buchla
Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments is a manufacturer of electronic music… Read Full Bio ↴Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments is a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, synthesizers and unique MIDI controllers. The company was originally founded as Buchla & Associates by synthesizer pioneer Don Buchla in 1963 in Berkeley, California.
Each box served a specific function:envelope generators, oscillators, filters, voltage controlled amplifiers, and analog sequencer modules. Utilizing the different modules, a composer could affected the pitch, timbre, amplitude, and spatial location of the sound. The instrument was controlled and played via an array of touch and pressure-sensitive surfaces.
The instrument was named the "Buchla 100 series Modular Electronic Music System". Shortly thereafter, Subotnick completed his first major electronic work, Silver Apples Of The Moon. Buchla's synthesizer, was also used on Buffy Sainte Marie's influential 1969 album, Illuminations. Along with Robert Moog's Moog synthesizer, it helped revolutionize the way electronic music and sound is made.
Buchla 200 series (1970)
The Buchla 200 series Electric Music Box replaced the previous model in 1970 and represented a significant advance in technology. Almost every parameter can be controlled from an external control voltage.
Computer controlled instruments
Buchla 300, 500, Touché (mid 1970s)
In the mid 1970s, Don Buchla began experimenting with digital designs and computer controlled systems. The results were the 500 series and the 300 series, both of which paired the new technology with existing 200 series modules to create hybrid analog/digital systems. The Touché was also the result of this research, and was also his final attempt to market a "mainstream" Buchla synth[citation needed].
Buchla 400, 700, and MIDAS (1980s)
Also in 1980s, Buchla released the 400 series and the 700 series software controlled instruments operated by MIDAS, a Forth language for musical instruments, and also equipped MIDI.
Buchla's unique synthesizer designs[edit]
Buchla tends to not refer to his instruments as synthesizers, as he feels that name gives the impression of imitating existing sounds/instruments. His intent is to make instruments that create new sounds. This goal is evident in the omission of a standard musical keyboard on his early instruments, which instead used a series of touch plates that were not necessarily tied to equal-tempered tuning.
He also uses a different naming convention than most of the industry. For example, one of his modules is called a "Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator." These differences run deeper than nomenclature though. The Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator (or MARF) goes well beyond what a typical sequencer is capable of performing and is capable of acting as an envelope generator, LFO, CV selector, voltage quantizer or tracking generator. Another module that sometimes gets cited for its uniqueness is the Source of Uncertainty. The Source of Uncertainty provides many different flavors of randomness, from noise of different colors, to a LFO-like fluctuating random voltage, and a couple forms of triggered static random voltages, all under voltage control. The Source of Uncertainty goes well beyond a noise and random module in a typical synthesizer.
Note that Don Buchla and Robert Moog simultaneously invented the modular synthesizer in 1963—Moog in New York and Buchla in California. This is an apparent example of multiple discovery. While there had been previous synthesizer experiments, Moog's and Buchla's major development that made the synthesizer portable and flexible was using control voltages to manipulate the various circuit elements.
Buchla's instruments, such as the Music Easel (pictured),[8] use a different method of timbre generation than Moog synthesizers. Moog units use oscillators with basic function generator type waveshapes and rely heavily on filtering with 24dB resonant low-pass filters, while Buchlas are geared toward complex oscillators using frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, and dynamic waveshaping to produce other forms of timbre modulation. Many of Don Buchla's designs, including the Low-Pass Gates (later called Dynamic Managers) contain vactrols, photoresistive opto-isolator employed as voltage-controlled potentiometers, which contribute to a very "natural" Buchla sound.
MIDI controllers (late 1980s)
Buchla Thunder, Buchla Lightning, Marimba Lumina
By the late 1980s, Don Buchla had stopped creating instruments and shifted his focus to alternate MIDI controllers. His controller designs have included the Thunder,[9] Lightning,[10] and Marimba Lumina.
Buchla 200e
Buchla 200e series (2004)
Finally, in 2004, Don Buchla returned to designing full blown modular electronic instruments with the 200e, a hybrid system using digital microprocessors that uses the same size modules and signals as the 100 and 200 series systems. The 200e modules convert all signals to analog at the panel, appearing to the user like an analog system, with patch cables. Systems can be built using a combination of 100, 200 and 200e modules. The 200e modules connect through a digital communications buss, allowing the system to store the settings of the knobs and switches.
Each box served a specific function:envelope generators, oscillators, filters, voltage controlled amplifiers, and analog sequencer modules. Utilizing the different modules, a composer could affected the pitch, timbre, amplitude, and spatial location of the sound. The instrument was controlled and played via an array of touch and pressure-sensitive surfaces.
The instrument was named the "Buchla 100 series Modular Electronic Music System". Shortly thereafter, Subotnick completed his first major electronic work, Silver Apples Of The Moon. Buchla's synthesizer, was also used on Buffy Sainte Marie's influential 1969 album, Illuminations. Along with Robert Moog's Moog synthesizer, it helped revolutionize the way electronic music and sound is made.
Buchla 200 series (1970)
The Buchla 200 series Electric Music Box replaced the previous model in 1970 and represented a significant advance in technology. Almost every parameter can be controlled from an external control voltage.
Computer controlled instruments
Buchla 300, 500, Touché (mid 1970s)
In the mid 1970s, Don Buchla began experimenting with digital designs and computer controlled systems. The results were the 500 series and the 300 series, both of which paired the new technology with existing 200 series modules to create hybrid analog/digital systems. The Touché was also the result of this research, and was also his final attempt to market a "mainstream" Buchla synth[citation needed].
Buchla 400, 700, and MIDAS (1980s)
Also in 1980s, Buchla released the 400 series and the 700 series software controlled instruments operated by MIDAS, a Forth language for musical instruments, and also equipped MIDI.
Buchla's unique synthesizer designs[edit]
Buchla tends to not refer to his instruments as synthesizers, as he feels that name gives the impression of imitating existing sounds/instruments. His intent is to make instruments that create new sounds. This goal is evident in the omission of a standard musical keyboard on his early instruments, which instead used a series of touch plates that were not necessarily tied to equal-tempered tuning.
He also uses a different naming convention than most of the industry. For example, one of his modules is called a "Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator." These differences run deeper than nomenclature though. The Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator (or MARF) goes well beyond what a typical sequencer is capable of performing and is capable of acting as an envelope generator, LFO, CV selector, voltage quantizer or tracking generator. Another module that sometimes gets cited for its uniqueness is the Source of Uncertainty. The Source of Uncertainty provides many different flavors of randomness, from noise of different colors, to a LFO-like fluctuating random voltage, and a couple forms of triggered static random voltages, all under voltage control. The Source of Uncertainty goes well beyond a noise and random module in a typical synthesizer.
Note that Don Buchla and Robert Moog simultaneously invented the modular synthesizer in 1963—Moog in New York and Buchla in California. This is an apparent example of multiple discovery. While there had been previous synthesizer experiments, Moog's and Buchla's major development that made the synthesizer portable and flexible was using control voltages to manipulate the various circuit elements.
Buchla's instruments, such as the Music Easel (pictured),[8] use a different method of timbre generation than Moog synthesizers. Moog units use oscillators with basic function generator type waveshapes and rely heavily on filtering with 24dB resonant low-pass filters, while Buchlas are geared toward complex oscillators using frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, and dynamic waveshaping to produce other forms of timbre modulation. Many of Don Buchla's designs, including the Low-Pass Gates (later called Dynamic Managers) contain vactrols, photoresistive opto-isolator employed as voltage-controlled potentiometers, which contribute to a very "natural" Buchla sound.
MIDI controllers (late 1980s)
Buchla Thunder, Buchla Lightning, Marimba Lumina
By the late 1980s, Don Buchla had stopped creating instruments and shifted his focus to alternate MIDI controllers. His controller designs have included the Thunder,[9] Lightning,[10] and Marimba Lumina.
Buchla 200e
Buchla 200e series (2004)
Finally, in 2004, Don Buchla returned to designing full blown modular electronic instruments with the 200e, a hybrid system using digital microprocessors that uses the same size modules and signals as the 100 and 200 series systems. The 200e modules convert all signals to analog at the panel, appearing to the user like an analog system, with patch cables. Systems can be built using a combination of 100, 200 and 200e modules. The 200e modules connect through a digital communications buss, allowing the system to store the settings of the knobs and switches.
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Buchla
Four Tet Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Four Tet:
0181 من یه گلایولم که توی این سرزمین شوووم راهم به قبر…
101112 Anytime, anywhere, any place You could be anyone today Maybe…
2 cups of blood Intro: Ryzarector, Grym Reaper Aiyyo Reaper, those kids out…
3.3 Degrees From the Pole high speed electronic digital device, wait till you see one …
A Joy (instrumental)…
Angel Echoes Help, I have done it again I have been here many…
Baby It's 'cause, baby, anything you can have, you're taking me…
Carmella There's something kinda funny 'bout a man making money Of a…
Crush It's a beautiful life I'll stay by your side It's a beautifu…
Degrees From The Pole high speed electronic digital device, wait till you see one …
Figaro The rest is empty with no brain but the clever…
Flutter Help, I have done it again I have been here many…
Fuji Check You're that colour, you're the movement and the spin. Never.…
Hands All artists reach a zenith in their career, a high…
If I Were Only a Child Again If I were only a child again No one's ever been,…
Les Yper-sound You go in that team I go on this team Divide everything A…
Love The light gets stronger and all our eyes look yonder to…
Morning Side Meri dua hai lakh janam tak Tu ho unki dulhan Samajna na…
No More Mosquitoes Oh, no no no more mosquitoes oh, no no no more…
One Way Glass Give me a window with one way glass, Just look out…
Pyramid I remember how you walked away And how you did me…
Represent [Chorus] (I'm the calm one, but my crew is sorta sick) Yeah,…
Strange Ways Wreak havoc, beep beep it's mad traffic Sleek and lavish peo…
Tale in Hard Time Take the sun from my heart Let me learn to despise I'll…
Up Against the Wall Yo, I'll be your black pantha, all in your dreams Up…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
VeggieLoop
This is one of my fav tracks by four tet. So hypnotic😵💫
Clark
<3