Synthesis Technology MOTM Modular Analog Synthesizer

The centerpiece of our studio, the Synthesis Technology MOTM modular synthesizer. Based on the original Moog modular system from the 1960’s, but with many modern features. Most of these modules were built by Cecil, as well as the 17×10 unit custom walnut cabinet.

Features:

• MOTM-650 MIDI-CV convertor
• MOTM-300 VCO
• MOTM-310 µVCO
• MOTM-820 VC Lag Processor
• MOTM-320 VC LFO (with Tellun mod)
• 2x MOTM-800 Envelope Generators (with Tellun mod)
• MOTM-830 Dual-Mode Mixer
• Oakley Multimix
• MOTM-120 Sub-Octave Multiplexer (with Tellun mod)
• MOTM-510 WaveWarper
• Blacet MIniWave
• MOTM-101 Noise/Sample and Hold
• MOTM-490 Moog 904a Lowpass VCF
• MOTM-420 Korg MS-20 Multimode VCF
• Tellun-428 Oberheim Multimode VCF
• 2x MOTM-190 µVCA
• Oakley Envelope Follower, Gate Extractor and Pre-amp
• Oakley Overdrive
• Tellun-156 Neural Agonizer Dual Spring Reverb

It’s a behemoth piece of gear, but it would take a room full of synths to get the versatility and sounds that this modular is capable of. Inphinite phatness…

Metropoulos Handwired Marshall JTM 45

This is a DIY handbuilt point-to-point replica of a 1965-era Marshall JTM 45 guitar amp. Affectionately referred to by vintage enthusiasts as a “Plexi” (the gold plexiglass faceplates were later replaced by brushed metal ones), these early Marshalls are known for their rich, shimmering harmonics, and dynamic interaction with the player’s picking style. The tube rectifier ads an extra dimensional quality to the notes, allowing expressive detail in every note. Since there is no master volume on these amps,if you want distortion, you just turn it up louder. A Weber MiniMass attenuator is used to bring the volume down to practical levels while still letting the 50 watts of KT66 power tubes saturate the tone. There are a few custom modifications made, including a Mercury Magnetics ToneClone output transformer, NOS vintage Mullard/Phillips mustard capacitors, and NOS Allen & Bradley carbon comp resistors. Matched with a THD 2×12 cabinet with custom-made Weber pre-Rola spec Greenback clones.

Gibson SG Standard Guitar w/Jimmy Page Mod

A 1993 model customized with the secret “Jimmy Page wiring” mod that switches each pickup to single coil, in/out of phase, and serial/parallel via four push-pull pots. This helps achieve tones that range from a beefy Les Paul to a twangy Telecaster — all from a single guitar. The Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickups are lightly wound for classic PAF tone, and left unpotted to allow the pleasant microphonics of the resonating wood to come through. Also added is a TonePro locking bridge and locking featherweight aluminum tailpiece that give the strings a more percussive bite. The insides have been covered with copper shielding to cut down on noise.

D*A*M MKII Fuzz Pedal w/OC81D Germanium

An exact replica of a vintage 70’s Sola Sound Tone Bender MKII fuzz pedal, custom built for me by David Main of Differential Audio Manifestations. Features all new-old-stock components, including the super-rare OC81D germanium transistor, giving a very responsive pallete that ranges from clean overdrive to fuzzy distortion just by plucking the strings softer or harder.

Introspectiv TR-9090 Drum Synth

A cloned circuit of a Roland TR-909 analog/digital drum synthesizer with internal MIDI-to-trigger converter and a few extra mods. The kick drum is second-to-none for dance music. Lots of classic sounds that can be tweaked and filtered without digital artifacts. Built in-house and enclosed in a custom 2U rack.

Mackie 24*8 Mixing Console

All analog 24 channel 8 bus mixing console. Affectionately called the “Milleneum Falcon” of the studio. I prefer to use outboard preamps for tracking vocals, but this console has a ton of routing features usually found only on high-end consoles, and it sounds nice and punchy when overdriven. The EQs are way better than any software EQ I’ve used thus far. Mixing down the final stems in the analog domain yields a much together-sounding master than a digital mixdown, IMO. The Mix B feature is excellent for bouncing tracks back into the computer without changing the levels on the board.

Fender Champ 12 with Mods & AlNiCo 12″

A gift from a friend. I have been repeatedly impressed by this little guy. Great portable tube amp and nice clean tones for recording. Class “A” 12 watt amp with two channels, a spring reverb, and 12″ speaker. This model was sold by Fender in the 80’s as a last ditch effort to compete the newer & cheaper solid state amps at the time. It has been fitted with the Torres mod and the speaker has been replaced by an Eminence Red Fang alnico speaker.