LSPXPO 2025: Synth Evolution's Vintage Synthesizer Illustrations

video upload by sonicstate

"At the LSPXPO 2025, we met Oli Freke from *Synth Evolution*, who shares his passion for synthesizers through his unique illustrated books and posters. They're great. (We have a poster on the wall at the Sonic office ;-)

More Info:
https://www.synthevolution.net/"

Syntheast 2025 - Impressions, Interviews and Performances

video upload by sonicstate

"Syntheast was on a couple of weeks back, now in its third year, it's become a well established synth show with exhibitors, performances, and talks - and a friendly vibe.

Regular contributor Paulee Bow (‪@magicalsynthadventure3216‬ ) had a slot playing an improvised set with the organizer Robin Vincent (‪@MoltenMusicTech‬ ) so we sent them a phone trig to capture some of the people and performances from the 3 day event.

Thanks to those who spoke to Paulee and Robin Vincent for the additional footage.

https://Syntheast.com
https://www.electronicsound.co.uk/

00:00:00 Introduction and highlights
00:03:20 Chat with Robin Vincent
00:05:38 Chat With Gaz Williams
00:07:50 ‪@ElectronicSound‬ Magazine
00:09:50 Luke from Korg
00:12:28 Oli Freke http://synthevolution.net
00:14:05 ‪@ProSynthNetwork‬ Peter James-Stephen
00:14:40 Paul from PWM https://www.1pwm.com/
00:17:49 Chris Calcutt ‪@-CALC-‬
00:19:53 http://clacktronics.co.uk
00:20:22 Live performances collection
00:27:14 Final thoughts"

Two New Synthesizer Evolution Books by Oli Freke

Details follow via the author, Oli Freke:

These two new volumes in my Synth Evolution ‘zine series were launched at last weekend’s SynthEast event in Norwich, UK. They are Volume 3: Modern Classics, and Volume 4: Modular Greats. I’ve moved into the 21st Century with these two! As ever, they feature my signature hand-drawn illustrations and are full of facts, figures and tech-specs:

Volume 3: Modern Classics

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back) author Oli Freke returns with a new volume in his Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series. The first two volumes (Vintage Synths and Drum Machines & Samplers) focused on vintage electronic instruments from the 1970s and 1980s. Volume three moves into the 21st century, showcasing a selection of the most interesting, impactful, and—arguably—best synthesizers of the past two decades.

The synths in this book celebrate the vast range of sonic possibilities now available to musicians and producers. From analogue wonders to extraordinary digital creations, from tightly designed monosynths to open-ended polyphonic beasts, each one is more marvellous than the last! Also featuring ‘Desert Island Modular’ choices from Robin Vincent, Steve Davis, Panic Girl and more.

https://velocitypress.uk/product/modern-classics-synths/

Alesis Andromeda A6 on the cover.

Volume 4: Modular Greats

The modular resurgence of the past 25 years has been a wonder to behold. Where musicians were once chained to their DAWs, we are now liberated once again to wire, patch, and modulate in the real world, choosing from a mind-boggling array of options.

Modular Greats celebrates the fusion of art, logic, science, and serendipity in modular synthesis, highlighting some of the best-selling, most creative, and most impactful modules of the 21st century. Featured manufacturers include Make Noise, Mutable Instruments, TipTop Audio, Intellijel, Rossum Electro-Music, Doepfer—and many more!

https://velocitypress.uk/product/modular-greats/

Instruo Cs-L on the cover.

SynthFest UK 2024 - Iconic Drum Machines

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Oli Freke from Synth Evolution takes us on a guided tour of some of the most iconic drum machines that shaped music in our time.

He'll be joined on stage by Michael Eden who will demonstrate some of the drum machines in his collection.

Chapter times:

00:00 - Introducing the hosts
00:50 - What is a drum machine?
03:30 - The Wurlitzer Sideman from 1959, the first drum machine?
04:35 - Wurlitzer Sideman demonstration
08:15 - The Sideman's valve mechanism in action
09:52 - Legal problems and use by home organists
11:21 - Transistor-based Keio Donca Matic DE-11 from 1966
13:34 - Donca Matic DE-11 demonstration
15:15 - Keio becomes Korg
16:17 - Ace Tone Drum machines from 1967
17:15 - Keio Mini Pops 7 from 1967
20:47 - Famed use by Jean-Michel Jarre on Oxygene (Note: YouTube has muted the music clip)
23:12 - Inclusion of Quijada/ Jawbone sound
24:24 - Robin Gibb, Sly & The Family Stone drum machine firsts
26:29 - Paia Programmable Drumset from 1975
28:06 - Paia Drumset programming demonstration
32:16 - Use by Peter Gabriel
34:01 - Roland TR-808 from 1980
37:29 - Roland TR-808 features and demonstration
41:00 - Programming a beat on the TR-808
43:48 - Pioneering new genres of electronic music
47:13 - How does the TR-808 make its sounds?
48:14 - Recreating the 808 bass drum
50:39 - Recreating the 808 snare drum
52:22 - Recreating the 808 clap sound
53:48 - Recreating the 808 hi-hat sound
56:17 - Recreating the 808 cowbell sound
57:38 - Comparing the digital model with the original TR-808
58:29 - Outro

Oli Freke may be contacted via his website.
https://www.synthevolution.net"

Drum Machine History by Oli Freke

"The drum machine has progressed massively since the days of the home organ player. Here Oli Freke takes us through a brief history with lots of audio examples, highlighting the most iconic models to have been released during the last 60 years and the part they have played in shaping musical trends."

You might remember Oli Freke from his Synthesizer Evolution book, synth posters, and demos previously posted here.

Check out the full article on Sound on Sound here.

Timeline for the above podcast:

00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Early Rhythm Machines
02:57 - The First Korg Rhythm Machine
04:03 - The Invention Of The Transistor
08:02 - Solid State Rhythm Machines
13:48 - Using Drum Machines In Mainstream Hits
17:05 - The First Programmable Drum Machines
21:59 - The Introduction Of Drum Pads And Brains
25:27 - The Arrival Of Digital Samples And The Linn Drum
30:59 - The Era Of Sampling Drum Machines
37:11 - The Impact Of The Roland TR-808 and TR-909
42:54 - Other Notable 80s Drum Machines
44:41 - The Introduction Of MIDI
46:51 - Standardised Layouts And Spec
50:12 - Analogue Circuit Modelling And Software
53:45 - Back To Hardware With Eurorack Modular
54:52 - Drum Pattern Generation With AI

"Oli Freke is a London-based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.

His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.

www.synthevolution.net www.linktr.ee/olifreke"

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 - having a play

video upload by Oli Freke

Oli Freke is the man behind the "Synthesizer Evolution", "Vintage Synths", and "Drum Machines and Samplers" books previously featured here.

"In which I have a first play with a Prophet 5 rev 3 (a friend's, not mine!). As you can tell I have a predilection for hard sync / FM type sounds, which may not be the usual lush analogue chords you might initially be expecting!

It was actually quite a lot more digital sounding in that way - cross-modulation and FM giving rise to those harsher/brighter sounds I guess.

I'll have to do another one that's a bit more 'Stranger Things'! :-)"

New Batch of Synthfest UK 23 Videos

video uploads by sonicstate

Playlist: (you can use the player controls to skip around)

1. Synthfest UK 23: Sequential - Trigon 6 Desktop

At SynthFest UK 2023, we had the opportunity to chat with Chris from Sequential, a part of the Focusrite group. Chris introduced us to the Trigon 6 Desktop, the latest addition to Sequential's synthesizer lineup. This compact desktop version of the Trigon 6 packs a powerful punch, offering three oscillators and a distinctive Dave Smith ladder filter. Designed for those seeking a space-saving solution without compromising on sound quality, the Trigon 6 Desktop retains all the features of its larger sibling, including patch recall, a versatile effects section with various modulation possibilities, and the distinctive feedback control that allows you to sculpt sub-harmonic richness.

Trigon 6 Desktop Price: $2,499

https://www.sequential.com/

2. Synthfest UK 2023: Calc And the Prophet X

At Synthfest UK 2023, we caught up with Calc from Sequential, and he gave us the lowdown on the Prophet X. Now, you might be thinking, Prophet X? Haven't we seen that before? Well, you're right, but this hybrid instrument has been quietly making waves in the music world. It combines digital and analog elements, with digital oscillators and a unique twist in the form of multi-sample-based instruments. Yes, you heard that right, it's not just your run-of-the-mill synth; it's a full-on sampler too, boasting an impressive 50 gigabytes of memory for your custom samples. You can treat it like a rompler, a sample player, or even use those samples as oscillators, creating a whole new realm of sonic possibilities.

Plus, it's packed with stereo goodness, allowing you to explore a wide soundstage with ease. It's not your typical synth, and that's what makes its a favourute of Calc's

Looking for some more info on the Prophet X? Check out Sequential's official page: www.sequential.com/prophet-x/

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oli Freke Announces Two New Synthesizer Books

Oli Freke, author of Synthesizer Evolution, has announced two new books in the series, "Vintage Synths" & "Drum Machines and Samplers".

Details on each follow.

Oli Freke, ‘Vintage Synths’

Following on from his 2021 book, Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), Oli Freke returns with a Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series.

The invention of the synthesizer in the 1960s changed musical culture and music production forever, giving musicians whole new worlds of sound to play with. Vintage Synths celebrates that invention and its subsequent history by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting synths from 1939 – 1998. They each represent the introduction of a new technology, had particular impact, or maybe even formed the basis of entirely new genres.

Explore the most legendary synthesizers ever created, including the Minimoog, ARP 2600, Yamaha DX7, Roland Jupiter 8 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development.

Buy from Velocity Press. £4, Shipping Internationally.

Oli Freke, ‘Drum Machines and Samplers’

Drum machines and samplers have something of a shared history and this zine celebrates their invention by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting from 1949 – 1996. Explore the most legendary drum machines and samplers ever created, including the Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909, Akai S1000, Fairlight CMI, Akai MPC60 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development.

Buy from Velocity Press. £4, Shipping Internationally

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (And Back) - Book Review + Flip Through

synth4ever

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (And Back) is also available on Amazon here.

"Ciat-Lonbarde

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (And Back) book review & book flip through. Synthesizer Evolution is a recently published book covering every major synth, drum machine and sampler from 1963-1995. Each instrument is hand drawn and includes vital statistics and quirky facts.

Synth Evolution is published by Velocity Press (https://velocitypress.uk) and written & illustrated by Oli Freke (https://www.synthevolution.net), a London-based musician, artist and author with a life-long passion for analogue synthesizers and electronic music.

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (And Back) provides us with an in-depth look at synthesizer history over the decades and covers a variety of vintage synthesizers including analog synths, digital synths, modular synths, wavetable synths, FM synths, additive synths and more.

Join me for a narrated book flip through highlighting various synths and concluding with a brief book review at the end. Hope you enjoy and feel free to grab a copy of Synth Evolution if you like it.

--------------------
TIMECODES
--------------------
00:00 - Intro

► SYNTHESIZERS
01:01 - 360 Systems, Access Music (Virus), Ace Tone
01:46 - Akai (AX80, AX60)
02:43 - Arp Instruments (2500, 2600)
03:44 - Behringer
04:07 - Buchla modulars
04:22 - Casio (Casiotone, CZ series, HT series)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Woody Synthesizer Evolution

Woody Piano Shack

"Join me as I share some stories about my own personal Synthesizer Evolution, the keyboards and synths that have meant the most over the last 4 decades and the musical journey that they helped to shape.

Synth Evolution - Oli Freke
► https://velocitypress.uk/product/synt..."

MORE WOODY PIANO SHACK
► WEBSITE https://woodypianoshack.com - additional links there.
► PIANO INSPIRATION SERIES http://bit.ly/inspiration_welcome
► SUPPORT http://bit.ly/wps_support

Synthesizer Evolution Synth Book by Oli Freke

My copy of Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back) by Oli Freke arrived the other day. I finally got a chance to take a quick look and take some pics for a post here on MATRIXSYNTH. You might remember the book from this previous post. It's available at Velocity Press, and on Amazon

I have to say, the quality of the book is excellent, it just feels nice in the hands. The book is laid out in the following sections (see the Contents image below): Preface, Introduction, Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, and Pre-Modern Instruments. Each synth/instrument has a hand drawing by Oli Freke with simple specs and some facts. You can see a page featuring Sequential Circuits below.

One nice surprise was seeing matrixsynth.com mentioned in the acknowledgements. I had no idea it would be there. So cool. :) Huge thanks to Oli Freke for the mention. This book would make a great stocking stuffer this holiday season. I'm looking forward to relaxing with the book myself over the holidays.

BTW, you can find a link to the book on top of the site for future reference.

Oli Freke also created the SYNTH EVOLUTION poster you can find on his website, https://www.synthevolution.net.

You can find additional posts featuring his work here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back) by Oli Freke

New synth book coming from Oli Freke, who brought us the SYNTH EVOLUTION posters.

The book is currently available for pre-order here.

The book features:

• Over 500 hand-drawn illustrations of vintage synthesizers, drum-machines, samplers and pre-modern electric instruments.

• A reference book for every synthesizer, drum-machine and sampler manufactured between 1963 and 1995 with key stats, fascinatingly quirky facts and company profiles.

• Destined to be the new ‘bible’ of synthesizer information, following in the footsteps of the classic ‘KeyFax’ series by Julian Colbeck.

• Tells the story and impact of the synthesizer on all forms of modern music and culture with geek appeal for the music fan and synth fan alike.

From acid-house to prog-rock, there is no form of modern popular music that hasn’t been propelled forwards by the synthesizer. As a result they have long been objects of fascination, desire and reverence for keyboard players, music producers and fans of electronic music alike. Whether looking at an imposing modular system or posing with a DX7 on Top of the Pops, the synth has also always had an undeniable physical presence.

This book celebrates their impact on music and culture by providing a comprehensive and meticulously researched directory of every major synthesizer, drum machine and sampler made between 1963 and 1995. Each instrument is illustrated by hand, and shown alongside its vital statistics and some fascinatingly quirky facts. In tracing the evolution of the analogue synthesizer from its invention in the early 1960s to the digital revolution of the 1980s right up until the point that analogue circuits could be modelled using software in the mid-1990’s, the book tells the story of analogue to digital - and back again.

CLICK FOR MORE »

New SYNTH EVOLUTION Poster for Xmas 2018

A new poster from SYNTH EVOLUTION, who also hosts www.synthsounds.net, a new online database of samples for various synths that anyone can contribute to. Currently there are 50 samples, including some real rarities like the Buchla 100.

---

The following is the announcement on the new poster:

"SYNTH EVOLUTION is proud to announce a brand new poster for Xmas 2018:

Synth’s Greatest Hits: 1939 - 1999

An A1 poster featuring the world’s most important synths, drum machines and samplers.

Each of the 99 featured instruments is lovingly hand illustrated and is accompanied by fascinating facts - notable tracks, performers, or historical information.

Alongside this the mode of synthesis is indicated, its polyphony and number of oscillators per voice.

Featured are such well known instruments as: Minimoog, TB-303, Arp 2600, TR-808, TR-909, DX-7, D-50, S1000, TONTO...
...and others such as:


- Eminent 310 - the sound of Equinoxe I
- Waldorf Microwave - made by some of the ex- employees of PPG Wave - Ensoniq Mirage - early, affordable 8-bit sampler -Korg M1 - the ROMpler that changed everything!
The poster is available in black or white from synthevolution.net and will make a for a
fascinating talking point in any home or studio. Or home studio!
 £30 + postage (global delivery)

© 2018 SynthEvolution. All rights reserved

Details of ‘Greatest Hits of Synth’ A1 poster:


SYNTH EVOLUTION is the brainchild of Oli Freke, a composer, musician and designer who’s had a lifelong passion for the synthesizer. He has previously supported the Human League on tour, run a dance music label, performed live house and techno in clubs and festivals, performed Brazilian drumming at the Glastonbury festival and composed music for television. www.olifreke.co.uk"

CLICK FOR MORE »

SYNTH EVOLUTION - Illustrations of Classic Synthesizers

"SYNTH EVOLUTION is a new business specialising in illustrations of classic synthesizers, from the earliest Moog and Buchla systems of the early 1960s, right up to the introduction of the first analogue modelling synths of the early 1990s.

Every synth manufactured during that time has been covered - from the big names of Moog, Roland and Yamaha to the more esoteric products from RMI, Wersi and Powertran. Between them, all these synthesizers - and more importantly, the musicians who use them, have transformed music of the last 50 years bringing previously undreamt of sounds and styles to musical culture.

The first range of products from SYNTH EVOLUTION are stylish white ceramic mugs emblazoned with illustrations of these mighty instruments. There is a selection to browse from on the website, but any synth from a list of over 270 can be requested!

Note that currently only synthesizers are available - drum machines, samplers and more recent instruments are in the pipeline, as are other products.

Delivery worldwide.

www.synthevolution.net

Pictured:

Moog Modular 3C (1967)

Buy now

The Moog Modular Synthesizer 3C (1967) was one of Robert Moog's earliest instruments and formed the basis of what was to become the world's largest modular synthesizer 'TONTO'. Created by Malcolm Cecil, 'The Original New Timbral Orchestra’ eventually comprised two Moog Modular 3C's as well as many other modules from other manufacturers.




Arp 2600 (1971)

Buy now

The Arp 2600 was created in 1971 by Alan R. Pearlman and has been a classic ever since. Notable users are too numerous to list in full, but include Stevie Wonder, Jean-Michel Jarre, Orbital, Rick Wakeman and Nine Inch Nails. It was also used to create R2D2's bleeps and bloops in Star Wars.


Yamaha CS-80 (1977)

Buy now

The polyphonic Yamaha CS-80 is synonymous with the lush chord sound of Vangelos - such as the opening sequence of Bladerunner.

Released in 1977, it's eight note polyphony was a revelation, but it's 90kg weight meant some serious weight training was required to own one.


Con Brio ADS 200 (1980)

Buy now

The Con Brio Advanced Digital Synthesizer (ADS) 200 was an extraordinary synthesizer released in 1980 costing over $20,000. Based on additive synthesis, FM, phase modulation and some other esoteric sound generation methods it had 64 note polyphony and 16 oscillators per note.

Quite a beast, and a splendid looking one too - perfect for a retro-futuristic mug of tea!

—————
SYNTH EVOLUTION is the brainchild of Oli Freke, a composer and musician who’s had a lifelong passion for the synthesizer. He has previously supported the Human League on tour, run a dance music label, performed live house and techno in clubs and festivals, performed Brazilian drumming at the world famous Glastonbury festival and composed music for television. Find out more at www.olifreke.co.uk"