Newsletter 19 Apr 2026
I hadn't officially fixed a schedule for this newsletter but it had more or less settled into a monthly routine. Due to time constraints, this one contains links from almost two months. Where has the time gone?!
There's a lot of history today, Sound Workshop talks about the 'original synth Trifecta', the Theremin, Onde Martenot and Trautonium. David interviews Ganpurev Dagvan about reviving a lost Mongolian instrument when an example turned up in a grave and Sarah dives into the history of medieval wind instruments.
There are some fascinating innovations too, such as a studio mic that doesn't pick up sound vibrations but light reflecting off a vibrating surface.
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So without further ado, read on for more musical news, views and reviews.
Contents
My world
Trying the new Public Domain SIDs
Since the last newsletter I've revealed some enhancements to MIDISID and MIDIPan. The video that has really grabbed a lot of attention though is my first look at the Public Domain SID.
It's a new SID replacement that the creator, Matthias, says he wants to be licence-free and I look forward to being able to make and supply these with MIDISID.
Matthias is proud of the very faithful emulation, but what really sells it to me is the software switch between 6581 and 8580 SIDs - earlier and later variants of the 8-bit sound chip with slightly different characteristics. I've been able to build a switch into MIDISID's menu (which obviously only works if you have these particular SIDs fitted).
At present, Matthias is selling them himself and I support him getting a return on the work he's put in. You can buy them from him and fit them into your MIDISID, they're now tested and supported (your PDSIDs will need to be on the most up-to-date firmware). His price is very reasonable indeed but shipping and taxes will depend on where you are in the world.
This is my first look at them, with MIDISID rendering a tune that I particularly like.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR3SGwlX0Tk
Music for falling asleep to : 6
I've been using music designed to help you fall asleep to do just that and have become interested in the genre.
I have many ideas in progress. This one breaks the rules; it has a beat, it has structure. But it's the first that I felt was ready to share.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyWBTalOI4U
MIDI Inbox
I turned my Otamatone into a Trautonium
I wasn't aware of the Wiggler, but it's right up my street. Sound Workshop designed and built it. Much like the Osmose, its keys wiggle sideways and up and down for expression.
He has hit an important limitation which is that he can't slide between notes.
He gives a very interesting explanation of what he calls the original synth Trifecta, the Theremin, the Onde Martenot and the Trautonium. The latter is the most obscure and the most capable of these, allowing note accuracy, discreet jumps as well as slides as well as an aftertouch for volume control.
He then prototypes his own Trautonium using parts from an Otamatone.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWP9oiSYIac
Creative Midi Blaster MB-10
Yeo Kheng Meng has taken a look inside the Creative Midi Blaster MB-10. It was a less-well-known competitor to the SC-55 and MT-32, cheaper but lower-spec.
He has documented the device, including dumping the ROMs. I can't see those in the Github repository, so I guess he's respecting the copyright. There are photographs, magazine articles and documentation and his blog post contains the findings of his teardown.
yeokhengmeng.com...review-and-teardown-creative-mb-10
How I made the 'kalimba of doom'
Hainbach made a viral short about his 'kalimba of doom'.
In this longer-form video he explains how he created the sound.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOBxKuSpf2I
The Last Ninja Reformation by Matt Gray
Matt Gray has released The Last Ninja, an album of modern productions of music from The Last Ninja. It's available separately and also part of Reformation 5 - a triple album set.
It really is beautiful music, whether or not your familiar with the original game music.
mattgray1.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-ninja-reformation-5
Sonic's music for the Amiga
I am very much looking forward to playing Sonic on my Amiga, if reassembler reaches the finishing post.
In this video he's porting the music from the Megadrive to the Amiga. No mean feat because the way the two systems play music are very different. He explains the ins and outs of both systems and writes a conversion tool.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4dZzJFroAY
I remade the Stylophone!
Tyler has created the Tylephone, which is a Stylophone + a pun on his name. It started as a project to help him learn about pcb design, generating waveforms, creating a UI and he does a great job of explaining it all (but hasn't yet learned how to clip his mic on). He has shared the project so that you can make one too.
Thanks to Kale for suggesting the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya6JQGL4H84
Sound chips and retrocomputing
Infinity for Game Boy Colour, Original Soundtrack
Infinity is a Game Boy Colour RPG, unreleased for 25 years. This album contains the original 8-bit compositions exactly as they were authored for the Game Boy hardware by Eric E. Hache and Matthew Valente.
incube8.bandcamp.com/album/infinity-gbc-ost
Products and reviews
Microrack - First Impressions
Microrack is designed to be an affordable and portable way into modular synthesis.
It's a breadboard-based miniature modular format.
This is Kevin's blog post with his first impressions of the system.
diyelectromusic.com...microrack-first-impressions
Performances
Live album from Master Boot Record
In case you're not familiar with Master Boot Record, he has produced a number of albums of entirely programmed and synthesised with a 486 theme. He's had mainstream success.
He has found ways to perform the songs on stage with live drums and guitars integrated with the original synthesised elements. It sounds epic, as you can hear with this, his first live album.
masterbootrecord.bandcamp.com/album/realtime-execution
Rebelski at Weird Garden
I particularly enjoyed this performance by Doves keyboardist Rebelski at Lincoln's Weird Garden, a regular event for experimental music. This video is from last year.
Rebelski combines live piano with samples and looping. This video also contains performances by Secret Nuclear and Pefkin, also well worth a watch.
youtu.be/uKPMAikQzWo?si=pgwSQUGsTZvOWItb
Phantasmal Force beta firmware + MIDISID + KORG NTS-3
Phantasmal Force is a micro MIDI controller. Arman Bohn is using it here to send sequences and program change data to MIDISID.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rP3CY7-6oY
Traditional and acoustic instruments
The altai harp: the lost 1,500-year-old instrument
This Altai Harp is a remarkable-looking instrument with a remarkable history.
Knowledge of the harp had been lost until one was found in a grave by a shepherd. Ganpurev Dagvan was called in to work with those documenting the find and other makers to recreate and revive the instrument.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoydiG72uS4
Introduction to medieval wind instruments
My recorder teacher Sarah Jeffery has made this introduction to medieval wind instruments. She draws on a book by David Munrow and covers the shawm, bagpipes, flutes, six-hole whistles, gemshorn before arriving at the recorder. Many of these are broad categories rather than individual instruments.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkeXDRAul-U
But is it art...?
NES-SY2.0 Nintendo homage synth
Love Hulten has revealed v2.0 of his 'NES-SY' synth. It incorporates the NES Poly synth. a keystep keyboard, delay/reverb effect and MIDI visualiser. And yes, it runs NES game cartridges.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWfsQgcx9cc
All that remains is for me to thank everyone who blogs, vlogs, writes articles or posts pictures on the subjects I'm excited by.
Nor can I do the things I do without your support, so thank you for that.
If you're on the email list then please forward this to anyone who may be interested. If you've received this email from a friend, then please consider joining the list, the sign-up form is below.
It's always good to hear from readers for any reason and I'd particularly like tip-offs about about any relevant stories, video, websites or social media accounts that I should be following.
Happy music-making!
Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
shiela@peacockmedia.software
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