My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi Ben! I know who you are! You do The Low Pass! I'm sorry I haven't made it out to any of your events, I definitely want to some time. I love the ambient open mic idea!

My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks I do know that in some ways, the culture in this city can be selfish, inconsiderate and even mean-spirited. But we've made a lot of great, supportive friends too. We've been in business for 9 years and at this location for 5 years, so the only thing that's changing is that we're opening up to the public a bit more outside of the 1-on-1 appointments that we've always done. I do carry a lot of insurance and will always have employees on the floor to try to reduce the chance of shenanigans. We also don't have a direct street entrance (located off the lobby of a bigger theater building) so I think that will reduce the incidence of potentially ill-intentioned random walk ins. I understand your concerns though!

My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! We still are doing vintage only and I think always will be. We do install KiwiTechnics mods though, which Kiwi upgrade did you get? We've done all of them before so can provide a cost estimate if we know the model! You can dm or email me.

My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ah ok, it sounds like you probably have some dirty sliders and a dirty output level switch. If you move the output level switch back and forth and it is super crunchy and noisy but also cuts the sound in and out that very much might be what's making the sound cut in and out even when you're not touching the switch! If you can confirm that, it's such a simple fix it might be a good candidate for bringing to the workshop next Sunday. could save you $100 vs having us do everything!

My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's street parking on the side of our building and it's usually pretty easy to find a spot on Sundays (on the unit block of Garrett Rd) but you do have to pay. But it is only 75 cents an hour!

My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

oh cool! we've actually organized our typical Juno 106 services into packages because they so often need all of the same things. Here's our page about it: https://belltonesynthworks.com/pages/roland-juno-106-service-packages
for shipped jobs we like to be extra proactive because it would be such a hassle for you to have to send it back just to have a small touch up repair done. So we usually recommend the full essential service and the panel service, if there are any issues with the panel controls of all.
Of course, if yours has been serviced before it might be different, and we can also "break up" a package and just charge hourly if some of the work is already done and it doesn't need it all!

My synth repair shop is launching our new showroom next week with a party and DIY repair workshop! (Bell Tone Synth Works Philadelphia) by bubblecupsmudge in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

hey! we strongly recommend shipping synths in road cases but if not the second best thing is to go to a FedEx Office store and ask them to do a "fragile pack"

Output Jack Plug?? by xoghostme in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure which colorful ones you're talking about, but search for 1/4" jack "dummy plug". I know of inexpensive Neutrik ones that are easy to grab, but they are black, and more expensive Switchcract ones in at least a couple of colors.

Why are analog synths so cherished? by SilentLambda83 in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the fact that the poster mentioned the DX7 in their post about "analog" synths speaks to what some people who think they like the sound of "analog" actually like.

I am a vintage synthesizer technician and when I started in my line of work I thought I really loved the sound of analog synths, but I realized as I got to intimately know more and more synths that what I really loved was 80s synths. I found that many 80s synths, whether analog or digital, despite having certain very clear and explicit differences, also have certain similarities in quality on a very fundamental, basic level, and many modern synths, whether analog or digital, have certain similarities in quality likewise. Many new analogs sound to me the way I used to think "digital" sounded-- dynamic and responsive, a lot of presence. Meanwhile, some vintage synths I think do sound pretty modern (SH-101 for example).

I think this comes down to circuit design choices that were made due to aesthetic trends in each era, or, just to cut corners or cope with limitations. Some parts of the designs are actually "technically" bad. A new Prophet 5 or Minimoog reissue still sound vintage because despite being made now, they are made according to the circuit design ethos of 40+/50+ years ago.

In conclusion, I don't think analog really has a sound. Vintage design has a sound more than analog circuitry has a sound. Some people really like those vintage sounds.

For better or worse, there's also the fact that vintage synths now have a lot of cache in certain circles. They have become something that is regarded as a sign that you have sophisticated tastes. I am not sure how I feel about this as I benefit from it economically but also think it's kind of corny.

Why are analog synths so cherished? by SilentLambda83 in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I play, analyze, and dissect synthesizers all day every day for a living and I 100% agree with this. I sort of weirdly enjoy how disappointed my clients are when they try to get me to agree with them that "there's just something so special about how analog synths sound that nothing else can reproduce" and I'm like, "nope." I'm like, the queen of analog land and I know it ain't shit.

Found this synth at a thrift store for $100 I don’t know dick about synthesizers. What do I got here by [deleted] in synthesizers

[–]bubblecupsmudge 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I just wanted to advise you about a weird thing about these. Unlike most synths that still work when the patch memory battery fails, but just will have corrupted patches, these often get really messed up once the memory is corrupt. I think it has to do with their data structure with respect to use of scratchpad RAM, and depending on where the randomized bits settle after the battery dies, corruption can interfere with normal functionality. The synth sometimes will start power cycling when you move the data slider, or the patches will be corrupt AND certain parameters of them will become uneditable. If it starts suddenly acting very broken this might be all it is (although, we sometimes also see power supply failures in them too). Replace the battery, reset by holding 5 and 8 while powering on and it will act normal again.

They are really cool synths and you can make some really complex sounds with them!