Hi!
I’ve been a fan of synthesizers and drum machines for my whole life and the magic they can make in the hands of a true artist.
I grew up in the 80’s to the music of Prince, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, George Michael and Michael Jackson. It always seems you could float in the music they made, not just because of the lyrics and melodies, but you could also float on the sounds.
In High School I purchased ‘Electronic Projects for Musicians’ by Craig Anderton and after building a few projects I was convinced I wanted to do that with my life. I entered college with the intention of studying electronic engineering and music in order to build synths. I ended up with a music degree and what turned out to be a valuable ability to write software.
My career is centered on designing and developing software, but I have continued a love for music and the tools people use to create it.
A few years ago, I came across Ray Wilson’s Music from Outer Space projects and was inspired by his hacker/teacher mentality. It got me back into the mindset of discovering and creating musical instruments.
Lately I’ve been buying used synths and drum machines, taking them apart and putting them back together, poring over the user manuals and service manuals, and then often reselling them so I can try different ones (I’m an explorer more than a collector). I’m trying to understand the magic qualities that each one posses and I’m still dreaming of building my own instruments.
I’ve learned a lot from the community that is passionate about these things, so I thought it was about time for me to contribute by sharing my experiments, designs, and thoughts.
Welcome to the blog!
A.BEHR