Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying : From the Legacy of Moog to Software Synthesis

Making its first huge impact in the 1960s through the inventions of Bob Moog, the analog synthesizer sound, riding a wave of later developments in digital and software synthesis, has now become more popular than ever. Analog Synthesizers charts the technology, instruments, designers, and musicians associated with its three major historical phases: invention in the 1960s–1970s and the music of Walter Carlos, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, Genesis, Kraftwerk, The Human League, Tangerine Dream, and Jean-Michel Jarre; re-birth in the 1980s–1990s through techno and dance music and jazz fusion; and software synthesis. Now updated, this new edition also includes sections on the explosion from 2000 to the present day in affordable, mass market Eurorack format and other analog instruments, which has helped make the analog synthesizer sound hugely popular once again, particularly in the fields of TV and movie music. Major artists interviewed in depth include: Hans Zimmer (Golden Globe and Academy Award nominee and winner, "Gladiator" and "The Lion King") Mike Oldfield (Grammy Award winner, "Tubular Bells") Isao Tomita (Grammy Award nominee, "Snowflakes Are Dancing") Rick Wakeman (Grammy Award nominee, Yes) Tony Banks (Grammy, Ivor Novello and Brit Awards, Genesis) Nick Rhodes (Grammy Award Winner, Duran Duran) and from the worlds of TV and movie music: Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Primetime Emmy Award, "Stranger Things") Paul Haslinger (BMI Film and TV Music Awards, "Underworld") Suzanne Ciani (Grammy Award Nominee, "Neverland") Adam Lastiwka ("Travelers") The book opens with a grounding in the physics of sound, instrument layout, sound creation, purchasing, and instrument repair, which will help entry level musicians as well as seasoned professionals appreciate and master the secrets of analog sound synthesis. Analog Synthesizers has a companion website featuring hundreds of examples of analog sound created using dozens of classic and modern instruments. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements About the author Introduction: what's so great about analog? Chapter 1 What is analog? Sound Frequency Amplitude Wave shape Harmonics and overtones Noise Phase Synthesizer components Circuit design Sound design Chapter 2 Aspects of analog sound Voltage-controlled oscillator Voltage-controlled filter Envelope generator Voltage-controlled amplifier Low-frequency oscillator White noise source Sample-and-hold Wave shaper Ring modulator Subharmonic oscillator Resonator Frequency shifter Morphing filter Vocoder Sequencer Keyboard MIDI interface Assorted modules Chapter 3 The birth of analog, the manufacturers and the artists Moog ARP EMS Oberheim Sequential circuits Yamaha Korg Roland Chapter 4 The growth of analog Italy France The Netherlands Japan United Kingdom Germany USA Chapter 5 Using and programming analog Classical and avant-garde programmers Jazz programmers Pop and TV music programmers Rock programmers Pure synthesizer programmers Techno-pop programmers Programming for orchestral imitation Programming rock, pop and electric sounds Programming abstract sounds Ten great early analog sounds Chapter 6 The analog revival, 1980s-2000s Chapter 7 Programming and using virtual analog hardware and software Virtual analog programming Virtual oscillators Virtual filters Virtual LFOs Virtual envelopes Virtual Controllers Alternative applications Analog emulation software Chapter 8 2013-2019 updates: new instruments, Eurorack and movies/TV Obituaries New instruments, 2013 onwards Modules 2013-2019: the Eurorack explosion Analog goes to the movies Appendix A Classic instruments: specifications and values Appendix Β Analog and virtual analog instruments: currently or recently in production Appendix C Purchasing guide for analog instruments Appendix D Bibliography Appendix E Discography Appendix F Contacts Appendix G Website content: www.routledge.com/cw/jenkins Index