Sound fascinates me. For more than twenty years I've had synthesizers. Since the coming of software synthesizers my palette of sound synthesis has expanded into the digital. Collective Memory Generator was the first album in which I started using them. I came to realize that it was possible to make my own softsynth. I had a virtual analogue instrument in mind that was easy to operate with an 'old' sound, a familiar, though different sound. One that I could play like the real synth that I don't own, but wish I would. To play it through electric guitar stompboxes and a guitar amplifier, to get back the analogue feel, to get it out of the digital environment.

The Leonator has a classical monophone substractive synthesizer layout. It kan be played on a keyboard, knobs can be twisted in the real world, and the synth responds to it. Furthermore, it can be fully automated in a software audio program, in my case Cubase, so the synth can be programmed in order to perform sound movements through time. That could be anything from slowly morphing sounds to squeeking pulsating rythms.

To make the basic sound of the Leonator more interesting I sampled some of my organs and synthesizers. As extra I provided it with echo and phasing.
I,ve been using and improving the instrument for some time now. I spent so much time creating the Leonator, playing it, moulding it into a usable instrument. And it is great! Although I would mind seeing it evolute into a 'real' instrument....maybe that will be the next stage of the Leonator... 


Leonator V This is the latest version; a new look and feel! 

Here are some rough audio samples to give you an impression. (No external effects used: 100% Leonator.)
              The manual is almost ready...

Solinardo
Remake of my Solinardo G110 organ. I've sampled it and now it became a soft-organ. Very vintage, indeed...I made a second page where I put an echo/phasing device on top of the organ.
It's a virtual world!!





  
Solinardo

On this machine I also made some improvements, on the backside. The effect stomp box was working all the time, but the round knobs were dummies. Now the knobs are working as well; I put in synthesizer functions. Now there is a filter envelope, together with the monophonic and glide functions. So the Solinardo now is an organ, drone machine and killer-vintage-synthesizer in one!

Here are some rough audio samples to give you an impression (No external effects used: 100% Solinardo.)
     

Drone player

Earth Drone, sample player with ambient and synth sounds. For endlessly changing coloursounds or used as fat synthesizer. Highly intuitive!


EarthDroneC

 all music composed, produced and performed by Leonardo/ album covers and webdesign by Leonardo