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Studio
Legendary synthesiser designer Tom Oberheim (now aged 72) has announced he's making a new SEM:
"I don't consider it a big business venture, it's just something I felt I had to do." [...]
"I think very strongly that what did happen through the late-Eighties and all through the Nineties was that the machines became so perfected that it just kind of lost the edge."
- Tom Oberheim
I couldn't agree more. Electronic music largely went downhill then too - a coindidence? Probably not, since although the shiny new synths had tons of features, they were built into sterile boxes with terribly restrictive digital paramter access user-interfaces which made them uninspiring to play. And a synthesiser is all about the playing.
Back in 1974, SEMs were the individual voice modules that made up the Two Voice and Four Voice (the latter seen here with two Mini Sequencers in place of the Programmer of later models = a much better idea; who needs memories when you can have two sequencers to play along duophonically with?!). If Beermaster likes the SEM then it can't be bad - he should know. If you've not experienced the deliciously refined sound, check this sublimely understated Oberheim Two Voice Demo Part 1, and also this highly informative thread. This (the TVS-1) is the synth that Bernard Szajner used back in the day. Classic stuff.
Tags:
Studio
It's very good that everyone these days is resurrecting the vintage keyboard greats - even the new Rhodes now has MIDI (before you get too excited, they're not cheap at £3000+!). Hmmm, a nice white one would look mighty fine with a white Two Voice on top. Maybe add an Infinite Response VAX-77, also in white, controlling a Macbeth M5N plus an ARP Odyssey Mk.I, EMS VCS3 or EML 400 and of course a Memotron. I'll start saving for these and see you onstage when I'm fifty...
(To stage manager:) OK, I'm thinking long white drapes billowing around with all musicians and dancers dressed in white - think Angels, jetpacks... + lots of dry ice and strobes...
UPDATE: OMG! Now all the classic old white synths are returning! So add a new Fairlight CM30A too!
Tags:
Music
Wow, today I found a
James Last "Plays For You" 4LP box set in mint
condition (with two inserts) for just 50p in the local Salvation Army shop.
The
cover alone is worth the price of admission, and as a result takes pride
of place in my studio alongside other classics from
Demis Roussos, Chic,
et al. This choice find came along with Julio Iglesias' "Begin The Beguine"
single for 25p and some cool clothes too. So it's quite a
happening evening
here...
I'm teaching and performing at Indian Summer Festival. Hope to see you there!
P.S. - More updates are finally coming soon to this website - lots is written, less is finished...
© copyright Malcolm Smith 2008-12-25 - last updated 2009-08-23
