BENCH NOTES

Spring is in full swing now, meaning the temperature cannot make up its mind, and the sun is peeking through our skylight again! (Or do we mean burning?) The shop has been as full as can be for weeks, and we’re working like mad to get everything out the door. 

Spring cleaning is not just for our homes, studios, apartments, wardrobes, minds, hearts (okay, maybe an exaggeration there) - it’s also for our synths! By which we mean: it’s never a bad time to give your synths a little play and polish. 

This month we’re sharing some of our best tips for keeping your synths happy. Enjoy!

AFTERCARE CARDS

A good repair is a repair that lasts. Once an instrument has visited our shop, we want it to stay healthy as long as possible, but that doesn’t always happen. 

• Sometimes it gets left in the closet for a few months post-repair. 

• Sometimes it’s installed back in the studio, but isn't covered to protect from dust. 

• Either way, it’s just not played. And this can lead to problems.

To help out just a little, we created these after care cards to go with every instrument on its return trip home. Much like when a human’s been in for major surgery and is sent home with recovery instructions including stretch-and-strengthening exercises, instruments need similar physio when they are back from major (electrical) surgery. 

They just threw off the cobwebs (sometimes quite literally), and began running a marathon while at our shop. Now they need to go for a jog every few days. Touch their toes. Stretch their legs. 

So next time you’re at the shop, be sure to pick one up! It will give you one more excuse to play your instrument early and often.

TAPE ECHOES

Whether they be Roland Space Echoes, Korg Stage Echoes, or an Echoplex, we love tape delays! They lend synths some much-needed three-dimensionality, providing a sense of space and the slight unpredictability of the physical world. They’re one of the few things that sound as good as they are temperamental, as their instability is part of the charm. 

That said, if your echoes are starting to sound a little weak for your liking, remember to clean those record and playback heads with a bit of 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and a Q-tip. If that doesn’t solve your tonal woes, get in touch! We can give the unit a deeper clean, check the electronics, lubricate the pinch roller, and replace the tape loop if it’s crinkled and worn.

LOCAL EVENTS

Synth and synth-adjacent happenings in the GTA.

Monday, May 12th | Toronto Electronic Music Open Mic

On the second Monday of each month, our friends at TEMOM hold an electronic music open mic night at Handlebar. 15 minute sets. All live. All musical styles. Drop by at 8pm and enjoy!

Saturday, May 17th | Frequency Freaks

Frequency Freaks Synthesizer Workshops are free educational synth events that encourage sharing gear info and sound-design techniques in the Toronto synth community. They’re held in association with Arraymusic at 155 Walnut Avenue.

Wednesday, May 21th | Render File

You can often catch our talented tech Sam making noise at Render File on Wednesdays. This casual event stars a different video game playthrough each show with an improvised score by a live band. Check it out at Wenona Craft Beer Lodge every Wednesday at 8pm.

Got any suggestions for local events we can add here? We’d love to hear about them! Just reach out and let us know.

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading Bench Notes! Feel free to let us know what you think, share it with a friend, or suggest new topics you’re curious about.

—The Team at Synths When