"You all know about the Moog. But what about Don Buchla, the Californian synthesizer designer whose Buchla Series 100 was released mere months after Dr. Bob's first synth? His electronic music equipment company, Buchla and Associates, were commissioned by avantgarde composers Morton Subotnik and Ramon Sender to create something they could use in live performance - and since then he's been creating and designing a whole range of unusual electro-acoustic instruments and deeply desirable modular synths. That includes the intruiging Marimba Lumina, the classic 1970 200 Series Electric Music Box or indeed the hot little analogue cutie, 1972's Music Easel. Buchla's sonic toys combine a colourful aesthetic with supernatural sonic abilities. Genius alert!"You can find the podcast interview on Red Bull Music Academy. via Ghostdog.
Update: also see Don Buchla - Passing The Acid Test where you can find the transcript and video of this (368K link).
BTW, you can search for some of the instruments Don Buchla mentions, including the Musical Telegraph, the Telharmonium, the Sal Mar, and more here on the top lef of the site.
Update: video is now embeddable:
The interviewer is a complete dolt and that's all there is to it. It's so frustrating that this opportunity could have been better served by a more competent, mature, interviewer. Regardless, a lot of good information and a chance to see Don in action.
ReplyDeletetotally agree , cebec. my thoughts exactly ...
ReplyDeleteis there any way of downloading the movies?
ReplyDeleteI was going to agree about the interviewer, but after a few minutes I realised that he was asking some great questions, he did know his stuff.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if you can still order the 249e or 259e?
ReplyDeletei ordered and got a 259e end of last year.
ReplyDeletei believe Don said he had quite a few
not sure about the 249e
I haven't seen anyone sell a 200e system yet. Has anyone?
ReplyDeleteCustomer satisfaction appears high.
yeah a few 200es have sold 2nd hand.. not many tho.
ReplyDeleteother factual erroes in the post:
Music Easel was made in 1973 (not 1972)
Buchla makes "toys" - actually they are sophisticated musical instruments.
lets show a little respect ;)
and yea the interviewer is a doorknob.. but it makes for great comedy.
the ring modulator bit is priceless.
ReplyDeleteActually I felt a bit sorry for the interviewer --he obviously is not familiar with this subject, and it seemed as if he was struggling to get the very soft-spoken Don B. to spin a few good yarns from the early days.
ReplyDeleteDon was a bit short in his answers in my opinion --there were several times when the interviewer was begging for any sort of pioneer synth reverie (as was I!). And yes, the ring modulator bit was rather odd and uncomfortable...