Know about the Synthi 100, an analog synthesizer made in the 1970s
Learn about, and listen to, the Synthi 100, an analogue synthesizer made in the 1970s...
© University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Transcript
This instrument was delivered to the university in March 1973. It's a number 10, there were 30 made by EMS. We know of three that have been restored.
The Synthi we'd have to learn like other instruments, was designed to create sound effects.
The Synthi was very much in that experimental world of the early '70s and other instruments that came later were more linked to the keyboard. The early analog ones, and of course, in the '80s went digital. You got to a stage where most of the sounds were processed by the manufacturer, and you press a button and the sound is there.
But you'll get same sound every time. The Synthi 100 is certainly opposite to that. If you want a sound, you have to create it. You have to work for it. Restoration on this was a lot of work. I commenced the working July, last year. And this is an exciting time to bring these back when we've got advanced computer powers on your own laptop.
And students are getting the opportunity to do some really exciting things with it. So, I think we've been lucky and it's in mint condition. It's probably the best example of the Synthi 100 in the world.
The Synthi we'd have to learn like other instruments, was designed to create sound effects.
The Synthi was very much in that experimental world of the early '70s and other instruments that came later were more linked to the keyboard. The early analog ones, and of course, in the '80s went digital. You got to a stage where most of the sounds were processed by the manufacturer, and you press a button and the sound is there.
But you'll get same sound every time. The Synthi 100 is certainly opposite to that. If you want a sound, you have to create it. You have to work for it. Restoration on this was a lot of work. I commenced the working July, last year. And this is an exciting time to bring these back when we've got advanced computer powers on your own laptop.
And students are getting the opportunity to do some really exciting things with it. So, I think we've been lucky and it's in mint condition. It's probably the best example of the Synthi 100 in the world.