Korg Re-releases ARP 2600 Synth | NAMM 2020

Published on Jan 17, 2020 Under the Big Tree

"The most exciting and surprising news I've found here at NAMM 2020 is Korg's announcement that they are re-releasing the legendary ARP 2600, in a limited run. Nick Kwas from Korg tells us what the scoop is."

KORG ARP 2600 FS posts

1010 Music Blackbox - Cloudburst Flight | Demonstration

Published on Oct 27, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"I wanted to see what the 1010 Music Blackbox standalone sampler/sequencer/performance platform could do, so I loaded up some samples of vintage synths, plugged in a McMillen QuNexus USB micro-keyboard, and did an arrangement of one of my favorite Tangerine Dream songs, 'Cloudburst Flight' from the 1979 album Force Majeure.

This is a very capable piece of hardware. Great fun to work with when you are traveling - I did this arrangement on a plane on the way from Los Angeles to Chicago for Knobcon '19."

Designing a Modular Synth for Live Performance

Published on Oct 14, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"This 6-part series delves into every aspect of designing a modular system for taking out and performing with, from overall architecture and philosophy to the nitty gritty of the case, sequencers and timing, modules, layout and approaches to performance."

Playlist:
Designing a Modular Synth System for Live Performance Part 1 | Introduction
Designing a Modular Synth System for Live Performance Part 2 | The Case
Designing a Modular Synth System for Live Performance Part 3 | Layout and Design
Designing a Modular Synth System for Live Performance Part 4 | Clocks. Pulses, and Musical Time
Designing a Modular Synth System for Live Performance Part 5 | Sequencers
Designing a Modular System for Live Performance Part 6A - My Approach | Tutorial
Designing a Modular System for Live Performance Part 6B - Complete System Tutorial
Designing a Modular System for Live Performance Part 6C - Live Improvisation | Performance

Tangible Waves AE Modular | Knobcon 2019

Published on Sep 17, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Blake from Noisebug takes us on a tour of the incredibly compact, powerful and inexpensive AE Modular system. If you have wanted to get into modular but haven't been able to afford the steep price of admission, AE Modular is the system for you."

Warm Star Electronics | Knobcon 2019

Published on Sep 11, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Bradford from Warm Star Electronics takes us through his company's range of Eurorack modules: Fragment, The Bends, and the upcoming Orbit module. Warm Star's line is currently about getting a lot of density and options out of your control voltage signals, at a modest price and HP size.

https://warmstarelectronics.com

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Todd Barton - Wavefolding is Like a Rainbow | Knobcon 2019

Published on Sep 11, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"There are no words that can adequately express my esteem for this remarkable man. Composer, thinker, synthesist, communicator, human. Todd Barton plays all of those parts exquisitely. He has taught me so much about synthesis and the art of tiny movements. And I was utterly unsurprised to learn that Pauline Oliveros loomed large in both of our backgrounds, teaching us how to listen.

Here Todd is delivering a lecture at Knobcon 2019, and it was a wonderful opportunity to zoom in close on his hands as he performed on his Buchla Easel. A fascinating talk on listening, synthesis, and life. Just watch this whole video. Right now. See what I'm talking about.

http://www.toddbarton.com

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Dr. John Chowning -Keynote Address | Knobcon 2019

Published on Sep 10, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"I first met Dr. John Chowning, the discoverer of frequency modulation as a powerful algorithm for synthesis, at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford in the early 90's. He was a brilliant, kind gentleman then, and nothing has changed in the subsequent decades. I thought it important to document his address, and subsequent lecture on the history of FM synthesis, for the future. Apologies for the sound quality - there was an enormous air conditioner running full blast behind him. But the substance is what counts, and hearing the words of this giant of the synthesizer realm."

Also see: MMTA SYNTHFEST 2013: Dave Bristow & The History of Yamaha FM Synthesis

Update:

Dr. John Chowning - The History of FM Synthesis | Knobcon 2019

Published on Sep 11, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Dr. John Chowning is a legendary scientist, musician, and composer best known for the discovery of frequency modulation (FM) synthesis for musical applications. He did not invent the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer, but he discovered the principles underlying the technology, and worked tirelessly to get it into the hands of a company that would develop it into a product. That product, the DX7, became one of the best selling synthesizers of all time.

Dr. Chowning's lecture at Knobcon 2019 delves into the history of the discovery of FM, as well as detailed information on how it works, ending with the creation of the DX7. This discussion is dense and scholarly, but has charts and animations to help explain the principles of the topic. It is a long lecture, but will bear fruit to the student of electronic music that is willing to delve in.

My apologies for the quality of the camera work - it was hand held for two hours. But I hope that the quality of the content transcends the quality of the recording."

Exhibit Hall Walkthrough - Knobcon 2019

Published on Sep 10, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"For those synth enthusiasts that would have liked to attend Knobcon 2019 but couldn't, here's a quick walkthrough of the exhibit hall.

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

See the Knobcon label below for more Knobcon coverage!

Kim Bjorne - Patch and Tweak | Synthplex 2019

Published on Jul 13, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Kim Bjorne, founder of Bjooks Publishing and co-author of the beautiful and seminal books Patch and Tweak and Push Turn Move tells us about his books.

If you are a devotee of modular synthesis, you really owe it to yourself to think about adding these marvelous books to your collection. They are beautiful and filled with insight, instruction, and interviews with some leading electronic artists."

Buchla - Electronic Music as Performance Art | Synthplex 2019

Published on Mar 30, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Marc Doty, renowned historian of electronic music, delivers a fascinating presentation on the history of Don Buchla, including the context of experimental music in which he developed his amazing ideas. This lecture is an absolute must watch for any serious devotee of the craft of electronic music. Watching Marc tear down the notion of East Coast vs. West Coast synthesis is worth the price of admission on its own."

Rossum Electro Panharmonium | Synthplex 2019

Published on Mar 30, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We interview Bob Bliss, chief engineer at Rossum Electro, who shows us the newly unveiled Panharmonium. This unique and fascinating module breaks apart incoming audio into component frequencies in real time, and then lets you use those separate frequencies to drive various parameters, including up to 33 oscillators. It's the perfect tool to create creepy vocalizations, but can also generate complex drones, isolate instruments within a mix, and much more."

See this post for details on the new Rossum Electro Panharmonium.

1010 Music - Blackbox | Synthplex 2019

Published on Mar 30, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"1010 Music has just released their first standalone product: Blackbox. Taking the best of Bitbox, Toolbox, and FXbox, Blackbox is a sampler/sequencer/effects box optimized for real time live performance. It's a great replacement for a laptop onstage, and is also terrific for expressive realtime studio recording. Just an amazing piece of gear."

1010music Blackbox

STG Sound Labs - Suit and Tie Guy | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 31, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Welcome to 25 minutes of Bubba. He is hilarious, entertaining, energetic...and happens to know an awful lot about modular.

Bubba does a deep dive on the STG (Suit and Tie Guy) Sound Labs line of Eurorack modules. He shows us their newest products, including some still in the prototype stage. And he throws down the gauntlet to our viewers: which collection of modules do you like better to be included in a complete synthesizer product? I'm hoping the comments are going to be flowing like water.

So watch this video. Marvel at Bubba. Ignore the obnoxious rave music happening across the way at the same time. Come to Knobcon '19 in September.

And remember: bug music is the folk music of our people."

Moogseum - Bob Moog Foundation | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 29, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We visit with Lee Sebel, who tells us about the plans to build the Moogseum, a museum documenting the life and work of Bob Moog. The Moogseum will be in Asheville, NC, where the Moog Music factory and other synth manufacturers are located.

I don't know about you, but this is going to make Asheville a bucket list destination for me!

www.moogfoundation.org"

Haken Continuum - Demo | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 28, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We talk to Clifton Cameron from Haken Audio, who shows us the latest product from Haken Audio: A small ribbon controller that has as much audio horsepower as the full-size Haken Continuum, but at a fraction of the price."

Vintage Moog Modular Demo | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 28, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Electronic Musician Walter Holland shows us his gorgeous Moog Modular - a synthesizer that has been in continuous use since 1967. Previously owned by Patrick Gleeson and Don Preston, this instrument is a thing of beauty. Musician Michael Gough then shows us how it's done, tickling the ivories in an improvisation that would make the late Keith Emerson proud."

Buchla Easel and 200E - Todd Barton | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 27, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We talk to legendary electronic music composer and performer Todd Barton at the Buchla booth at NAMM 2019. He shows us the marvelous Buchla Easel and several fascinating modules from the 200E.

www.toddbarton.com
www.buchla.com

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Mark Verbos - Verbox Electronics | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 27, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"We get to talk to Mark Verbos at NAMM 2019 about his stellar product line of high quality, west coast-inspired Eurorack modules. Mark shows us his two new products for NAMM 2019, a capacitive touch sensor input and a control voltage processor, as well as looking at his other wonderful modules."

Dave Smith - Prophet X | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 26, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Our trip to NAMM 2019 began with a nice chat with synth pioneer Dave Smith, Inventor of the legendary Prophet 5. Dave continues to push the synthesizer envelope constantly, and this year he shows us the Prophet X. We talk about this synth, restoring the Pro One, the digital dark ages, filters, Eurorack, and performance expressivity with his fine instruments."

Buchla - Red Panel Modules | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 26, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"When last we talked to Dave Small at Superbooth 18, he was selling Buchla 100-style modules under the name of Catalyst Audio. His modules were so good that they are now selling as official Buchla modules, as a new product line called Red Panel."