John Chowning, Computer Music, DX7 & FM Discovery

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"It was an honor for me to interview John Chowning who is directly responsible for the way we create music today in every genre! His visionary ideas have profoundly shaped contemporary music creation, including the integration of computers, AI, digital synthesis, sound sharing, and surround sound.

He stands as a monumental figure in 21st-century music, renowned for his pioneering contributions as a composer, musician, and educator. As the founding director of the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University, Chowning made groundbreaking strides in the field. His historic discovery of FM synthesis not only became one of Stanford’s most valuable patents but also paved the way for Yamaha’s DX7 synthesizer through their licensing of FM sound synthesis technology.

Another important aspect of Chowning's work is the simulated motion of sound through physical space creating an illusion of a continuous 360-degree space using only four speakers. John’s boundless curiosity and groundbreaking achievements have established him as a bright shining beacon of inspiration for musicians everywhere.

00:00 - Cold Open
00:42 - intro
02:27 - Read to Discovery
06:15 - Stanford & Early Electronic Music
14:26 - Discovering FM Synthesis
19:25 - The FM Enlightenment
23:14 - Yamaha DX7
31:09 - Synclavier VS Yamaha
36:02 - FM Made Simple
43:04 - The Power of Timbre
51:09 - Where are we now?"