Casio Tried to Weasel Out of Import Tax

Here's a fascinating bit of synthesizer history sent my way via Brian Moore. Apparently Casio claimed their synthesizers fell under "electrical articles which produce sound" taxed at 3.9%, rather than, "electronic musical instruments" taxed at 6.8%. They argued this because they were sold without an amplifier, speakers or headphones and because they went beyond that of "electronic musical instruments." Title link takes you to the case brief for Casio v. U.S. Below are some exerpts. The case was decided against Casio in 1996. Good stuff. Thanks Brian. Makes you wonder what Roland, Korg and Yamaha classified their synths as during the same time...

"Casio imports into the United States electronic musical synthesizers. All of the imported synthesizer models were classified by the Customs Service, upon entry into the United States, as "Electronic musical instruments: Other," TSUS 725.47, with a duty rate of 6.8% ad valorem.

Casio timely challenged the classification by filing suit in the United States Court of International Trade. Casio argued that these synthesizers were improperly classified as electronic musical instruments and should instead have been classified under TSUS 688.34 as "Electrical articles and electrical parts of articles, not specifically provided for: Electrical articles using pre-programmed digital integrated circuits to produce sound," dutiable at the rate of 3.9% ad valorem."

"In addition, Casio argued that five of the imported models, VZ-1, VZ-10M, HZ-600, MG-510 and PG-380, could not be classified as electronic musical instruments because they were imported and sold in commerce without an amplifier and speakers or headphones and thus did not make an audible sound as imported. The ability to make an audible sound, they argued, was a requirement for classification as an electronic musical instrument."

"The trial court's finding that the synthesizers do not possess features substantially in excess of those within the common meaning of the term "electronic musical instruments" is not clearly erroneous. All of the additional features are designed primarily to make it easier for a musician to create music or embellish the sound he or she would normally be able to produce. The auto-rhythm and auto-accompaniment features allow inexperienced users to create chords and accompaniment with the press of a key, and the sequencer features allow a single musician to play, in essence, multiple instruments simultaneously. The only feature which does not appear to enhance a musician's ability to play the instrument is the one that plays prerecorded melodies. However, Casio admitted that this may be a musical instrument feature because it is similar in nature to a music box, which was specifically designated a musical instrument by Congress. TSUS 725.50."


Update via Dave Manley in the comments:
"Apparently Casio tried to do this more than once. In Pinch and Trocco's book "Analog Days" there is a short description of a 1994 case that sounds similar, but I guess is different: Casio Inc. versus the United States", October 7, 1994. The products aren't described but apparently they only played preprogrammed patterns.

"What the court had to decide was whether the Casio devices were machines or musical instruments. It fell to Bob [Moog], testifying for Casio, the plaintiff, to argue that the Casios were machines and to Herb [Deutsch], testifying for the government, to argue that they were musical instruments. Bob pointed out the essence of a musical instrument is that the performer should have "real-time control" and that the Casio takes this away. The judge did not buy this argument, describing it as a "seemingly myopic premise" and contrary to legislative inent. The government won the case and the judge decided that, for tariff purposes anyway, the Casio, as long as it contained an amplifier and loudspeakers, was a musical instrument, and thus subject to the higher rate of tariff."

Interesting that Casio tried this twice once arguing with amplifier and loudspeakers, and once without.

Herb Deutsch played an interesting part in the development of the synthesizer. He met Moog when he sold Theremins and started requesting features that eventually led to the synthesizer. Take a look at Analog Days for more details (read it for the story, not for the authors' editorializing and analysis)."

OSCar Advert

Another from the Technik site.

That's Geoff Downes from Asia, Bill Currie from Ultravox, John Foxx post Ultravox, and Mark Stonway of Grand Slam. Click image for a bigger shot.

via fmasetti.

Technik Synth Shots and Adverts

Synthon Syrinx pictured.
Title link takes you to more.

via fmasseti

Custom Livewire Cyclotron

Shot of Ross' custom banana jack Livewire Cyclotron.

Quad4 Productions Time Machine

This one in via Simon. Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Check out the mirror and what looks like pages from a book underneath the controls.

Details:
The Time machine is a delay/sampler/tone-noise generator made by Quad4 productions.

- 15 brass keys activate any of 15 tones/noise and/or effect alterations.


- The keys used in combination alter and retexturize the tone structure.

- The sampler part samples any incoming source or tone played on the keyboard and loops for approx. 1 sec. The loop can be effected with pitch control and ring mod and the tones/noise can still be laid over top.

- The tones or any incoming source can be sent through the delay section and effected by xtreme feedback and delay alterations.

- It has 1 input, 1 output, runs on a single 9v battery and has controls for feedback/repeat, wet/dry, time/loop, time2, feedback 2, ring mod, on/off button, 2 bannana jacks for plugging the 9v cable, and 2 glowing blue lamps (not pictured lit).

- The Time Machine has a 1 year warranty.

Discovery Sound 8bit Family II

For those of us w/o a C64 or SID. Samples after the hop. via Synthtopia.

"The 2nd edition of the well-loved series “8 Bit Family” is here, jam-packed with vintage videogame tones, loops, multi-samples and sound effects."

Korg Electribe ESX-1 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by malota.

The Studio Electronics Code

via Rob. Click for bigger image. Title link takes you to NovaMusik

I'm guessing this is a NovaMusik custom Omega 8.

The new Omega C O D E.
Shipping August 2006

Featuring SEM and Diode Filters.

Available in 2 voice, 4 voice, or 8 voice configurations.

New on the C O D E:

Diode based filters giving you that classic nasal sound while the Studio Electronics SEM filters give you that classic 80's poly sound.

Also new is the Filter Control section, which allows you to sweep through all the filter types in real time with complete MIDI control. The switches in the Filter Control section give you on/off control and/or momentary control of assignable parameters. Filter Control will give you full control of your audio source.

The 2 voice version is configured for dual input stereo filterbank.
The 4 voice version is configured for 4 input or quad filterbank.
The 8 voice version is an 8 channel filterbank.

Also available are voice expansions and filter expansions.

Bank 3 "THERIOT" included ($139 sold separatly)

Features

General Specifications

Voices: 2, 4, or 8
Multitimbrality: 2 voice = 2 part, 4 voices = 4 part, 8 voices = 8 part ; Parameters: patch, number of voices, mono or poly.
Audio outputs: one stereo per voice. One main stereo and main mono output.
Interface: 32 knobs, 1 rotary encoder, 35 tactile switches, 24 LEDS.
Display: 16 x 2 back lit liquid crystal Ocean Blue Display.
Memory: 256 sound patches,128 multi patches in RAM.
Weight: 20 lbs.
Dimensions: 4 rack spaces, 15 inches deep.
Power: 90 - 250 volts AC auto switching.

Voice Architecture

Two voltage controlled discrete analog oscillators and one sub wave of Oscillator 1
Waveforms: triangle, sawtooth and variable width square. All waveforms output simultaneously. Syncing of Osc 2 to Osc 1.

Two voltage controlled discrete analog filters including the new Diode Filter
24db (Diode Filter), 12 db (classic Oberheim SEM). 12db filter has low pass, bandpass, high pass and band reject modes. Each voice has the capability of having four different filters available for use. Additional filters (up to 2 per voice) can be added as desired in any number. Filters do not operate in series or parallel.

Three low frequency oscillators (LFO3 fixed to voice panning)
Waveforms: triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, noise, random. Up to three destinations and depths each for LFOs 1 & 2 with range, delay, key trigger, phase, mode (mono or poly), quantize, midi sync.

Three multiple stage envelope generators
Attack, decay, sustain and release with inverting and multiple triggering. Envelopes 1 & 2 have additional delay, decay2, and breakpoint parameters. Envelope 1 fixed to filter frequency. Envelope 2 fixed to amplifier level. Envelope 3 is assignable with up to three destinations and depths. ALSO NEW Envelope 3 knobs also can control the inputs of the unit.

Glide
Linear or exponential. Parameters: time, mode (auto, legato, glissando), autoglide interval, dynamics, destination.

Unison mode
One, two, four, six, or eight voices. Depending on Voice configuration.

Additional Features
Oscillator 2 audio frequency modulation. Destinations: Osc 1 frequency, Osc 1 pulse width, filter frequency. White noise generator. Auto triggering external input processor on each voice. Parameters: input level, trigger level, mix level, window.

Modulation Destinations
LFOs1 & 2 and envelope 3: VCO 1 & 2 frequency, pulse width, and mix level, VCF frequency and resonance, noise level, Xmod amount, LFOs 1 & 2 rate and depth, VCA level, external mix level.

MIDI Specifications
In out and thru. Receives: program change, bank select, glide on/off, glide time, volume, SYSEX. Controllers: dynamics, modwheel, bender, pressure destination and amount (x2). Controller 1 assignment: dyn, mod, pressure, bend, tracking, continuous cont #2 (x2), controller 1 amount (x2). Controller 2 assignment - same as controller 1 (x2), controller 2 amount (x2). Dynamics, tracking, and bender have positive and negative modulation. Fixed continuous controller assignments for all key functions.

MIDI Controllers
Dynamics, modwheel, bender, pressure, tracking, breath controller: all LFO1&2 and envelope 3 destinations, including envelopes 1, 2, and 3 attack, decay, sustain, release, amount

das Peoples Synthezein - New Flickr Shot

Vermona MARS Controller. flickr by pankun.

Analog Dreams Part 2 on YouTube

"All the synths you'll ever need - under one roof! One of the finest collections of Analog Synthesisers in the world. Music: Tomorrows World - BBC Radiophonic Workshop Bayreuth Return - Klaus Shulze"
YouTube by Sharplue.