Music Mouse Explained | Laurie Spiegel on Algorithmic Composition (1987 Archive)

video upload by Eventide Audio and Laurie Spiegel

See the Music Mouse label for additional posts.

"In this 1987 episode of Midnight Muse, composer and programmer Laurie Spiegel discusses Music Mouse [demoed with a Yamaha TX816], her groundbreaking interactive music software, and answers live call-in questions from viewers.

Laurie explains how Music Mouse works, why it was designed as an intelligent musical partner rather than a traditional instrument, and how algorithmic systems can support creativity without replacing human expression.

This archival footage has been shared in collaboration with Laurie Spiegel.

🎹 Learn more about Music Mouse: https://etide.io/MMMMYT
🔗 Follow Laurie Spiegel: / musicmouse"

Building music. Cable by cable. | Ģirts Ozoliņš | TEDxRiga

video upload by TEDx Talks

Spotted this one searching the TEDx Talks channel for the recently taken down Sounds of Tomorrow video. I'm not finding this one with Ģirts of Erica Synths on the site, so up it goes. Note it's from 2019 and an interesting look back on the time.

Video description:
"Instruments can open a world of opportunity for creative expression. And when that instrument is a synthesizer, that opportunity becomes nearly limitless. What does it take to open the floodgates of creative exploration? In the mind of Girts Ozolins, it takes making musical instruments more accessible to the masses. Girts' interest in electronics, electronic music and synthesizers developed when he was only twelve years old. Now he is a founder of Erica Synths, a successful company that develops, manufactures, and exports electronic music instruments. They are used by thousands of people around the world — some worth mentioning include Martin Gore from the English electronic band Depeche Mode and the famous German composer Hans Zimmer.
Erica Synths' main export products are modular synthesizers — they're played in every corner of the world, covering every continent except Antarctica.
Girts strongly believes that electronic music technologies are the best combination of creativity and engineering. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx"

From Order to Chaos | Sound Architecture 01

video upload by _marcozoppi

"| Sound Mechanics of Chaos and Randomness |

In this video, I explore chaotic systems in modular synthesis, starting from Rob Hordijk’s ideas on feedback and nonlinear patching, and developing a system that lives between control and unpredictability.

Why chaos? Because perfection is static — chaos is alive. Small changes create massive transformations, generating evolving, organic sound structures that never truly repeat.

This approach goes beyond 'perfect' modulation and embraces instability as a creative tool for sound design, composition, and generative systems.

Special Guest 🎤
In this episode, I also interview Federico Intrisano (Jolin) about modular development, philosophy, and experimentation.
🔗 https://www.jolin.tech

Extra Content 💡
The complete patch diagram and some in depth article are available on Patreon
🔗 / mz2250

Rob Hordijk G2 Manual📖
🔗 https://electro-music.com/wiki/pmwiki..."

Zavoloka’s “Ukrainian Folk Music Instruments” – Exclusive Soundset for Protein

video upload by WaldorfMusicChannelw

In the Studio with Zavoloka - Interview

video upload by WaldorfMusicChannel

"Zavoloka (@ZavolokaArtist‬) is a Ukrainian-born composer, sound artist, performer, and visual artist based in Berlin. Her work stands outside genre boundaries, offering what she describes as timeless and experimental music from Ukraine.‬‬

On 28 November 2025, Waldorf Music visited Zavoloka in her Berlin studio to talk about her career, her unique sound, and her experience as one of the first artists to explore Waldorf’s Protein synthesizer. Enjoy!

Interview conducted by Júlia Galobart
Recorded and technically supported by Winfried Schuld"

00:00 – Early Beginnings & Experimental Music Scene in Ukraine
09:51 – Building a Concept: Inspiration & Intention
11:45 – The Creative Process Behind “Istyna”
15:51 – Waldorf Protein: Integration & Insights
22:16 – Visual Arts Interacting With Sound
25:12 – What’s Coming Next?
26:23 – Zavoloka’s Advice

Find out more: https://zavoloka.com

Listen to the live performance: [posted here]

Fieldtone Weaver Eurorack // The Happy Accidents Module // Full walkthrough and patches

video upload by Lesjamusic

Pedal version previously featured here.

"The Fieldtone Weaver is a two-second sampler with a single knob, no undo, and no going back. Now it's in eurorack.

Weaver captures two seconds of audio - via the built-in microphone or audio input - and instantly randomises it into evolving loops, rhythms, and textures. Every turn of the knob generates a completely new variation. Nothing saves, nothing recalls. It's the ultimate happy accidents machine.
The modular version adds individual level control for three loop elements, trigger outputs that double as a random rhythm generator, a pitch switch, clock sync, and CV control - which works differently to what you might expect. I go into detail on all of this.

🔗 LINKS
Fieldtone Instruments: https://fieldtone.uk
Soundgas interview with Hugh Jones: • The Gas Club, Episode 1 - Hugh Jones, Fiel... [below]

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
01:56 - Panel walkthrough
15:27 - Synth patch
16:25 - Weaving my voice!
17:04 - Granular textures, duet with Bunker Archaeology
18:21 - While my guitar gently weaves
20:42 - Claps and finger clicks on the contact mic
22:30 - CV controlled synth washes
23:06 - Pacifica weaves
24:36 - FInal thoughts and a closing Plaits patch.

#eurorack #modularsynth #fieldtone #weaver #sampler #looper #modularsynthesizer

Disclaimer: Fieldtone sent me this module for the video. They did not pay for this video and had no editorial control over the content."

The Gas Club, Episode 1 - Hugh Jones, Fieldtone Instruments.

video upload by Soundgas

"Welcome to our new series, The Gas Club. Where we meet people who make things - be that music, recording devices, or instruments.

In the first episode Tony meets Hugh Jones of Fieldtone Instruments at the Soundgas HQ to explore the history of Fieldtone's celebration creations. They take a deep dive into Hugh's journey from musician/engineer to designer/builder of the Box of Uncertainty, The Weaver one knob handheld sampler and brand new Weaver Module plus a sneak peak at what to expect next from Fieldtone in 2026.

Tony and Hugh discuss the joy of sonic adventure and gear designed to produce happy accidents and the experiences of bringing new creations to the world."

A few pics and details on Weaver Eurorack:


Weaver Modular from Fieldtone is a Eurorack format version of the highly in demand Weaver handheld sampler that featured in music tech tastemaker Andrew Huang’s year round up as his Favourite Desktop FX module of 2024. The modular edition builds on the functionality of the original by adding a variety of additional control.

The Weaver is no ordinary audio sampler, it is a meditation on impermanence and chance. With a single, enigmatic knob, it embraces randomness as an artistic principle, reconfiguring two-second sound bites into hypnotic loops and evolving textures. There is no undo button, no way back once a sound is captured; the Weaver insists that you move forward, shaping the unpredictable into rhythm or texture with nothing more than a twist of the wrist or control voltage change.

New functionality on the device includes separate level controls of different elements of the loop, as well as 3 x trigger outputs which turns the device into a random rhythm generator for which you don't even need to be using the sampling capabilities. You can trigger the Recording start via CV, allowing you to keep replacing the sample whilst the loop continuously plays - something that works beautifully with acoustic sound sources such as guitar or voice, as well as electronics. A switch has also been added to select between Random or Root note sympathetic pitch playback.

Features:

Single-knob audio sampler focussed on randomness and exploration

Capture sound via built-in microphone or input jack

Fixed two-second sample time

No undo function, every knob movement generates a new loop

External sync via Clock input

Stereo output on separate L&R sockets with rich spatial movement

Separate level controls for 3 different elements of the loop

3 x gate outputs for triggering other sources

Toggle to switch between Texture and Rhythm modes

Toggle to switch between Root or Random pitch

Gate/trigger input to control Recording start

Gate/trigger input to control Weaver knob

Can be used as random rhythm generator without needing to use the sampler

Available Colours:

Forest Green (orange LED)

Dusty Pink (purple LED)

Black (pink LED)

Dimensions:

10hp

Ships by the end of March

Prism Circuits TKB | Interview

video upload by Under the Big Tree

"Prism Circuits has released their take on the classic touch keyboard/sequencer, the TKB. Available in pre-built or DIY versions, the TKB is a 16x4 capacitive touch plate keyboard and sequencer. This unit brings expressivity and control to Serge, Buchla, and even Eurorack systems.

www.prismcircuits.net

Under the Big Tree is Nicolas Peck's YouTube channel, focused on esoteric electronic music, modular and vintage synthesizers, sound design equipment and techniques, and the composition, production and performance of music.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Inside the Studio of Dutch Synth Legend Allert Aalders // Modulogue

video upload by Modulogue

"We visited Dutch synth legend Allert Aalders in his studio in the woods near Utrecht. Part of iconic synthesizer act 'Human Beings' and founder of Modular Synth event: 'Modulation' and part of the Dutch Modular Fest crew.

Under the name of Sonar Traffic, Allert creates presets for both hardware and software synthesizers such as Arturia, Native Instruments, Korg, Steinberg, Fabfilter and Kilohearts.

Sonar Traffic
http://www.sonartraffic.nl/

Human Beings
https://humanbeings.bandcamp.com/"

The Story Behind MIDI Amsterdam // Modulogue

video upload by Modulogue

"We visited Tim Nieuwenhuis' music store: 'MIDI Amsterdam', a staple in the Dutch electronic music scene for almost 30 years. Tim talks about the origin of his store, his passion for electronic music, the famous artists he's encountered over the years, and more!

MIDI Amsterdam
https://midiamsterdam.nl/"

The Origins of the Krell Ambient Generative Synthesizer Patch // Todd Barton at Buchla & Friends

video upload by DivKid

"Join us at Buchla & Friends with the wonderful person that is TODD BARTON! Inspired by the work of Bebe and Louis Barron on the soundtrack to the 1950s film Forbidden Planet, Todd Barton created the classic Krell patch. A generative, ambient patch for modular synthesizers where random voltages influence (at it's most basic) the time, pitch and shape of your notes. We discuss the origins of Krell, the basics of the patch and how to expand it.

The 2026 Buchla & Friends event is happening January 24th-25th, be there, it'll be ace. Info below."

The Age Of Eurorack: An Interview With Dieter Doepfer

"Few people have shaped the contemporary landscape of electronic musical instruments as profoundly as Dieter Doepfer, the German engineer whose A-100 system effectively established the Eurorack format in the mid-1990s and helped bring modular synthesis into widespread use. Maintaining his passion for music throughout his physics studies, Dieter’s path led him from repairing band equipment and building DIY effects to becoming a household name for anyone immersed in analog synthesis over the last three decades. To his own continued surprise, he helped lay the foundation for a community-driven ecosystem that now spans thousands of modules and hundreds of manufacturers worldwide."

You'll find the full interview at Perfect Circuit here.

Driving down Sunset Blvd with OMA

video upload by Telepathic Instruments

"OMA (oh-em-ay) pile ‘In The Back Seat’ once again. This time, they perform two unreleased original tracks while taking a spin through West Hollywood.

Listen to OMA here: https://superjoi.com/oma
Watch OMA’s Telepathic Studios session here: [below] Buy an Orchid here: https://telepathicinstruments.com

OMA are a hip-hop band from Manchester, UK:

•⁠ ⁠Corben Lamb: Keys, Production and Mixing
•⁠ ⁠Chris Larcombe: Guitar
•⁠ ⁠Sam Heeley: Drums
•⁠ ⁠James Harper: Bass"

In the Studio with Orchid - OMA

video upload by Telepathic Instruments

"Instrumental hip-hop group OMA spend two hours with Orchid and write a song from scratch for an upcoming release. Filmed and recorded at at British Grove Studios."

Secrets to Steve Porcaro’s Sound: The CS-80 & More

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this episode, I hang with Steve Porcaro for an up-close, hands-on look at the secrets behind his sound, with Toto and much more! Discover the musical thinking that shaped some of the most iconic synthesizer moments in pop history.
You’ll watch Steve perform on the legendary Yamaha CS-80, and demonstrate exactly why its polyphonic aftertouch changed everything. He shows how touch, phrasing, and pressure become part of the music itself, then recreates the iconic Africa brass sound, breaking down how it was programmed and performing it right before our eyes. We also pause to honor David L. Abell and Clark Spangler, two essential figures in synthesizer history whose whose work helped bring instruments like the CS-80 into the spotlight
Along the way, Steve shares stories from working with David Paich and David Foster, and how his collaborations shaped their sound. You’ll also see a beautiful portamento and glissando demonstration tied to "After the Love Has Gone" by Earth, Wind & Fire and 'Serious Music' by Hall & Oates, revealing how Steve approached expressive movement on the keyboard.
Steve then breaks open his 'go-to' CS-80 panel settings and shows how he used them on 'Rosanna' and 'Mama' by Toto, offering a rare look at the real-world musical decisions behind those songs.
Finally, Steve and I talk about the true secret sauce behind so many signature songs from the ’80s and ’90s, from Toto and beyond—the attention to detail, musical sensitivity, and collaboration between specialists, all working selflessly in service of a great song.
This is a rare, in-the-room masterclass with one of the great musical minds of our time."

Analogue Systems (Parts 2): Experiments and Expectations

video upload by Stromkult

Part 1 here

"This is the second part in a series of videos featuring the UK modular institution Analogue Systems originally published in 2015. It was filmed by Evi Kruckenhauser during Andreas Schneider's and Holger Zapf's (now managing director of Doepfer) visit to Cornwall, where Analogue System's Bob Williams and Steve Gay reside and have built AS modules since the 1990s. After recently stumbling upon these videos again, we talked to Andreas and thought it would be nice to republish them and make them available on YouTube for the first time ever. While Bob has since retired, Steve continues to craft modules with the same exceptional audio quality in South Cornwall.

In this video, Steve and Bob talk about the philosophy behind Analogue Systems, the advantages of people using their modules in the "wrong way", how the history of electronic music can create certain expectations, the 5U vs. 3U question, designing circuits back in the analog days, and more."

Ty Dolla $ign | Find Your Sound | Moog Muse & Messenger

video upload by Moog Music

"When Ty Dolla $ign walks into the studio, anything can happen.

Before trends or templates, Ty explains that Moog synthesizers were the sound behind the records that shaped him — and the instruments he dreamed of finding underneath the Christmas tree.

For Ty, finding your sound isn’t about chasing something new. It’s about spending time with the tools that speak to you, learning them deeply, and allowing your own voice to emerge. It’s a process rooted in curiosity, patience, and the belief that when you listen closely enough, the message becomes clear."

Toto’s Steve Porcaro Shows How He Created the Synth Sounds on Africa, Human Nature, Rosanna, ...

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this monumental video, I’m sitting down in Steve Porcaro’s studio for a rare, up-close demonstartions at how one of the true synth legends created some of the most iconic sounds in music history.

What makes this so special is that Steve takes us step by step through the exact synthesizer techniques he used on massive hit records — including Michael Jackson’s 'Human Nature,' Toto’s 'Africa' and 'Rosanna,' as well as classic tracks for Hall & Oates, Don Henley, Donna Summer, and more. He also recreates these sounds on the same model vintage synthesizers he used on the original recordings.

As we dig in, Steve shares his personal approach to synthesis, how he builds multi-dimensional sounds, thinks about atmosphere and texture, and shapes parts so they serve the song emotionally, not just sonically. He also reveals how he writes out synthesizer parts on score paper, treating synths like orchestral instruments and arranging them with real intention.

This isn’t a preset rundown or surface-level demo. It’s a candid, in-studio conversation about process, musical thinking, with hands-on demonstrations from someone who helped define the sound of an era. If you’ve ever wondered how these legendary synth parts were truly made, now you can get it straight from the source, this is a moment you don’t want to miss!"

Tech Talk: Vera Grace - How Modular Gear Shapes Her Hypnotic Techno Sound (Electronic Beats TV)

video upload by Telekom Electronic Beats TV

"For this Electronic Beats Tech Talk, we visited Dutch DJ and producer Vera Grace at her home in Amsterdam. With a background from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she has developed a distinct techno identity rooted in experimental sound design, modular exploration, and hypnotic rhythms that bend your sense of time. Her dive into modular synthesis reshaped her creative process, leading to a fully live analog setup she now brings to the stage. Shifting fluidly between broken beats, ambient explorations, psychedelic textures, and driving 4/4 energy, Vera continues to push her sound forward while staying connected to techno’s foundations."

EMS Documentary Clips & Interviews

video uploads by Ektoplasmic Interzone

Update: video 8. w/ Liz Parker added.

Playlist:

1. Zinovieff featured on "Tomorrows World" (1968) - Clip from BBC Program
2. Zinovieff from BBC's "New Horizons" (1971)
3. Rise and Fall of EMS London - Zinovieff interview
4. EMS Studio London - Peter describes the challenges of the electronic studio
5. Peter and Robin at EMS Oxfordshire Studio
6. Malcolm Clarke demonstrates Synthi 100
7. VCS3 Waves and Harmonics
8. Liz Parker demonstrates Synthi 100 Radiophonic

And a massive playlist from Ektoplasmic Interzone featuring additional videos:

Electronic Music Studios (EMS) London Ltd Synthi


You can use the player controls to skip around. Click the drop down on the trop right of the player to scroll through titles.

Instruōdio | Konx-om-Pax - Touch Designer Workshop | La Création Du Monde

video upload by Instruō

00:00 Instruōduction
01:15 The background
01:50 The Touch Designer Patch
02:33 The visuals
04:18 CAM MIDI channel control
05:42 Dynamic brightness control
06:17 Ableton control chop
09:32 Kick parameter control mapping
10:48 Particles
13:01 Lighting image
14:50 More Kick control
17:25 Real-time scene changer method
18:46 Timing questions
19:41 Winston cameo
20:03 Future plans
21:55 Outstruōduction

"Welcome to the first published 'Instruōdio' session video.
My studio at Instruō HQ has gradually shifted to become more of a video room with occasional music project focus. But it is working really nicely as a space to record discussion sessions with artists and makers.

This is Tom Scholefield (aka Konx-om-Pax)
I've had the pleasure of gigging with Tom a number of times along side others on the Instruō crew.
Tom is an incredible visual artist and composer/sound designer.
We spoke about doing a session like this for ages and finally got together and recorded a few.
In this video Tom gives me a very detailed tour of the patch behind La Création Du Monde
https://konx-om-pax.bandcamp.com/
This has been toured and performed internationally. It is both visually and sonically spectacular. Tom has been very generous sharing his process and various Touch Designer secrets he's created and discovered. This session was a lot of fun to host and produce.

Tom also has a brand new album out that releases today!
Buy the album - Uaxuctum | Konx-om-Pax
https://konx-om-pax.bandcamp.com
Official Merch - Products | Display Copy
https://konxompax.bigcartel.com/products

Uaxactum marks the fifth studio album from Glasgow-based artist Tom Scholefield, better known as Konx-om-Pax.

Following 2020’s Astronomical Objects, this release transcends the boundaries of a traditional record—serving as the sonic counterpart to an ambitious audio-visual work of the same name, commissioned by Glasgow’s Cryptic.

Conceived during an artist residency at Arthouse Jersey, a former army barracks turned creative haven, the album emerged from a period of focused isolation. This environment afforded Scholefield the rare opportunity to develop both score and visuals in tandem, resulting in a deeply integrated multisensory experience. The piece premiered at Sonica 2024 in the Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Theatre, where hallucinatory visuals collided with immersive sound design. A second performance followed in May 2025 as part of the Glasgow 850 celebrations.

The Wire described the work as -

'a tentacular dreamscape where oil slick rainbow colours mutate across an IMAX cinema screen, in synesthetic flow with his tense Penderecki-inspired soundtrack.'"

4ms Employee Interviews: Meet Jeannot Quenson!

video upload by 4ms Company

4ms Employee Interviews

Interviews with Dan Green

Analogue Systems (Part 1): About EMS

video upload by Stromkult

"This is the first part in a series of videos featuring the UK modular stalwarts Analogue Systems originally published in 2015. It was filmed during a visit of Andreas Schneider to Cornwall, where Analogue System's Bob Williams and Steve Gay reside and have built AS modules since the 1990s. After recently stumbling upon these videos again, we talked to Andreas and thought it would be nice to republish them and make them available on YouTube for the first time ever.

While Bob has since retired, Steve continues to craft modules with the same exceptional audio quality in South Cornwall. The video goes into the direct historical connection between Analogue Systems and EMS (of Synthi fame). Steve - who once worked for EMS and received exclusive license from EMS' Robin Wood to reproduce some of the VCS3 circuits - explains how this heritage has shaped the character of Analogue Systems and resulted in modules like the RS-510e Trapezoid Generator."