What Is Music From Outer Space? And Why Is It So Influential. 

check out the music from outer space site if you have not already! a link is in the description, and you can get the circuits from synthcube as mentioned. or you could even stripboard it all! the MAKE analog synthesizers book is still available, just have a search for it on the net you'll find it nice and quick!

I miss Ray - he was just brilliant. My first DIY synth project was the Weird Sound Generator. I made it with my daughter - got her soldering at a young age. Ray was always so helpful when I emailed for advice or problem solving. What a fabulous chap!

11:31. A beautiful example of the magic smoke escaping. It's the substance that makes the electronics work. Once it gets out, you cannot put it back in.

What a legacy. Ray Wilson did something every human could ever dream of doing. He left an amazing legacy of his passion, a slice in time capturing the early days of the internet, that teaches generations to come. That is Amazing! Bless you Ray and thank you Sam for all you have done to teach others about their ability to create music with their own two hands.

Ray Wilson's a legend, MFOS was one of the first SDIY website I cam across back in 2010

I built several variants of the Wacky Sound Generator from Ray's site and was gearing up to buy a load of module PCBs from Ray when he passed away. Due to changes in my life as well at the time I never pulled the trigger on the project but his website is a unparalleled resource and he was so encouraging to you to experiment and modify his designs, I am so glad that someone has taken on his legacy, as I was worried it might be lost. It's great to hear you showing off the Soundlab as someone who knows how to operate an analogue synth! MFOS and Ray definitely needed to be in the spotlight more. And for people who are just looking for information, the site is such a good and entertaining read, with Ray's sense of humour shining through :D

I am still saddened by the fact MFO's creator has passed away. He was a big inspiration to me as well. However, you did great with this video. So glad his work is still reverberating into today's modern cyber and techno world. Today's DIY electronic musicians are still with it in remembering his legacy. A true fathomistic legend

A wholesome video ending with a BANGER, this is amazing! Thankssssss

Very heartwarming to see Ray's designs brought to life. ..Ray would have appreciated that his influence on the DIY synth movement has become ... enormous. RIP Ray

Seeing how long this took to wire up really makes u appreciate the work put into bringing to life that first generation of "compact" synths like the Minimoog, Arp 2600, etc. Also why they were so expensive! The amount of sheer labor it takes to do this all by hand is wild.

Ray was amazing and so kind. He was really helpful with answering questions when you were assembling one of his synthesizers. He helped me a ton and with very detailed answers. He loved what he did. He even put out a CD with his music, which I enjoyed.

The NOISE TOASTER was the first synthesizer project I attempted, and I ended up cold soldering one of the connections, so when I want to play it, I have to put my finger on the joint to actually make it work. I plan to get back to synth making soon once I get time off from college stuff, but this is really cool how you went into depth on Ray Wilson's creations, and it reminds me why I love synthesizers so much.

I had the chance to have a communication with Ray long time ago. I was shocked when I heard that he died. Rip Rap. Thanks for you support to help me out finding why my diy project does not work. He was so helpful. RIP Ray. I was one of those guys you put on the DIY track.

I was in the museum the day Keith gave this to you so interesting to see the result.

I learned so much of what I know about synthdiy from MFOS. When I got my first white collar job, my first big purchase wasn't a car - it was a Sound Lab Mk II kit!

I laughed hard when you mentioned lending out your Make books and wondering if they were really good or if maybe those folks were procrastinating on it! I bought that book a couple years ago (was going to read it) and your comment spoke to me enough to pull that book out again and resume reading it. I really enjoy your vids/music. Thank you.

Ray Wilson was a legend! He and his website inspired me to pursue a career in electrical engineering. I had the chance to email him occasionally, and he was so humble and very knowledgeable.

I had the honor of interacting with Ray a few times when I used to sell commercialized versions of his modules. He was kind, generous, and encouraging. He was an amazing person.

There is something so touching about seeing the legacy of someone continue on even after they pass away. It's awesome that you got this going, and it's cool that there is a team keeping the site up too.

I browsed that website almost DAILY when I was younger! I dreamed of one day building my own MFOS synth, but some electronic parts were imposible to get in my country back then, so I always ended up building my own 555 and NAND noise machines.

The ending made me think this an advanced sci-fi action game with intense music. It would be interesting if LookMumNoComputer made a soundtrack for a game like that.

I recall being thrilled when I completed my Weird Sound Generator back in around 2014 - I still use it today, a great little box. Ray was (And still is!) a guiding light and an inspiration to many musicians and electronics enthusiasts - RIP Ray!

Ray's a total legend. Loved this

Amazing, so much patience and devotion in assembling one of these (complete with a smoking IC here and there). Thanks for demonstrating some of the sounds and patching with your assembled MFOS synth. I've cooked a few ICs in my days of adventurous synth circuitry, but speaking of ICs, looking at the various schematics on MFOS, beautiful as they are, much of these functions could now be done with more ICs, and fewer discrete components, at least in my perhaps biased opinion. Much admiration, though, for having created all of these elaborate analog circuits with discrete components back in the day.

Ray wasn't just a great designer, he was a prince of a guy to converse with. My ultimate is one of my most prized synths.

Been working on the MFOS vocoder for the past week and a half. RIP Ray. I owe his book and website alot. Just an absolutely amazing wealth of knowledge. Great work Sam!

I've built my modular more than 10 years ago and well, thanks Ray Wilson, rest in peace :(

How you make things to come alive is so amazing to see. Thank you very much Sam!

What a legend Ray was. The WSG;I still use mine at gigs. I built the WSG circuit on stripboard.I added severalother circuits includingg a Ken Stone synthacon filter, a Rebote 2 delay, a Thomas Henry 8K LFO and I built a mixer board to combine the circuits as seperate levels. I housed allof the boards inside an old BBC B computers' interface box. A perfect box. incluing several banana sockets. So all 8 oscillatorscan be patched to the other boards. Its a lovely sounding standalone synth. Ray was so great. x

@LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, I lost it at the Kraftwerk "Robots" reference 🤖🤖 BRILLIANT

Awesome build and the song at 23:55 is so good!

The aliens I have encountered did everything right out of Piston's book, featuring 18th century string instruments mostly. They're really into it.

Ray’s designs were my intro to synth diy. I built a few WSGs,alien screamers, and a couple sound labs. The only modular synth I completed is mostly his circuit boards. Still jammin on them to this day. He was a great guy and is terribly missed. This was a wonderful episode.

LOVELY

Nice! Finally some mfos love on youtube! You really managed to make the best ultimate demo patches out there on this one. I'm currently building the mini synth PLUS (with the s&h module integrated), and I'm planning on going for the ult+exp in the future too. I was kind of hoping you would demo the ext signal booster with a guitar or a bass too. Ray kind of mentions it on the site as being a buffer meant to be used with a guitar. Anyway it's so nice to see someone making content on these synth diy projects, Ray deserves more air time for sure!

Awesome! Love Ray Wilson and his mission to make _Music from Outer Space_ I built the WSG - fun stuff, thanks for covering it!

Everything you do is so awesome and inspiring. Can't wait till I can get to visit the museum. Keep up the good work!

While watching I was thinking "How cool would a transparent case be?" and suddenly this mad legend actually makes one! Now give it to me thank you

I bought one on the eBay , partially built , I’ve started with trying to neatly solder and get the thing working! It’s straightforward but time consuming!

REST IN PEACE LEGEND .. remember my childhood , saving money for making pcb and buy some components for making MFOS stuff ..

MFOS was and still is a great place to start a journey down the synthesizer rabbit hole. Ray was a wizard and it is clear he was aiming for cool sounds and effects. I ordered the PCB for the Soundlab and haven’t decided what kind of panel I am hooking it up to (12 years later 😮). I also had to get the Mk2 and the Noise Toaster. The NT was for my grandkids. I am building a second and adding a PT2399 for my youngest grandson. I am also building the 32-step sequencer and some of the modules like VCFs, ring modulator, LFO … A year ago I ordered the MIDI Ultimate from Soundtronics in UK. This one is very much the Ultimate shown in this video, but with some enhancement like dual ADSRs, PT2399 echo module and MIDI input. ALL components mounted on a huge board so no wiring needed (apart from in- and out panel). Much is pre-patched with on-off-on switches. Unfortunately this kit is discontinued probably due to lack of buyers. It’s really great you did focus on Ray Wilson and his great stuff. As someone noted, Ray had a YT channel and watching his introductions helps understand his design philosophy. I often wonder why he did things this or that way (like why not an ADSR in the Ultimate and just an AR), but listening to the magician himself gives some answers.

It was so fun watching this come together and then hearing all that it can do. Thanks for shining a light on Ray's legacy.

Ray was a generous and kind fellow. brilliant as well. My first system was a very large version of his first publishings in 2008-2009. The WP-20 is still one of my favorite drone machines around.

I built a Maplin 3800 synth about 40 years ago. My folks bought me the kit for Christmas, I was 15 at the time. It was a really good Curtis chip based machine. I remember building a wooden frame for it with my dad. I sold it eventually but it was my lead synth for about seven or eight years.

As always interesting as hell and way cool Sam. Thanks for turning me on to Music From Outer Space, I'll be perusing their website, you may be sure. RIP Ray Wilson- he must have been an interesting fellow.

The first synth I ever built was a portable sound lab mkI combined with a Gijs Gieskes TV sequencer in a tiny vintage metal case. Still proud of it. It's Ray who got me into the world of (diy) synths.

I have a noise toaster on the shelf I've been meaning to complete... Your videos give me inspiration 😁 thanks Sam

Omg, it makes me so happy to see you covering Ray’s work! I started off by watching your videos and reading his Make: Analog Synthesizers book, too! One of my absolute favorite synthesizers has been his Sound Lab Mini Synth. David Haillant over in France made a SMT version of it for Eurorack and I was lucky enough to get one of his last PCBs and put it together during lockdown. It’s so simple and so lovely. Funnily enough, his TL074-based fuzz pedal was my very first guitar pedal build. I SO want to build a desktop Sound Lab Ultimate. Ray left such a huge mark on so many lives - just imagine how many songs were created because he at least inspired the sounds! Thank you thank you for covering his work and making this delightful artifact! I think I need to buy a few more kits/PCBs from MFOS designs…

I miss Ray tremendously. His designs are fantastic. I started with the Sound Lab mini synth and havent stopped since. My modular is heavy on MFOS PCBs and I just got more in the mail today : )

What a lovely, informative, and even touching video. Thanks!

well done man, thats a lot of work, such a great video

Bought the Sound lab mini back in the day from music out of space, still got it. Was fun building. ❤

Amazing beautiful performance along with useful and great video. Much appreciate you!

My guy, thank you for making this. This is exactly what I'm trying to solder together. And it's my first project! Probably a bad place to start but I was so inspired to finally tap into it. Thanks for showing the final product and what it's capable of.

Sam,Thank You for being such a GENIUS ! Your Inspiration is Always so AMAZING !

Great job as usual, sounds really lovely.

thanks for the book recommendation and wicked performance towards the end!

It was thanks to Ray's book that I stumbled across this world and how incredible it was! Built the Noise Toaster from the book at the same time I discovered this channel, and decided to adapt every part into seperate Kosmo format modules - 4 years later and I'm still making modules! Watching you wire the SLU definitely makes me glad I switched to the layered sandwich/pancake PCBs tho hahaha

Omg that song at the end you played 😮👍

Incredible video Sam, keep it up!

I have absolutely no idea what any of your magic man words mean, but it sounds awesome! I do not need to know how you made the noises, I will just enjoy them, thanks for this!

The value that youngsters today are taking from the likes of Delton T Horn, MFOS, YuSynth, Thomas Henry, and so so many others must be so gigantic that it puts huge smiles upon the faces of that whole original generation of synthologists when asked to consider it. Kids coming into some great deal of understanding in electronics theory, to an extent that they’re every bit as qualified as engineers with college degrees. Youths finding their main motivation towards a work ethic. No it’s not for everyone and yes it’s going to bankrupt you. You’ll be so distant and unreachable to family and loved ones, and there’s a real reason why they call it ‘divorce wears’. But you’ll see it through, whatever the matter. You yourself will be the source of that same very value that Ray left for us. There is no question as to whether or not we lived a wholly meaningful life! Thank you so much, Sam, for your sacrifices and for putting in those endless hours that it takes to be a synth diy guru, just like Ray!

So nice to see a long video from you on MFOS. I built the Noise toaster a few years ago, and followed up with the 1 V/oct keyboard controller and the original Soundlab (had to have one of those iconic synths, but yay panel wiring). I added EG to PW and gate to the VCA on the Soundlab, good mods to have. Also started on the Synth DIY Experimenter board. And yes, I do have the PCB:s for the Ultimate + Expander waiting for me.

1st! Mfos was my gateway into modular. Dealt with Ray direct, lovely guy. A real loss.

Ren: did you find out anything? Stimpy with tricorder: yeah! this thing makes the coolest noises!

My first synth DIY build was an Alien Screamer and it went on from there. WSG, Noise Toaster and moving onto modules. What a legacy Ray left behind. 🙂

I was just at Synthcube today and saw this MOFO setup. Nice to see this interview with Mike. MOFO modules were the first I built.

Ray Wilson’s book, Analog Synthesizers brought by Make, is an awesome book, you have to own 1. It increases your interest in (DIY) analog synths and 1 of his DIY synths he describes is super cool. I’m so glad his website is still there and they didn’t change it.

Amazing work, awesome music!

I started building a MFOS modular synth way back before ray was making and selling PCB's. He was just publishing and literally giving away he's designs. I had some problems with my builds and contacted Ray, he was super kind and helped me fix everything. R.I.P. Ray.

Inspiration from Switched on Bach... Yes, many of us started there. I remember my brother got an album with a synth version of the Star Wars soundtrack, and it was awesome. And I got a less awesome CD of some synths playing other classical works, which went straight to the bin. But yes, the olden days of synthesizers...

I studied MFOS schematics and bought the book. Was buying gadgets from Goodwill to harvest parts. Then small synths got cheap. Now I have more synths than will fit in one room. My MFOS study still helps me understand it all.

Thanks Sam, for showing what Ray Wilson have given us on DIY synth projects and how we can make these ourselves. 👍🏻

I too have a weird sound generator and I always wanted revisit and build a more serious synth. Didn't know Ray was gone... the world is poorer for his loss.

08:58 this is strange seeing the place I drive past every morning for the last 37 years in one of your videos !

Great video! Great build and awesome jams! My very first synth was a WSG. The second was the classic SLMS. I was so frustrated by the wiring job that I decided to design a single board version of them, in Eurorack format, that required NO wiring at all. 😅

Fantastic stuff! I love the MFOS website. I built quite a few of Ray Wilson's projects and they all work really well. The only little gripe I have with his schematics is that he numbers every component on both sides. I'm not sure what the reason is but it was confusing in the beginning. Now I'm used to it of course. The Soundlab Ultimate sounds amazing. The filters sound really lush :) How cool that this project was brought into your museum just as you wanted to get to grips with it, Kismet surely :)

Anyone watching this channel, and is thinking about building their first synth kit. WSG or the Noise Toaster Weird Sound Generator - is a great place to start! The Noise Toaster is a little bit more advanced, but has the companion book. However the instructions for building the WSG on the MFOS website are great for a successful build! These kits can be purchased with all components needed for the build. So a beginner that may not have all the necessary electronic components needed can easily assemble without needing to aquire everything. RIP Ray Sam! love your stuff... Keep up the great work. Don't be scared to try it!

Everyone: soldering the solder. LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER: soldering the history. P. S. Thanks a lot! Another video that exterminates my previous definitions of craziness. And of course inspires as well.

Love the way you filtered your voice whenever you were speaking but the video was on Mike - it's the little touches :) 👍

Great!! I love this part!

Around 18:47, it sounds like FSOL. I meant Tomita 😀

Love it! Great piece of reporting :)

God damnit, Sam. you've convinced me. Time to buy a soldering iron i guess

Love this video and the tribute to Ray Wilson. Have built one of his filters and a dual VCA but, as this video demonstrates, off board wiring is a killer with the original MFOS PCBs. I will only do PCB mount pots, jacks and switches now.

Beautiful build!!

good job!💙🙃💙thanks for sharing.

Thanks Ray Wilson for your outstanding job! I'm a proud owner of a Echo Rockit and Noise Toaster and simply love his instruments so much..

I was very into old modular synth. I'm currently not - 3 children. No time. This site is still available and looks like 20 years ago? He was first. Next (at least for me) was yusynth. I built 107 modules after them and mutations by myself. Can't thank them enough. It's simply great something that I feel about them. Inspiration. Learning analog electronics. Also digital.

MFOS is what brought me propper into the Synth DIY Scene - these Projects are all awesome. I got his book for the Noisetoaster. And who can not love such a 90s Style Website. I love that his legacy is still kept up - i was a bit woried what would happen to this treasure trove of knowledge about analog syntheshizes after his death. But yeah he was one of the great guys in synth diy and i love how you bring his leagcy into the spotlight

Awesome video mate! I feel bad for not having heard of Ray or the site. I love synths and he seems like someone I should have at least heard of. I know a little bit about eurorack/modular (actually I know jack $hit but I can make “music” with VCV rack eventually) and I’ve only recently been getting really interested in trying to make a basic synth so I’m sure his legendary name would’ve come up very quickly. Thanks for the introduction though man. It’s really cool Mike and the guys have kept it going and have the original prototypes out on show too. Such a cool way to keep Ray’s creations going. I’ve actually used their modules on VCV rack making my aforementioned “music” haha! It is MAD that Keith just happened to bring in an ultimate! And the expander that you only just saw for the first time on the video chat with Mike!!! Mental. Again, awesome video mate. 35 hours time well spent! Really really liked your jams at the end dude ✌🏻

That jam was a nice tribute to Ray, absolutely crushed it mate.

I ask myself what Ray Wilson would be doing if he were still alive. What project, what kind of synthesizer, modifications/extensions for existing synths he would have made. With questions from people, wishes regarding xtra connection possibilities etc. and he also inspired people to design your own cabinet, shape and front panel for your DIY synth. I have been visiting the MFOS site for years and I get super excited every time with all the synth designs and additional information from Ray Wilson. The passion he had for synths and which he put into his projects is also reflected on his website. What would you like to add to Ray Wilson's synths and/or modules Sam? You have already made a number of adjustments, but are they described somewhere? By the way, I would like you to make more videos of Ray Wilson synths and then what else you think people could do with them.

I found MFOS site at 2015, assembled 3 simple projects from MFOS: Alien screamer, WSG and Noise Toaster. They worked for my amusing and surprise. But a year later Ray passed and it deeply disstressed me.

I seriously miss Ray. He was probably one of the kindest people I've ever had the pleasure of interacting with in the synth world, and he took the time to work through a lot of theoretical knowledge for things and my specific modification asks well beyond the scope of the projects. He even listened to my music I created with his gear and commented on it. Truly a huge loss, but his legacy lives on. Every time I fire up the Sound Lab Ultimate, a part of him comes alive.

That sounds awesome. Blimey!!

I have a half finished Sound Lab Ultimate. Thanks toy your video I feel inspired to complete the project

this is amazing.... totally outa control.... I'm so doing this..well at least try.... thank you.. I've been looking for a certain type of synth for ages for ages ... this is rad...

That is a great sounding sync!

Cool jam!