synthfiend

An intriguing and entertaining debate over on the Gearslutz forums about what synth was used for the oh-so-elusive bass line in Eurythmics’ hit song “Sweet Dreams (are Made of This)”. If you’ve ever tried to reproduce the song yourself, you’ll understand why I say it’s elusive. Apparently, the answer to this question is as elusive as the bass line itself.

Leading up to the release of his upcoming new album, The Map of the Floating City, Thomas Dolby has launched a multiplayer online game set in a dystopian future where people have been forced to abandon land and take to the sea on a variety of ships, where they form tribes, trade and happen upon wares, and through cooperation and ingenuity, earn song and album downloads. Join me and play!

Chris Huggett is an engineer/designer who co-founded Electronic Dream Plant (EDP) and Oxford Synthesizer Company, who is currently technical director at Novation Digital Music Systems, all manufacturers of audio synthesizers. (cont)

In 1969, Pearlman founded ARP Instruments, Inc. (originally Tonus, Inc.) with $100,000 of his own money and matching funds from a small group of investors. The name ARP was derived from Pearlman’s initials. ARP entered the fledgling synthesizer industry with the introduction of the 2500 analog modular synthesizer at the AES show in Fall 1970 …

“The MPC — which stands for music production center (originally MIDI production center) — is a combination drum machine and sampler that allows users to upload a variety of sounds and manipulate them as a percussionist would. Crucially “it allowed you to make your own drum kits,” said Glen Darcey, who oversees new product development for the Akai brand.

An endlessly variable drum machine, it’s been an essential tool for producers, integral to hip-hop’s sonic development. It’s been used, less prominently, as a live tool too. But in the last few years, thanks to musicians like Araabmuzik, Divinci, Exile and others, it has become a stand-alone object of fascination.” (title link goes to full article)