Synth Rorschach #57: German Mainframe Computer DERA - Documentary from 1963

Published on Feb 12, 2019 MonoThyratron

"[Enable English Subtitles, please]

At the time of this film (1963) the computer colossus DERA (Darmstädter Elektronischer Rechenautomat) was actually already outdated. It was created in the tube era of electronics. The construction of the calculating machine was conceptually based on the American calculator MARK IV by Howard Aiken (* 8 March 1900 † 14 March 1973), which was constructed between 1949 and 1952.

In 1951 at the Darmstädter Institut für Praktische Mathematik (IPM) they began, under direction of Prof. Dr. h.c. Dr. Alwin Oswald Walther (* 6 May 1898 † 4 January 1967), with the conception of the mainframe computer DERA, a serially working automatic calculator in tube technology with memory, floating point representation and decimal output. It was first used in 1957, but the further development of the computer was already reduced in 1956 and finally abandoned completely in 1959, as DERA had already been overtaken by the newly emerging semiconductor technology. Furthermore, the machine was prone to errors and was therefore shut down after 1961.

Although Prof. Alwin Oswald Walther belonged to the luminaries of early German computer development and his pedagogical as well as technical abilities in teaching were undisputed, his work during the Second World War was repeatedly discussed. Thus he and his team were involved in the ballistic calculations of the Wernher von Brauns rocket experiments in Peenemünde during the 3rd Reich.

The astronomer Dr. Rudolf Kühn (* 27 January 1926 † 4. December 1963), who conducts the interview with Prof. Alwin Walther in this film document, appeared for the first time on German television in 1955. He also co-founded the magazine "Sterne und Weltraum" (Stars and Space) and had the gift of presenting science topics to a broad television audience in generally understandable words. He died in a traffic accident in the same year as this television documentary.

People in this documentary:
Rudolf Kühn (* 27 January 1926 † 4 December 1963)
Alwin Oswald Walther (* 6 May 1898 † 4 January 1967)
Waltraud Krötz [phon.] (trainee programmer)
Elke Geist (programmer)
Mr. Pohlmeier [phon.] (Electronics engineer, shows DERA tube assembly)
Mr. Maul [phon.] (operates punch card doubler)
Mrs. Brink [phon.] (only briefly to see)"

Music Non Suck - Early Electronic Music

Radio 216;s Musique Non Suck

Track listing:
01. Raymond Scott - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. (1960)
02. Laurie Spiegel - Patchwork (1976)
03. Pauline Oliveros - Bye Bye Butterfly (1965)
04. Tom Dissevelt - Ignition (1963)
05. Roger Powell - Lumia (Dance Of The Nebulae) (1973)
06 RCA - demonstration of synthesizing a human voice on the RCA Modular Synthesizer (1955)
07. Ralph Lundsten - IT (1968)
08. Ron Geesin - U.F.O. (1972)
09. Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece - Waterwheel (1976)
10. Charles Dodge - discussion on the cumbersomeness of early computer music
11. Charles Dodge - He Destroyed Her Image (1972)
12. Bell Labs - demonstration of the VODER speech synthesizer (1939)
13. Ursula Bogner - Für Ulrich/Pulsation (1969)
14. Erkki Kurenniemi - Sähkösoittimen Ääniä #1 (1971)
15. Gil Mellé - Wildfire (Andromeda Strain Soundtrack) (1971)
16. Delia Derbyshire - Effervescence (1972)
17. Tom Dissevelt - Syncopation (1958)
18. Raymond Scott - IBM Probe (1963)
19. Morton Subotnick - Silver Apples Of The Moon (1967)
20. Hugh Le Caine - demonstration of synthesizing strings on the Electronic Sackbut (1953)
21. Ilhan Mimaroglu - Agony (1965)
22. Raymond Scott - Futurama (1964)
23. Tom Dissevelt - Pacific Dawn (1963)
24. Louis And Bebe Barron - Once Around Altair (Forbidden Planet Soundtrack) (1956)
25. Herbert Eimert And Robert Beyer - Klangstudie II (1952)
26. Erkki Kurenniemi - Improvisaatio (1969)
27. John Pfeiffer - Orders (1968)
28. Frank Coe/Forrest J. Ackerman - Tone Tales From Tomarrow (1964)
via Jez

The Return of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop as Virtual Institution

Doctor Who (1963) - Original Theme music video

YouTube Uploaded by unstrungzero on Mar 30, 2009

via Atomic Shadow spotted on Wired

"According to the Workshop's site: 'in 2012 as part of thespace.org, an innovative new digital arts media service created in joint partnership between the BBC and the arts council the radiophonic workshop is being reborn'.

It continues: 'Instead of being confined to rooms full of equipment in Maida Vale studios in London, the new Radiophonic Workshop will instead be a virtual institution, visibly manifested as an online portal and forum for discussion around the challenges of creating new sounds in a world saturated in innovative music technology but lacklustre in terms of actual original output. We will primarily bring together two key disciplines: music composition and software design, and as such its members will be drawn from the cutting edge of both.'"

Dr. Who video above:
"From "Doctor Who - The Beginning Collection (1963)" Disc 1

The original full-length theme music, with original 1963 title sequence visual elements.

Composed by Ron Grainer, realized by Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop."

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back) by Oli Freke

New synth book coming from Oli Freke, who brought us the SYNTH EVOLUTION posters.

The book is currently available for pre-order here.

The book features:

• Over 500 hand-drawn illustrations of vintage synthesizers, drum-machines, samplers and pre-modern electric instruments.

• A reference book for every synthesizer, drum-machine and sampler manufactured between 1963 and 1995 with key stats, fascinatingly quirky facts and company profiles.

• Destined to be the new ‘bible’ of synthesizer information, following in the footsteps of the classic ‘KeyFax’ series by Julian Colbeck.

• Tells the story and impact of the synthesizer on all forms of modern music and culture with geek appeal for the music fan and synth fan alike.

From acid-house to prog-rock, there is no form of modern popular music that hasn’t been propelled forwards by the synthesizer. As a result they have long been objects of fascination, desire and reverence for keyboard players, music producers and fans of electronic music alike. Whether looking at an imposing modular system or posing with a DX7 on Top of the Pops, the synth has also always had an undeniable physical presence.

This book celebrates their impact on music and culture by providing a comprehensive and meticulously researched directory of every major synthesizer, drum machine and sampler made between 1963 and 1995. Each instrument is illustrated by hand, and shown alongside its vital statistics and some fascinatingly quirky facts. In tracing the evolution of the analogue synthesizer from its invention in the early 1960s to the digital revolution of the 1980s right up until the point that analogue circuits could be modelled using software in the mid-1990’s, the book tells the story of analogue to digital - and back again.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Chimeror by Benge on Vintage Buchla 700

Published on Jun 16, 2013 zack dagoba·231 videos
http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com

Update: some updates in grey below.

"In December 2012 I was visiting a friend in Vancouver, BC and he showed me his working example of the legendary Buchla 700 analog / digital hybrid synthesiser. This highly advanced synthesiser was developed and produced in the late 1980s by Californian electronic instrument pioneer Don Buchla, using proprietory hardware and software components. About 12 of these machines were ever produced, and there are possibly only 4 working examples left in existance. My friend showed me some of its sound producing capabilities and then left me to explore for myself. Presented here are the results of the hour or so that I had alone with this machine

Donald Buchla began makng electronic musical instruments in 1963 with his 100 series modules appearing in 1965, which introduced the concept of analog voltage control to musical instruments (bode did it in 1959 and moog in 1964 - Moog started work with Herb Deutsch  on the first Moog modular systems in 1963). He then produced the 200 series modules in the early 1970s and continued developing systems and modules of greater complexity utilising digital control and eventually microprocessor control, culminating in the 700 system in the late 1980s. More recently Buchla introduced the 200e modules which he continues to develop

The five compositions were recorded directly to computer using overdubbing in places. No additional processing was applied. See below for a full overview of the Buchla 700 system


Track Listing:
1 - Chime One (5.06)
2 - Chime Two (4.56)
3 - Chime Three (3.06)
4 - Chime Four (2.26)
5 - Chime Five (11.24)
Total Duration (27.02)
credits
released 15 June 2013
Recorded in Vancouver, BC, December 2012
Special thanks to R.Smith for the use of his Buchla700
All Music and Design by Benge (c)2012 Ben Edwards (Benge)
All Rights Reserved

www.memetune.net
www.expandingrecords.com
www.buchla.com
myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com"

Synth Rorschach #60: The Outer Limits

This Synth Rorschach in via Atomic Shadow.

"Is It A Synth? No. It's from the first episode of The Outer Limits which aired in September, 1963. The Galaxy Being starred Cliff Robertson as a radio station owner who used his transmitter to reach out across the galaxy. After establishing contact with a being from another world, a series of events (brought about by his carping wife) leads to the physical transmission of the Galaxy Being to Earth. A heavy handed moral about the human race being prone to violence ensues.

The episode has some great examples of mid 20th century Gizmology. Gizmology is term that I coined to describe movie tech that is designed to look all "Science-y". If you look at the photo, you see what appears to be a Eurorack synth! Just out of the frame, on the right, there is the obligatory reel to reel tape recorder. In those days if you wanted your set to look like real science, you had to have an oscilloscope displaying a sine wave and a tape recorder. This episode lacks a scope, but makes up for it with that crazy nest of wires.

An article about the episode here...

I started watching that episode on Prime the other night. When that scene happened I thought, 'How did Cliff Robertson get his hands on Richard Divine's euro rig? In 1963!'."


Bottom reminds me of Dewanatron meets Folktek. Top right reminds me of Anyware's Tinysizer.

Don Buchla Has Passed Away

It has come to my attention that Don Buchla passed away on Wednesday, September 14, at the age of 79. Anyone coming to this site should be well aware of who he is; who he was to the world of synthesizers. For those that aren't, he was by all means one of the fathers of the modern day synthesizer. Credit usually goes to Bob Moog, mainly for two reasons. One, Bob Moog chose the standard keyboard as the main interface for his synthesizers as they were more accessible to musicians. Two, Bob Moog's approach focused mainly on reproducing the sounds of acoustic instruments. Wendy Carlos' Switch on Bach and Keith Emerson's use of the Moog Modular brought Moog synthesizers to the mainstream.

Don Buchla's instruments, however, focused mainly on the exploration of sound. Artists attracted to his instrument fell more into the realm of what was known as musique concrete. Musique concrete mainly focused on the manipulation of sound, initially composed with electro-acoustic instruments recorded and manipulated on analog tape.

via wikipedia: "Buchla formed his electronic music equipment company, Buchla and Associates, in 1962 in Berkeley, California. Buchla was commissioned by avant garde music composers Morton Subotnick and Ramon Sender, both of the San Francisco Tape Music Center, to create an electronic instrument for live performance. Under a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation Buchla completed his first modular synthesizer in 1963." On the other hand (also via wikipedia): "Moog created the first voltage-controlled subtractive synthesizer to utilize a keyboard as a controller and demonstrated it at the AES convention in 1964." Update: Wikipedia appears to be incorrect on Buchla.  Don Buchla started working on instruments in 1963, and the 100 was his first VC system completed in 1965. It was then sold in 66/67. The first name of the company was Buchla Associates in 66/67 followed by Buchla & Associates in 70/71. This New York times obituary has a good write-up on Don Buchla's work beyond just synthesizers. It also has 1965 as the date for the completion of his first synth.

Please note, this post isn't about who came first. In my opinion they both did and they both had different approaches. Most of you will be familiar with the terms East and West Coast synthesis. They pertain to these two different approaches with Buchla on the West and Moog on the East.

Don Buchla's passing is bittersweet. On the one hand his creations have finally gained popularity and respect in the modern day synthesizer community - a decade ago the focus was primarily on Bob Moog. On the other hand, he passed away not being able to do what he himself wanted to do in the end. He sold the rights to the Buchla name to BEMI, only to later take them to court. The case was settled, but I have been told it was far short from the initial agreement. It is also my understanding that Don Buchla was discouraged from working on creating new instruments.

One thing to consider is that although there were/are many Buchla clones out there that paid tribute to Don's work, it is my understanding that Don wasn't paid licensing for them and that Don wasn't necessarily thrilled by them. Think about it for a bit. One, people cloned his work, two, he did not get paid for his original creations, and three, people buying clones were putting their budgets towards clones vs. his new creations, for example, the 258 clone vs the new 261e. I was told from a reliable resource, that Don never had any interest in re-hashing old products. In a sense, they were more works of art, and he was always interested in creating something new, rather than re-hashing the old. However, I was told he was fine with people creating clones for personal use, just not for sale.

Writing this post is extremely difficult. I didn't know Don personally, but I did meet him a few times at NAMM. The first time I met him was a bit awkward because he doesn't talk fluff. His answers were very short, and he just kind of stood there as if implying, "are we done yet". I then realized, he wasn't implying that at all, he was just hanging out. The second time I met him, I said hello and didn't elaborate much. He then engaged in conversation with me. It was a simple thing, but something I will never forget. The video below with Don Buchla being interviewed by Mark Vail, captures the way I felt perfectly. If you were ever fortunate to meet him in person you will know what I mean. I'm going to miss him greatly, and will always wish I got to know him better.

And a message from Moog Music:

"Dear Don,

There are no words that can accurately portray the profound impact you have had on our lives. We are deeply inspired by your artistry, and your ground-breaking achievements will always inform the work we hold most closely to our hearts. You and Bob, through your distinctive styles, collaboration and friendship, have laid the foundation for our future. Your influence endures in our minds, hearts and hands as we craft tools that give rise to joyful experimentations. We will never truly capture the elegance and beauty that you and Bob achieved, but we promise to never stop trying.

From everyone at Moog, thank you for inspiring us and giving meaning to our life's work.

Love,
Your Friends At Moog"


Published on Aug 27, 2015 Redaktion Megasynth

And a rare performance of Don playing live with his instruments and Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails (NIN):

Everything Ends Here

Uploaded on Nov 18, 2011 Alessandro Cortini

"San Francisco Electronic Music Festival 2010

Alessandro Cortini + Don Buchla, performing the piece "everything ends here", from Blindoldfreak's 1st EP, 1."

Bob Moog Foundation Archives Receives Historic Donation of Herb Deutsch Collection

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"We are honored to share that the Bob Moog Foundation Archives has received a major donation of nearly 300 items from the estate of electronic music pioneer Herbert A. Deutsch, who passed away nearly a year ago, on December 9, 2022, just shy of his 91st birthday.

Highlights of this extraordinary collection include:

1961 R.A. Moog Melodia theremin (the instrument that originally connected Herb and Bob Moog in 1963) Vintage R.A. Moog Minimoog, serial number 1094 (one of the first one hundred ever produced) that was given to Herb by Bob Original correspondence between Herb and Bob during the seminal period of their work together between 1963 and 1964 84-minute reel-to-reel tape of Moog explaining how the prototype Moog synthesizer works Reel-to-reel tape of the landmark “Jazz In the Garden” concert held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on August 28, 1969

And much, much more...

Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/BMFAHerbDeutschCollection

Sending our deep gratitude to Herb's widow, Nancy Deutsch, for entrusting us with the stewardship of this collection. We look forward to sharing this material with the world for generations to come.

Do you have material that you would like to donate to the Bob Moog Foundation Archives? Please email us at info@moogfoundation.org."

1963 Weltmeister Basset

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Original German DDR
First keytar in the world - 1963!
extremely rar !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
everything is working
Rare Keytar from the 60s. Similar to Hohner Pianet or Fender Rhodes Piano Bass.

CLICK FOR MORE »

1960s FENDER RHODES PIANO BASS SN B0012

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction - learn how to sell on eBay here

Pics of the inside and an advertisement with the Piano Bass on a stand below.

"For sale is this vintage 1963 Fender Rhodes Piano Bass electronic keyboard. This particular pre-CBS example, serial number B-0012, is in very excellent 100% all original condition, and features the incredibly attractive combination of both rough Brown Tolex and and a taupe-colored Desert Sand finish ream fiberglass top. A Rhodes Bass similar to this variant was actually simultaneously displayed with a Blonde Tolex/Fiesta Red top version in the 1963 Fender catalog, which suggests the two different aesthetically appointed versions coexisted for a brief period. Shortly thereafter, sometime during 1965, the Rhodes Piano Bass evolved into the eqaully rare Brown Tolex/Gold Sparkle Top, and shortly thereafter the more common Black tolex/Silver Sparkle top variety most famously used by Ray Manzerik of the Doors. From my collection to yours, I have decided to sell this extremely fine example of a rare Rhodes Bass with No Reserve and FREE Worldwide shipping, so take advantage of this offer, because beautiful 100% original examples rarely come along!

This example is extremely well-preserved, exhibiting only slight storage wear on the original Brown Tolex. The original "Dog Bone" hard plastic handle is perfectly intact, and the original skirted Fender amp knobs are as well. They keys are pristine with expected weather checking, and the lighter-colored Walnut trim is in beautiful shape. The original Raymac tone bars are level and void of oxidation, while the rest of the internal components are highly preserved.

This keyboard works perfectly, and is surprisingly in tune. It is not believed to have been serviced nor repaired at any point since purchased new, so this is a genuinely intact all original unmolested example."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vintage 1960's Bell Telephone Degraded Speech Synthesis Educational Tool Kit

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This is a Vintage 1960's Bell Telephone Degraded Speech Synthesis Educational Tool Kit. The Case contains all items in the photos. Every thing you see is included.
Everything appears to be in mint condition. I don't know anything about these items and have no way to test them. Some items appear to be unused.

Kit includes all items in photos:
1 - Bell Telephone Laboratories Degraded Speech Circuit Board.
1 - Bell Telephone Laboratories Artificial Larynx Circuit Board.
2 - Bell Systems Labs Electronic Speech Synthesis Science Experiment #3, Dated 1963.
1 - Bell Telephone Laboratories “The Speech Chain” Book
3 - 1963 Computer Speech 33-1/3 RPM Record vintage with original sleeves: songs include: GREETINGS, BASIC EXAMPLES, AN HISTORICAL REMARK, HAMLET solilquy, BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO unaccompanied, BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO accompanied, COMPUTER DUPLICATES HUMAN VOICE, GOODBYE.
1 - Stack of various speech pamphlets.
1 - Speech Tape Cartridge.
1 - Control box.
1 - Lot of wires and speakers.
1 - Storage case."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Doctor Who Theme performed on the Moog Subsequent 37 Synthesizer (vintage 70's version)

Published on Feb 17, 2020 Sean Christopher Evoking Emotion with Synthesizers

"A year ago I did this famous synth piece on a Moog One, but decided to recreate....with even a more vintage feel (hopefully) with my Moog Subsequent 37....which is one of my favorite mono synths of all time. Every sound on the track is pure Sub 37 with only reverb and delay FX added, and was multi-tracked using Cubase 10.5 Pro.

From Eikipedias- 'Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC since 1963. The program depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called "the Doctor", an extraterrestrial being, to all appearances human, from the planet Gallifrey. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Accompanied by a number of companions, the Doctor combats a variety of foes while working to save civilizations and help people in need.'"

Syn-Ket: Portable and Powerful In 1963

video upload by HAINBACH

See the Synket label for more.

"In 1963, when synthesizers were wall-sized, Paolo Ketoff designed a portable yet sonically rich electronic instrument, the Syn-Ket. Created for film scoring and experimental musicians, the Syn-Ket became a classic of Italian film scoring, with Ennio Morricone being one of the early adopters. Only 8 or 9 where made, and I got to play the only one that is known to work @Museo del Synth Marchigiano .

GET THE ALBUM 'SYN-KET STUDIEN': http://hainbach.bandcamp.com

Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

Anthology of Dutch Electronic Tape Music Vol.1 1955-1966

Published on Jun 12, 2016 ozashikiTECHNO

Anthology of Dutch Electronic Tape Music Vol.1 1955-1966
00:00 Hans Kox - Three Pieces for Electronic Organ (1955)
03:54 Ton de Leeuw - Study (1957)
10:51 Jan Boerman - Musique Concrète (1959)
14:02 Jaap Spek - Impulses (1959/60)
22:07 Rudolf Escher - The Long Christmas Dinner (1960)
28:29 Henk Badings - Cain and Abel (1956)
37:32 Dick Raaijmakers - Piano-forte (1959)
42:35 Ton de Leeuw - Antiphonie (1960)
57:54 Frits Weiland - Study in Layers and Pulses (1961)
1:02:47 Hans Kox - Cyclophony III (1964)
1:10:25 Tom Dissevelt - Gamelan (1963/64)
1:13:34 Axel Meijer - Werkstuk-1964 (1964)
1:16:12 Robbert Jan de Neeve - A.F. (1964)
1:17:36 Peter Schat - The Aleph (1964/65)
1:25:29 Ton Bruynel - Reflexes (1961)
1:30:08 Will Eisma - BTH. 3457 (1963)
1:34:24 Klaus Gorter - K45 (1964/65)
1:40:09 Luctor Ponse - Etude-I (1964/65)
1:46:33 Berend Giltay - Polychromie-I (1965/66)

Update:

Anthology of Dutch Electronic Tape Music Vol.2 1966-1977

Published on Jun 13, 2016 ozashikiTECHNO

Anthology of Dutch Electronic Tape Music Vol.2 1966-1977
00:00 Jacob Cats - Cadence-1 (1966/67)
06:18 Tera de Marez Oyens - Safed (1967)
13:57 Jos Kunst - Exterieur (1967)
23:43 Gilius Van Bergelijk - D. E. S. (1967/68)
31:36 Frans van Doorn - Minnuet (1967/68)
40:48 Thomas Arras - A.B.C. (1968)
49:25 Simeon ten Holt - I Am Sylvia (1973)
1:05:05 Victor Wentink - Discours (1975)
1:18:32 Louis Andriessen - In Memoriam (1971)
1:23:42 Peter Smith - Etude-1 (1975/76)
1:32:49 Tony van Campen - Sintering (1976/77)

1963 Bell System Analog SPEECH SYNTHESIZER Kit

via this auction

"This is a very cool vintage 1963 Bell & Howell Speech Synthesis Science Experiment kit. It's NOS, totally unused, and even comes in its original shipping box. Everything is in NM condition. This is an analog electronics kit that makes a simple vowel synthesizer. Could be a great platform for circuit benders or other DIY'ers to make a cool and unique sound generator of some sort. Please see pics for further details.

Please see my other auctions for more interesting items, and save on shipping if you win multiple lots."

via Pea Hicks of optigan.com

Update: New title and listing. This is actually from Bell Systems, not Bell & Howell as originally listed.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bucket! (composed by Jimmy Smith) - Nord C1

YouTube via rounder2u
"Here is my version of Jimmy Smith's 'Bucket'.
I've tried to stay close to the original recording.
The organ is a Clavia Nord C1 - a Hammond B-3 clonewheel organ.
---
Nord C1 Registrations and Settings:
Upper 88 8000 000. Chorus C3. Perc on, soft, fast, third.
Lower 88 8000 000, not used.
Bass lower man. 80.
Leslie in stop position.
Equalizer not used.
Overdrive not used.
Reverb hall, soft, 35-40%.
Tonewheel mode Vintage 2 (high level of tonewheel crosstalk and cable leakage artefacts).
The sound is recorded line out from the organ. No additional effects, amplifiers or speakers are used.
---
Jimmy Smith's original recording of 'Bucket' was made 1963.
---
I have also uploaded the original recording from 1963 for anyone interested. To find it, just search for 'Jimmy Smith Bucket', or click 'More from: Rounder2u' at the right side of the screen."

RIP Mr. Tsutomu Katoh - Founder of KORG

A letter via Seiki Kato, President of KORG Inc.

"Dear Sirs and Madams,

I would like to inform you that our founder and chairman Mr. Tsutomu Katoh passed away early this morning (March 15, 2011) after a long fight with cancer.

Since he founded Korg Inc. in 1963, Mr. Katoh has led our company with great talent, vision and leadership. He was loved and respected by all the employees, all Korg family members and made a huge contribution to the lives of countless musicians around the world.

Plans for a memorial service will follow very soon.

I would appreciate your prayers for him and hope he can rest peacefully now.

Sincerely,

Seiki Kato
President
Korg Inc."

Tsutomu Katoh and the History of Korg

Another hero lost; one of the first to define the world of synthesis as we know it. The gifts he gave us will always be remembered and will inspire new synth enthusiasts and musicians for decades to come. Tsutomu Katoh-san, you will be missed. Thank you for everything you gave us.

Via Wikipedia: "Founded in 1962 in Japan by Tsutomu Kato and Tadashi Osanai, Korg was originally known as Keio Gijutsu Kenkyujo Ltd." and later "Keio Electronic Laboratories (京王技術研究所^?) because its fledgling offices were located near the Keio train line in Tokyo and Keio can be formed by combining the first letters of Kato and Osanai. Before founding the company, Kato ran a nightclub. Osanai, a Tokyo University graduate and noted accordionist, regularly performed at Kato's club accompanied by a Wurlitzer Sideman rhythm machine. Unsatisfied with the rhythm machine, Osanai convinced Kato to finance his efforts to build a better one..." And indeed they did.

This sad news in via Amos of Moog Music and Michelle Moog-Koussa of the Bob Moog Foundation.

Update: some condolences and pics on the KORG Forum here.

Some video of the legacy of instruments he brought us with a rare interview in Part 1 (previously posted):

'The Vintage Synth - Volume 3: Korg' 1-11

YouTube via baward — November 24, 2009 —

"Rare, Japanese-language video from some time in the 1990's, taking the viewer on an odyssey through Korg's many instruments, from Korg's synthesizer museum at its Tokyo headquarters.

Two other videos were produced in this series, 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 1: Moog and 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 2: Roland'"

Part 1: "This clip features an interview with Korg's co-founder Tsutomu Kato and footage of the rare DA-20 Doncamatic drum machine (1963) and an early appearance of Korg's famous 'Traveler' filter control - on an organ! (late 1960's.) More to follow."

Part 2: "This clip features the Korgue organ from 1968, as well as Korg's first synthesizer, the Mini Korg 700 from 1973 (here shown in its expanded 2 oscillator version, 1974's Mini Korg 700S.)"

Part 3: "This clip features the Synthesizer 800DV (1974), Synthesizer 770 (1975), and the PE-1000 (1976)."

Part 4: "This clip features the polyphonic, patchable, part-modular and extremely rare PS-3300 (1978)."

Part 5: "This clip features part one of the MS series (1978-79), focussing on the wall-mounted 'education' MS-20 as well as some other early analogue products."

Part 6: "This clip features the MS-20 and MS-50 synthesizers, VC-10 vocoder and SQ-10 analog sequencer (1978-79) in more detail."

Part 7: "This clip features the Delta strings synthesizer, Trident polyphonic synthesizer, and BX-3 analogue organ (1980-81)."

Part 8: "This clip features the first part of an in-depth look at the Polysix synthesizer from 1981."

Part 9: "This clip features the second part of the Polysix synthesizer feature and the one on the Mono/Poly."

Part 10: "This clip features the Poly-800II and the DW-8000 (1985)"

Part 11: "Computer-control of MS instruments (or is it the 05R module?) with 700S, original Korg Wavedrum, as well series conclusion."

This Day in History: December 17, 1963 Letter from Bob Moog to Herb Deutsch

via @moogmusicinc

"#OnThisDay in 1963… and the rest is history 🎶"

The Wobbulator

Note this is a good follow up to this post on The Alchemists of Sound.

via sine in this electro-music.com thread:

"The wooden boxy thing in the front of the picture with the round dail is the workshops wobbulator, the plexi thing on thop of that is the crystal palace, something we woud call a scanner these days."

via Brainstormer in the same thread:
"I've read about one of these devices in a few BBC Radiophonic Workshop related articles. I'm wondering if it would be possible to construct something as unique as this to be used in a modular synthesizer?

I can find very little concise technical information regarding these devices, only application info, so it may be a null discussion point. Unless someone here has a more in-depth knowledge of them?

Here's a few articles that mention the wobbulator:
Quote:
Early on, the Workshop acquired a wobbulator, originally designed for engineering tests but also very useful as a source of raw material. This created a tone whose pitch was continuously varied by a second oscillator, thus providing sweeping waves of sound.
http://whitefiles.org/rws/r02.htm

Quote:
The chief inventor, David Young, came up with contraptions like ‘the Wobbulator’ and ‘the Crystal Palace’ to produce brand-new sound textures, and nothing could ever have been done without the ‘Donotfiddlewith’, a delicate tape-tensioning device made out of Meccano and labelled in felt-tip with an anti-tamper warning.
http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/4493/Fifty_years_of_the_BBC_Radiophonic_Workshop.html

Quote:
But the 'Ooh-ooh-ooh' isn't me… that's wobbulator, pure wobbulator. That's a piece of test equipment that does wave sweeps.
http://www.delia-derbyshire.org/interview_surface.php

Quote:
The melody notes were also recorded individually, and at half-speed to achieve the desired pitch, while the hiss and windbubble effects were created by carefully filtering white noise through a wobbulator.
http://www.millenniumeffect.co.uk/audio/index2.html

Quote:
They also had a couple of high-quality equalisers (again, test equipment - equalisers, or "tone controls", were not that easy to come by at the time) and a few other gadgets including a "wobbulator" (a low frequency oscillator) and a white noise generator.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Mark_ayres/DWTheme.htm

Quote:
Wobbulating The World
In the early '60s, synthesizers simply did not exist. Producer Joe Meek was using the monophonic, valve-operated Clavioline but the Radiophonic Workshop, oddly enough, never had one. What they did have, though, was all the test oscillators that they could beg, borrow or steal from other BBC departments. A method was devised for controlling 12 oscillators at a time, triggering them from a tiny home-built keyboard of recycled piano keys. Each oscillator could be independently tuned by means of a range switch and a chunky Bakelite frequency knob.

There was also the versatile 'wobbulator', a sine-wave oscillator that could be frequency modulated. It consisted of a very large metal box, with a few switches and one very large knob in the middle that could sweep the entire frequency range in one revolution. They were used in the BBC for 'calibrating reverb times in studios' apparently. And as far as the Workshop's electronic sound sources went, that was it!
Yet, curiously, it is the work produced in those early years that the Radiophonic Workshop's reputation still hangs on. The Doctor Who theme was first recorded in 1963, and still there are fans who insist that the original is the best of many versions made over the years. What's more, some of the sound effects made for the first series of Doctor Who are still being used! When the newly revamped Doctor Who appeared in 2005, hardcore fans recognised the original effects and wrote to Brian Hodgson: "How nice to hear the old original Dalek Control Room again, after all these years!"

Brian's 'Tardis' sound, dating from 1963, is also still used. "I spent a long time in planning the Tardis sound," says Brian. "I wanted a sound that seemed to be travelling in two directions at once; coming and going at the same time." The sound was actually made from the bare strings of a piano that had been dismantled. Brian scraped along some bass strings with his mum's front-door key, then set about processing the recordings, as he describes it, "with a lot of reverse feedback". (By this, I assume he means that tape echo was added, then the tape reversed so that it played backwards.) Eventually, Brian played the finished results to Dick Mills and Desmond Briscoe; at their insistence he added a slowly rising note, played on the wobbulator.
http://musicandculture.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

SynthMania Knobcon Videos

Published on Sep 9, 2018 SynthMania


Playlist:

1. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 1 - Hello, Knobcon

Going to Chicago for the KnobCon annual synthesizer convention

2. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 2 - Logan Soloman - Polyfusion

As I was walking in the hotel lobby I had the pleasure of meeting Jim Soloman and Jammie Logan, two great guys who are working with Ron Folkman to bring back a modern version of the mega-classic Polyfusion modular series 2000 - designed in the late '70s and early '80s by Ron Folkman and Alan Pearce (who also worked at Moog)

3. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 3 - Opening night

Venue vendors and performers setup, and Knobcon 2018 opening night reception party

4. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 4 - My live set

My live set at the Friday night opening party of Knobcon 2018:
00:26 Misty (Erroll Garner)
02:38 Control (SynthMania)
07:28 Drum Fairy (SynthMania)
13:13 Echoes (SynthMania)
18:52 Fruit Fly (SynthMania)
23:03 Decades (Joy Division)
28:23 Perfect Life (SynthMania)
34:07 To France (Mike Oldfield & Maggie Reilly)

5. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 5 - Suit & Tie Guy & Andre Cholmondeley live set

Mega-hypnotic live set by Suit & Tie Guy & Andre Cholmondeley at the Knobcon 2018 Friday night reception party

6. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 6 - Vendor hall walkthrough (G.A.S. inducing)

Saturday morning at Knobcon 2018 - a walkthrough of the large exhibitor room

7. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 7 - Moda Modular

Kevin of Moda Modular debuts the Castor & Pollux sequencer at Knobcon 2018 https://www.facebook.com/ModaModular/

8. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 8 - Eurorack Modular Case

Brock from Eurorack Modular Case shows their portable cases for KnobCon 2018 http://eurorackmodularcase.com

9. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 9 - IK Multimedia

Daniel and Eric of IK Multimedia show us the brand new software editor for the UNO Synth - I plan to make a video using the editor very soon, as it further "unlocks" the sound capabilities of this great portable analog synthesizer

10. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 10 - Synthstrom

Synthstrom shows their Deluge portable synthesizer/sampler sequencer

11. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 11 - SYINSI

SYINSI shows their new modular tiles

12. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 12 - STEM Modular

13. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 13 - AKAI

The great sounding and portable AKAI MPC Live

Wesley of STEM Modular shows his upcoming modules

14. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 14 - Playing the Polyfusion

Incredible power, powerful and majestic sound... a wonderful synth!!! Toto's Polyfusion... big thanks to Jim, Jammie, and Ron for letting us experience this beautiful, classic machine!

15. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 15 - Vendor hall walkthrough 2 (more G.A.S.)

Another walkthrough on the main exhibition hall at Knobcon 2018

16. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 16 - Detroit Underground

Aaron shows their latest Arduino based diy module "shield", the DUIno https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

17. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 17 - Hammond organ workshop

An incredibly interesting Hammond workshop at Knobcon 2018. Featuring Suit & Tie Guy, Steven Eaklor, Ray Gerlich, Todd Phipps, and the best sounding Hammond I've ever had the pleasure to play - a 1963 B-3 with a 147(amp) + 122 (cab) owned and so kindly provided to Knobcon by Todd Phipps

18. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 18 - DIY build workshops

Knobcon 2018 featured DIY build workshops where you could build your own synthesizer modules

19. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 19 - Bug out bunker

KnobCon has a large dark room in the basement of the hotel called the "Bug Out Bunker" - where you can play modular synths, perform together and experience some really cool graphics being projected on the walls

20. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 20 - Ethereal Sun

Steve of Ethereal Sun shows some of their very cool eurorack cases at Knobcon 2018 http://etherealsun.com

21. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 21 - Behringer

I programmed some beats on the new Behringer RD-808 at Knobcon 2018. Really good sound. (sorry, 2nd part of the video got corrupted so I had to flip and crop).

22. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 22 - Vendor hall walkthrough 3 (G.A.S. again)

More exhibitors at Knobcon 2018

23. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 23 - Golden Knob banquet

Knobcon's Saturday evening banquet, featuring live music, raffle prizes, keynote speaker, and all-night jam session with classic and vintage synths and keyboards

24. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 24 - Gil Trythall keynote address

A wonderful, insightful, interesting, and very entertaining keynote address!! By Dr. Gil Trythall, electronic music pioneer, college professor of music, author of fantastic '70s Moog-based records like "Switched-On Nashville", "Nashville Gold", "Yakety Moog" and many other compositions

25. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 25 - Sat night jam session

After party all-night long jam session with lots of *excellent* players from all over the United States!! Lots of fun, with incredible vintage instruments like 1963 Hammond B-3, '70s Clavinet, Yamaha CS-50 and more. Everyone invited to join in and jam (I joined in later in the evening)

26. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 26 - Real Fake Knobs

Such a cool idea by Izzy! To spiff up your modular setup, grab his real fake knobs / panels http://www.realfakeknobs.com

27. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 27 - Vinicius Electrik & Key Magic

Excellent modular synth company from Brazil and two great guys to boot - I had the pleasure of sitting at the same table as Vinicius and Fabio at Knobcon's dinner and we talked about synths and music extensively all evening. I bought a Lizard multi mode dual VCO from them as soon as I heard it right and there at Knobcon, it's that good (and versatile). They also produce a full system that includes other modules. Vinicius and Fabio produce these modules and distribute them all over the world - To listen to and buy their modules: https://viniciuselectrik.com

28. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 28 - Zeppelin Design Labs

Glenn showing some of their really cool products: a Theremin style MIDI controller, companion mini synth, amplifiers, pedals https://zeppelindesignlabs.com

29. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 29 - Therevox

Wonderful, wonderful instrument. Played it five minutes at the show. Ordered one right away. http://therevox.com

30. KnobCon 7 (2018) part 30 - Vendor hall walkthrough 3 (G.A.S. galore)

More incredible gear presented at Knobcon 2018

31. Knobcon 2018 - That's a wrap

Until next year