I Dream of Tires?

bitflipper
I know there is an active group of modular enthusiasts in the Seattle area, as I ran across a meetup announcement a couple years back. Unfortunately, it had been scheduled for a week when I was to be out of town, so I missed it. I'm going to keep an eye out now and try to catch the next one. If any of you guys who are local to me find out about one, please give me a shout. The last one I know about was held, IIRC, at North Seattle Community College.

You have to be a member for the "Gatherings, Events & Meets" subforum, but this is the place you seek for all things modular.
 
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/index.php

bitflipper
This documentary just popped up on Netflix this morning. It's a history of the modular synthesizer, and although there are gaps in the story it's still very interesting to anyone who's nostalgic about the early days of synths. Highly Recommended.

Thanks Dave... I will look out for that

Thanks for the muffwiggler link, Drew. I'd heard the term before, but was expecting an entirely different type of site. I may have been confusing it with muffdiver.com.
 

bitflipper
Thanks for the muffwiggler link, Drew. I'd heard the term before, but was expecting an entirely different type of site. I may have been confusing it with muffdiver.com.
 

Yes, well apparently the name comes from the combination of two EH effect pedals, the famed Big Muff and The Wiggler -  and a certain sense of humor.
 
I should add that that forum has a culture that is less reigned-in than ours - so if salty language and occasional images offend you or your workplace has you on a low-sodium-language diet you might wish to take note. It's not terrible or anything, but some people are more sensitive to such things than others. And it is my understanding that there are sub-forums there that may contain explicit material, but I have never visited them, um, there.
 
Also - Beagle take note(!) - they seem to have an odd "cat fancy" thing there for some reason.

bit, thanks for sharing. I just watched and enjoyed it.
 
When I was young, my brother played Switched on Bach a lot for me. I loved that album. I purchased it as an adult (digital media) but still sounds good to me.
 
While I am not into that kinda stuff, it is interesting to see the resurgence of the concept.

Hi,
 
Somethings are crazy ... you look at Klaus Schulze's setup on Das Rheingold, and the crazy stacks behind him, and his mixing board (he mixes his own live!), and you wonder ... at one time you know there were wires everywhere. And in one of those specials, they are talking about a moment in one of the pieces and how they enhanced it a bit ... and it was truly magnificent, with one exception ... you'll be hard pressed to find it in the huge piece that it is a part of, but it tells you some of the little things that make his work so strong and enjoyable.
 
It is not for everyone, as some think he is boring as heck, but the subtleties are insane! 

maximumpower
When I was young, my brother played Switched on Bach a lot for me. I loved that album. I purchased it as an adult (digital media) but still sounds good to me.

There were enormous gaps in the history presented in the film. Perhaps the most egregious omission was Tomita's Snowflakes are Dancing. That album actually predates Switched on Bach but could not be released until SoB demonstrated that a market existed. Snowflakes is vastly more sophisticated, both musically and technically. SoB sounded mechanical and dull by comparison, while Snowflakes oozed lushness and expressiveness and showed that the synthesizer could be much more than a novelty.
 
I still like Switched on Bach and its sequel, mainly because I am a fan of J.S.B. But I can't think of another synth-only recording that has held up as well over the years as Snowflakes are Dancing.
 

bitflipper

maximumpower
When I was young, my brother played Switched on Bach a lot for me. I loved that album. I purchased it as an adult (digital media) but still sounds good to me.

There were enormous gaps in the history presented in the film. Perhaps the most egregious omission was Tomita's Snowflakes are Dancing. That album actually predates Switched on Bach but could not be released until SoB demonstrated that a market existed. Snowflakes is vastly more sophisticated, both musically and technically. SoB sounded mechanical and dull by comparison, while Snowflakes oozed lushness and expressiveness and showed that the synthesizer could be much more than a novelty.
 
I still like Switched on Bach and its sequel, mainly because I am a fan of J.S.B. But I can't think of another synth-only recording that has held up as well over the years as Snowflakes are Dancing.
 

Thanks. I am going to go check that out!

Snowflakes are Dancing is the only thing I have from Isao, I'm guessing he must have done other things, but I don't have them.  I suppose I'll have to do some research!