Posted on 03/25/2015 5:40:53 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
Dr. Bob may have invented the first commercial viable keyboard synthesizer, but his first machines were analogue devices. They sounded amazing but had some serious technical limitations. How were they solved? By John Chowning, the inventor of a technology called “FM synthesis.” In the process, he changed music forever.
The most famous FM synthesis synth of the 80s was Yamaha’s DX-7, which appeared on the market in 1983. Even if you don’t have a clue about keyboards, you’ll have heard the DX-7 a billion times in your life. Listen. (More classic uses can be found here.)
None of this would have been possible without the work of John Chowning. From Pricenomics:
Long before Stanford University was considered a technology powerhouse, its most lucrative patent came from an under-spoken composer in its music department. Over the course of two decades, his discovery, “frequency modulation synthesis,” made the school more than $25 million in licensing fees.
But more importantly, FM synthesis revolutionized the music industry, and opened up a world of digital sound possibilities. Yamaha used it to build the world’s first mass-marketed digital synthesizer — a device that defined the sound of 80s music. In later years, the technology found its way into the sound cards of nearly every video game console, cell phone, and personal computer.
Despite the patent’s immense success, its discoverer, Dr. John Chowning, a brilliant composer in his own right, was passed over for tenure by Stanford for being “too out there.” In Stanford’s then-traditional music program, his dabblings in computer music were not seen as a worthy use of time, and he was largely marginalized. Yet by following his desire to explore new frontiers of audio, Chowning eventually recontextualized the roles of music and sound, found his way back into the program, and became the department chair of his own internationally-renowned program.
This is the story of an auditory pioneer who was unwilling to compromise his curiosity — and who, with a small group of gifted colleagues, convinced the world that computers could play an important role in the creation of music.
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I live near the Mood Music factory and I also worked for Bobs brother Bill Moog at Moog Aerospace.
What an incredible family
damm auto correct - i meant to type MOOG Music
Actually the DX-7 ruined the sound of pop music from 1985 - 1995. That plastic piercing “Electric Piano” sound that’s all over Whitney Houston records and just about everything else released during that period is the DX-7.
FM synthesis is an amazing bit of technology, but like many amazing technologies it hasn’t always been put to good use.
I think the real issue is common to anything new- it took a while for people to figure out the best uses.
I had one of those! :-)
We recently bought a 88 key Korg Krome for my grandson. An amazing instrument. I actually had no idea that synthesizer technology only dates back to the early 80s.
I preferred the Korg M1 with it’s built in sequencer very easy to use.
A DX7 is a great synth but programming your own voices is a nightmare.
The execrable ‘We Are The World’ as well, I believe.
Bowie's response was if he'd wanted an orchestra he'd hire one - let's create a sound entirely different....
It also pretty much killed the use of real horn sections in rock/pop/r&b music. Nobody was going to pay 3 or 4 musicians to go on tour when they could just hire 1 guys with a synth.
Very cool. Thanks for the ping. I have a son who is a musician and one who is IT. Sent it to both.
The digital synthesizers were from the 1980s. Analogue synthesizers (such as the Moog) have been around since the 1950s.
“We recently bought a 88 key Korg Krome for my grandson. An amazing instrument. I actually had no idea that synthesizer technology only dates back to the early 80s.”
You sound like wonderful grandparents.
Some interesting landmarks in pre-1980s synthesis include the release of “Switched-on-Bach” by W. Carlos in 1968 and various recordings by the German group Kraftwerk (”Autobahn”, “The Man-Machine”) which sound better and more modern than most current EDM.
It has taken a while to find the best use for the DX-7. At 32 pounds it is an effective doorstop.
Imagine what ABBA could have done with this! : )
I remember when they did the first “active” suspension systems on race cars. That was impressive stuff.
I bought my DX7 when they 1st came out and used on stage and recording for many years. It’s still in the family w my nephew. Now mainl
y use a Korg Triton Extreme and several rack mount units but also like some of the newer software sounds.
While the piano sounds are good thru headphones I still prefer a good acoustic piano to anything else.
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