Bob Moog (didn't invent the synthesiser)?

video upload by Zoë Blade

A mini historical timeline of key events by Zoë Blade. It's interesting in that it gives you some of driving forces behind the designs. For an in depth list of electronic music instruments see https://120years.net. If you want read a couple of books on Bob Moog check out Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer, and Switched On: Bob Moog and the Synthesizer Revolution (Amazon affiliate links). Note: memories can be fuzzy. There are some critiques for Analog Days not being 100% accurate. I haven't heard any on Switched On. That said, both books are interesting reads and will get you closer to some of that history.

Video description:

"After researching a bit about where Bob Moog got his ideas (and rewatching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), I finally got around to making my 'crazy board' red wool video (over a year and a half after buying the wool for this specific purpose), before I inevitably forget it all again.

This is my latest attempt at making a 'quick and easy' video, where I ramble on at the camera for three takes then edit the best bits together into something vaguely coherent.

I spent a good while typing out the subtitles for those who need it, which, given how I talk, is probably everyone. 😅

I hope you like it!"

Moog 960 sequencer (clone) demo

video upload by Zoë Blade

"I muck around on a clone of the Moog 960 Sequential Controller for half an hour, explaining what I'm doing as I patch it up. Casual and cosy!

If you've ever wondered what Giorgio Moroder did in Donna Summer's I Feel Love, or Tangerine Dream with Phaedra, now you know!

Please consider sponsoring me over at https://www.patreon.com/zoeblademusic to support more of this charming wittering."

"Seq" (Atari ST, Akai S1000)

video upload by Zoë Blade

"Recording a track, 'Seq', to try out obscure MIDI sequencer Sweet Sixteen some more. I'm really digging the Atari ST running a MIDI sequencer + Akai S1000 sampler combo, it's very much like when I used to use trackers in the '90s..."

Adding acidlines to Be the Ghost

video upload by Zoë Blade

"Using Stepper Acid, M303, and ROD-10 to add two acidlines to my remix of Patient Zero's song Be the Ghost. No speech, just making music."

"Regulator" (Atari ST, Akai S1000)

video upload by Zoë Blade

"Playing my latest track, Regulator, in C-LAB Creator."

Vocoders

Zoë Blade

"A brief guide to vocoders, with https://www.youtube.com/c/NinaRichards ."

Doepfer Filter Shootout 2: The Acid Test

Zoë Blade

"On a whim, I made a video a while back comparing some Doepfer filters. It was surprisingly popular (for me, at least), and people wanted a better version, with the resonance cranked up. Two and a half years later, I'm finally delivering the goods!"

A little bit about how a synthesizer works

Published on Mar 1, 2020 Zoë Blade

"A casual chat / very rough guide to how a modular synthesiser works, for making electronic music.

My face isn't lit from the front, the shapes are wrong, the subtitles are hard to read, I ramble, I forgot to show oscillator sync, and there's no mixer insert shot, BUT it's finished! I'd still like to make some better videos on the subject at some point, but in the meantime, here's something, at least."

Transistor Sounds Labs Stepper Acid

The Darkest Day

Published on Dec 21, 2019 Zoë Blade

Los Angeles to Andromeda

Published on Oct 15, 2019 Zoë Blade

"Ambient techno music, similar to Pete Namlook or early Autechre. Mood lighting (bisexual cyberpunk lighting), modular synth (Doepfer A-100), TR-808 style drums (Tiptop Audio). Relaxing beats to work or study to."

Recording Moth Celebration

Published on Aug 24, 2019 Zoë Blade

"Layering up a quick track, patching and recording one part at a time..."

Modularism 2 - Noises Off - 30 Tracks Showcasing the Sounds of the Modular Synthesiser

This one is in via supporting MATRIXSYNTH member, Cray of Vicmod Records, who is featured on the release. You can find a video, sample artist tracks and more at https://www.pledgemusic.com.

"Welcome to Noises Off the second in the Modularism series. A collection of tracks devoted to the modular synthesizer and featuring 30 artist new to the collection.
In recent years we have seen a revitalisation and explosion of creativity in this area from both manufacturers and musicians – a return to these endlessly customisable, generative, idiosyncratic voltage controllable machines in order to create and perform music by a new generation, for a new generation.

In this edition we have ensured greater focus on
the use of modular instruments in creating the
music. The continuing journey to uncover more remarkable practitioners has so far involved rocking up a modular meets, countless hours of trawling the web and, social media platforms as well as following up all those priceless recommendations. The quest, from the point of conception, is to showcase the diverse spectrum of modular music and unending creative approaches by users of modular synthesis.

Law & Auder Records 
We are probably best known for our highly themed double CD compilations, “combining an ear for the experimental with a broad-ranging conceptual sweep” and featuring many of the finest electronic music producers. The label that brought you the “groundbreaking" Avantgardism Drum’n’bass, the “tantric-mantric”, East-Westercism collection, “exploring those moments where the mystic vibrations of Eastern scales and instrumental textures fuse with the complexities of digital music”, Minimalism, showcasing the new breed of stripped-down, experimental techno and electronica, the “moody, broody”, low frequency, experimental Female Of The Species featuring women in electronic music, as well as the Luke Vibert and BJ Cole collaborative exotica album, Stop The Panic.

Featured artists:-
Andrew Huang, Angle, Ardisson, Bachelard, Benge, Cray, Designed to Die, D’Voxx, Elizabeth Parker, Fragile Self, Finlay Shakespeare, Ghost Hunter, Hiatusk, Jade Rose, Kams, Ladyphase, Luke Killen, Martin Orman, Metamono, MonoPol, Nina Richards, Norman Phay, Oora, Patrizia Mattioli, Robin Vincent, SunFalls, Supersentient Intelligence Construct, Vile Electrodes, XponentOne, Zoë Blade

Compiled by Phil Dickson-Earle, 
Mastered by Ben
 “DivKid” Wilson, Cover Art & Design by Jonathan Barnbrook
, (p) & © Law & Auder Records 2018"

Still Breathing

Published on Jun 23, 2018 Zoë Blade

Foundry

Published on Feb 27, 2018 Zoë Blade

Recording the Second Summer of Love (Acid Mix)

Published on Jan 29, 2018 Zoë Blade

Doepfer filter comparison / shootout

Published on Jan 28, 2018 Zoë Blade

"Playing the Second Summer of Love bassline on various Doepfer filters to compare them: A-101-1, A-102, A-103, A-105, A-106-5, A-124, A-108."

Transistor Sound Labs - Nina's Major Noodle

Published on Sep 13, 2015 Transistor Sounds Labs

"Three Stepper Acid parts on the modular; lead, strings and TR-909 style drums on the MOXF6. Composition, performance and cinematography by Nina Richards; video editing by Zoë Blade."

Stepper Acid demo 2

Published on Sep 22, 2013 Zoë Blade·29 videos

"A teaser showing what Nina and I have been up to with Stepper Acid."

Doepfer MCV-24 battery replacement

Published on Nov 16, 2012 by Zoë Blade

"Nina's short guide to replacing the internal battery of a Doepfer MCV-24"

Nina building a Synthacon style filter

YouTube Published on Sep 11, 2012 by Zoë Blade

"A time lapse video of Nina building a Synthacon style filter. It's the Elby Designs Panther series version of the Ken Stone design, or CGS735 for short. ("Catgirl Synth", apparently.)

We had to modify it a little afterwards to get it to work correctly, putting C211 in the other way around and replacing two of the diodes with jumper wires."