CatSynth

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), the protocol that we use to connect musical instruments together, has officially been around for 30 years now, and the occasion was being marked with an exhibit at NAMM:

There were some of the earliest instruments as well as those demonstrating how it is being used today. The Yamaha Disklavier series was quite prominent, as an instrument that is both acoustic and a MIDI device at the same time. There was also the Prophet 600, a forerunner to the Prophet 12 we reviewed yesterday and the first commercially available instrument to implement MIDI.

In the middle, between “1983″ and “2013″, were a few of the devices I remember from the mid-1980s.

I had a Yamaha box (a sequencer) with the same beveled shape as the TX7 pictured here. And I was quite interested in the Atari ST computer, though was never able to get one. Both devices seem quite primitive today. Unlike the analog synthesizers that we have been reviewing, earlier digital devices don’t seem to hold up as well. Nonetheless, the MIDI protocol itself is still vital for much electronic music-making, despite its well-documented limitations in speed and resolution.

Submitted by Regina Cherene via our Facebook page.

From edeevo on flickr. Visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/edeevo for more photography.

BTW, the cat’s name is Mila.

From Ebotronix on YouTube, via matrixsynth.

Korg MS 20 duophonic via
Kenton Pro Solo & Pro Solo Mk 2
Yamaha MCS 02
FX TC M 3000 Boss VF 1
Logic Master Clock & Drums

Via matrixsynth.

This short film by Chris Marker is gorgeous and made me smile. So peaceful and elegant.

Submitted by PuffyStudioCat via our Twitter @catsynth.

We have mentioned Chris Marker before. It was his film Sans Soleil that helped me to discover shrine near Tokyo dedicated to cats.

Another from pulsewidthmod via Instagram.

I love that facial expression. “Let’s play music together.”

Today we feature Truffle and Brulee of Sweet Purrfections, who happened to be posing last week with a digital piano.  I am pretty sure the piano is a Yamaha YPP 200. First, we have Truffle:

And now Brulee:

In their own words:

We love the keyboard in Mom Paula’s office.  The keys are softer than the piano keys in the living room and the bench is cushioned (not like the wooden one at the piano).  Brulee is trying to show Mom Paula a few things about playing the piano.

Submitted by Hayley Sims (and Ficus), our 1000th Facebook fan!

Via matrixsynth.

I feel like I must have already posted this one, and yet I can’t find it. So here it is.

Also, I encourage readers to check out yesterday’s review of the Bronx Museum in New York.