Comments on: Greatest Synths, and Most Underrated Synths, of All Time; Your Choices? http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/ The latest gear, software, and techniques for electronic music production and performance Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:38:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Create Digital Music » Buchla 200e + Haken Continuum Photo Teaser: Modern Classics? http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-314725 Create Digital Music » Buchla 200e + Haken Continuum Photo Teaser: Modern Classics? Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:51:30 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-314725 [...] I singled out the Buchla modulars as an underrated synth. They might also be on the “misunderstood” list. Conventional wisdom goes that the Moog Modular synth became more popular because it was more friendly to musicians. The design of the Buchla itself, though, is often equally exceptional in comparison to the Moog Modulars. In fact, what’s remarkable about these two modulars is that they each evolved in parallel, on opposite coasts, sometimes with similar ideas — and both are incredibly sophisticated sound production instruments. Looking at the Buchla is a reminder that none of the design decisions on the Moog were inevitable, and visa versa. I spent a couple of years in the studio at Sarah Lawrence College looking at the two side by side, so I had plenty of time to reflect on this (especially since I screwed up my patches half the time). [...] [...] I singled out the Buchla modulars as an underrated synth. They might also be on the “misunderstood” list. Conventional wisdom goes that the Moog Modular synth became more popular because it was more friendly to musicians. The design of the Buchla itself, though, is often equally exceptional in comparison to the Moog Modulars. In fact, what’s remarkable about these two modulars is that they each evolved in parallel, on opposite coasts, sometimes with similar ideas — and both are incredibly sophisticated sound production instruments. Looking at the Buchla is a reminder that none of the design decisions on the Moog were inevitable, and visa versa. I spent a couple of years in the studio at Sarah Lawrence College looking at the two side by side, so I had plenty of time to reflect on this (especially since I screwed up my patches half the time). [...]

]]> By: Simon Power http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-221297 Simon Power Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:28:21 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-221297 Hi there, thanks for your well balenced article and comments about the show. Samplers like the Fairlight will be featuring in a future program, Top 5 Greatest Samplers We are also currently in production on a show called Top 20 Weirdest Instruments. Thanks for watching and the Professor sends his regards! Hi there, thanks for your well balenced article and comments about the show.
Samplers like the Fairlight will be featuring in a future program, Top 5 Greatest Samplers We are also currently in production on a show called Top 20 Weirdest Instruments. Thanks for watching and the Professor sends his regards!

]]> By: Yann Seznec http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-190879 Yann Seznec Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:21:48 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-190879 !! Philip Dodds is my uncle (and parent's next door neighboor). He's full of amazing stories from his time at ARP (and then Kurzweil), from the Close Encounters to the design of the Chroma, Solus, and many others. He was even on the original commitee that worked out the MIDI standard...fascinating stuff. !!

Philip Dodds is my uncle (and parent’s next door neighboor). He’s full of amazing stories from his time at ARP (and then Kurzweil), from the Close Encounters to the design of the Chroma, Solus, and many others. He was even on the original commitee that worked out the MIDI standard…fascinating stuff.

]]> By: spinmeister http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-189154 spinmeister Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:37:18 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-189154 Does anyone remember the Roland MC 202? It was a two mono channel CV/gate sequencer with the funniest little rubber button keyboard? It had a SH 101 mono synth builtin, but because it had a two mono channel sequencer, you could hook up the CV and gate cables to an external real SH 101. I did that and then started messing with using the pitch CV output from the MC 202 sequencer to drive the filter input on my SH 101. Worked like a charm because they both used the range of 0 to 5 volts. What an incredible effect it produced. It was a bit like sample and hold, but you had much more control. And then many years later I got Reason Version 1.0, and just about jumped out of my socks - the whole thing possible in software (including the wiggling cables). And now step sequencing the filter is a very common effect. But I'll never forget the first time I heard that step sequenced filter sound with my little Roland MC 202. Does anyone remember the Roland MC 202? It was a two mono channel CV/gate sequencer with the funniest little rubber button keyboard? It had a SH 101 mono synth builtin, but because it had a two mono channel sequencer, you could hook up the CV and gate cables to an external real SH 101.

I did that and then started messing with using the pitch CV output from the MC 202 sequencer to drive the filter input on my SH 101. Worked like a charm because they both used the range of 0 to 5 volts.

What an incredible effect it produced. It was a bit like sample and hold, but you had much more control.

And then many years later I got Reason Version 1.0, and just about jumped out of my socks - the whole thing possible in software (including the wiggling cables). And now step sequencing the filter is a very common effect.

But I’ll never forget the first time I heard that step sequenced filter sound with my little Roland MC 202.

]]> By: mediawest http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188669 mediawest Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:31:54 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188669 you have to add a Vox continental or Farfisa duo compact deluxe. listen to early pink floyd and you will see how this organ was really a synth. you have to add a Vox continental or Farfisa duo compact deluxe. listen to early pink floyd and you will see how this organ was really a synth.

]]> By: eric http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188628 eric Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:03:16 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188628 <blockquote>Incidentally, Ableton told me that their recent software design is still influenced by the design philosophies of the Synclavier.</blockquote> Heh. Guess that partially explains why I love their software so much!

Incidentally, Ableton told me that their recent software design is still influenced by the design philosophies of the Synclavier.

Heh. Guess that partially explains why I love their software so much!

]]> By: Peter Kirn http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188491 Peter Kirn Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:55:34 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188491 Heck, yeah. I'd say both the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI definitely deserve to be on this list. And the Synclavier deserves to be on both the Greatest and Underrated lists, because I think it's often unfairly upstaged by the CMI ... both, really, deserve equal attention and had a profound impact on design. Glowing Red Buttons -- that should just go on another, special list altogether! Incidentally, Ableton told me that their recent software design is still influenced by the design philosophies of the Synclavier. Heck, yeah. I’d say both the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI definitely deserve to be on this list. And the Synclavier deserves to be on both the Greatest and Underrated lists, because I think it’s often unfairly upstaged by the CMI … both, really, deserve equal attention and had a profound impact on design.

Glowing Red Buttons — that should just go on another, special list altogether!

Incidentally, Ableton told me that their recent software design is still influenced by the design philosophies of the Synclavier.

]]> By: eric http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188483 eric Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:47:30 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188483 How about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synclavier" rel="nofollow">Synclavier</a>? I'm a bit biased, having developed some of the software for it, but it was certainly defining some new boundaries in it's day! 100k Sampling, fantastic audio hardware, FM Synthesis, and of course "The Tapeless Studio"! And don't forget the wonderful keyboard and all those glowing red buttons. How about the Synclavier?

I’m a bit biased, having developed some of the software for it, but it was certainly defining some new boundaries in it’s day! 100k Sampling, fantastic audio hardware, FM Synthesis, and of course “The Tapeless Studio”! And don’t forget the wonderful keyboard and all those glowing red buttons.

]]> By: Peter Kirn http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188464 Peter Kirn Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:49:01 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188464 Matrix's list reminded me why I'm not a synth expert, either. :) Matrix’s list reminded me why I’m not a synth expert, either. :)

]]> By: daryl http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188463 daryl Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:47:17 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/06/04/greatest-synths-and-most-underrated-synths-of-all-time-your-choices/#comment-188463 I'm no synth expert, but I love the OSCar, at least as I've gotten to know it thru the ImpOSCar plugin. I made a conscious choice not use it on my band's latest release since it got used a good bit on the prior one, but now I go back and listen to it and think, 'Gee, it could really use one of those eerie synth sounds here.' I’m no synth expert, but I love the OSCar, at least as I’ve gotten to know it thru the ImpOSCar plugin. I made a conscious choice not use it on my band’s latest release since it got used a good bit on the prior one, but now I go back and listen to it and think, ‘Gee, it could really use one of those eerie synth sounds here.’

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