The history of Don Buchla, the musical movement that influenced him, and a catalog of his creations. A brief explanation of his choice for panel layout, so that it would be easier to use without looking at it. A brief explanation of East Coast vs West Coast, and suggestion that the terms be retired. An explanation that Buchla sound making devices were intended to be more expressive and more like a playable instrument, than other synthesizers, especially the modular type. In a future video, I would like to see a more in depth explanation of current/recent products. The reason for how they are laid out, what the different parts do, and some examples of how they can be used together to make sounds. Thanks for doing what you do, and best wishes for the companies future success.
The supposed 1962 date of Don connecting to SFTMC is waaaaay off: 1962 is the date quoted here; that's when Ramon Sender and Pauline Oliveros first started their group off, before the Divisidero complex where they met Don. Don came to a concert in Sept 1964 and that's when they met him - this is more than 2 years later than people are claiming. In 1965, Don started working on a simple ring modulator for them, then also a hand-sensing tone generator, and a panel that switched between various audio inputs. In Oct/Nov 1965, he designed his first voltage-controlled modular instrument for them, delivered in late Nov, partially assembled, but completed by Jan 1966. The dates are on the components and on the paperwork.
The most interesting synthesizers ever, this lecture explains you why, Buchla was into such out there and deep stuff even before I was born and I'm 61 years old.
Good talk, but Marc Doty forgot to mention the one time Don Buchla and Bob Moog actually collaborated on a project... the Buchla-Moog Piano Bar which was a device that turned an acoustic piano into a MIDI controller. It was most recently rediscovered by Brian Eno who has been using it.
Well, I'm not sure that the Piano Bar could be considered an actually collaboration... Don designed it, and Moog Music picked it up... but Don and Bob did once perform together!
I did not know that they performed together! How cool. Either way, really informative talk Marc, I actually learned a thing or two! (and hey, what happened to your Facebook account? We were friends on there, but you are nowhere to be found now.)
Thank you for the very informative presentation Marc .Beyond my immediate budget now but in context a good long term goal .And thank you also for sharing this .
Rather than West coast/east coast, which yeah doesn't describe the sound very well, I think Buchla Mode or Moog Mode are more appropriate, two very different sounding synths that basically everyone else has similarly modeled. The perfect comparison example is the Buchla Easel compared to a Moog Model D. They are both great synths but the control methodologies are so different. I love playing both for that reason, if one or the other the Easel is the bigger artists paint box I'll keep.
Really great comment. I totally agree, and thoroughly enjoy having both a Minimoog Voyager Old School and an Easel. I was very lucky to see Don Buchla quite often when I was in graduate school, and I met Bob Moog on several occasions as well. I love both of them and both of their designs!
Under the Big Tree I have 19 different synth’s, but of a collector..... Yeah, that Voyager is a nice sounding synth, nothing doubting. I got to play with a Easel probably close to 30 years ago, never saw anything like it or anything that sounded like it. Get to play now with the Arturia App in Ableton 10, which is cool but a real CPU choker. I am seriously considering getting one of the new ones in the next year, they just sound so good.
just feel the need to mention that I think Marc is doing a really good job! I know many in the community seem critical, but I really gotta say, what a down to earth honest guy.
Truth about people "molding" facts and history to suit their own narrative. The history of these early companies is quite changed by how modern people view them. Things were very different back then, and not often the way people think of them today.
like when Mort Subotnik saved Des Moines Iowa from the Great Field Mouse Infestation of 1912? I alone know the truth, but will only use it to tease strangers on the internet . . .
Thanks for sharing. Interesting talk, Marc! Anyone agree that the Buchla signature would be a nice new logo as the company goes forward? All I’d change would be to render the banana jack more simply/iconically (not photographically as shown here).
Thanks, Mike! I also appreciate your appreciation of my logo design! I'm not sure what the future holds in regard to logos, but I designed this specifically from Don's signature over a year ago as a potential option. I thought it would be great for this project. By the way... the banana plug end is actually a drawing... apparently too well realized! :D
AutomaticGainsay Haha, hilarious that it’s actually a drawing. Definitely hard to tell in a YT video - looks photographic. Anyway, I like it. I’d simplify the banana plug a bit more, and call it done! And, I want a T-shirt!! 🙃
Marcs videos on the MS20 is pure class. Priceless.
The history of Don Buchla, the musical movement that influenced him, and a catalog of his creations.
A brief explanation of his choice for panel layout, so that it would be easier to use without looking at it.
A brief explanation of East Coast vs West Coast, and suggestion that the terms be retired.
An explanation that Buchla sound making devices were intended to be more expressive and more like a playable instrument, than other synthesizers, especially the modular type.
In a future video, I would like to see a more in depth explanation of current/recent products.
The reason for how they are laid out, what the different parts do, and some examples of how they can be used together to make sounds.
Thanks for doing what you do, and best wishes for the companies future success.
The supposed 1962 date of Don connecting to SFTMC is waaaaay off: 1962 is the date quoted here; that's when Ramon Sender and Pauline Oliveros first started their group off, before the Divisidero complex where they met Don. Don came to a concert in Sept 1964 and that's when they met him - this is more than 2 years later than people are claiming. In 1965, Don started working on a simple ring modulator for them, then also a hand-sensing tone generator, and a panel that switched between various audio inputs. In Oct/Nov 1965, he designed his first voltage-controlled modular instrument for them, delivered in late Nov, partially assembled, but completed by Jan 1966. The dates are on the components and on the paperwork.
Marc is just amazing I could listen to him talk all day. He has forgotten more about synthesizers than most people will ever learn.
Totally agreed.
The most interesting synthesizers ever, this lecture explains you why, Buchla was into such out there and deep stuff even before I was born and I'm 61 years old.
I've been itching to see a buchla documentary, this has scratched my itch. Thank you!
Thanks for geeking out 🤓 about the history of Buchla - great vid
Good talk, but Marc Doty forgot to mention the one time Don Buchla and Bob Moog actually collaborated on a project... the Buchla-Moog Piano Bar which was a device that turned an acoustic piano into a MIDI controller. It was most recently rediscovered by Brian Eno who has been using it.
Well, I'm not sure that the Piano Bar could be considered an actually collaboration... Don designed it, and Moog Music picked it up... but Don and Bob did once perform together!
I did not know that they performed together! How cool. Either way, really informative talk Marc, I actually learned a thing or two! (and hey, what happened to your Facebook account? We were friends on there, but you are nowhere to be found now.)
Thanks for geeking out 🤓 about the history of Buchla - great vid / talk
The TC-11 app for the iPad, seems to embrace many of the design goals described here.
Great presentation. Thanks for sharing.
Really enjoyed that. Thanks so much!
Excellent lecture..!!
Thank you for the very informative presentation Marc .Beyond my immediate budget now but in context a good long term goal .And thank you also for sharing this .
I'm very glad to be able to help get the information out there. Don's work is very important, and I'd love it if more people knew about it.
Very interresting lecture ! Thanks for filming this.
Thanks to Marc for creating it!
Super interesting and well done - but then again - I wouldn't expect any less from Marc ;)
Agreed. Marc is amazing. He is a fount of knowledge, and never disappoints.
Great lecture, thanks for sharing.
Rather than West coast/east coast, which yeah doesn't describe the sound very well, I think Buchla Mode or Moog Mode are more appropriate, two very different sounding synths that basically everyone else has similarly modeled. The perfect comparison example is the Buchla Easel compared to a Moog Model D. They are both great synths but the control methodologies are so different. I love playing both for that reason, if one or the other the Easel is the bigger artists paint box I'll keep.
Really great comment. I totally agree, and thoroughly enjoy having both a Minimoog Voyager Old School and an Easel. I was very lucky to see Don Buchla quite often when I was in graduate school, and I met Bob Moog on several occasions as well. I love both of them and both of their designs!
Under the Big Tree
I have 19 different synth’s, but of a collector.....
Yeah, that Voyager is a nice sounding synth, nothing doubting.
I got to play with a Easel probably close to 30 years ago, never saw anything like it or anything that sounded like it. Get to play now with the Arturia App in Ableton 10, which is cool but a real CPU choker. I am seriously considering getting one of the new ones in the next year, they just sound so good.
just feel the need to mention that I think Marc is doing a really good job! I know many in the community seem critical, but I really gotta say, what a down to earth honest guy.
Who could be critical? I think Marc is amazing.
Truth about people "molding" facts and history to suit their own narrative. The history of these early companies is quite changed by how modern people view them. Things were very different back then, and not often the way people think of them today.
like when Mort Subotnik saved Des Moines Iowa from the Great Field Mouse Infestation of 1912? I alone know the truth, but will only use it to tease strangers on the internet . . .
Thanks for sharing. Interesting talk, Marc! Anyone agree that the Buchla signature would be a nice new logo as the company goes forward? All I’d change would be to render the banana jack more simply/iconically (not photographically as shown here).
Thanks, Mike! I also appreciate your appreciation of my logo design! I'm not sure what the future holds in regard to logos, but I designed this specifically from Don's signature over a year ago as a potential option. I thought it would be great for this project. By the way... the banana plug end is actually a drawing... apparently too well realized! :D
AutomaticGainsay Haha, hilarious that it’s actually a drawing. Definitely hard to tell in a YT video - looks photographic. Anyway, I like it. I’d simplify the banana plug a bit more, and call it done! And, I want a T-shirt!! 🙃
Gonna have to agree here about using Don's signature as the Buchla logo...
Let's see who knows what I'm referencing...... The old Reading Rainbow 🌈 Theme song. 😁