The World's First Programmable Synthesizer and its Pulitzer Prize Winning Music

video upload by ITSPmagazine

"This synthesizer is the world's first programmable music synthesizer. The first piece of electronic music to win the Pulitzer Prize was made on it.

basically a two voice synthesizer with tone generation and composing in the left hand side and processing on the right hand side, including manual binary for the, uh, ordering of the effects processes. Um, which for its time, uh, essentially like a uh, touring computer. Um, uh, was it You know, one and a half tons, seven feet tall, 14 feet wide, it's quite a behemoth, but now it's a very large paperweight.

Watch the full video:" [The above comes in at 22:41 - vintage Buchla, Serge & more follow. See this post for the red Buchla LSD module]

How Technology is Changing the Way We Make Music | A Conversation with Seth Cluett

video upload by ITSPmagazine

"Guest: Seth Cluett, Director of Columbia University’s Computer Music Center | On LinkedIn: / seth-cluett-7631065 | Columbia University Computer Music Center Bio: https://cmc.music.columbia.edu/bios/s...

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/

Show Notes

Music and technology have always shaped each other, and few places embody that relationship as deeply as the Computer Music Center (CMC) at Columbia University. In this episode of Music Evolves, Sean Martin sits down with Seth Cluett, Director of the Computer Music Center and Assistant Director of the Sound Art MFA program at Columbia, to explore the center’s rich history, its role in advancing music technology, and how it continues to shape the future of sound.

The Legacy and Mission of the Computer Music Center

The CMC is housed in the same 6,000-square-foot space as the original Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, which dates back to 1951 and is one of the world’s oldest university-based electronic music research facilities. This was the birthplace of early electronic music, where pioneers learned to use cutting-edge technology to create new sounds. Many of those musicians went on to establish their own studios around the world, from Egypt to Japan.

The center has played a role in major milestones in music history, including the work of Wendy Carlos, a former student known for Switched-On Bach, the score for Tron, and The Shining. The first piece of electronic music to win a Pulitzer Prize was also composed here. Today, under Cluett’s leadership, the focus remains on creativity-driven technological innovation—allowing composers and artists to explore technology freely and push the boundaries of what’s possible in sound and music.

One of the center’s guiding principles is accessibility. Cluett emphasizes the importance of lowering barriers to entry for students who may not have had prior access to music technology. The goal is to make sure that anyone, regardless of background, can walk into the studio and begin working with 80% of its capabilities within the first 20 minutes.

Exploring the Labs and Studios

The episode also includes a tour of the labs and studios, showcasing some of the center’s groundbreaking equipment. One highlight is the RCA Mark II Synthesizer, the world’s first programmable music synthesizer. Built in the late 1950s, this massive machine—seven feet tall and weighing over a ton—was instrumental in shaping the sound of early electronic music. The system worked by punching holes into paper to control sound generation, similar to a player piano. While no longer in use, the CMC has collaborated with iZotope to model some of its effects digitally.

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Draft #4 ( AMBIENT DRONE ) Digitakt 2 + Reface CS + Ditto X4

video upload by uh!

"In this draft, I have the Reface CS being looped by the Ditto x4, and with this, I also add effects to create variations. Then the signal goes to the Digitakt, where I'm just playing a small pattern of kick, snare, and hi-hat.

Everything is then separated by tracks in FL Studio."

SOME LOFI JAM | DIGITAKT - VOLCA FM

video upload by uh!

"In this jam, I only used the Digitakt and the Volca FM. I couldn't sync them properly, so I adjusted the timing later in the DAW.

Other than that, it's pretty simple. I start with a chopped sample and then add the drums. All the instruments, except for the chords, come from the Digitakt—the bass, lead, and pluck.

It was my first time trying to play everything live without any pre-recorded parts, and it was quite an experience. I have a lot to improve, especially keeping in time, but oh well, let's see how it goes!"

Generative Sequencing with 4Pockets MidiStep

video upload by boxoftextures

"Another excellent app from 4Pockets. Although I do wish they capitalized MIDI properly LOL. MidiStep is a very flexible sequencer app with a lot of available options, almost all of which also happen to be exposed in AUM for some automation fun. It's basically a 16-step sequencer, but you can have multiple patterns chained together in various ways for longer sequences if needed. In addition, there are three lanes: Notes, Octave, and uh, Other LOL. That last one has a Sequencer section with velocity, gate, divider (i.e., ratcheting) and other lanes, as well as a Modulation section. It's really flexible and powerful.

What I've done for this video is have two instances of MidiStep, one for a sequence and one for chords. I also use Euclidean, also from 4Pockets, to trigger a new set of random notes on occasion. With these three sequencers I have a controlled-but-random generative sequence, all done without human intervention once the Play button is tapped.

You can do lots of 'normal' things with MidiStep as well, of course, but I just love to build things that make 'automatic' music every now and then.

Featuring
4Pockets MidiStep
with
4Pockets Euclidean
Arturia iSEM
Klevgrand Pipa
DiscoDSP Discovery
and
AUM

Recorded and edited in ScreenFlow
All patches, as always, my own

Mastodon: https://vmst.io/@selgart
Twitter: / selgart
Patreon: / boxoftextures

4Pockets MidiStep https://apps.apple.com/us/app/midiste..."

Bach Invention no. 1 in C major on synth

video upload by Aurum Fusion

"Playing Johann Sebastian Bach's Invention Number 1 in C Major, BWV 772 on a Prophet 10 Rev 4 synth.
-
So, uh, it's been a while huh? I haven't really been active with this project for like a whole decade, but I've been needing a solo project again. So I'm planning on posting things more often as Aurum Fusion again! And right now, I'm pretty interested in getting my playing chops back up to speed, so I thought it would be fun to (re)learn a bunch of classical stuff and play it on synth for y'all. So here's a first one! Enjoy."

7/18/23 Roland 104 (for sale) sequences UH-lectronics telephone synth + Fairfield Circuitry + D-TWO

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Cfpp0

"Fairfield Circuitry’s Unpleasant Surprise pedal eats a telephone-cum-synthesizer created by UH-lectronics, which is being sequenced by a Roland 104 sequencer from the legendary System 100. Some T.C. Electronics D-TWO too. The 104 sequencer was refurbished in 2020 by the very meticulous Tone Tweakers in NYC, which is reflected in the price at Christopher’s Boutique 489 on Reverb where it is for sale." Link below.

Update: two more videos:

7/18/23 Roland 104 sequences Metasonix RK-7 (x2), R-54 (x2), R-53, RK-2 + CXM 1978


7/18/23 Swamp Blues: Roland 104 sequences Metasonix (R-52 is a creature) + CXM 1978

via this auction

"Ergonomics are not just for the elderly! If all that Eurorack wiggling and tweaking is giving you arthritis, get yourself a vintage sequencer with big knobs made for a human hand, but fitted with with the ubiquitous 3.5mm output and input jacks.

This 104 sequencer was created as part of Roland’s classic System 100, but it is very useful with other synthesizers. I have used it on Roland’s SH 101, but mostly on Roland’s System 100m. The 104 and the 100m get along very well.

The 104 produces CV and gate, has an internal clock, and can be externally stepped. Two CV channels. Series outputs and parallel outputs. 2.5v, 5v, 10v selectable per channel. CV in on the clock! End pulse output. Plus the Step button—handy for getting your sequence to the right step before starting up the master clock, or for punching in 1/8th notes when you overdub on a song you recorded to tape, but the tape stretched and you can’t clock the sequence you wanna drop so you go manual and tap that step button.

This 104 has been fully serviced by Tone Tweakers. They call it “future-proofing” but their servicing really means it works and is dependable because they fix anything wrong with it and preemptively replace parts known to fail."

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Custom Nord Lead 2X Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"'What is this thing?' you may be asking. I'm glad you asked!

Tl;dr version: it's a perfectly-functional Nord Lead 2x that has, well, seen some shit.

Longer version: Somebody (not me) once decided to "refinish" their Nord Lead 2x. They did a fairly tragic job of it (see last photo for what it looked like when I got it). I bought the synth from them, stripped the "new" paint job, hammered out some dents, designed, printed, and applied new panel labels, sprayed on some clear-coat protectant, reinforced the mod wheel, replaced the broken button, bought and installed a new set of OEM Clavia knobs, and the result is what you see here.

This synthesizer works perfectly and sounds as Nordy as you would expect. It also has some cool patches installed from the "Ambika" aftermarket sound set that I purchased. Visually, you can see from the photos that its aesthetic is now best described as, hmm, "rough-and-ready"? It has a, uh, unique visual flavor. But hey, maybe you like it. I do. I just don't have room for it and it's not getting much use.

I'm selling this as-is, given the difficult life this synthesizer has lived. I wouldn't necessarily consider it a road horse anymore, given that I can't vouch for what happened to it before I got it—IMO it has already survived a lot and deserves a nice quiet life in a studio—but ymmv.

I think this narrative explains why this is such a low price for a fully-functional Nord Lead 2x (check listings elsewhere on here for comparison) so please don't lowball me!"

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Analog FX SER-2020 Sound Demo (no talking) with dba Rooms and Erica Synths Zen Delay

video upload by Limbic Bits


0:00 7th dimension lead
1:15 Tiny critters IDM Lead
2:45 Wobble Bass
4:21 Melodic Techno Lead
6:07 Ring Modulator
7:46 SID Bass
8:19 Sexy Lead (Formant Mode)
8:40 Gibberish Lead (Formant Mode)
9:39 Eh-Uh-Oh-Uh-Oa-Oa-Lead (Formant Mode)
10:03 90s Psytrance Arp (Phasing)
12:25 FM Experiments Lead
12:58 Dreamer Arp
15:24 End Boss (Lead)

Sequential Prophet-5 Rev 4 + DrumBrute Sketch

San Stacks

"Super quick, uh, "jam". Still no doubts over here: The Prophet-5 Rev 4 is pretty much one of the best synthesizers I've ever played. This was tracked to LUNA through a UA Apollo x8p using the Unison V76 Preamps and a smidge of LA-2A compression. In LUNA, I tend to enable the Neve summing bus and also use the ATR-102 tape option. Because that shit sounds RIGHT."

Roland V-Synth Demo - D Beams for LIFE! - [NO TALKING]

Marshal Arnold

"Ah, the OG V-Synth! This was one of the first synthesizers I purchased, I remember checking this out in the music shop several times, saving my pennies! The Roland V-Synth has some really uh, unique controls like the infamous D Beams and the Time Trip Pad. I crack jokes about D Beams all the time, but I will say that are a lot of fun! Here's some factory presets to check out! I really did get lost in this synth again :)

Follow me on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marshalarnold

If you want to find out more about me, please visit my website at: http://www.marshalarnold.com"

reSEMble asSEMble

Published on Oct 31, 2019 Randy Piscione

"Five minutes or so vid of the reSEMble panel being assembled. The, uh, soundtrack is reSEMble, one take, one track. Two sequencers, a clock, quantizer and the State Machine EG from PM Foundations where used as well but all sound comes from reSEMble. I also did some knob-twiddling while the sequencers ran. The video thumbnail shows the setup used for the soundtrack.

This is the prototype so we're still making minor (very minor) changes."

You can find the first demo here.

Free presets pack for Native Instruments Massive X

Published on Sep 9, 2019 Expressive E

"🔥🔥🔥 Discover Expressive E free 🎁 original presets for #NATIVEINSTRUMENTS #MassiveX synthesizer! These presets are available for #Touché and Non-Touché users and can be used with or without Touché. Download link 👉🏼 www.expressivee.com/massive-x
This new 20-preset collection harnesses the advanced sound-design capabilities of Massive X and offers users the next level in articulate playability.

📌You don’t already have a Touché or Touché SE?
Expressive E has released a free synthesizer preset pack that does not only require one of its unique Touché or Touché SE controllers. The deep modular nature of Massive X lets its users interact with its sounds much more expressively than on traditional subtractive synthesizers, making it a perfect candidate for the sound design talents of Expressive E’s team. Their free presets utilize Massive X’s macro controls with multiple parameters per macro, sophisticated programming, so users can immediately shape the sounds in creative ways with the turn of a single control. Even after the initial sound stops—for instance with short pluck or bell sounds—the macros that single control continues to put out volume and timbre changes with no need to re-trigger the note.

🎁 This Massive X 20-preset download is free to anyone who registers an account at Expressive E’s website: www.expressivee.com

Owners of an Expressive E Touché or Touché SE controller will have an even more precise and supremely tactile experience with these sounds. The devices’ four-axis control surface offers the highest degree of touch and pressure sensitivity for both the most subtle and most aggressive parameter changes.

While anyone can open these free presets directly in Massive X, Touché and Touché SE owners can open them Expressive E’s Lié plugin host software. This allows the user to manipulate up to eight of Massive X’s macros at once with a single hand, making rhythmic manipulation of the sounds much more varied and physically intuitive. Each of those Massive X macro controls manipulates multiple parameters, making these synth sounds extraordinarily dynamic when used the Touché or Touché SE.

Touché and Touché SE hardware ships with more than 200 sounds powered by UVI Workstation software. These sounds are custom-designed to perfectly complement the controllers’ four-directional movements. Lié also includes presets for more than 30 popular software and hardware synthesizers from brands such as ARTURIA, KORG, MOOG, NOVATION, ROLAND, UH-E, and others. These free MASSIVE X presets are Expressive E’s latest sound design effort but by no means the last.

They are available now, along with the Touché ($399) and Touché SE ($229), at www.expressivee.com

✏️ presets, 🎶 Music, 🎥 video created by Theo Galienne"

MAKING MUSIC ON A APPLE ii 1983 8 bit using DMS Drummer

Published on Aug 28, 2019 LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"long before the #apple #macintosh. Making a song on a apple ii by using the dms drummer against its intended purpose! uh oh. #8bit weapon

more info on DMS can be found here :-
https://8bitweapon.com/store/

Downloads of the files aswell as other loops etc and even an extra video content of what else came with the apple ii is available over here on my patreon, thanks for the support it helps a lot with projects like this and the gameboy mega machine:-
https://www.patreon.com/lookmumnocomp..."

You can find additional posts including video demos of DMS Drummer in the archives here.

CGS Serge Modular Synth: Thoughts after 1 Year (VLOG) #TTNM

Published on Feb 28, 2019 The Tuesday Night Machines

"Uh oh ... I was told to show my face more often, so I'm trying this VLOG thing now! This is a VLOG about the 'Best of CGS' Serge modular synthesizer system and the experiences I've had with it, in my first one year of ownership. Lots of sergy links below :)"

Jexus is on Patreon

For those of you that would like to support Jexus and maybe see some new videos from him, he is now on Patreon. This was sent my way via Anatoly with the following:

"Hello. I've noticed that Jexus opened the Patreon account. https://www.patreon.com/jexus

That's what he wrote:

'I'm alive,
Hi there. So I'm making this experiment with Patreon. Please read my entry at:
http://syntezatory.net.pl/wcog_synth_patches.htm
to get the full story (well, the full FULL story will be updated soon, in February)'.

'Uh, I don't necessarily want to get $1300 per month, I want to get around $1300 for a new synth that you choose in a poll. How do I change that? On the other hand, if at least 1300 people would pledge to give me $1 per month, I think I could quit my job and just do synths'.

I don't think it's scam, as the link published on his YouTube channel."

P.S. if you aren't familiar with Jexus, see this mini documentary on him, followed by some videos by him here.

Poly Evolver Keyboard: Sliding Brass

Published on Jan 26, 2018 Sacred Synthesis

"This piece uses a somewhat strange sound. It's a brass patch that just barely qualifies because it uses only minimal envelope controlled modulation of the filter. In addition, I've added glide/portamento, which has quite a mind of its own. DSI glide is unique and often difficult to control, but at times it sounds very effective. On this piece, I think it's a bit overdone, but that's what these improvisations are for - testing ideas. Which means, sometimes stepping back and realizing, uh...that didn't work at all.

On the other hand, this piece gives some sense of the massiveness of the Poly Evolver character and musical power. It is a joy to play this superb synthesizer because the sonic satisfaction is always high.

Instrumentation:
DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard
DSI Poly Evolver Rack

Effects:
Lexicon MX 300

Performed live and recorded directly to a Tascam CD-RW900 Mk II.

See my blog at :
https://themusicalsynthesizer.wordpress.com

ALL MUSIC PROPERTY OF SACRED SYNTHESIS 2018"

Moog DFAM! VCO, FM, & Hard Sync...

Published on Jan 18, 2018 JAkoGreyshire

"Moog DFAM! Drummer from another Mother. This video demonstrates the VCO section of the DFAM. The oscillators are tuned to G and D.

Korg SQ-1 is sequencing pitch data to VCO 1 and 2 and supplying the gates that are triggering a Make Noise Contour and another Contour section on the Make Noise 0-Coast.. These ADSRs are controlling VCAs which the VCOs are patched into. You can see the ADSR shapes on the Mordax Data Scope at full screen...not really important here..

This is to show a small example of the VCO section and how it may be used without the rest of the DFAM..

Uh oh!! There is one patch cable in there that is not doing anything! Can you find it? Where's the dummy patch cable?!?!"

I Wish and Superstition sort of

Published on Dec 9, 2017 Randy Piscione

"This is a mash-up of two Stevie Wonder songs, I Wish and Superstition. My right hand is still in alot of pain from a motorcycle accident on October 1st and not completely responding but I did what I could. 4-legged cameo is Charlotte. Lucky she didn't jump on the stool. Would've been a cool video 'though. Details below.

High lead is a Roland A-37 playing Animoog on an old iPad, pad is played on a Roland A-70 using its internal sounds, a Roland Alpha Juno 2, Korg Microstation and 6 Shruthis. Clavinet is a Kurzweil K2600XS and the Rhodes is obvious.

Bass is from the Eurorack modular, using a Eurokorn sequencer, RYO Paths switch, YuSynth Minimoog filter and Living VCO. The 3 channels from the Eurokorn go into the switch and are manually switched from a footswitch at my right foot using a Monome Walk module. Drums are from two Bastl Tea Kicks and Manhattan Analog SVVCF filter. Envelope generators are from Doepfer and Nonlinearcircuits. VCAs are MFOS bits I put together.

The, uh, groove on the bass, the double-plucking sort of thing, is done with the delay from a Disting Mk 1. That was trial and error."

Dreadbox Abyss - Twiddling With and Exploring the Sounds

Published on Jun 10, 2017 ProckGnosis

"WARNING: a bit lengthy listen to the Dreadbox Abyss, 4-voice analog(ue) synthesizer (I tried to cut the length down, but obviously failed). This is NOT a review, and there's no talking past the introduction. It's basically a big sound sampler focusing on chords, with a bit of lead and bass thrown in as well.

When it comes to synths, this thing is retro-in-a-box. And I'm talking sound most of all. And in case you were wondering, the opening ProckGnosis theme for this video was done only with the Abyss and some VST drums.

Top 4 things I've discovered so far:
- If you want that "Boards of Canada" drifting oscillator sound (more recently overexposed in the "Stranger Things" soundtrack), this thing nails it
- The hybrid delay really does create a great chorus effect (the Erebus should be able to do this too, but I've never tried)
- Just a touch of "drive" on the VCA helps make the sound even more classic and...uh...not sure really, but I describe it as "dirty" in the video
- The selection of variable wave shapes sort of pushes this into OB6 territory, and being able to easily modulate the waves really pumps some life into the sound

Again, hats off to Dreadbox for this kind of stuff. I said somewhere, yeah, it's just a synthesizer, but they do it just a little bit differently, and that really makes it something more unique in the field of synths. Cheers!"

ROLAND SH-101 with Filter CV Mod & Bent Bender

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

via this auction

"has the filter mod for CV added, with 2 inputs above the Modulator section. The sticker was removed (though pictured). Bender is, well, a little, uh...bent :)" Or just happy to see you...

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