Conference napalm::commusic_v1

1384.0. "New Buchla 700 Synthesizer" by AQUA::ROST (Lizard King or Bozo Dionysius?) Mon May 16 1988 12:17

    
    From the USENET...of interest to those who want something really
    *different*....
    
    
If you can get the Vol 12 No I Computer Music Journal (which I think is
still the current issue) the Buchla 700 is reported on page
77 in the Products of Interest section.  You can't find it in the music
stores because it is a commisioned instrument. Prices start
at $7500 and to negotiate one you should contact
     Buchla and Associates
     P.O.Box 5051
     Berkeley CA 94705
 
Article highlights:
     succesor to the 400
     12 voices
     4 oscils per voice
     variety of algorithmic oscillator configurations
     several synthesis techniques employed including
	  frequency, amplitude and timbre modulation
	  additive and subtractive synthesis
	  dynamic waveshaping
     multitibral
     specialize phasing and location circuitry
     each voice independently locatable in stereo space
     sealed membrane keyboard with pressure and position sensitive areas
	  to implement conceptual potentiometer, flywheels, switches,
	  ribbon controllers, and other gesture sensitive devices
     3 MIDI input ports for keyboards, guitar controllers, pitch
	  followers, space wands, or Macs
     2 RS232 serial ports
     operating language based on the 400 but greatlty expanded
     real-time editing of color coded orchestral scores
     storage of analog signals, MIDI and SMPTE data, window-and-
	  menu oriented editing environment
     resident 3.5 inch disk drive
 
     As always, trust Donald Buchla not to be a slave to
     fashion!  
     
				   Roger Reid
				   phone 212-266-0728
				   cmcl2!esquire!roger
				   [email protected]
				   sun!hoptoad!dasys1!roger
				   rutgers!columbia.edu!woof!roger

    Space wands???????
    
    Edd

    Hmmm, this brings up a question.  Anyone know where I can read up on
    the older Buchla machines?  I've been playing around with some
    sound-sculpture ideas, and I think I want to go used-equipment
    shopping for a modular system of some kind.  I understand the Moog,
    ARP, Aries, E-Mu, etc, even the Japanese copies.  I never did know
    anything about the Buchlas.
    
    	Eirikur
    

    There's a book called "The Whole Synthesizer Catalog".  It's a good
    starting point to see how the synth genus has evolved over the
    years.  It doesn't go into too much detail per species, but it's
    nice in what it does.
    
    It also has useful info like "date first introduced", "Intro list
    price", "Date discontinued", "List at discontinuance", "Number Made",
    "First Serial #", "Last Serial #", Mfg. address. and status, etc.
    	
    Some synths don't have all the info.  It's like any other piece
    of archaeology.  :-)

>< Note 1384.1 by JAWS::COTE "Bohm & Jacopini never led Cub Scouts..." >
>                        -< Que pasa 'Space Wands'???? >-
>
>    Space wands???????
>    
>    Edd

Yea, like Airdrums.  Except Airdrums is a product name rather than a controller
description.

Todd.