Buchla and beyond with synth legend Suzanne Ciani | Signal Flow Podcast Ep10

video upload by Signal Sounds

"We were beyond delighted that the legendary Suzanne Ciani paid a visit to our Glasgow showroom ahead of her performance as part of Sonica 2026. Luke and Tom spoke to her about being synonymous with Buchla, and her long career in electronic music - from building synths in California in the 1960s to collaborating with Actress and continuing to tour the world with her 200-series system. Big thanks to Su ‘SHHE’ Shaw and Jenn at Electric Shores for setting this up for us.

Suzanne Ciani tour dates, tickets and releases: https://www.sevwave.com/

Sonica Glasgow: https://sonic-a.co.uk/about

Get in touch with questions, feedback and suggestions via signalflow@signalsounds.com

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:28 On being synonymous with the Buchla
08:45 Working in quad and giving life to sound
13:19 How audiences have changed
16:33 Reacting against the male-dominated classical world
20:20 Collaborating with Actress and others
25:01 Buchla vs Serge
29:04 Setup for current live performances
32:15 Outro"

Signal Flow Podcast Episodes

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.'"

The Forgotten Synth That Launched a Ground-Breaking Technology

video upload by HAINBACH

"Franklin Eventoff, an American tinkerer and musician invented the force sensing resistor in 1977. This allowed for touch control of voltage, which he used to create instruments. It found first commercial musical use in the Mattel Musical Thing, a cheap toy synth. Frustrated with the experience, Eventoff went on to create the much more refined Sonica. The Sonica is a lovingly crafted boutique instrument with an oscillator by famed Serge Tcherepnin, the creator of the Serge synthesizer. Only about 650 where made, and they are collector's items. The technology of the force sensing resistor proved hugely successful and lives on in cars, robotics and instruments like the AKAI MPC and the Otamatone.

Music, Soundpack and thanks: https://www.patreon.com/hainbach

Watch my buddy Dave's video:"

Magical Musical Thing: A vintage analog synthesizer for kids

video upload by David Hilowitz Music

"In this video, I explore the strange toy that is the Magical Musical Thing (Mattel 1979). I speak to Franklin Eventoff, the toy's inventor, and learn about the other instruments he created as well. I also learn the secret to tuning these darn things.

You can download the sample library of the Magical Musical Thing here: https://www.decentsamples.com/product... This sample is meant to be used in conjunction with Decent Sampler, a plugin which can be downloaded here: https://www.decentsamples.com/product...

This sample is meant to be used in conjunction with Decent Sampler, a plugin which can be downloaded here: https://www.decentsamples.com/product..."

Sonica Synthesizer with Case made by Frank Eventoff SN 393

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

via this auction

"1979 Sonica synthesizer designed by Frank Eventoff, with oscillator design credited to Serge Tcherepnin. A limited run of only 650 of these beautiful, solid Red Alder instruments were ever made. This is number 393 in the series."

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Sonica Synthesizer SN 513

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

via this auction

"Rare Sonica Synthesizer in immaculate condition with case and paperwork.

Number 513 of 650 ever made. Beautifully made.

So weird and rare there's not a great deal about this piece out there."

Video in the listing posted here. See the Sonica label below for more.

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NMC Learning at Home: The Sonica Synthesizer

Published on May 11, 2020 National Music Centre

"Evan the Educator highlights the sonica, a quirky electronic instrument in the National Music Centre's collection. Built in 1979 by Frank Eventoff, it sounds like a cross between a theremin, sitar, and violin."

SONICA SYNTHESIZER BY FRANK EVENTOFF #441 OF 650 w/ Original Case

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

via this auction

I don't think I ever realized how small these were until I saw the 9V battery slot below. It appears to be the size of a ukulele if that.

"The Sonica was a synthesizer designed by Frank Eventoff in 1979 with an oscillator desined by Serge Tcherepnin. A limited run of only 650 were ever made, and this is number 441."

See the Sonica label below for more.

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Alessandro Cortini - BATTICUORE - VOLUME MASSIMO & Upcoming Tour

Published on Aug 22, 2019 Alessandro Cortini

New track from from Alessandro Cortini's upcoming studio album VOLUME MASSIMO. The launch of the album will take place at Berlin Atonal on August 30. Alessandro Cortini will then embark on a tour which includes four newly announced dates in North America – New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland – with a London performance at the Barbican on 19 October, with Suzanne Ciani. Details on the release and tour follow:

Pre-order the album here: https://smarturl.it/volumemassimo

BATTICUORE is taken from the forthcoming studio album VOLUME MASSIMO.
Released on Mute 27 September 2019.

Directors: Emilie Elizabeth + Alessandra Leone
DoP/Camera: Julian Moser
Colorist: Lutz Forster
Dancers: Maurice Jabar Werner + Darwin Stapel
Wardrobe Consultant: Raki Fernandez
Grooming: Carmen Rachel
Special thanks: Johanna Liebl and UY Studio, HvH Studios

Volume Massimo Live-AV tour includes:

30 August - Atonal, Berlin
8 September - Up to Date Festival, Białystok
14 September - Draaimolen, Tilburg
22 September - Rural Festival, Japan
28 September - Sonica, Ljubljana
19 October - Barbican, London
20 October - LEV Matadero, Madrid
21 October - St Paul`s Sessions, Athens
25 October - Semibreve, Braga
6 November - Slaktkyrkan, Stockholm
8 November - Mira Digital Arts Festival, Barcelona
13 November - Good Room, New York
16 November - Midway, San Francisco
18 November - The Lodge Room, Los Angeles
20 November - Holocene, Portland
30 November - KoncertKirken, Copenhagen
6 December - Monk, Rome
7 December - Argo 16, Venice
11 December - Bozar Electronic Series, Brussels
11 April - Concertgebouw, Bruges"

Previous posts featuring Alessandro Cortini.

Sonica by Frank Evantoff - #388 of 650 - 1979 Walnut Finish, Brass Face & Hardware

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

via this auction

"I inherited this Extremely Rare (#388 of Only 650 Ever Made) Instrument and it is still in incredible condition despite being roughly 40 years old. The Wood Body is in amazing shape, the brass Face, Back, and Plate on the backside of the Scroll (reads #388) are still shiny and lustrous. It still plays incredibly well and comes with the Original Black Case and Authenticated Paperwork / Warranty Documents. Every Feature that it was designed to include still works wonderfully and despite a small area of wear on the Blue Foam Speaker material, you'd think it was kept in a time capsule since released in '79. Models that have sold over the last few years, that have higher Model #'s and are in not as good of condition, have sold for between $1,200 and nearly $4,000. Everything operates well..."

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Rare Frank Eventoff "The Sonica" Synthesizer SN 519

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

via this auction

"The Sonica was a synthesizer designed by Frank Eventoff in 1979. A limited run of 650 were made, this is number 518. This one is in excellent condition with only minor wear on the grill cloth in front of the speaker. Includes original case, unsigned warranty card, and owner's manual. These are ultra rare and incredibly hard to find, get this while you can because you don't know when another one will come along!"

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Sonica #269 of 650 by Frank Eventoff of Serge 1979

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

via this auction

"Much has been written online about this unique, rare, beautiful piece of electronic music history.

Sonica #257 sold at Bonhams auction house in 2011 for £2,671. Thats a lot, but like a Minimoog, this instrument is WORTH that much money. It's so beautiful.

I'm not going to copy and paste other people's words here. OK, just two links:

Some Sonica Info (matrixsynth.blogspot.com)

History of the Sonica (alsrecordsandtapes.com)"

And of course, check out the Sonica label at the bottom of this post for more.

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Frank Eventoff Sonica Limited Edition Synthesizer #77

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

via this auction

"You are bidding on an extremely rare Sonica synthesizer built by Frank Eventoff in 1979. Only 650 of these were ever made. Very few are now known to exist. The body is carved of mahogany with brass plates and has a plaque with the number (#77). It comes with the original custom-sized case. Speaker cloth is torn but the speaker works fine and is all original. Picture shows fading, scratches and a crack on the bottom. Other than cosmetic, everything works fine.

It also features three buttons. Analog “Slider” which is a tremolo type effect, Analog “Tone” which is actually a tonal boost, and “Half-Step” which raises the note an octave. It features a built-in speaker, with an 1/8 inch output to connect to an amplifier or recording device. It runs on one 9-volt battery which is installed by accessing a plate on the backside of the device."

See the Sonica label at the bottom of this post for previous posts, and to get an idea of how often they have come up in the past.

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FRANK EVENTOFF SONICA SN 248

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

via this auction

"Featured for sale is a fine example of the vintage handmade FRANK EVENTOFF SONICA portable Electric Serge Synthesizer.

It features 15 Keys for Notes, an additional 1/2 Step Touch Button ("tone" and "slider" buttons are not working properly), Master Volume and On/Off Knob, 1/8" Output (for external amplifier connection), Key Adjuster knob, and Kill Switch.

All knobs and switches are in Excellent Operating Condition with the exception of the "slider" and "tone" buttons occasionally cutting out. It is in Good Vintage Cosmetic Condition (see photos), with normal signs of previous careful use on its body.


This Unique late 1970's instrument is a rare find. It is numbered #248 of only 600 that were made in the USA. Made of Solid Wood, with Brass Trim and Engraved Brass Plate (see photos). It comes protected in its included fiber-board case."

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Sonica Synthesizer by Frank Eventoff #585

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

via this auction

"Sonica Serge Synth Instrument, Frank Evantoff Number 585.

Own a part of synthesizer history. One of very few surviving, fully working Sonica Instruments. One sold at auction for $3,416.00

This example is in excellent condition, no damage other than one small ding (size of a BB) in the base of body. No corrosion on battery connections, original case, unmarked original instructions (even has unused stamp for warranty return). This instrument was bought new and put in a closet and recently found.

You are bidding on an extremely rare FULLY WORKING electronic synthesizer instrument by Frank Evantoff, called the Sonica. Number 585 of only 650 produced. Shaped like small lute with a guitar like neck which fits perfectly into the hand. By touching the frets on the neck the instrument produces notes best often described as between a theremin, sitar and a violin.

Frank invented the force sensing-resistor FSR. "After Mattel had used the concept for the "Magical Music Thing," Frank Evantoff developed a more precise keyboard and incorporated it into this new instrument, which he called The Sonica.

In 1979, the first Sonicas were produced, a collaboration with Larry Heller. There were 650 eventually built, but very few are seen nowadays. Serge Tcherepnin of Serge synthesizers (analog modular) did the oscillator design, and the oscillator inside the Sonica is indeed a Serge oscillator. The bodies have an interesting gourd/phallic shape, and were carved red alder wood with hand rubbed lacquer and covered with brass plates. This instrument is hand made even the circuit boards are hand printed. The neck is incredibly comfortable, and easily fits into the hand, facilitating the sliding action used for playing the Sonica.

The sound of the Sonica can best be described as somewhere between a theremin, sitar and violin. When run through a simple delay, an amazing array of soundscapes are derived. The front panel features a Key/Pitch Knob, and an On/Off Volume Knob. It boasts 15 keys with additional half step notes.

It also features three buttons. Analog “Slider” which is a tremolo type effect, Analog “Tone” which is actually a tonal boost, and “Half-Step” which raises the note an octave. It features a built-in speaker, with an 1/8 inch output to connect to an amplifier or recording device. It runs on one 9-volt battery which is installed by accessing a plate on the backside of the device.

The Sonica really shines when sent through a tube amplifier, producing a crystalline sound unlike anything I’ve heard before.

Please check out youtube of looping, etc. and history of The Sonica by Frank Eventoff.

Comes with original unmarked/no tears instructions (even has unused stamp for warranty return)."

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SONICA by FRANK EVENTOFF SN 230 & 410

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

SN 410 via this auction

SN 230 via this auction

"Travel back in time with this vintage Sonica. Yes, it is an unusual instrument. Around 1979-1980, only 650 were built. It's really a synthesizer that looks like a mini-guitar/sitar. The tone is something like a theremin. To hear the actual tone, there are various Youtube videos of folks playing one. This one is numbered 410. It's only about 20" long. It has its own little speaker and runs on a single nine volt battery. It has two octaves. All the notes on the headstock are major, but there is a half-step button on the body. The key is adjusted by a key knob. Yes, it is an odd duck! It is quite well made with a wood body (carved from Red Alder) and brass front, back and rear head stock plates (coated with baked enamel). The "fretboard" is also side with brass. This one is in good condition except for tears on the interior speaker grill cloth. The brass plating is tarnished, but I didn't dare scrub it with Brasso. It comes with the original (cute as the dickens) black chip board case with two piece of case candy. The mini six-page instructional booklet and warranty and the Sound Instruments warranty card (with the original 15 cent USPS "1980 Winter Olympics" speed skating stamp). It has an odd "in-tune" function: "Play the middle diamond... on the keyboard and turn the Key knob until the note sounds in tune with the music you're listening to." It also has an 1/8" output jack for a regular amplifier. Ol' Eric Clapton had one of these that was sold at his 2011 Bonhams auction for over $3,400. (Check it out online.) The inventor of the Sonica, Frank Eventoff, previously invented the popular Magical Musical Thing, and now runs Sensitronics, which is still on the cutting edge of experimental electronic musical instrument technology."

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SONICA BY FRANK EVENTOFF #311

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

via this auction

"This is the unusual and strange instrument, the SONICA. Invented by Frank Eventoff, supposedly only 650 were made. (I interviewed him oncMcDonald's cash registers, etc. all over the world. The instrument is made from a circuit built by SERGE Modular synthesizers (see photo of circuit board) and has a warm, mellow tone. You slide your finger along the diatonic-tuned soundboard. More importantly, there are 3 control pads: Slider wobbles the pitch a little (vibrato), Tone adjusts brightness, Half-Step gives you half-step notes (as diatonic scale misses some in-between, you can get them here). The tone control doesn't do much, maybe it's waveform adjust or something, but the sound is already dark and low, like a flute, so there's not many highs to affect. It's easy and fun to play, comes with original case.

'You are bidding on an extremely rare Sonica synthesizer built by Frank Eventoff in 1979. Only 650 of these were ever made. Very few are now known to exist. The body is carved of mahogany, and has a plaque with the number 311 comes with the original custom-sized case.'"

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The Sonica Frank Eventoff Musical Electronic Synthesizer Instrument SN 250

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

via this auction

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THE SONICA #50 Frank Eventoff Musical Electronic Synthesizer Instrument

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

via eBay

See the Sonica channel below for previous posts.

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Happy New Year! The Year in Synths 2013

Happy New Year Everyone!

What a busy year it has been in the world of synths.

This is going to be one doozy of a post, so bear with me. This post is a review of the year in synths for 2013. We begin with Tributes to Those We Lost This Year, followed by New Manufacturers & Makers, Older Manufacturers Added to the Site, New Gear Announcements, Top 10 Posts by Traffic,  My Standout Posts for the Year, and finally This Years' Synth Events. I did my best to keep things as short and concise as possible.

Let's begin with the hardest part of the post.

Tributes to Those We Lost This Year

RIP Bernard Parmegiani - Electronic & Acoustic Composer
Lou Reed RIP
RIP Dick Raaymakers aka Kid Baltan
RIP George Duke - DreamWeaver
RIP Ralph Dyck, Sept 28, 1941 – May 20, 2013
RIP Ray Manzarek

All missed and never to be forgotten. Take a moment to remember them.

------

New Manufacturers & Makers

Starting last January, I decided to keep a running list of every new manufacturer and maker introduced to the site during the year.  This is something I haven't done before and I thought it would be interesting to see how many there were in the year.   It's easy to focus on the big synth announcements throughout the year, but what about all the new makers and brands? I shouln't have to go considerably into the significance of new designers on the scene, so I'll just say two things regarding them.  One, the number of new makers is a direct reflection on the interest in our scene, and two, these are the creators of new gear which directly translate into new designs not previously available to us.  Think about that for a moment.  These are makers and designs that did not exist before.  They are part of our synth history.  So what is the total count of new synth designers for the year? A whopping 113. Think about that a bit. One hundred and thirteen new synth designers and brands this year alone.

Here they are (note a handful date back to 2012, but 2013 marked their momentum and availability):

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Sonica Synthesizer Instrument by Eventoff SN 609

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

via this auction - learn how to sell on eBay here

"There were only 650 of these made for a very short time beginning in 1979. This one is #609. Controls include Off/On/Volume and Key knobs and three touch pads titled Slider, Tone andHalf Step. It is powered by a 9 volt battery and has its own built in speaker. It also has a jack. The body is beautifully hand-carved wood and shows very little wear for its age. The face and rear plates appear to be brass. The soundhole area of the face plate is a bit bent in but it should be very easy to straighten it. The foam under the plate is showing a minor amount of cracking due to age. The Key knob has a thin crack at the tightening screw but it is solid and functional. There are two minor, superficial scratches on the fingerboard. Overall, this is a beautiful instrument. It works. It comes with its original case. In the case, you will also find the original warranty card, complete with stamp, and the small Sonica brochure showing the major scale, info about the Sonica and music for a song to play. Sonicas are very rare and are seldom seen on the market. Don’t miss your chance to own this wonderful and beautiful instrument!"

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