Todd Barton: a conversation about Buchla, Serge, modular and more

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We present a lively and in-depth conversation with Todd Barton, "sonic adventurer, composer, educator and performer of abstract, freely improvised electronic music specializing in Buchla, Serge and Hordijk instruments." We discuss his connections to these instruments developed to become central to his music, and sharing his knowledge and experience with others through his popular YouTube and Instagram channels and private lessons. We also touch on a few encounters including the Serge anniversary show in San Francisco, the launch of the Buchla Red Panel series at NAMM, and most recently, his duet with Suzanne Ciani at Buchla & Friends 2025 in Los Angeles.

To find out more about Todd Barton and his work, please visit his website: https://www.toddbarton.com/

00:00 Introduction
00:48 Todd Barton as sonic adventurer and musician in multiple worlds
03:20 Serge, Buchla and Hordijk
08:52 Barton's long relationship with Buchla instruments
13:32 The Buchla Red Panel series, and other 100-series re-creations
18:07 The myriad possibilities of the Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator
21:15 YouTube and Instagram demos and private lessons for modular synthesis
29:48 Performing with Suzanne Ciani at Buchla & Friends 2025
33:55 Community and the future of making music with signals
36:17 Conclusion

Our highlight video from Suzanne Ciani and Todd Barton duo at Buchla & Friends:
[ • Suzanne Ciani and Todd Barton live pe...] [posted here] ( • Suzanne Ciani and Todd Barton live pe... ) [posted here]

Our demo and tutorial on the Buchla Red Panel 158 and 156m
• Buchla Red Panel 158 and 156M: Demo a... [posted here]

________
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Ro by Todd Barton

Published on May 30, 2019 Todd Barton

You might recall the Shakuhachi Ro Simultaneous Releases by Todd Barton posted here. I'm happy to announce the re-release of Todd Barton's solo shakuhachi album, Ro, is now available. An interesting aspect of this release is that Todd with the help of Walker Farrell at Makenoise music has made samples available in Makenoise/Tom Erbe Morphagene format here. Details on the re-release follow.

"Ro is the lowest note on the shakuhachi, all finger holes closed. Ro is the root. Blowing the note Ro for 10 minutes to an hour a day is traditional training for shakuhachi players. Ro focuses breath, embouchure, timbre and listening.

Originally self released in 2003, Ro is a meditative, solitary work focused on achieving rich timbral expressions. Todd Barton, best known for his momentous collaboration with Ursula K. Le Guin in the 80s, and recently re-released in 2018, Music and Poetry of the Kesh, is a multi instrumentalist and master synthesist. He is a well known educator, teaching Buchla, Serge and Hordijk synthesizers to curious music students around the world. His online tutorials, talks and performances have millions of hits.

This re-release explores new territory not available in 2003. Thanks to Walker Farrell at Makenoise music, we are releasing a set of audio samples from Ro which can be downloaded for free at freesound.org. Anyone can access, edit and remix these clips. The samples will be available in Makenoise/Tom Erbe Morphagene format. More on that module at: makenoisemusic.com/modules/morphagene

Ro will be released to all streaming outlets, on cassette and CD May 31st via Flying Moonlight.

released May 31, 2019"

Todd Barton Solo - 2015 Serge 40th Reunion Event

Published on Feb 11, 2015 djangosfire

"Todd Barton Solo performance at the SERGE 40TH REUNION EVENT - Saturday, Feb 7th 2015"

Update:

Todd Barton Inside Serge Solo

Published on Feb 13, 2015 Todd Barton

"Here’s a slightly closer look at the solo Serge performance. Sorry for flipcam distorted audio – better audio here:
http://youtu.be/BmdxM-XfDhc?list=PLgc...

The first third of the performance I’m manually working the Audio Mixer, DTG and VQVCF while looping (RC-3). The middle third is a preprogrammed sequence from the TKB using 3 oscillators and 2 DSG’s for filtering/eg – no looper from here on out. The last section is the same sequence slowed way down and I’m engaging the Eventide Space reverb. You can see the patch here courtesy of GrantB: https://www.hightail.com/download/UlR..."

Todd Barton Performance at Wayward Music 10/28/2017

Published on Oct 30, 2017 matrixsynth

You should all be familiar with Todd Barton over the years here on MATRIXSYNTH.

[Note: Todd has an upcoming performance coming up on Monday, November 13 at the Conservatory of Music at UOP, Stockton, California. That event will feature electronic instruments designed and built by Rob Hordijk. If you are in the area, you do not want to miss it.]

The above is the full performance by Todd Barton on the BEMI Buchla Music Easel at Wayward Music, announced here. Note the performance was in quad (four channels of spatial audio around the room), however, I was only able to capture it on my iPhone 6s, so unfortunately the quality is limited here. This video is meant more for historical purposes, but do enjoy it. It was an amazing performance.

You can find Todd Barton's website at http://toddbarton.com.

The following bio is from the Wayward Music event page http://www.waywardmusic.org/event/tod...

"Todd Barton is a composer, sound designer, multimedia performer, and analog synthesist specializing in Buchla, Serge and Hordijk modular systems. After four decades of exploration Barton is still delving deeply into the ever-expanding frontiers of musical expression: from his DNA derived Genome Music to his innovative scores for plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; from performances of Zen shakuhachi meditation music to avant-garde music for electronic synthesizers and computers; from performing with luminaries of jazz and poetry to lecturing on music and composition from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century. He gives Skype lessons and consultations in analog synthesis worldwide and is currently a trainer for MacProVideo.com. Todd is fascinated and obsessed with exploring sound and its infinite manifestations. This performance will be a live improvisation which “Follows the Sound” of a Buchla Music Easel.

Presented by Nonsequitur."

Soundplex Encounters

Published on Mar 25, 2017 Todd Barton

"A new Serge style panel I configured and was built and faceplate artistry by Charles Seeholzer. Better sound here: https://soundcloud.com/user7621213/so..."



Update:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Serge Vari Slope FIlter Demos by Todd Barton

Serge Vari Slope FIlter drone Published on Nov 4, 2019 Todd Barton

"For me the essence of Serge, Buchla and Hordijk designs is that all modules have multiple CV inputs that cry out to be used. Thus, a handful of modules and cables can reveal powerful and complex sounds. Enjoy!"


serge vsf interconnect Published on Nov 4, 2019 Todd Barton

"Exploring interconnecting some of the audio outputs of the Serge by Random*Source Variable Slope Filter back into its own CV inputs . . ."

R*S Serge Tests by Todd Barton

Published on May 23, 2017 Todd Barton

"Here is my first encounter with some Serge modules by Random*Source: DUSG-WM-VCFq. The only non-R*S is SSF's Ultra Random Analog. Better audio:"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Todd Barton - Analog Horizonings

"a very mellow collection of ambient soundscapes featuring the EVI-2000 along with the S-P Synthacon, Buchla, Serge and JP-8"

http://cdbaby.com/cd/toddbarton

"After four decades of exploration Todd Barton is still delving deeply into the ever-expanding frontiers of musical expression: from his DNA derived Genome Music to his innovative scores for plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; from performances of Zen Shakuhachi Meditation Music to avant-garde music for electronic synthesizers and computers; from performing with luminaries of jazz and poetry to lecturing on music and composition from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century.

Todd's music has been heard on NPR’s Morning Edition, Westcoast Live, and the Curve of Wonder.

Since 1979 Todd has been exploring electronic systhesis and computer-based music. His love for vintage analog synthesisers continues to this day.

Over the years Todd has collaborated with a variety of jazz musicians and poets including Anthony Braxton, Zakir Hussein, William Stafford, Ursula K. Le Guin and Lawson Fusao Inada.

analog horizonings: ambient soundscapes for vintage analog synthesizers.

all music composed, produced and performed by todd barton"

Note Todd also goes by the alias vgermuse. You can see previous posts featuring vgermuse here and one more here. You might remember him from the Steiner Parker Synthacon and Buchla 200e demos.

Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles Demo Mix

Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles, set to be released on Oct 19, features the following supporters of MATRIXSYNTH: Todd Barton, Parallel Worlds, and Dave Bessel.

Details:

"Various Artists Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles DiN:TS02

Release date 19th October 2018

Limited to 500 copies. Digipak CD format.

Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

This second compilation “Module No.2 Elements and Particles”, like its predecessor, features nine artists from different musical backgrounds with the common thread being that all the tracks were composed entirely with a modular synth system.

The album opens and closes with the ambient soundscapes of two tracks by Todd Barton and
 r beny. Barton is a world renowned exponent of Buchla modular systems as well as the Music Easel employed on this track. Austin Cairns (aka r beny) has a penchant for lo-fi looped synth atmospheres which combined, in this case, with a field recording creates a haunting, evocative piece. The next three pieces by Bluetech, Parallel Worlds and Paul Nagle build up rhythmic and sequenced elements with a fascinating amount of detail that modular systems are so good at. They also all use various methods to produce a poly-rhythmic, fractal feel as patterns shift and change throughout their tracks. The middle of the album then sees a fascinating experimental ambient interlude by Dave Bessell (a member of the synth group Node) using waveguide physical modelling in the analogue domain. The second half of the album has a rawer, more gritty feel with Richard Quirk building up a crescendo of wonderful textures in his track “Radar Hill”. This is followed by Hainbach using the exotic Ciat-Lonbarde series of hand built instruments to produce, in his words, a piece of “pure electronic music”. Nathan Moody then brings proceedings to a climax with a gnarly, muscular track using a Buchla modular system before the blissful ending piece “Marine Layer” closes out the 60 minute sonic journey the listener has just travelled.

Boddy has curated both the artists and tracks on this album to flow in a musical way and not just be a collection of equipment heavy demos. Though fascinating and always cool to look at, it is important not to get lost in the gear for gear’s sake syndrome. Having said that this album features Eurorack, Serge, Buchla & Ciat-Lonbarde modular systems and the nine tracks show how varied and flexible these instruments can be.

'Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles' continues the journey down the rabbit hole of possibilities and sound worlds inhabited by artists and musicians working in this ever fascinating and varied musical field.

01 Floating World by Todd Barton 8:41
02 Magnetic Lullaby by Bluetech 6:36
03 Additive Procedure by Parallel Worlds 5:56
04 Euneirophrenia by Paul Nagle 7:52
05 Overtone by Dave Bessell 6:37
06 Radar Hill by Richard Quirk 7:22
07 Your Strange Glitter by Hainbach 5:02
08 Prophet & Loss by Nathan Moody 5:02
09 Marine Layer by r beny 7:02

Total Time: 60:24

Released by: DiN

Release date:
19 October 2018"

Serge ASR and WaveMult

Todd Barton

Todd Barton Serge posts

Tone Science Module No​.​2 Elements and Particles (DiN​:​TS02)

"Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

DiN was initially set up in 1999 by well known UK synthesist Ian Boddy to bridge the gap between the analogue music of his heritage and the emerging digital possibilities of the future. This label has always forged its own independent path and to date has released 56 physical CD albums as well as 21 download only releases.

Even after being involved in music since the late 1970’s Boddy has continued to explore new sonic territories and in 2016 he released what was probably his most experimental album in “Tone Science” (DiN48). This album comprised five long, slowly evolving self playing compositions realised entirely on his vast arsenal of modular synthesisers. Boddy’s love of the analogue sound has been well documented not only through his own releases but many sound and sample libraries. These instruments all but disappeared in the 1990’s but recent years has seen an unprecedented growth in interest in this form of synthesiser with a proliferation of both module manufacturers and performers using these highly flexible and personal systems.

Thus, inspired by his “Tone Science” release, Boddy has set up this sub-label to feature artists and performers working in the field of modular synthesis. The first release “Module No.1 Structure and Forces” was released in March 2018 and has garnered a lot of critical acclaim. This second compilation “Module No.2 Elements and Particles”, like its predecessor, features nine artists from different musical backgrounds with the common thread being that all the tracks were composed entirely with a modular synth system.

The album opens and closes with the ambient soundscapes of two tracks by Todd Barton and
 r beny. Barton is a world renowned exponent of Buchla modular systems as well as the Music Easel employed on this track. Austin Cairns (aka r beny) has a penchant for lo-fi looped synth atmospheres which combined, in this case, with a field recording creates a haunting, evocative piece. The next three pieces by Bluetech, Parallel Worlds and Paul Nagle build up rhythmic and sequenced elements with a fascinating amount of detail that modular systems are so good at. They also all use various methods to produce a poly-rhythmic, fractal feel as patterns shift and change throughout their tracks. The middle of the album then sees a fascinating experimental ambient interlude by Dave Bessell (a member of the synth group Node) using waveguide physical modelling in the analogue domain. The second half of the album has a rawer, more gritty feel with Richard Quirk building up a crescendo of wonderful textures in his track “Radar Hill”. This is followed by Hainbach using the exotic Ciat-Lonbarde series of hand built instruments to produce, in his words, a piece of “pure electronic music”. Nathan Moody then brings proceedings to a climax with a gnarly, muscular track using a Buchla modular system before the blissful ending piece “Marine Layer” closes out the 60 minute sonic journey the listener has just travelled.

Boddy has curated both the artists and tracks on this album to flow in a musical way and not just be a collection of equipment heavy demos. Though fascinating and always cool to look at, it is important not to get lost in the gear for gear’s sake syndrome. Having said that this album features Eurorack, Serge, Buchla & Ciat-Lonbarde modular systems and the nine tracks show how varied and flexible these instruments can be.

“Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles” continues the journey down the rabbit hole of possibilities and sound worlds inhabited by artists and musicians working in this ever fascinating and varied musical field.
credits
releases October 19, 2018

1. Todd Barton Floating World 8:41
This is an exploration of layering various timbres and textures, each having its own
diverse panning structure and speed. Performed on a Buchla Music Easel with a
TC Electronic Ditto x4 looper and TC T2 reverb.
toddbarton.com

2. Bluetech Magnetic Lullaby 6:36
Multitracked sequencers in long takes at different clock speeds to get a fractal layer of shifting melodies evolving at different rates with Strymon modulation at different times for complexity.
bluetechonline.com

3. Parallel Worlds Additive Procedure 5:56
Eurorack, Analogue Systems and Serge modular systems, using harmonics created via waveshaping/wavefolding & the Verbos Harmonic Oscillator & RS370/375 Polyphonic Harmonic Generator.
parallel-worlds-music.com

4. Paul Nagle Euneirophrenia 7:52
The peaceful state of mind after a pleasant dream. In this mellow polymetric excursion, Cirklon's CVIO juggles a Quadnic, NW1, Plonk, Rings and Plaits.
bogusfocus.com/pn/

5. Dave Bessell Overtone 6:37
Between two worlds, the technical and the theatre of the imagination, the apparently real and the obviously synthetic play hide and seek with your perception. Realised with an all analogue signal path, this is a study in waveguide physical modelling.
sites.google.com/site/davebessellmusic/home\

6. Richard Quirk Radar Hill 7:22
This track is taken from an ongoing collection of music based on abandoned radar stations. Created with an AJH Eurorack system along with a Voltage Multistage, Bark filter, Magneto delay, Radiomusic and a tube Echoplex.
richardquirkmusic.bandcamp.com

7. Hainbach Your Strange Glitter 5:02
Aiming for purity I focused entirely on the Ciat-Lonbarde Plumbutter, Sidrax and Cocoquantus. I wanted this piece to feel like “synthesizer music”, clear and shimmering, yet alien, not rooted in a real acoustic space.
hainbachmusik.com

8. Nathan Moody Prophet And Loss 5:02
This piece was created using a Buchla modular synthesizer (200 & 100 series modules) as a meditation on the false piety of tyrannical populists in the early 21st Century.
nathanmoody.bandcamp.com

9. r beny Marine Layer 7:02
Fog conjuring with Mutable Instruments Rings loops being processed by Orthogonal Devices ER-301, Mannequins Three Sisters, and Strymon Magneto.
rbeny.bandcamp.com


Total Time 60:24
license
all rights reserved"

Follow-up to:
Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles Demo Mix
Todd Barton Autumn Tour & New Release

Learning Modular Conversations with guest host Todd Barton

video upload by Learning Modular

"This is the replay of the September 2021 "ask me anything" Zoom session for Patreon subscribers of Learning Modular (https://www.patreon.com/LearningModular). In this second session, Todd Barton (https://toddbarton.com) was asking questions of Chris Meyer of Learning Modular, and moderating questions from the live attendees covering modular synthesis composition, performances, and systems. Subscribers to Todd's Patreon channel (https://www.patreon.com/) were also invited.

If you would like the opportunity to view these sessions live and ask your own questions, subscribe to Learning Modular on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/LearningModular). The August host was Trovarsi, and the October host was Kim Bjørn, with two more sessions planned to fill out 2021. Your response to these replays will determine if we continue them in 2022.

Here is an index to the subjects discussed in this session:

00:00 Introduction
01:33 What is the meaning of life? (Yes, Todd actually asked Chris that, and yes, Chris answered)
02:07 How does Chris not get overwhelmed when approaching The Monster to create a piece of music?
04:43 How does Chris know what he wants to compose?
06:28 Is there a narrative or structure to Chris’ work, or does he create free-form?
08:43 Thoughts from Chris and Todd on compositional “forms” for electronic music
15:47 When to ignore the 'rules'; when to lean on them
19:17 When to introduce a change in the music
23:50 Patching for evolution
28:03 Chris’ lighting during recent music videos
31:22 How much of a performance is written out versus improvised?
35:55 Editing improvisations down to tracks for an album
39:12 How do you organize it when more than one person is improvising together?
42:20 What is coming up for both of us?
45:00 Using synths as individual instruments versus cross-pollinating them
51:20 Todd on the new Buchla Music Easel
54:56 Patching 'from zero' versus pre-patching
56:26 Chris on color-coding patch cables
57:43 Creating the patch symbol language for Patch & Tweak
01:01:18 Serge Tcherepnin’s approach to creating synthesizers
01:04:55 Approaches to stereo and quad sound
01:15:00 Do we use MIDI?"

Todd Barton Interviewed on vicmod

Interview on vicmod here.

"Tell us about yourself.
Cut my analog teeth on my friend Doug Leedy’s Buchla Music Easel in the late 70’s. Couldn’t afford a ME so hocked the house and got a Serge Modular Music System in 1979. Remember going to Haight/Ashbury and picking it up from Serge. The only book/manual at the time was Allen Strange’s Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls which I ate, drank and slept with..."

Click through above for some Serge & Buchla eye candy.

Todd Barton recently released and all Buchla album here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

20Objects Podcast 215: Todd Barton

Published on Feb 4, 2018 20Objects

"I'm always intrigued by a good story. How about "from early music player to Buchla master"? Todd Barton's story is as good as his mucis - which is damned good. His use of serious electronic music gear to create focused worked is quite unique, and it is reflected in the way that the music sounds awesome regardless of the technology used to create it.

And the list of technology is pretty serious: Buchla modulars and Music Easels, Serge modulars and the Haken Continuum - and even the Hordijk Blippoo - are all pulled into play as necessary. Todd has been releasing recordings, but also recently did a series of live shows throughout Europe and the western US.

In our chat, we go over his entre into electronic music, how he got drawn into Buchla and Serge gear, and how he makes his choices now. He also talks a bit about the process of doing live modular teaching via Skype, and how he creates his live musical sculptures. Very in-depth conversations on creation; this is a discussion that will prove inspiring.

Check out Todd's work at his website: toddbarton.com. And enjoy the podcast!"

serge 40th reunion setup videos

Published on Feb 9, 2015 Todd Barton

"a little Serge Modular Music System synth porn from the recent 40th Reunion party in San Francisco honoring Sergei Tcherepnin and his team. Presented by the Church of the Super Serge. Excuse the crappy editing, just did what I could while setting up my own 1979 Serge. There were plenty more folks setting up later that I unfortunately missed. Enjoy!"

Settin up

Published on Feb 8, 2015 Dmitri SFC

"Serge Modular 40 year reunion concert Preppin."

Burnt Dot Quartet in Concert: February 17th

"Burnt Dot Quartet performs improvised music for trumpets and modular synthesizers in quadraphonic space. Featuring Sarah Reid on trumpet, Ryan Gaston on Eurorack and Serge synthesizsers, and special guests Kris Tiner on trumpet and telematic performance by Todd Barton on Buchla and other synthesizers.

The concert is taking place on February 17th at 8pm PST at:

The Wild Beast Pavilion
California Institute of the Arts
24700 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355

This concert is FREE, open to the public, and streaming at:
https://music.calarts.edu/wild-beast-webcast

Burnt Dot is an improvisational duo formed by Sarah Belle Reid (trumpet) and Ryan Gaston (modular synthesizer) in 2014. From violent gestures to undulating textures and sparse flickers, Burnt Dot uses open forms to explore and extend the unique vocabulary of each of their instruments, and aim to discover just how much of the area beyond their typical sonic territory is still unmapped. Burnt Dot specializes in free improvisation, prompt-based performance, and interpretation of graphic scores."

"Kris Tiner (b. 1977) is a California-based trumpet player, composer, and improviser. Featured on NPR Music as one of a handful of new trumpet voices impacting modern music, his playing has been described as 'extraordinarily inventive' in Signal to Noise Magazine, and the LA Weekly claims 'Trumpeter Kris Tiner can turn barbed wire to beauty.'"

"Todd Barton is a composer, sound designer, multimedia performer, analog synthesist specializing in Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments. Todd is a praised improvisor, composer, and consulting artist for Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments."

Todd Barton Inside Serge Solo

Published on Feb 13, 2015 Todd Barton

"Here’s a slightly closer look at the solo Serge performance. Sorry for flipcam distorted audio – better audio here:
http://youtu.be/BmdxM-XfDhc?list=PLgc...

The first third of the performance I’m manually working the Audio Mixer, DTG and VQVCF while looping (RC-3). The middle third is a preprogrammed sequence from the TKB using 3 oscillators and 2 DSG’s for filtering/eg – no looper from here on out. The last section is the same sequence slowed way down and I’m engaging the Eventide Space reverb. You can see the patch here courtesy of GrantB: https://www.hightail.com/download/UlR..." [here]

Upcoming Todd Barton Tour

You've seen Todd Barton's numerous videos featured here on MATRIXSYNTH. I am happy to announce he has a limited number of performances coming up in Rome, Berlin, Vienna, Seattle, and Stockton. If you are in the general area for any of the upcoming dates, you might not want to miss it. This is a rare opportunity to see a expert at his craft. Some dates will feature workshops and lectures.

You can find full details here.

Rome, Italy September 28-30. 2-day workshop featuring Buchla electronic instruments, followed by a concert with my friend Federico Placidi.

Berlin, Germany October 2. An evening of Serge Modular systems talk, performance and jam session hosted by Berlin Modular.

Vienna, Austria October 8. An evening Serge Modular systems talk and performance hosted by Raw Voltage and Tonsalon.

Portland, Oregon October 27. A pre-Halloween Easel performance at Modular 8!

Seattle, Washington October 28. Performance on the Buchla Music Easel hosted by Wayward Music Series.

Stockton, California November 13. Performance with Dr. Robert Coburn on Hordijk synthesizers."

Serge Break No-1

Published on Mar 2, 2013 Todd Barton·91 videos

"This is the first in what will be a very ad hoc and sporadic series of Serge Breaks -- looking at different patches and aspects of the mighty Serge Modular Music System. This first one is an attempt to translate my Buchla Break No. 9 patch into Serge-speak. Buchla Break No. 9 is here for comparison: http://youtu.be/2GGmukC0jro"

Serge DUSG subharmonics VQVCF vca

Todd Barton

"What I love about the Serge Modular Music System is that anything can become anything! Looking at using a pair of Serge Slope Generators to create a Subharmonic generator. Then sweep it to obtain little arpeggios and finally ues the Variable Q Filter as a vca. Enjoy!"

Soundplex Black Panel Serge