Coupland Synthesizer & Clara Rockmore's Theremin at the Musical Instrument Museum in Arizona

Some pics in via Greg of Le Shat Noir and The Cripples [they are playing Slim's Last Chance in Seattle this Friday!], from a recent visit to the Musical Instrument Museum in Arizona.

These are the first pics of the Coupland in the flesh to be featured on the site. Previously, the Coupland has only be featured in various brochures. Be sure to see them for additional info.

From the MIM website:

"At MIM, you can see several synthesizers, including the Coupland Digital Synthesizer, which was invented by Rick Coupland in Phoenix in the 1970s. Coupland grew up playing the piano and dreamed of a keyboard instrument that could play any sound he imagined. In the early 1970s, he developed one of the first fully digital synthesizers. It offered touch-sensitive controls that could modify dozens of parameters of sound, in real time, while the player was playing. Though the Coupland Digital Synthesizer never went into production, many of its fundamental technologies and concepts later became standard features of popular, affordable synths from major manufacturers. The original prototype, now on display at MIM’s Electronic Music exhibit in the United States / Canada Gallery, was a fascinating prediction of music’s digital future."

You can find an image of Clara Rockmore's theremin from the museum further below, however there's no additional info on it on their website.

There was also an Indonesian Yamaha PSR-A1000, pictured below, for those interested! :)

P.S. Click on the panel pics to zoom in for the parameters. Note the Harmonic Number section with Phase Angle and FOURIER button.

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The Man Who Re-invented The Synthesizer - 1978 Rick Coupland Synthesizer Brochure & Specs

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

via this eBay auction

"Original 1978 vintage Rick Coupland Synthesizer 11 page Brochure PLUS bonus Operational Specs (Note coffee stain on top corner). The Man Who Re-Invented The Synthesyizer."

Note this is the first post to feature descent legible pics of the brochure.

via this post on synthesizer firsts: "1973 - Coupland Digital Music Synthesizer - First Digital (Triadex beat it?) Update via Peter Grenader: "No time to read through all these posts to see if it's come up yet, but the Coupland was vaporwear...it never existed. I met Mark Vail, who's now a friend, by writing him a letter informing him that his story about the Coupland in his Vintage Synthesizers book (GREAT book) which mentioned it's only recorded showing was at the AES show in LA in 1978 was a farce. I was there - at their booth and their suite in the Hilton where the instrument was said to be. I was there on the first day, I was there on the last day. The only thing they had was a small model - about six inches across, sitting on a table. The booth was amazing - this radial orb multiple people could sit in, with a cover that came over each person which played what I remembered was a very impressive demo which swirled around four speakers inside the box. I, and everyone else, were blown away. They kept saying...'it will be here tomorrow, it'll be here tomorrow'...so I showed up the last day just to see it, figuring by the then it would have arrived...it didn't. I did see the frst Synthclavier at that show however. Their suite was across the hall from the Coupland folk. That completely kicked the crap out of everything else shown that year."

Also check out this write-up on Retro Synth Ads, and a few other posts here.

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1978 Coupland Digitial Synthesizer Ad

via Retro Synth Ads where you'll find the write-up.

The ad comes from Synapse magazine. You can find online copies of Synapse on Cyndustries/Cynthia here.

VINTAGE 1978 RICK COUPLAND SYNTHESIZER CATALOG

via eBay

"This vintage1978 original print Coupland synthesizer catalog is in excellent condition. 8 page glossy catalog shows model descriptions, specs, and accessories. Includes a separate spec sheet and dealer invite. Hard to find, especially in this condition. Check my other auctions for more vintage synth literature and catalogs."

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