Buchla 259 - Episode 01 - In the Beginning...

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Many - if not all - contemporary complex oscillators are inspired by Buchla's original 259 from the 1970's. I don't think there's anything before that, except maybe the 258 ('60s) and FM radio ('50s). John Chowning is considered the father of digital FM synthesis - also in the 70s - but even in 2017 scientists were breaking their heads over 'how to make a digital wavefolder'. I guess eurorack would be far less interesting without mr. Buchla's work. In this episode I'll focus on the main/principal oscillator of the complex VCO design. I am unable to hear the original sound of the 259, but the Furthrrrr Generator from Endorphins is the most faithful recreation I know. We'll check out the DPO and the Cs-L while being guided by the 259's panel (thanks to mr. Todd Barton for shooting some great images), but even mr. Barton's 259 is a clone. I learned a lot by just looking at the panel. The 'autotune' on the original is not implemented on the clone PCB's so DIY people wonder how it would have worked. So this video contains inevitable speculation but even that is very inspiring. I'll try to get a Verbos CO for episode 02, since Mark Verbos actually built original 259's in Buchla's garage. It brings back memories and visions I can't possibly have, but it only confirms the 259 is - and will always be - special."