Synth utopia and the COOLEST THING AT THE NAMM SHOW

So, I zoomed down to the NAMM Show in Anaheim (like LA, but blander and more soul-less).  My visit was Synth-Tastic.

1)  IMG_0646I visited the Dave Smith booth – he’s the guy who started Sequential Circuits back in the day.  I had a Sequential Six-Trak, which was freaking awesome, and I’m sad I sold mine.   But they had this kick ass director’s chair with the SC logo on it…

Dave Smith had a bunch of great sounding new synthesizers, including the Morpho and the Evolver.  Very tempting.   Then, I’m standing there and Don Buchla walks in!  Buchla was one of the original synth pioneers, along with Moog, Don Buchla, Hugh Le Caine, Raymond Scott and Paul Ketoff.

Buchla build some of the biggest, wildest, most imaginative electronic instruments ever, so it was a synth-fanboi* treat to see him there.

(* I once built a Paia Proteus-1 synth from a kit over an entire summer, so yes, I have a serious serious problem with synth love),

2)  THE COOLEST THING AT NAMM, I SWEAR I WILL FIGHT YOU IF YOU DARE DISAGREE

This firm, Teenage Engineering, showed their RIDICULOUSLY cool ‘palm-top’ synth / sampler /production gizmo, the OP-1.  It’s a gorgeous

The Best Thing at the NAMM Show, the OP-1

The Best Thing at the NAMM Show, the OP-1

piece of design, machined from a block of white-anodized aluminum, color coded keys and knobs, built-in speaker, built-in FM RADIO (for sampling), fantastically beautiful screen with brilliant brilliant amazing user interface, ability to filter external sounds, USB file transfer, oh my GOD!    Shipping ‘in a few months’.

If this thing turns out to be vaporware I will hang myself.

Their turntable design is also disgustingly awesome.


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