MoogLab Adds One-of-a-Kind Novitiate Educational Synth by Dewanatron

"Bob Moog Foundation Acquires One-of-a-Kind Synthesizer for MooLab Educational Program

June 29, 2011 -- Asheville, N.C. — To further the Bob Moog Foundation’s goal of teaching science through music, Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa commissioned the unique synth builder Dewanatron to construct an equally unique electronic musical instrument. The result is the Novitiate, a literally one-of-a-kind device stripped down to a synthesizer’s most fundamental functions and built entirely with the Foundation’s needs in mind. Its purpose is to aid in teaching beginners the basics of synthesis, without the distraction of unnecessary bells and whistles.

The Novitiate was donated to the Bob Moog Foundation by Dewanatron, a company that builds solid-state analog electronic musical instruments. The result of collaboration between artist/musician Brian Dewan and inventor/musician Leon Dewan, Dewanatron has gained considerable attention from the Swarmatron, a synth featured in the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to The Social Network, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Housed in a furniture-grade poplar cabinet, the Novitiate has 1950s sci-fi movie styling that’s best described as “futuristically retro.” The front panel’s four sections—oscillator, modulation, filter, and envelope—each demonstrate a primary synthesizer function. According to Leon Dewan, “We designed in the Novitiate something very simple for someone who doesn’t know anything about synthesis to start with and just get a handle on the basics of waveforms and filtering and frequency modulation.”

Brian Dewan adds, “It’s the first instrument we made that was not really conceived of as first and foremost for making music. It’s really made for understanding synthesis.”

“Where modern day synthesizers can be a bit overwhelming for new students of synthesis,” says Michelle Moog-Koussa, “the Novitiate does a beautiful job of presenting the four basic building blocks of analog synthesis in an accessible and compelling manner. We are delighted to add the Novitiate to our MoogLab program and we are deeply grateful to Brian and Leon Dewan for supporting our educational initiatives with this custom instrument.”

The Novitiate is an especially valuable asset to MoogLab, the Foundation’s outreach program for taking hands-on experience with electronic instruments into schools and the broader community. Its next public appearance will be at The Artery in Asheville during Pushing the Envelope: ADSR, a multimedia art show beginning July 9 and ending July 30, 2011.

For more information and photos on the Novitiate:
http://www.moogfoundation.org/2011/mooglabs-novitiate-educational-synth-by-dewanatron/

For more information on MoogLab:
http://www.moogfoundation.org/2011/mooglab-residency-at-claxton-elementary/

For information on Dewanatron:
www.dewanatron.com

For information on Swarmatron:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2011/01/24/110124ta_talk_paumgarten"

MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2012 MEGAPOST

Just thought I'd consolidate everything into one post. First is the flickr set of pics I took (288 in total) in the order taken, followed by the videos in the order taken. Links to the individual posts at the bottom.

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Negativland: Circuit Parade

Published on Aug 9, 2018 Joseph McGinty

Directed by Amy Hobby
Edited by Isaac Royffe
Starring:
Biet Simkin
Joe McGinty
Leon Dewan
Features vintage Super 8 footage of the Traymore Hotel demolition
Composed by Joe McGinty
Performed by Circuit Parade
Circuit Parade:
Joe McGinty, vocals, keyboards
Mike McGinnis, woodwinds
Julia Kent, cello
Leon Dewan, Swarmatron, Melody Gin
Produced by Joe McGinty
Engineered by Bryce Goggin
Album available for download: https://circuitparade.bandcamp.com/

One more:

Circuit Parade: "Million Dollar Mermaid" Coney Island Tribute

Published on Aug 9, 2018 Joseph McGinty

"Million Dollar Mermaid" by Circuit Parade
Directed by Edward McGinty
Composed by Joe McGinty
Featuring:
Circuit Parade:
Joe McGinty, vocals, keyboards
Mike McGinnis, woodwinds
Julia Kent, cello (recording)
Leah Coloff, cello (video)
Leon Dewan, Swarmatron, Melody Gin
Available for download at: https://circuitparade.bandcamp.com/

NAMM 2012 Video of Leon Dewan and the Hymnotron - Big City Music Booth

NAMM 2012: Leon Dewan Plays the Dewanatron Hymnotron

YouTube Uploaded by matrixsynth on Jan 26, 2012

NAMM 2012: Leon Dewan Goes Over the Dewanatron Hymnotron

Uploaded by matrixsynth on Jan 26, 2012

Pics posted here: NAMM 2012: Big City Music Booth Pics

http://www.dewanatron.com/
http://bigcitymusic.com/

Moogfest 2016 Announces Modular Marketplace Synth Event with Neuronics (ex Dewanatron) Debut

This is a bit of a double post. The press release from Moogfest follows further below. A number of known manufacturers are listed, however there is a new one you might not be familiar with, Neuronics. This will be their debut. I am curious what they will show as one half of Neuronics is Leon Dewan of Dewanatron, makers of the Swarmatron and other eccentric synthesizer creations. P.S. Great Make Noise T-shirt on the left! They are my favorite synth T, aside from mine of course. :)

"See, Hear, and Experience the Future of Music at the Moogfest 2016 Modular Marketplace

Free interactive bazaar gives everyone a chance to discover and test-drive next generation electronic musical instruments

Durham, North Carolina (April 27, 2016) - The Modular Marketplace at Moogfest 2016 reimagines the traditional trade show by creating a fun, interactive, educational space where electronic instrument designers connect directly with musicians, technology innovators, and the general public.

Over 25 companies selected for their cult status or game-changing ambition will demonstrate their instruments and offer a glimpse into the future of electronic music. Many of the entrepreneurs and designers behind these products will be in attendance, and almost all items are available for purchase.

Moogfest programming partner Kickstarter has ever curated a selection of three instruments, supported through its crowdfunding platform, to exhibit at the Modular Marketplace: the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1, Sensory Perception by Sunhouse and Kilpatrick Audio.

The Modular Marketplace is one of the many highlights of Moogfest 2016, which celebrates the legacy of Bob Moog, the visionary engineer who pioneered the analog synthesizer and other technology tools used by artists like Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Kraftwerk. The four-day festival from May 19-22 will feature over 250 innovators in music, art, and technology -- from Gary Numan, GZA, Grimes and Laurie Anderson to virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier and transhumanist visionary Dr. Martine Rothblatt. For the first time, Moogfest takes place in Durham, North Carolina, a fast-growing capital of technology, culture and entrepreneurship.

'The Modular Marketplace is free and open to the public, giving everyone from school kids to technology influencers an opportunity to participate,' said Moogfest Festival Director, Marisa Brickman. 'A new generation of engineers and circuit designers are building on Bob Moog's legacy by creating new tools that are shaping the future of music and sound.'

The Modular Marketplace features product launches, daily demonstrations, sound experiments, exclusive discounts, and other special events. It takes place at the American Tobacco Campus at 318 Blackwell Street from 10am - 6pm from May 19 - 22.

Some highlights of the Modular Marketplace include:

Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1: Developed at The New Museum's NEW INC incubator and funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $1.3 million, the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 will make its public debut at Moogfest 2016. The groundbreaking instrument allows users of any skill or style to strum a guitar, tap a piano, bow a violin, or loop a drum beat -- all on a single interface. By connecting to iOS devices, Macs and PCs, this portable and durable musical tool can make any sound imaginable.

Audulus: Audulus is a virtual modular synthesizer environment for iOS, Mac, and Windows platforms. Throughout the festival, Audulus will be giving away copies of the deep and beautifully designed software to curious sonic voyagers. Simply come by the booth and get signed up.

Bastl Instruments: Based in the Czech Republic, Bastl Instruments in a community-driven company focused on producing handmade electronic musical instruments. Bastl Instruments will be displaying an eclectic robotic percussion set controlled by their Eurorack format synthesizer modules. Additionally Bastl Instruments will be offering 10% off discounts on their tabletop granular synthesizer - The Micro Granny.
Bleep Labs: Bleep Labs will launch the Thingamagoop 3 at Moogfest 2016, a light controlled synthesizer, effect and noise friend. Simple controls give musicians access to rich and diverse sounds, from simple square and triangle waves to FM laser battles.

Neuronics: Neuronics is an exciting new adventure in synthesis helmed by Leon Dewan and producer Josh Humphrey. Dewan is best known for the unique and visually striking analog synthesizers available with his company Dewanatron, whose flagship device, the Swarmatron creates the effect of a swarming hive of bees. Neuronics makes its debut at the Modular Marketplace.

Electric Objects: Electric Objects is the creator of E01, an Internet-connected screen designed specifically for art, capable of playing more than 10,000 works of digital art including video, animations, GIFs, high definition images, or web-based work. Electric Objects will be featuring works by performing artists and speakers at Moogfest 2016.

Kilpatrick Audio: Using both new and vintage circuits and cutting edge software, Kilpatrick Audio creates unique and interesting musical equipment designed to sound great, be fun to use, and to inspire musical ideas in the exploration of new sounds.

Luisa Perera & The Counterpointer: The Modular Marketplace will feature an auto-composing musical installation by coder and instrument designer Luisa Pereira. The counterpoint method Bach will be expressed through her instrument the Counterpointer and 3 Moog Mother-32 modular synths. This alludes to the work of the composer who made the Moog Modular famous, Wendy Carlos.

Make Noise: Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the home of Moog Music, Make Noise designs and builds Eurorack format modular synthesizers that incorporate "West Coast" design philosophies associated with synth pioneers Don Buchla and Serge Tscherpnin. Make Noise is presenting a demonstration of their new 0-Coast device during daytime programming.

To view the full list of Modular Marketplace exhibitors visit:
http://www.moogfest.com/program/talent/modular-marketplace"

NAMM 2013: Leon Dewan demostrates Swarmatron

Published on Jan 26, 2013 catsynth·59 videos

"Leon Dewan demostrates the Swarmatron at the Big City Music booth at NAMM 2013"

Dewanatron on Rhizome

via Rhizome where you'll find more pics and the full post.

Pictured: "Leon and Brian Dewan Playing the Dual Primate Console"

"Homebrew Electronics is a new series on the Rhizome blog. For these posts, I will be conducting studio visits with artists and inventors who create unique electronic instruments.

Last week, I met with cousins Brian and Leon Dewan of Dewanatron at Leon’s apartment/workshop in New Rochelle, NY. I first encountered their whimsical, one-of-a-kind instruments at a solo exhibition at Pierogi Gallery in Brooklyn a few years ago. Not only do they produce and exhibit their own instruments, they use them in performances and in recordings as well. They split the labor evenly - Leon builds the circuits for each instrument, and Brian crafts the consoles that contain them at his home in Catskill, NY. Despite their jetlag from a recent trip to Los Angeles (Brian had screened his film strips at the Museum of Jurassic Technology’s theater), the Dewans gave me a thorough walkthrough of their work, patiently explaining how each of their creations functioned. "

Leon Dewan Swarmatron - NAMM 2014

Published on Jan 24, 2014 Amanda Chaudhary·75 videos

"Leon Dewan demonstrates the Swarmaron at NAMM 2014"

The Modulo Prototype

video upload by leon dewan

"This is a rough prototype of the D1 Synthesis Modulo, a new analog synthesizer optimized for sonic exploration."

Leon Dewan is the man behind Dewanatron.

Prototype Hymnotron

YouTube via leondewan. "Suitable for hymns." via the big city music blog.



Dewanatron at MNN Studios

"This snippet of Brian Dewan and Leon Dewan playing the Dual Primate Console was taped at Manhattan Neighborhood Network studios in April 2005 and features moving backgrounds drawn by Brian Dewan."

Dewanatron machines and the Swarmatron

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"Here's the Swarmatron and its creators Brian and Leon Dewan, talking to Detroit Public TV about 10 years ago.

I posted about the Swarmatron about a year ago. It's an analogue synth that creates a tone using eight oscillators all playing slightly different frequencies. The pitch is controlled with a ribbon at the front. The difference between the 8 oscillators is controlled with a span control, from tightly aligned to woozily detuned. It's designed to produce a sort of cacophony, almost like multiple voices singing at once.

It's best known for its use by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor on their soundtrack to "The Social Network", which won an Oscar and changed a lot of minds about the sort of movies that could use electronic scores.

Leon and Brian Dewan are cousins and together they run Dewanatron, which makes a family of instruments like the Swarmatron, the Novitiate – a one-off they made for the Bob Moog Foundation. Their instruments are unique, expensive, beautiful and very unusual. In the video you see another of their machines, which has two keyboards that face each other so two people play it at the same time.

I also found some great footage of the Novitiate they made for the Bob Moog Foundation on the YouTube channel AutomaticGainsay, which is a great resource for synth reviews and videos. I've posted more videos of the Swarmatron, the Novitiate and other Dewanatron instruments on my YouTube and on the subscriber section of this channel.

The Dewans, whose family is originally from Syria, spoke to a Detroit Public TV show about Arab Americans."

See the Dewanatron label below for more.

Swarmatron, in the flesh.

YouTube Uploaded by tremorcore on Jul 3, 2011

"A quick and dirty montage (shot & edited on iPod) of Brian Dewan and Leon Dewan's set on 7/2/2011 at the Bing Bang Boing festival in Catskill, NY. I was able to grab a few snaps of their early Swarmatron prototype and the amazing Dual Primate Console.

Nearly impossible to see in these clips are the three 8-track tape players at center stage. Post-show, Leon explained the tapes were being fed into the DPC, where they were chopped and processed.

Sadly, the mic on the iPod does no justice to the sound happening in the room. It did, however, pick up the resident barn swallows."

Dewanatron - Melody Gin Part 1

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"Brian from Dewanatron demonstrates the Melody Gin. The Melody Gin is an all analog synthesizer that has two oscillators, four LFO's, an envelope generator and a host of other unique features. The Melody Gin can be externally clocked too. These are absolutely beautiful looking and sounding instruments. All the designs are engineered from the ground up by Leon Dewan.

Dewanatron is a collaboration between cousins Leon and Brian Dewan. Dewanatron pieces have been shown in art galleries in New York and Germany. Now they're in Los Angeles! We'll make a higher fidelity video soon."

Dewanatron - Melody Gin Part 2




video upload by bigcitymusic

Leon Dewan demonstrates the Dewanatron Hymnotron at Big City Music

YouTube Uploaded by bigcitymusic on Mar 16, 2012

"Here's Leon demonstrating the long awaited Dewanatron Hymnotron at our shop in Studio City, California. http://bigcitymusic.com
The Hymnotron arrived at our shop in late January following NAMM 2012. Now it has a new home with a wonderful customer who loves it, as well he should. There is nothing that sounds like the Hymnotron! We look forward to having another one at our shop as soon as it is ready!"

Catch my NAMM video and pics of both Big City Music and the Hymnotron in my NAMM Megapost here.

NAMM: "Me & Leon"

YouTube via LofiFreq | January 17, 2011 |
Analog Systems & Dewanatron
"I programed the analogue systems 8500 and Mr Leon Dewan solos on his AMAZING swarmatron.

ENJOY!
NAMM2011"

"The Swarm" Free Noise Drone Synth

YouTube Uploaded by Resodeus on Mar 9, 2011

"It gets loud at moments, so watch your speaker volume : A demo of the new free standalone synth "The Swarm". Rather unique compared to most other free synths available (Mac too!). I really enjoy the deep tone. Inspired by Leon Dewan's "The Swarmatron". A good alternative for people who don't have several thousand dollars readily available. Obviously, this is no substitute for the real analog version but it does give the user a taste of the massive power of 8 Saws layered and detuned a bit from a central tone. Leon makes some of the most unique analog pieces around. Kontrolled by a Korg "NanoKontrol"

An impressive piece of code.

Check out : http://www.dewanatron.com/

Thanks to : http://www.synthtopia.com/content/ for a great RSS feed."

Dewanatron Swarmatron For Sale

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

via this auction

"This boutique and exquisite handmade piece is the 19th Swarmatron of 66 total made by the Dewan cousins.
Purchased new this item is $4000 just to get on an 8 month+ waiting list. It is unlikely that many more of these will be made.

This instrument quickly gained public interest after Trent Reznor took home a Golden Globe and an
Academy Award for best original score in David Fincher's 'The Social Network' in which the Swarmatron was the featured instrument
and was responsible for the incredible cinematic tension the score was noted for.

Played using two ribbon controllers, the Swarmatron orchestrates a symphony of seemingly angry yet musical bees.
This extremely rare synth has been cared for intensely over the past few years and shows very little cosmetic wear.
It is as chaotic as it is musical, it is as inspiring as it is challenging.
With the option of Fine Tuning + CV control for Pitch / Gate / Filter / Swarm this beast has the option of being as tame as you want it.

From Dewanatron:
"The Swarmatron was created to produce eight tones tuned approximately to one note, each tone slightly different in pitch to produce a complex and natural choral effect.
These eight oscillators can be played with a single ribbon controller (variable resistor) to move the pitch center up or down.
The span control expands the sound of a swarm of eight notes spread just a few cents apart into a wide chord of equidistant pitches spread over the entire spectrum. The player can "taffy pull" the resulting chord by using the span control and pitch ribbon in tandem.
Swarms of sine waves evoke swarms of angels congregating. Swarms of sawtooth waves evoke the swarming of bees. The sound of a host of voices, earthly or unearthly, has a unique character recognized by the ear even when they are folded together in unison."

Included in the purchase you will receive the key to power up the Swarmatron and an extra set of ribbons which are easily replaced at home
with the instruction of Leon Dewan who is very eager to help all Swarmatron owners.

This item is not only a wonderfully inspiring instrument but also a beautiful addition to your studio
that will raise a lot of questions from your visitors."

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DEWANATRON

YouTube via victormisrock | October 01, 2009

"The documentary of DEWANATRON.

The story of Brian Dewan and Leon Dewan, the most unique grassroots electronic music pioneers in recent memory.

The special purpose of Dewanatrons, which are modern solid-state analog instruments, is to grow music live in collaboration with the operators who guide them."

Namm Show 2011 - Dewanatron

YouTube via accordoTV | January 14, 2011

Update:

NAMM 2011 Swarmatron - Analog Synthesis
YouTube via musicianews | January 13, 2011 |



"Leon Dewan and Brian Dewan of www.Dewanatron.com demo a really interesting set of analog synthesis instruments"

Neuronics Sneak Preview Video

Coming soon from Neuronics...

Published on Jan 19, 2016 Neuronics

"A public message from a freshly hatched circuit."

Our first sneak peak of what's coming from Neuronics, the new company from Leon Dewan of Dwanatron and producer Josh Humphrey. You'll find their new website here: http://neuronicsinc.com.

This on in via the comments of this post. Thank you Anonymous person!