Tag: mfb

Manfred Fricke passed away

„On June, 17th around 11am Manfred Fricke from Berlin alias MFB sadly passed away after having had a hard time with cancer for a while already. He left his wife Gloria and his son Jean-Marcel behind, we are all very sad having lost this partner, friend and father.“

HerrSchneider

Manfred Fricke was one of Berlins pioneers of analog synth and drum machine makers. He has been the weapon of choice for many (not only) starting musicians. Let’s be honest, who didn’t have one of his creations early in his or hers journey into electronic musical instruments – or at least thought about getting one – and why shouldn’t you? Manfred Frickes machines always brought something unique to the table, they were mostly analog, affordable, in small plastic housings and just did the job. Manfred always focused on keeping his products affordable for his clients and the instruments quite often made their way to professional use later on, and the musicians often kept their first units as something almost holy, because it were these machines that paved the way into analog electronic music making.

But it would be too short-sighted to associate MFB only with budget entry-level products. Especially the drum machines Tanzbär and Tanzbär II, or the great Dominion 1 show that Manfred Fricke also built machines that met higher demands. The Tanzbär, in particular, is considered by many to be their favorite drum machine of the last few years, especially in terms of its amazing sound.

We hope that MFB will continue to exist and that it will continue to make it easier for many generations of musicians to enter the world of electronic sound production.

We wish Manfred Frickes son Jean-Marcel continued success for the future of MFB and extend our condolences to him and his family. And lets hope that Manfred will finally meet up with all the other good guys on the other side.

Rest In Peace.

Video: MFB Tanzbär 2 workshop at SchneidersLaden

The MFB Tanzbär 2 is one of the most complete drum machines on the market. Jean-Marcel Fricke from MFB presents their biggest drum machine project to date in a workshop and performance at SchneidersLaden.

Get an overview about the workflow and hear this nice machine play some music. With different analog and digital voices plus a synth engine you are able to do complete compositions.

Check out more of the SchneidersLaden workshop videos here – or come to one of the next workshops, find an overview here.

MFB workshop and performance at SchneidersLaden on Hallowhat?! – Boo!

On Thursday 31st of October SchneidersLaden welcomes MFB – the drum machine and analog synth specialists from Berlin. The expertise of MFB has long been proven by many many drum machines, modules and complete synthesizers. The Tanzbär 2 for example brings everything to the table that made the MFB drum machines so popular in the past. With powerful analog voices, flexible digital voices and a really capable sequencer the Tanzbär 2 is easily one of the most advanced drum machine in the sub 1000 Euro range.

But there are also several synthesizers – from Keyboard synths like the
Dominion 1 to small, portable machines with huge sounds like the Dominion Club, which is a more compact version of the keyboard synthesizer.

We are looking forward to what MFB will bring with them and even more to what they will be doing with their machines. Put on your dancing shoes – this is going to be a fun night with some serious analog beats.

Thursday 31st of October – Halloween – 7:30 pm at SchneidersLaden


All this is new to you? Why not join a Modular Beginner Workshop at SchneidersLaden, it is free of charge and you learn about basic synthesis and all you need to know about modulars. Find out more here.

Seven more workshops at SchneidersLaden in 2019!

SchneidersLaden only took a short break from their Workshops (besides the weekly Modular Beginner Workshop) and is back on track from next week on – with a great mixture of modular and non-modular companies that will present their work. You will be able to learn and get inspired by VPME, MFB, Supercritical Synthesizers, Bitwig, Dadamachines and Ableton!*

*now UDO Audio confirmed that they will be coming to SchneidersLaden on December 5th for a workshop to present their Super 6 synthesizer!

Schedule: October – December

VPME: The first workshop on October 24th is hosted by VPME – Vladimir Pantelic is coming to Berlin together with Matze from #Instant for a workshop and performance. Learn more about their latest module the Quad Drum Voice alongside the well established Euclidean Circles and some other very handy utilities.

MFB: One week later – October 31st – SchneidersLaden welcomes MFB. The Berlin based manufacturer of drum machines, synthesizers and modules will introduce you to their powerful machines and surely will make you dance!

Supercritical: On November 7th Supercritical Synthesizers present the Demon Core oscillator. With its 16-voice polyphony and 16 analog saw and pulse waves with PWM it is possible to create those super powerful lead and bass sound from the 90s. Timo and Heikki will show how to get there.

Bitwig: On November 14th SchneidersLaden is crossing borders with the first workshop to about integrating your modular with software. Bitwig will be there to show you the powerful combination of their highly innovative software with hardware modular synthesizers.

Dadamachines: The next workshop – on November 21st – is all about physical movement. Dadamachines provides you with the ability to play physical objects with your favorite sequencer via MIDI! Learn about the possibilities you have with these electro-acoustical instruments!

Ableton: Ableton will be at SchneidersLaden on November 28th – their powerful CV Tools lets you integrate your analog and modular gear easily with one of the most popular DAWs for electronic music. Matt Jackson and Iftah from Skinnerbox will be there to teach you how CV Tools works and how it can expand the possibilities of your studio.

UDO Audio: Now its save to say UDO Audio will be in Berlin to celebrate the shipping of their first Super 6 synthesizers with a workshop at SchneidersLaden. The workshop will happen on December 5th – that’s only the second chance to get your hands on one of these machines, the first was SUPERBOOTH19.

All workshops start at 7:30pm and participation is free of charge!


All this is new to you? Why not join a Modular Beginner Workshop at SchneidersLaden, it is free of charge and you learn about the basics of synthesis and all you need to know about modulars. Find out more here.


MFB

MFB

Jean Fricke and his dad Manfred present a new drum instrument at Superbooth 2018. – The Tanzbär 2. It features analog as well as digital voices. Besides drum generators, there are three sample players and a FM synthesizer voice. On top of that, there is a multi-track step sequencer with classic layout. A pattern can be up to 64 steps long. Each track can have a different length. Thus, polyrhythmic results can be easily created.

MFB_2

In detail, the Tanzbär 2 features the following instruments:

  • Two kick voices
  • Two snares
  • Three toms / congas
  • Three sample voices
  • Two crash variations
  • Closed hi-hat
  • Open hi-hat
  • Clap / Perc 1
  • Rim / Perc 2
  • Ride / Perc 3

The second generation of the Tanzbär will be available in summer 2018. The price will be 980 Euro (including 19% VAT).

In other news: MFB also shows some new modules at Superbooth 2018. – All circuits will be available soon, the price per product will be less than 100 Euro. In detail, the following modules were announced:

  • VCO / DCO – An audio generator with switchable core (analog / digital)
  • ADSR – An envelope with voltage controllable parameter and loop function
  • Visual VCA – Combines a VCA and an oscilloscope
  • 24 dB VCF SSI – A filter, based on the circuit design of Korg’s Monopoly.

MFB Gesprächskonzert @SUPERBOOTH17

Gesprächskonzerte are supposed to be product presentations with a concert part that fills at least half of the time. MFB did a very nice job at SUPERBOOTH17, they presented their new products in a very danceable fashion. The Gesprächskonzert showed the new Dominion Club, Nanozwerg Pro, Digital Delay and their well-known drum machines. The whole performance is done entirely with MFB products and shows the wide palette of products they offer these days.

 

 

What about…Voice-Modules for eurorack

 

It is one of the best things about modular synthesizers – you can mix and match all elements of your instrument. Your dream is to combine a wavetable oscillator with a classic Moog-design filter and a tube-VCA? – No problem, go for it! But sometimes all you want is another simple analog subtractive voice. Or maybe you have something like 30hp of space left in your case, so why not throw a complete analog mono synthesizer in there? And often these modules are the perfect entry point for the mysterious land of modular synthesis, not only because you have everything on hand that you need to start making music – but also you can be sure that the single components work well together. With single modules you sometimes happen to combine modules that are not the perfect companions as a filter might expect 10V to fully open the cutoff, but your envelope only produces 8V…and so on. So with full voice-modules you can prevent some of the typical modular synth trouble shooting. Therefor a synth-voice module is often a good starting point for beginners and an easy and pleasing thing for experts to add another voice to their system. Just add a sequencer of your taste to the module and you are good to go! Here are some thoughts on typical analog mono-synths in eurorack format.


synthvoicesmall


Acidlab – M303

Sometimes all you need is a bass synthesizer – and the most famous one might the Roland TB-303. So why not put something like a TB-303 in your rack? This is where the Acidlab M303 comes into play. A good sounding, affordable all in one bass synthesizer that reminds of a TB-303 sound wise. All you need to do is add a sequencer and you’re good to go – ACID! And the M303 offers a lot more flexibility than a standalone version. With inputs for its filter and VCA you are able to process totally different sound sources than the original saw- and sqaurewave, if you want to.

 

Eowave – Domino (Module)

This miniature synthesizer is also often referred to as a kind of 303 inspired synth. But is has more of its own sound, a pure analog, rough and strong sound that can go into 303 territories but is way more flexible…with 12 patch points, when it comes to integrating it into more complex patches. And have you seen the size of it?  – To have a full analog mono synthesizer in ->10hp<- ! is kind of ridiculous – in a good way. It features saw- and square waves just like the M303 but lets you blend between the two and the filter is different as it is a -24db ladder design.

 

MFB – Nanozwerg Pro

This little analog synthesizer features a sub-oscillator and noise circuit that the M303 and Domino are missing. It also features a multimode filter and additionally two ADSRs and an LFO – and it is the cheapest in this series. This is a challenge that MFB has mastered many times before – building incredibly affordable instruments with lots of functionality. And often they are surprisingly good sounding, as the Nanozwerg Pro proves. It makes no compromises: Noise, Sub, LP- BP- HP- Notch-Filter, Saw, Square, Triangle and Pulse waveforms, 2 x ADSRs, LFO, octave switch AND MIDI-input! You are missing something? Well, good news is: you will have saved a lot of money by buying the Nanozwerg Pro, so there will be something left for whatever you feel is missing.

 

Intellijel Designs – Atlantis

The most sophisticated of the modules we are discussing here is the Atlantis by Intellijel. With 27 patch points, noise and a loopable envelope this is not only the best equipped of the four modules discussed here but also the most flexible. The Atlantis comes close to a synth voice that is built from separate modules when it comes to the feature list and patch points. Additionally pretty much any function of the Atlantis can be used independently, which contributes to the feel of using separate modules when working with the Atlantis. And what about the sound? The architecture of this module is inspired by the SH-101. And it sounds close in particular settings. The Atlantis is a great mono-synth and can sound huge.

 

Doepfer – A-111-5v Synthesizer

Only 100 units will be available of the module A-111-5v Mini Synthesizer Voice. This special edition is only possible since Dieter Doepfer found 100 of the special-IC CEM3394. This module features a VCO, a 24dB-Lowpass filter, a VCA, an ADSR-envelope generator and two LFOs. The special thing about this module is its linear filter FM. The A-111-5v can be seen as the eurorack version of the Dark Energy MK I! And it features the CEM-chip that is responsible for the powerful and pleasant sound of the original Dark Energy. Now Doepfer is doing a limited run of A-111-5 Synthesizer Voices with this legendary chip.


In the end it is a matter of taste whether you rate one above the other, at least most of the time. When only having a few hp left in your live rig the Domino or M303 might be a good choice. On the other hand you might have ended up with a rack full of digital modules that you want to complement it with a more veratile analog voice, then the Intellijel or Doepfer might be the right module for you. Whatever your considerations are, this article has hopefully given you some insights in a few of the available options.

This is by no means a complete overview of the available modules or a full review of the modules discussed. The what about… texts are here to give you new ideas and maybe another perspective on things. All these modules offer more features than we have talked about in this post. For further information please click the provided links or – even better – visit the shop and ask the SchneidersLaden experts in the showroom.

 

Superbooth17 – MFB

MFB 1At MFB’s exhibition space, visitors of this year’s Superbooth can take a first glance at the Dominion Club, a compact desktop version of the Dominion 1 keyboard synthesizer. It features two analog oscillators, a digital wave generator with morphing waveforms, two sub oscillators, a noise source plus XOR and Sync functions. For processing audio material, a 24 dB multimode filter is built-in. Furthermore, there are two ADSR envelopes, two LFOs with one-shot and reset options, an arpeggiator and a step-sequencer. Filter and low frequency oscillators are equipped with morph functions as well. MIDI-DIN and USB ports as well as an M-Bus interface allow users to control the instrument via other gear.

MFB also developed a Eurorack version of the Nanozwerg synthesizer, the Nanozwerg Pro. It comes equipped with one VCO plus sub oscillator, a 12 dB multimode filter, a LFO and two ADSR envelopes. The module can be played via control voltages or MIDI messages plus it is compatible with the M-Bus protocol. CV inputs allow users to modulate six parameters. Signals generated by the Nanozwerg’s modulators can be tapped off from three outputs.

Furthermore, MFB presents a new delay module with freeze function at the Superbooth17.

All products will become available this summer.

Namm 16 Impressions 2

Here some fotos taken from the neighbours’ booth around ours:

Moog’s Mother Island

moog_1moog moogstand

Roland & Malekko showing the 500 Series and Roland’s new Case / Desktop Synths & their  MIDI controller.

Roland_3rolandroland_2 roland_4

Korg’s new Polysynth & the Odyssey

korg_2Korg

and some good guys

mexpiano

car_paul

 

on the namm again..

Marc_Shawn_Andreas_BillAfter European products are cheaper for our friends in the US now, we will join the upcoming NAMM show to let you touch and listen to the germans and their friends latest products on stand 6996 in Hall A! Dieter Doepfer will be there, Vermona, MFB, Manikin, JoMoX, Kenton, Eowave and BR-Laser from Austria having the Terminal in his case. We will be next to the stand of our american friends such as Verbos, WMD, Snazzy ,4MS, the Harvestman and many others probably brining loads of NEWS.

Join Europe: iTs CHEAP now!

The european money is cheaper than ever at least for people in the US and the UK now. Unfortunately for europeans the products from these countries are much more expensive now .. the other way round, so… a lot of our prices for modulars and others finally had to be increased now. So please accept the raise from 7% to 10% average with some very attractive modular series,
… we are sorry. New prices are online and valid now!

.. And finally: Be welcome and  join Musikmesse in Frankfurt/Germany – it will be April, 15th to 18th this year – spring time with even more new stuff for even better prices, .. perhaps!

Mellotron Sounds ..

P1120587The sounds of the Memotron – the (digital copied) original digital copy of the (original copied) mellotron – are  a collection of 100 included sounds from now on! All the remaining memotron units that will be selling new should have this. These ones are getting short anyway, a new model will follow up soon.
Join the NAMM show in Anaheim to check this out: Manikin electronic, Doepfer, Vermona, MFB, JoMoX, EOwave, and all the american modular brands will join the american Music show in January with a collective stand in Hall A. So if you can, be around from January 22nd til 25th, 2015.

 

NEXT MOVE IBIZA:

_MG_8439_0217_klOn Thursday (September, 24th)  the DJ convention Dancefair will start for the very first time on the island Ibiza. Apart from “DJ companies” like Roland, the SAE and others some more attraktive hardware units by Doepfer, Vermona, Sherman, Koma, MFB and Manikin will be shown by Philipp and Franz from Schneidersladen on behalf of SchneidersBuero, Berlin. So if you are around have some fun and make some sunny sounds with them. Enjoy.

MFB OSC03 in stock..

The MFB OSC03 – a triple oscillator in the eurorack – has been shipped and is available from stock now. It includes the mixer functionality that has been sold as an extra for the earlier MFB OSC2, that is selling out now – b.t.w.!

More than just a moog..

mfb_dominion1_keyboard_synthesizer
The very first units of the long time expected
MFB Dominion1 keyboard synthesizer from Berlin could be shipped in July hopefully. There are plenty of videos on the web already showing the outstanding possibilities of this unit, but from what I saw at the manufacturers facility now, it will be even better…

Musikmesse videos ..

IMG_2878Looking back to last weeks exhibition of ALEX4 on the musikmesse we collected some links here to give you an impression on what has happened there:
A nice overview of the athmosphere with no comments on this years ALEX4 stand in Frankfurt has been given with this video, that I found on vimeo, thank you.
If you want competent informations about mellotrons or memotrons you should have been talking to klaus (german), who collected all the sounds for manikin electronic, their latest release is “harrys collection” now.
Dieter Doepfer is introducing his news on modular basics and the black MAQ-sequencer starting with his Midi/USB to clock converter modul (AHH!) here in english.
MFB has been presented by Uwe-George Giegler in english on sonicstate, Sebastian Preller gave a short overview of the specials on the Tanzbär and Mister Fricke confirmed the soon delivery in german here.
Edmund Eagan plays on the Haken continuum with sounds designed on the new Eagan Matrix, Dr. Lippold Haken gives a german comment on his production place   .. and finally ..
IMG_2883Max and Max informing you about a new MIDIclock by Erfindungsbuero Rest und Meier here .. and .. then there was a little overview with sonic state and HerrSchneider .. (.. and: sorry no, I did not mean that buchla is hard to service – not at all!).
Unfortunately they all missed to show the Cacophonator noir by Subtle Noise Maker from Vienna.

Hangfoglalas show!

In Hungary this weekend our partner analoguezone is introducing their range of products on a show for musical instruments called hangfoglalas! If you are around, please give it a chance and have a look, the stand is probably filled with stuff now.

Neue Zwerge by MFB

mfb_urzwergThe Urzwerg by MFB is his latest release and a four track cv/gate sequencer following midi clock, transpose commands and more in another of his handy desktop casings. The very first demo unit can now be tested in schneidersladen, serial models to be shipped will be ready very soon.

ABOUT STROMKULT


STROMKULT is our platform for updates and news on SCHNEIDERSLADEN and SUPERBOOTH, selected electronic musical instruments and events related to modular synthesizers, sequencers, competent drum machines, analog modular systems, midi tools, controllers, converters and related products of all kinds. You can find all kinds of events related to these topic in our EVENT CALENDAR. Also on this site you will find lots of videos from SUPERBOOTH – the world’s largest trade fair for electronic musical instruments, news about events and workshops at SCHNEIDERSLADEN.

Herr Schneider started in 1999 with SCHNEIDERSBUERO as a sales and marketing platform for the smallest manufacturers and inventors of electronic musical instruments. Products were shown online, in our showrooms and at the original SUPERBOOTH – workshops and countless reviews have been featured in magazines all over Europe.

These very special instruments and tools are now often available from specialist dealers all over Europe and can be purchased directly from our webshop SCHNEIDERSLADEN worldwide.