Vicky Clarke joins Caro C to explore her experimental approach to sound, from field recording and neural synthesis to AI technologies and spatial audio. She also discusses immersive installations, open-source tools and the unconventional inspirations that drive her work.Chapters00:00 - Introduction02:06 - Field Recording, Musique Concrète and DIY Electronics05:34 - Residency In Russia06:27 - Neural Synthesis And Machine Learning10:53 - Working On Aura Machine14:16 - Working With AI Technologies16:35 - Open Source Software18:30 - Developing An Immersive Sound Installation20:41 - Fear Around Technology22:23 - Spatial Audio Using Spat25:28 - Routing Ableton For Spatial Audio27:53 - Sculptures As Sound Sources30:32 - Adopting Emergent Technology33:53 - Geology As A Source Of Inspiration#ableton #spatVicky Clarke BiogVicky Clarke is a sound and electronic media artist from Manchester, whose work explores materiality, electrical phenomena and ritual. Working with sound sculpture, DIY electronics and human-machine systems, she explores our relationship to technology considering themes of human agency in autonomous systems, post-industrialisation and techno-emotional states. Her work takes the form of composition, installation and live AV performance. She produces music as SONAMB and her debut album, SLEEPSTATES, a ‘glitchy experimental techno jerker’ (Boomkat) was released in 2022, accompanied by net-art piece ‘SLEEPSTATES.NET'.‘Latent Spaces’, her 2025 spatial sound installation, was created as a selected ‘In Motion’ composer with Sound & Music UK. Inviting audiences to step inside a computational model, the piece draws on her research into machine learning and musique concréte, working with early neural synthesis models and custom industrial datasets. This research practice developed through artistic residencies and commissions with NOVARS electroacoustic department at the University of Manchester, UK-Russia year of music, British Council, and Cyborg Soloists at the University of Holloway, resulting in her works ‘Aura Machine’ and ‘Neural Materials.’Vicky won an Oram Award in 2020 from the New BBC Radiophonic Workshop & PRS Foundation. As a solo artist and previously with DIY electronics project Noise Orchestra, she has performed and exhi

Producer, sound designer and composer Jonathan Snipes joins William Stokes to explore his work with experimental hip-hop group Clipping, sharing an inside look at their unique production process, before showcasing five modules in an exclusive live performance.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:12 - Combining Hip Hop And Experimental Sounds12:45 - Unconventional Sounds And Beats 16:52 - Annea Lockwood Piano Burning20:59 - 5U Modular Selection24:31 - Module 1: Q106 Oscillator29:43 - Module 2: Modcan Digital Delay38:51 - Module 3: Modcan Frequency Shifter 39b43:04 - Module 4: Modcan Quad Envelope 60b47:41 - Module 5: Tellun TLN-156 Neural Agoniser52:04 - Live Performance#Q106Oscillator #ModcanDigitalDelay #ModcanFrequencyShifter #ModcanQuadEnvelope #TellunTLN-156Jonathan Snipes BiogJonathan Snipes is a producer, composer and sound designer based in Los Angeles, where he teaches sound design in the theatre and film departments at UCLA. As well as his work for film, television and theatre, he is known as a member of the experimental group clipping., along with fellow producer William Hutson and rapper Daveed Diggs. Having recently released their sixth studio album Dead Channel Sky on iconic label Sub Pop Records, clipping. are an outfit in the vanguard of hip-hop, sound design, beat making and strident experimentalism.https://www.jonat8han.com/https://www.instagram.com/jonat8han/William Stokes BiogWilliam Stokes is a producer, writer and artist in three-piece avant-psych band Voka Gentle. As well as being a critic and columnist for Sound On Sound, conceiving the popular Talkback column and heading up the Modular column, he has also written on music and music technology for The Guardian, MOJO, The Financial Times, Electronic Sound and more. As an artist in Voka Gentle he has made records with producers from Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave) to Sam Petts-Davies (Radiohead, The Smile, Roger Waters), has had songs featured on franchises from FIFA Football to The Sims and has toured across the UK, Europe and the USA, playing festivals from Pitchfork Avant-Garde in Paris to SXSW in Austin, Texas. He has collaborated with artists including the Flaming Lip

Mercury-nominated vocalist, composer and producer ESKA talks about her favourite studio gear and how her background as a live jazz musician shapes her approach to writing and recording.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:30 - ESKA's Journey Into Music06:21 - Using Tech To Tell A Story14:23 - Approaching Each Track Individually16:35 - Developing A Sonic Identity20:18 - Live vs Studio Artist Methods26:59 - Solo Albums And Soundtracks31:47 - Exploration And Improvisation32:43 - Collaborating With Musicians 38:57 - Live Performances With Ableton#CamelCrusher #NeumannTLM103 #NeumannU87 #PrismLyra2 #AbletonLive Eska BiogESKA is a Mercury Award nominated singer, songwriter, composer and producer. Her music blends elements of folk, soul, psychedelia and electronica, shaped by years of live performance and a strong jazz influence. She has released acclaimed projects including her self-titled debut album ESKA and her more recent release, The Ordinary Life of a Magic Woman. Her work has received radio support from Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne and John Kennedy, and her debut EP was named one of Bandcamp’s Best Releases of 2013.Alongside her solo career, ESKA has collaborated with artists such as Grace Jones, The Cinematic Orchestra, Zero 7, Bobby McFerrin, Esperanza Spalding, Shabaka Hutchings and Kae Tempest, and her credits include theatre and film scores as well as performances at major venues and festivals.https://www.eskaonline.com/https://www.instagram.com/eskaonline/https://www.facebook.com/eskaonline/Caro C BiogCaro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.URL:

Composer, producer and Buchla enthusiast Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith joins William J. Stokes to discuss her latest album Gush. She also treats listeners to a live set, performed on a carefully curated selection of Buchla 200e modules.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:10 - Peacock Moments06:24 - Working With Suzanne Ciani10:54 - Discovering Buchla And Eurorack16:40 - Blending Sensibilities23:21 - Buchla 200e Modular System And 223e Input28:48 - 259e and 261e Waveform Generators36:58 - 296e Spectral Processor43:37 - 227e System Interface51:25 - The Performance#buchla200e #buchla223e #buchla259e #buchla #261e #buchla 296e #buchla 227eKaitlyn Aurelia Smith BiogKaitlyn Aurelia Smith is a classically trained American composer, producer and performer originally from the Pacific Northwest who now lives in Los Angeles. Drawing upon her formal training in composition and sound engineering from Berklee College of Music, she initially explored vocal performance, classical guitar and piano before her creative trajectory shifted when a neighbour lent her a Buchla 100 modular synthesizer. Her music combines the use of modular, analogue and rare synthesizers, orchestral textures and voice.Her early self-released works, including Cows Will Eat the Weeds and Tides: Music for Meditation and Yoga (2014), were followed by Euclid (2015), her first official album with Western Vinyl, which combined structured songwriting with ambient exploration. This was succeeded by EARS (2016), which critics praised for its seamless layering of organic instrumentation and analogue synthesis to evoke feelings of awe and disorientation. Her 2017 release, The Kid, marked a conceptual leap, tracing stages of human development through richly textured, emotionally resonant compositions that bolstered her status among experimental music audiences.Kaitlyn has performed alongside artists like Hot Chip, Glass Beams, RY X, Caribou and Four Tet, composed original works for Apple, BBC Orchestra, Adult Swim, MoMA, Red Bull and others, plus her song “Stratus” was also synced in the 2023 film Priscilla Motion Picture Soundtrack. She has also collaborated with longtime inspiration Suzanne Ciani and other artists like Emile Mosseri, while exploring multidisciplinary projects through her label, Touchtheplants. On her latest album, GUSH, Kaitlyn sets her sights on aesthe

Catherine Anne Davies, also known as The Anchoress, joins Caro C to discuss her preferred recording methods, the decision to invest in her own studio and receiving three consecutive MPG Award nominations.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:14 - From Multitrack To MPG Nominations04:09 - Balancing Locations And Condensed Hours 08:14 - Old School Recording Techniques11:20 - Recording Piano And Vocals12:51 - Piano Recording Technique14:09 - Re-releasing Communion 18:57 - Last Night From Glasgow21:39 - Favourite Synths24:41 - New Album Project27:20 - Recording Own Vocals32:24 - TeachingCatherine Anne Davies BiogCatherine Anne Davies is a producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter originally from Wales. Her artist project, The Anchoress, has seen her twice nominated for the Welsh Music Prize and named an Album of the Year by everyone from Elton John to The Sunday Times, to Record Collector.A three times nominee for the prestigious Music Producers Guild Awards, Catherine’s early roots as a classically-trained flautist have seen her journey from her engineering and co-writing credits on Top 20 albums, to recently being appointed as Professor of Music Production and Songwriting at ICMP & SAE.Since winning a PRS Writer/Producer award in 2019,  she has spent much of the last six years on her current obsession with vintage synthesizers, as well as building a growing reputation as a go-to remixer for artists such Bishi, Thea Gilmore, and Roxanne DeBastion. Catherine’s recent production projects include the lead radio single for Dot Allison’s remix project, producing and mixing on the Hen Hoose Vol. 2 compilation, co-producing her BBC 6 Music supported collaboration with Band Spectra, and producing and mixing the forthcoming Liberty’s Mother album.Catherine has previously co-written with and worked alongside a variety of prominent industry names including  Ed Harcourt (Paloma Faith & James Bay),  Liam Howe (Jessie Ware, Marina) and Paul Statham (Kylie, Dido). She has also co-written with artists outside of the alternative rock genre, including MOBO-nominated singer-songwriter/cellist  Ayanna Witter-Johnson  and British rapper  Riz MC .Catherine also joined the line-up of Simple Minds in 2014, appearing on the Big Music (2015)and Walk Between Worlds (20

Composer and musician Yann Tiersen talks to William Stokes about his love of modular synthesis, the joys and challenges of touring and performing and how he found himself unexpectedly involved in film composition, followed by an exclusive performance using five selected modules.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:26 - An Accidental Film Composer05:44 - Recording And Mixing Process11:38 - Visiting Erica Synths13:21 - Trans Musicale Festival In Rennes18:47 - Eskal Studio On Ouessant Island21:00 - Module 1: Serge New Timbral Oscillator25:51 - Module 2: Instruō Lúbadh31:06 - Module 3: Mutable Instruments Beads32:58 - Module 4: Erica Synths Black Stereo Delay37:21 - Module 5: TouellSkouarn Ar Merc'het Brao41:30 - Yann Tiersen PerformanceYann Tiersen BiogYann Tiersen is a French composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans classical, electronic, and experimental music. He gained international recognition in 2001 for his soundtrack to Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amélie), following the success of his 1998 album Le Phare, which achieved gold status in France.Since then, Tiersen has released numerous studio albums and has performed extensively across Europe, North America and Asia. His discography includes collaborations with artists such as Jane Birkin, Elizabeth Fraser and Matt Elliott. His work has been featured in films, theatre productions and contemporary art installations.Tiersen's compositions have appeared in a range of films beyond Amélie, including Good Bye, Lenin! (2003), Alice et Martin (1998) and Tabarly (2008), as well as various short films and documentaries. His music is frequently used for its emotive and atmospheric qualities, particularly in European cinema.His latest release, Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour (2024), is a double album where the first part comprises eight solo piano pieces written during a 2023 sailing trip, each linked to a specific location. The second part shifts to electronic production, incorporating modular synths, samples and rhythmic textures, created following a night at sea near Belfast. The project reflects Tiersen’s ongoing interest in location-based composition and the integration of acoustic and electronic elements.Tiersen records at his studio on the island of Ushant, off the coas

Nick Rothwell is joined by Jeff Albert, Associate Professor at Georgia Tech, and Paul McCabe, Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation at Roland, to discuss the 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition - an annual event showcasing new technologies and innovations in music.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:10 - Jeff Albert And Georgia Tech05:02 - Paul McCabe And Roland's Future Design Lab10:17 - Judging The Guthman Competition12:06 - Getting Hands-On With The Instruments13:45 - Getting The Back Stories From The Creators 15:11 - A Wide Range Of Instruments And Technologies17:37 - Face-To-Face Demos And Performances18:45 - The Origins Of The Guthman Competition21:33 - The 2025 Winner: Chromaplane24:55 - 3rd Place: Adult Corythosaurus30:34 - How The Instruments Are JudgedThe Guthman Musical Instrument CompetitionThe Guthman Musical Instrument Competition began in 1996, founded by Georgia Tech alumnus Richard Guthman in tribute to his wife Margaret, a talented pianist. Originally a jazz piano contest, it grew steadily over a decade, drawing students from dozens of US states.As Georgia Tech's music landscape evolved, introducing a Music Technology Master’s in 2006 and launching the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology in 2007, the competition shifted focus. In 2009, it was re-imagined as the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, celebrating innovation in musical instrument design. Now an international event, it attracts inventors from across the globe. From experimental prototypes to market-ready products, entrants showcase their creations live, competing for recognition as the most groundbreaking idea in music technology.https://guthman.gatech.edu/Jeff Albert BiogAn Associate Professor and Interim Chair at Georgia Tech, Jeff Albert’s areas of research and creative practice include improvisation and interaction, jazz performance, performance paradigms for live computer music and audio production. He has performed in concerts and festivals in the U.S and throughout Europe, and contributed as a performer, producer, or engineer on over 60 recordings, including the 2017 Grammy winner for Best Traditional Blues Album. He has been named a Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll and his album Unanimous Sources was named a Top 10 album of 20

Oli Freke talks us through the history of samplers, from the introduction of the Mellotron in 1963, through to current day sampling software, while highlighting the golden era of sampling from the late 80s to early 90s.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:08 - The Mellotron02:28 - Pre-Digital Samplers03:18 - Pierre Schaeffer And The Phonogène04:03 - Peter Zinovieff And EMS 05:44 - The University Of Illinois' PLATO06:08 - Harry Mendell's Melodian 07:21 - Wendel Sampling Computer08:29 - The Fairlight and Fairlight II15:20 - The Fundamentals Of Sampling19:43 - The Synclavier23:47 - Digital Delay Lines (DDLs)26:04 - EMU Systems Emulator31:01 - Ensoniq Mirage32:39 - Other Notable 1980s Releases34:46 - Akai S1000 and Roland S Series38:14 - Sampling And Legal Issues 41:16 - Modern Day SamplingOli Freke BiogOli Freke is a London based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, ‘Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)’, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.www.synthevolution.netwww.linktr.ee/olifrekeCatch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Composer, pianist and producer Martin Kohlstedt talks to Caro C about his approach to combining piano and electronic instruments, improvisation in the studio and on stage, plus the work he is doing to reduce the carbon footprint of touring.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:42 - Combining Piano And Electronics05:10 - Organic, Improvised Performances09:29 - Incorporating The Voice Into Recordings10:23 - Favoured Hardware Choices12:56 - Touring Equipment 15:54 - Selecting A Live Team17:10 - The Recording Process 20:14 - Launching The Edition Kohlstedt Label 23:39 - Film, TV and Other Commissions25:11 - The Process Of Collaboration27:14 - The Influenced Of Nature 30:15 - Supporting Ecological Projects 32:07 - Planning The Touring Schedule 35:52 - Kinship With Other ArtistsMartin Kohlstedt BiogMartin Kohlstedt is a composer, pianist and producer known for his work in instrumental music and electronica. His albums, including Tag and Nacht, Strom, Ströme, Flur and Feld, along with their respective reworks, have earned international recognition and led to global concert tours.Kohlstedt’s music blends electronica with acoustic and analogue elements, incorporating classical piano, ambient sounds, field recordings, and score design. His work is characterised by the seamless integration of diverse influences and soundscapes. Whether performing at festivals, in intimate piano concerts, or creating movie scores, his music is dynamic and immersive, evolving in real-time during live performances.He describes his approach as modular composition, where his pieces are never fixed. Improvisation plays a key role in his process and he values audience interaction, the freedom to experiment and to collaborate with people, spaces and contexts. Throughout his career, Kohlstedt has worked with notable partners such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus Choir, artists like Douglas Dare and Sudan Archives and labels including Warner Classics. In addition to his own compositions, he creates music and scores for films, plays, podcasts and audiobooks. Kohlstedt also runs his own label, Edition Kohlstedt that supports a reforestation project near his hometown.https://martinkohlstedt.com/Caro C BiogCaro C is an artist, engineer and teacher speci

Composer and Sound Designer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe tells Caro C about his preferred sound modules and working methodologies, plus shares details some of the film and TV projects that he has recently been collaborating on.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:35 - Finding A Musical Voice04:38 - Choosing Modular Synthesis10:18 - Avant Garde Artistry17:14 - Current Modular Setup23:19 - Other Favourite Modules 28:11 - Composing For TV And Film34:03 - Combining Hardware And Software#morphagene #spectraphon #dxg #optomix #proworkout #arbharRobert Aiki Aubrey Lowe BiogRobert Aiki Aubrey Lowe is an artist, curator and composer based in Brooklyn, New York. Robert is known for his work with modular synthesis combined with voice. Along with analogue video synthesis works, he has had exhibitions of his work at John Michael Kohler Art Center, Museum of Art and Design, Kunsthal Charlottenborg and the Broad.Over the last several years Robert has collaborated on projects or provided sound in a featured artist capacity for such films as “End of Summer”, “Sicario”, “Arrival”, “Last and First Men” with Johann Johannsson and “It Comes at Night” with Brian McOmber. In recent years Robert has scored “Candyman” for Nia DaCosta, “The Color of Care” and “Power” for Yance Ford, “Master” for Mariama Diallo, “Grasshopper Republic” for Daniel McCabe, docuseries “Telemarketers”, “UNION” for Brett Story and Stephen Maing, “The Man In My Basement” for Nadia Latif, “Life After" for Reid Davenport and “Seeds” for Brittany Shyne. Through collaboration Robert has worked with Tarek Atoui, Ben Russell, Ben Rivers, Rose Lazar, Nicolas Becker, Rashaad Newsome, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hildur Guđnadóttir, Sabrina Ratté, Philippe Parreno, Evan Calder Williams, Ariel Kalma, Susie Ibarra and YoshimiO, as well as many others.https://robertaikiaubreylowe.bandcamp.com/Caro C BiogCaro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her curr

In this occasional series exploring modular synthesis and live performance, William Stokes talks to Tony Rolando, electronic musician and founder of modular company Make Noise. Tony talks about his beginnings in the industry and how Make Noise has relaunched in 2025 with a new team and a brand new module release, which he then showcases in an exclusive performance alongside four additional modules.Chapters00:00 - Introduction05:22 - Creating Social Media Posts12:10 - Recent Innovations In Modular14:02 - Revisioning Jettisoned Music Technology21:08 - Module 1: Maths 30:17 - Module 2: Morphagene47:42 - Module 3: Qpas 57:57 - Module 4: Bruxa01:12:52 - Module 5: New Universal Synthesizer System01:27:40 - The PerformanceTony Rolando BiogTony Rolando is a self-taught musician and electronic musical instrument designer who started his career building electronics for artists, such as the light controlled mixer for Simon Lee’s “Bus Obscura,” working for Moog Music and playing in bands. He has recently released music with Important Records and the Asheville, NC based Ceremony of Seasons.Tony is the founder, lead designer and co-owner of Make Noise, a modular synth company launched in 2008, known for modules such as the Morphagene and 0-Coast, popular with artists like Thom Yorke and Robert Lowe, aka Lichens. They operate out of Asheville, NC and have global distribution through a number of music tech dealers.https://tonyrolando.bandcamp.com/www.makenoisemusic.comWilliam Stokes BiogWilliam Stokes is a producer, writer and artist in three-piece avant-psych band Voka Gentle. As well as being a critic and columnist for Sound On Sound, conceiving the popular Talkback column and heading up the Modular column, he has also written on music and music technology for The Guardian, MOJO, The Financial Times, Electronic Sound and more. As an artist in Voka Gentle he has made records with producers from Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave) to Sam Petts-Davies (Radiohead, The Smile, Roger Waters), has had songs featured on franchises from FIFA Football to The Sims and has toured across the UK, Europe and the USA, playing festivals from Pitchfork Avant-Garde in Paris to SXSW in Austin, Texas. He

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking E-mu Systems Emulator II sampler, Dave Rossum, Kevin Monahan and Paul Wiffen share inside stories of the development and manufacture of the instrument, their struggles to get around the technological limitations of the time and how the instrument was widely adopted by bands, artists and pop culture.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:50 - The Origins Of The Emulator03:59 - The E-mu Name 04:57 - Kevin's Background08:09 - Paul's Background11:19 - The Motivation For Creating Emulator II 16:26 - Specific Challenges25:19 - The Challenges Of Adding Hard Drives30:35 - How Did The Iconic Industrial Design Come About?35:11 - Having Two Disc Drives 38:22 - How Artists Responded To The Emulator II46:46 - Using Sampling To Create Novelty Sounds 56:08 - Kevin's Contribution To Ferris Bueller's Day Off 57:37 - The Legacy Of The Emulator II And Sampling #EmulatorII #Drumulator #SP12"This is all part of musical creativity, which is what I love about my job so much, is that I get to be at the forefront of inventing these tools that then the musicians can go figure out what to do with and blow my socks off" - Dave RossumDave Rossum BiogDave Rossum is a pioneering figure in the field of electronic music and audio technology, celebrated as the co-founder of E-mu Systems. Rossum’s early interest in engineering and music led him to study at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he developed a deep understanding of both electronic circuits and music theory.In 1971, Rossum co-founded E-mu Systems with Scott Wedge. Initially focusing on modular synthesizers, the company became a cornerstone of the burgeoning electronic music scene. Rossum’s technical brilliance was pivotal in designing groundbreaking instruments, including the E-mu Emulator, one of the first affordable digital samplers, and the E-mu SP-1200 drum machine, which played a critical role in the development of hip-hop and electronic music.Rossum’s work extended beyond instruments to innovations in sound synthesis and sampling technologies, many of which remain influential. After E-mu was acquired in the 1990s, Rossum continued to innovate. In 2016, he launched Rossum Electro-Music, a company dedicated to creating advanced modular synthesizer tools,

Electronic music pioneer and composer Suzanne Ciani discusses her career highlights in conversation with William Stokes, including early performance struggles due to her determination to present shows in quadraphonic, a career resurgence thanks to Moogfest and why she loves working with the Buchla interface.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:06 - The First Female To Score A Movie04:01 - Having More Than 20 Albums04:36 - Golden Apples Of The Sun07:55 - Live Performance Struggles11:57 - A Love Of Programming14:09 - Interacting With A Buchla17:14 - A New Way Of Performing Music22:32 - The Buchla 250 MARF25:36 - Making A Comeback At Moogfest29:36 - Creating Spatial Content38:40 - A Meeting Of Art And Science 41:36 - Future Plans"I didn't build the machines, I certainly didn't design them, but I could interact with them and use them, you know, and that's what I liked".#buchla #moogSuzanne Ciani BiogSuzanne is a five-time Grammy award-nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist who has released over 20 solo albums including "Seven Waves," and "The Velocity of Love," along with a landmark quad LP “LIVE Quadraphonic,” which restarted her Buchla modular performances. Her work has been featured in films, games, and countless commercials as well. She was inducted into the first class of Keyboard Magazine's Hall of Fame alongside other synth luminaries, including Bob Moog, Don Buchla and Dave Smith and received the Moog Innovation Award. Most recently, she is the recipient of the Independent Icon Award from A2IM, The Golden Ear Award and the SEAMUS Award.Suzanne has provided the voice and sounds for Bally's groundbreaking "Xenon" pinball machine, created Coca-Cola’s pop-and-pour sound, designed logos for Fortune 500 companies and carved out a niche as one of the most creatively successful female composers in the world. A Life in Waves, a documentary about Ciani’s life and work, debuted at SXSW in 2017 and is available to watch on all digital platforms. Ciani is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds a Masters in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley.http://sevwave.com/

Krust, also known as K or DJ Krust, chats about his early involvement in the Bristol music scene in the late 80s to early 90s, the development of the Drum & Bass sound and setting up the Full Cycle and Dope Dragon labels with Roni Size.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:28 - Early Influences And Getting Started07:28 - Getting Immersed In Rave08:45 - Launching A Label10:23 - Learning The Equipment12:12 - Jungle DJ / Producers16:11 - Creating A Sound Palette17:58 - Making Use Of Hardware19:52 - Preparing A Track23:23 - Dealing With Burnout28:20 - Helping Musicians31:06 - Crafting The New Album41:15 - The Current Jungle / DnB Scene48:36 - Current And Future ProjectsInterviewee BiogBristol-born b-boy Kirk Thompson is best known as DJ and producer Krust, an artist whose ideas and frequencies rumble and resonate deep within jungle’s DNA. With an indelible legacy as a key figurehead in the Bristol sound, he has never compromised since emerging in 1989 as a member of Fresh 4. As a founding member of Full Cycle, the first non-London label to truly mould and manipulate the jungle schematic, and Reprazents, one of the first D&B acts to infiltrate the popular psyche and win critical Mercury Music Prize acclaim, his designs continue to help shape our understanding of what drum & bass is.He is regarded as one of drum & bass and jungle's founders and pioneers noted for his unique musical style. Epic experimentalism of Krust’s  can be heard in his 1997 single ‘Soul In Motion’ and similarly ground-breaking ‘98 single ‘True Stories’ for Talkin Loud. An in-demand remixer, Krust has reworked tracks for Bjork, Korn, Moloko, Claude VonStroke, DJ Krush, Adam F, Shy FX, Alex Reece, DJ Ron, DJ Rap and many more. His recent album entitled Edge of Everything was released in 2020 on Crosstown Rebels and received critical acclaim. It was nominated for a album of the year with AIM Award and DjMag.In addition to making music Krust has helmed Adapt The Canvas, a lifestyle coaching consultancy that holds workshops and seminars giving advice on time management, overcoming personal challenges, creative thinking, wellness and the development of the working mindsets, which have taken place in music colleges, universities and The Barbican, London. His Weekly podcast Conversation for Creatives reaches a global audien

Pedals are not just for guitars. Here Paul White connects his extensive pedal collection to a modular synth system, effectively using the pedals as additional modules and suggesting some creative ways of setting up and combining them to create a range of sounds for different applications.(00:00) - Introduction (01:12) - Connecting Your Pedals (02:01) - Using A Delay Or Reverb (04:19) - Adding Some Overdrive (05:08) - Adding Effects With Pitch Shift (06:07) - Using Chorus To Thicken A Sound (06:58) - Tremolo And Vibrato (07:24) - Phasers And Flangers (08:40) - Adding An Envelope Filter (09:51) - Creating Textures With Granular Delay (10:56) - Ring Modulator Effects (12:22) - Combining Effects (15:03) - Adding In An Arpeggiator (15:53) - Creating A Softer Sound Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:42 - Connecting Your Pedals01:31 - Using A Delay Or Reverb03:49 - Adding Some Overdrive04:38 - Adding Effects With Pitch Shift05:37 - Using Chorus To Thicken A Sound06:28 - Tremolo And Vibrato06:54 - Phasers And Flangers08:10 - Adding An Envelope Filter09:21 - Creating Textures With Granular Delay10:26 - Ring Modulator Effects11:52 - Combining Effects 14:33 - Adding In An Arpeggiator15:23 - Creating A Softer Sound#StrymonCloudburstPaul White BiogPaul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing. He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!

In this first part of an occasional series exploring modular synthesis and live performance. William Stokes talks to experimental electronic musician Scanner about his career, the choice of his favourite modules he'll showcase in his closing performance and the friendliness of the modular community. Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:13 - The Tate Modern Installation02:52 - Working With Laurie Anderson06:40 - The Origin Of The Name Scanner10:47 - Module 1: Morphagene14:30 - Module 2: Mimeophon18:52 - Module 3: Equation Composer24:08 - Module 4: QU-Bit Prism26:51 - Finding Your Sound With Modular29:22 - Module 5: QU-Bit Nano Rand31:16 - Module 6: Instruō øchd DivKid 33:12 - Modular Social Community 35:31 - Modular Aesthetics38:38 - Module 7: Bela Gliss42:37 - The PerformanceMorphagene - https://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/morphagene/Mimeophon - https://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/mimeophon/Equation Composer (discontinued) QU-Bit Prism - https://www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/p/prismQU-Bit Nano Rand - https://www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/p/nano-rand Instruō øchd - https://www.instruomodular.com/product/ochd/Bela Gliss - https://uk.shop.bela.io/products/glissRobin Rimbaud BiogScanner (British artist Robin Rimbaud) traverses the experimental terrain between sound and space connecting a bewilderingly diverse array of genres. Since 1991 he has been intensely active in sonic art, producing concerts, installations and recordings, the albums Mass Observation (1994), Delivery (1997), and The Garden is Full of Metal (1998) hailed by critics as innovative and inspirational works of contemporary electronic music. To date he has scored 65 dance productions, including the hit musical comedy Kirikou & Karaba Narnia, Qualia for the London Royal Ballet, and the world’s first Virtual Reality ballet, Nightfall, for Dutch National Ballet.More unusual projects have included designing sound for the Philips Wake-Up Lig

Jason Singh is a sound artist, producer and performer. His creative output is an exploration of the natural world, voice and a wide range of music technologies. Works include live performance, immersive installations, studio recordings, broadcasts and sound walks. In this show he talks about how he makes music using the MIDI Sprout interface, a device that senses the electrical voltage of plants and converts it into MIDI information. He then uses the notes to control Ableton to produce the sounds he used in his recordings and immersive installations.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:48 - Getting Started in Audio06:17 - Collaborating With Other Creatives09:46 - Studio Toys12:48 - Custom Built Instruments And Interfaces14:08 - Live Performances19:41 - Collaborating With Nature Using Biofeedback25:07 - Using The MIDI Sprout and PlantWave29:47 - Experiencing Nature Sounds In Real-Time31:44 - Creating An Immersive Installation For Womad40:54 - Opening Your Ears To Everyday SoundsAudio Credits:Afternoon - a commission by National Trust to create an entirely vocal piece which mimics the sounds of a woodland area in Tatton Park in Cheshire.Passing Light - an Ambient Jazz piece featuring trumpet player Yazz Ahmed.Rhubarb  - is a biosonfication track from the latest release "The Hidden Music of Plants and Trees", created in collaboration with a Rhubarb plant.MIDI Sprout - https://www.midisprout.com/PlantWave - https://plantwave.com/en-gbJason Singh BiogJason Singh is sound artist, nature beatboxer, producer, dj, curator, facilitator and performer. Jason’s life and work is rooted in listening - he follows a multi-sensory and cross-species approach to sound and music. His creative output is an exploration of the natural world, voice and a wide range of music technologies. Works includes live performance, immersive installations, studio recordings, music for film and theatre, deep listening and well being experiences, sound walks, broadcasts, music workshops, podcasts, soundtapes and immersive DJ sets. Collaborations and commissions include a diverse range of organisations and artists including BBC, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, V&A Museum, Earthshot Prize, WOMAD, Kew Gardens, Chester Zo

In an impromptu chat, Tom Oberheim tells Sam Inglis about his early years as an engineer and his accidental route into creating electronic musical instruments. As he celebrates his 50th year since the launch of the SEM, Tom talks about the rise of digital, the resurgence of analogue and the launch of the new TEO-5.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:26 - An Accidental Engineer02:46 - Building For Musicians06:34 - Becoming a Distributor For The ARP 260011:05 - Designing The SEM12:43 - The Filter Design15:03 - The OB-1 And Patch Memories16:36 - OB-X - Polyphony And Programmable Presets19:35 - The Oberheim Sound22:37 - The Digital Takeover24:40 - The Resurgence Of Analogue28:01 - Launching The OB-X8 With Focusrite29:23 - The Oberheim TEO-530:37 - Utilising New TechnologyOberheim BiogOberheim is the 21st century return of the legendary company that helped fuel the original electronic music revolution in the 1970s. Now, just as then, Oberheim is guided by the vision of engineer and inventor, Tom Oberheim. Tom’s genius for innovation introduced the world to the first commercially available poly synth and other groundbreaking electronic instruments that literally changed the sound of music.Today, Oberheim reawakens this extraordinary legacy by bringing the famed Oberheim sound to a new generation of instruments and artists. The company’s passion remains unchanged by time or technology — to once again provide the world with the finest-sounding analog synthesizers ever made.https://oberheim.com/Sam Inglis BiogEditor In Chief Sam Inglis has been with Sound On Sound for more than 20 years. He is a recording engineer, producer, songwriter and folk musician who studies the traditional songs of England and Scotland, and the author of Neil Young's Harvest (Bloomsbury, 2003) and Teach Yourself Songwriting (Hodder, 2006).Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Electronic Music artist Jlin talks about her processes for creating a new work, being ready to tour straight from the studio and staying grounded and focused when your work starts to gain recognition.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:27 - The Journey So Far03:09 - Using FL Studio03:50 - Live Performance With Ableton09:23 - Developing A Sound World10:51 - Focusing On The Detail12:12 - CPU: Clean, Precise And Unpredictable 14:55 - Favourite Plug-ins16:02 - Preparing For A New Project18:36 - Being Disciplined 21:33 - Staying Humble And Working Hard 23:55 - Preparing For A Tour26:13 - Stereo Vs Immersive29:14 - Going With The FlowJlin BiogJlin (Jerrilynn Patton) has quickly become one of the most distinctive composers in America and one of the most influential women in electronic music. Jlin’s thrilling, emotional and multidimensional compositions have earned her praise as “one of the most forward-thinking contemporary composers in any genre” (Pitchfork). She is a recipient of a 2023 US Artist award and a 2023 Pulitzer Prize nomination.Her mini-album Perspective was released to critical acclaim on Planet Mu 2023. Her much-lauded albums Dark Energy (2015) and Black Origami (2017) have appeared on “Best of” lists in The NY Times, The Wire, LA Times, Rolling Stone, The Guardian and Vogue. Jlin has been commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, Third Coast Percussion, the Pathos Quartet, choreographers Wayne McGregor and Kyle Abraham, fashion designer Rick Owens and the visual artists Nick Cave and Kevin Beasley.Her next release, Akoma (Planet Mu March 2024) features collaborations with Philip Glass, Bjork and Kronos Quartet.https://www.jlintheinnovator.com/Caro C BiogCaro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshi

The drum machine has progressed massively since the days of the home organ player. Here Oli Freke takes us through a brief history with lots of audio examples, highlighting the most iconic models to have been released during the last 40 years and the part that they have played in shaping musical trends.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Early Rhythm Machines02:57 - The First Korg Rhythm Machine04:03 - The Invention Of The Transistor08:02 - Solid State Rhythm Machines13:48 - Using Drum Machines In Mainstream Hits17:05 - The First Programmable Drum Machines21:53 - The Introduction Of Drum Pads And Brains25:22 - The Arrival Of Digital Samples And The Linn Drum 30:53 - The Era Of Sampling Drum Machines 37:06 - The Impact Of The Roland TR-808 and TR-90942:49 - Other Notable 80s Drum Machines44:35 - The Introduction of MIDI46:45 - Standardised Layouts And Spec50:07 - Analogue Circuit Modelling And Software53:40 - Back To Hardware With Eurorack Modular54:47 - Drum Pattern Generation With AIOli Freke BiogOli Freke is a London based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, ‘Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)’, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.www.synthevolution.netwww.linktr.ee/olifrekeCREDITS1. Chamberlin Rhythmate - audio.com (@Drum Machine)2. Wurlitzer Sideman - Internet Archive (archive.com)3. Korg Doncamatic - Korg (Germany)4. Korg Minipops 3 - Corsynth Modular (Corsynth.com)5. Ace Tone F-1 - @YouAreTheRobots6. Roland TR-77 - @vintageaudioinstitute7. Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn8mxHfY4vM&t=4s)8. Maestro MRK-2 - @organ61 9. Korg KR-55 - Steve Porter (synthmagic.co.uk)10. Roland CR-78 - AnalogAudio (h