better way of playing notes than the keypad of the 303. I was able to pick this up from a friend who no longer needed it for the low price of $80. Initially I was quite disapointed with the extreme amount of digital artifacts on the outputs. So much so, that I thought I would never use it as a sound source, just a controller. But, the keyboard is not velocity sensitive, and always sends a velocity of 64. The disappointment was mounting. Then, one day, I discovered the internal sounds. Three of the 192 sounds were quite good. I eventually rigged a spare crossover as a dedicated constant low-pass filter to it. This helped the digital noise problem significantly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: 8-part multi-timbral, 32-voice polyphonic FM/rompler combo vector synthesizer. Each sound source is created from either A) an FM preset and a AWM preset, or B) two FM presets and two AWM presets. Individual ADSR for each sound source and another AR EG for final vector output. Up to two simultaneous vectors (source amplitude & source detune) can be programmed per preset. Tabletop unit with detachable wallwart power supply. MIDI In, Out, & Thru. Four analog outs (EFX:L/Mono & Right and No-EFX:L & R).

WHY IT IS PART OF HdK: Around Nov. '98 I was looking for a super cool totally whacked out evolving pads machine. From what I read on the web, I figured this machine would fill the bill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: 8-track MIDI sequencer. Tabletop box with internal power supply. MIDI In & Out. Cassette In & Out.

WHY IT IS PART OF HdK: I tried to build a drum machine out of this sequencer and an Alesis D4 drum module. The problem with this idea is writing drum patterns to the QX5. Most times I created drum patterns on the MC-303 and transfered them to the QX5. Also, it has a very inefficient memory access for live drum pattern changes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Quadruple MIDI data processor with 60 memories. 1U box with internal power supply.

WHY IT IS PART OF HdK: Saw this box while doing my weekly inspection of local used shops. Since I am so fond of anything MIDI, it was a natural addition to the HdK collection. Got it used for around fifty bucks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: 8-in/8-out MIDI router with 50 memories. 1U box with internal power supply.

WHY IT IS PART OF HdK: My MIDI setup was outgrowing the 360 Systems Midi Patcher so I added this unit. Found it used for around a hunnered smackers.