The Casio CZ-101 displays unexpected talents in classical music, Dr John Chowning revisits the origins of FM synthesis, and 4ms ships a revolutionary hybrid module: Synth Journal.
Switched-On Scarlatti: Hear the Casio CZ-101 blaze through a classical sonata
Let’s kick off this week’s Synth Journal with this delightful video by Dylan Pank. Anyone remotely interested in synth is of course familiar with Switched-On Bach, Wendy Carlos’ 1968 masterpiece. It was this record that catapulted synths into the spotlight and introduced them to a wide audience beyond the confines of experimental studios.
Well, what if we tried something similar, but replaced Bach with Scarlatti and the Moog Modular system with a Casio CZ-101 from the mid-eighties? That’s exactly what Dylan has done, and I think the humble CZ is doing a fantastic job on those cascading arpeggios!
Oh well, I guess it’s time to brush up my classical piano chops. And if you’re not lucky enough to call a CZ-101 your own, I’m sure Arturia’s version will do the trick just fine.
Dr. John Chowning: The Origin of FM Synthesis
After the unprecedented boom of affordable analog synths in the 2010s, there’s been a resurging interest in digital synthesis methods like FM and wavetable synthesis in recent years. As always, history repeats in cycles: when one thing gets boring, everyone sets out to discover (or rediscover) something new. New developers are putting their own spin on FM and come up with new ways to make it more accessible. There’s never been a greater variety of FM synths on the market, and I think it’s fantastic!
But how did it all start? If you can spare an hour and would like to educate yourself on how FM synthesis came to be, sit back and watch this fascinating EMEAPP interview with Dr. John Chowning, who developed the method at Stanford University in the 1960s. By licensing his algorithm to Yamaha, he paved the way for the FM revolution of the 80s, and as such, for today’s FM revival. The world of synths would not be the same without him!
Keith McMillen has passed away
On a sad note, the synth community lost another great innovator and visionary last week. According to an obituary published by his company, Keith McMillen, best known for his groundbreaking expressive controllers, is no longer with us. The company writes:
“Keith McMillen, a pioneering force in audio and music technology, passed away this week leaving behind a legacy of innovation and a profound impact on the music industry. Born July 10, 1957 in Bermuda, Keith dedicated his life to revolutionizing how live interactive music is played and experienced.
[…]
Keith McMillen’s work exemplified a lifelong commitment to exploring how computer intelligence and user interface can enhance and expand musical performance. His passing is a great loss to the world of music and technology, but his innovations and achievements will continue to inspire and shape the future of both fields.”
We would like to extend our condolences to Keith’s family and friends and hope that his company carries on his legacy through many more groundbreaking control devices. Thank you, Keith!
First unveiled at Knobcon 2023, the 4ms Meta Module is now shipping – just in time for this year’s edition of the convention. Pushing the limits of what’s possible in Eurorack, the Meta Module puts a software modular system in a hardware module with real hands-on controls and patch sockets. It comes with hundreds of built-in modules, not only by 4ms themselves, but also by Befaco, HetrickCV, Nonlinear Circuits, and Scanner Darkly.
As it’s compatible with VCV Rack and can load virtual patches created on a computer, the Meta Module is also a great way to integrate your software patches into your hardware system. You can order yours from Thomann* for $599 / £555 / €649.
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