Synthesist, artist, and graphic designer, Jeremiah Chiu, recommends some studio essentials! In 2023, he released In Electric Time on International Anthem - a record improvised and composed from a two-day session at Los Angeles’ Vintage Synth Museum (Lance's place!). He'll also be opening for legend Suzanne Ciani next month in Chicago. Tix. 1. Yamaha CS01 The CS01 has been with me for almost 20 years and has become my go-to-synth for finishing records. I sort of know that when I’m at the point of using it, an album or track is in its final stage. The simplicity and sheer ripping sound is som ..read more

I met Rikard Jönsson a few years ago when he was working at Ableton. The company came to my home studio to research how musicians were using the DAW. We became good friends and stayed in touch over the years - bonding over our shared affinity for Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Suffice to say, when he told me he was working on a new plugin with his friend, Svante, I was really excited for him and his new adventure in music. Without further ado, Rikard Jönsson and Svante Stadler talk about Forever 89 and Visco. Synth History: Both of you have experience working at Ableton and Teenage Engineering ..read more

I discovered French duo Papooz around 2016. I had a bi-weekly radio show in New York on Newtown Radio, called "Outerspace". The show was a mixture of mainly pre-2000s tunes, but every so often I'd throw something new in. I heard "Ann Wants to Dance" one day and I was hooked, added it to the rotation and played it all the time. So it's pretty neat to interview them sourrounding their new record, RESONATE. Without further ado, Papooz talk about their favorite pieces of gear, Harry Nilsson, getting over writer's block and more. Synth History: What were some of your first instruments and do yo ..read more

Developed by Ed Stratton and released in 1991 and 1992, these CDs contained a variety of sampled sounds, 1000 on each volume, including breakbeats, percussion, vocal and speech samples, sci-fi sound effects and more. Notable users include Daft Punk, who used a brass hit sample from Zero-G Datafile Three on their 1995 track, “Da Funk” (see video below. According to an extensive thread by user MasterTHG on RYM and various other online sources, there seem to be a number of video game OST’s that utilize Zero G Datafile samples, including Super Mario 64 (the “Boo Haunt” - Haunted House sample 46 on ..read more

Had a chance to talk with the legendary composer, record producer, keyboardist and synth pioneer - Jan Hammer! Jan pioneered the use of synthesizers in the 1970s, rising to prominence with Mahavishnu Orchestra, a jazz fusion group led by guitarist John McLaughlin. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with some of the most influential jazz and rock musicians of all time, including Jeff Beck, Billy Cobham, Sarah Vaughan, Mick Jagger, Carlos Santana, Stanley Clarke and more. He also created the iconic music for Miami Vice, including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme". His pioneering ..read more

If you were a Keyboard Magazine reader in the early 1980s, you might have come across Moog's "Wraps are off" campaign featuring the Memorymoog, DSC, and Taurus II. Memorymoog: While comparable to other polyphonic synthesizers of the time - like the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Oberheim OB-Xa - the Memorymoog distinguished itself with an additional 3rd oscillator per voice and greater preset storage capacity. It had 6-voice polyphony, 40 programs, 20 program chains, expanded modulation, programmable pedal functions, and an LED readout. DSC: You might be thinking - what the heck is that re ..read more

From the 'zine archives: This interview was featured in Issue Two! Three Q's with Alison Tavel about her documentary film, Resynator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu6KZjsAM0A Synth History: Can you describe for the folks that don't know, what exactly the Resynator is and what it means to you? Alison: The Resynator is an instrument-controlled synthesizer invented by my late father Don Tavel around 1979. It’s an analog/digital, pitch-tracking, monophonic, rack-mount synth. It can digitally track anything from the lowest note on a bass to the highest note on a piccolo which is then converted t ..read more

John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies have a brand new video out for "My Name Is Death", from their upcoming album, Lost Themes IV: Noir, out May 3, 2024 on Sacred Bones Records. Since the first Lost Themes, John has referred to these compositions as “soundtracks for the movies in your mind.” On the fourth installment in the series, those movies are noirs! The music video is perfectly fitting. It was shot by longtime Synth History collaborators: director Ambar Navarro (Weyes Blood, Roger O'Donnell, Mark Mothersbaugh) and DP Max Flick (Michael Jorgensen of Wilco). Got the opportunity ..read more

Had a chance to interview musician and composer Jerskin Fendrix, who scored Yorgos Lanthimos' critically acclaimed film, Poor Things. The soundtrack is currently nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score! He talks about composing the music for Poor Things, his personal favorite film scores and more. Without further ado... Synth History: How did you meet Yorgos? Jerskin: We met in the rain during a lockdown. He’d emailed earlier to say he had listened to my album, Winterreise, and wanted to talk about a project. Synth History: What was the process like working together? Jerskin:  ..read more

Musician, master synthesist, and member of Nine Inch Nails, Alessandro Cortini, answers a few questions about gear and more. Just a heads up that Alessandro is playing three events with immersive series Reflections next month (Synth History is excited to be a co-presenter!) Each one takes place inside a church and includes an immersive light show experience. You definitely don't want to miss it. Los Angeles | Friday, Mar 1, 2024 Immanuel Presbyterian Church Tickets Chicago | Saturday, Mar 9, 2024 Epiphany Center for the Arts Tickets NYC | Friday, Mar 15, 2024 Church of the Heavenly Rest Ticke ..read more