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Alison Tavel talks to Rob Puricelli about Resynator, her documentary exploring the history of the synthesizer invented by her late father. They discuss reconstructing the instrument, its innovative design and early history, tracking down surviving examples, and placing the Resynator into the hands of contemporary musicians. Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:28 - Reasons For Making The Film12:41 - What Is The Resynator?20:05 - Reconstructing The Resynator27:32 - Interviewing Peter Gabriel31:28 - Filming in Colombia40:00 - Where To View The Film Alison Tavel BiogAlison Tavel is a filmmaker and music archivist. Her work with archival material has included directing music videos, documentary projects, commercial spots and EPKs, as well as producing and overseeing archival content for major releases. Earlier in her career, Alison worked in music management and supervision before moving into touring and studio support for artists including Grace Potter, Beck and Jenny Lewis. RESYNATOR is her feature directorial debut, which won the Audience Award following its premiere at SXSW. The film explores the story of the pioneering synthesiser created by Alison's father Don Tavel and its rediscovery decades later.https://www.resynator.comhttp://instagram.com/resynatorhttp://facebook.com/resynatorhttp://x.com/resynator Rob Puricelli BiogRob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology. www.failedmuso.comTwitter: @failedmusoInstagram: @failedmusoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/failedmuso Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Bob Coover and Anthony Marinelli join Julian Rodgers to explore the history, evolution and creative potential of wavetable synthesis, from its early origins to modern instruments, discussing waveform morphing, iconic sounds and where the technology is heading next. Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:43 - What Is Wavetable Synthesis11:08 - Morphing Between Waveforms14:42 - History Of Wavetable Synthesis19:05 - The Wavetable Sound24:41 - Software Using Wavetables26:46 - New Instruments With Wavetable Synthesis30:05 - Morphing Sounds With Tactile Controls34:01 - Examples In Popular Recordings39:12 - The Future Of Wavetable Synthesis #3rdwave #fairlight #ppg #serum Bob Coover BiogBob Coover is co-founder and Principal DSP Engineer at Groove Synthesis, where he helped create the award-winning 3rd Wave series of advanced wavetable synthesisers. A veteran synth designer and software engineer, he previously worked with Sequential alongside Dave Smith, contributing to instruments including the Prophet-12, Pro 3 and OB-6. Before co-founding Groove Synthesis in 2021 with Andrew Silverman, Coover also spent many years developing music technology for companies including Avid/Digidesign. His passion for classic PPG wavetable synthesis inspired the creation of the 3rd Wave, a modern instrument that combines vintage-inspired sound with contemporary synthesis techniques. Through his work, Coover continues to push the boundaries of hardware synth design, creating instruments that balance deep sound-design capabilities with an intuitive, musician-focused workflow.https://groovesynthesis.com/https://www.instagram.com/groovesynthesis/ Anthony Marinelli BiogAnthony Marinelli is an American composer, synthesist, producer and educator whose career spans more than four decades across film, television and popular music. A pioneer of synth programming, he contributed to Michael Jackson's Thriller and has worked with artists including James Brown, Lionel Richie, Van Halen, Supertramp and Herb Alpert. As a film composer he has ammassed more than 100 credits, including Young Guns, Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs and 2 Days in the Valley. An award-winning composer and sound designer, Marinelli is also recognised for his expertise in synthesis and music technology, sharing his knowledge through educational videos, courses and workshops that explore the creative potential of electronic instruments and sound design.https://www.anthonymarinelli.com/http://instagram.com/anthonymarinellimusichttps://www.facebook.com/anthonymarinellimusichttps://x.com/amarinellimusic Julian Rodgers BiogJulian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio.https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926 Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

KOGG's Selena Kay and Cerys Hogg talk to Caro C about combining their classical and jazz disciplines with creative sound design, custom instrument building, live performance and rhythmic experimentation. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction01:40 - Meeting On A Tech Course03:14 - Electronic Experimentation04:50 - Developing As A Duo06:52 - Releasing On Nonclassical08:45 - Balancing Structure With Experimentation10:43 - Sound Design Audio Examples15:10 - Creating Custom Instruments 16:55 - Triggering And Processing Sounds19:06 - Current Hardware Triggers21:22 - Using Scores And Improv In Shows24:40 - Combining Jazz And Classical25:18 - Differences To Previous Projects26:54 - Compositional Process29:00 - Next Steps For KOGG29:57 - Describing The Musical Style #AbletonLive #AkaiMPD #AbletonPush2 #RolandSPD #TCHeliconVoiceLiveTouch #ZoomMultiStomp KOGG BiogKOGG are an experimental electronic duo formed by composers and performers Selena Kay and Cerys Hogg. Combining contemporary composition, improvisation and custom-built instruments, they create music from found sounds and unconventional sound sources. Since forming in 2018, they have performed at festivals and venues including Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Aldeburgh Festival and IKLECTIK. Their debut album, Mechanista, explores the relationship between human performance, electronics and mechanical sound.https://www.koggmusic.comhttps://www.instagram.com/koggmusichttps://www.facebook.com/KOGGMUSIChttps://x.com/KoggMusichttps://www.selenakay.comhttps://www.ceryshogg.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 Derbyshire Day. URL: http://carocsound.com/ Twitter: @carocsoundInst: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy talk to Kevin Paul about their techno project System 7 and ambient project Mirror System, discussing their studio setup, live performances and creative approach to making music. Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:38 - Current Projects01:20 - System 7 and Mirror System02:20 - Songwriting Process04:27 - Using Gong-Influenced Sounds05:17 - Main Creative Tools06:19 - Learning From DJ Experience06:55 - Collaborative Workflow08:49 - Structuring Albums09:27 - Streamlined Studio Setup11:20 - Limitations and Finishing Tracks13:31 - Live Performances16:58 - 10 Records and Collaborations21:02 - The Future Of System 726:18 - Mirror System for Ambient Music #HelixLT #Logic #ProTools #Ableton #AnimoogZ http://www.a-wave.comhttps://www.facebook.com/System7pagehttps://www.facebook.com/Mirrorsystem Steve Hillage BiogSteve Hillage is an English guitarist, producer and electronic music pioneer best known for his work with the psychedelic prog band Gong, his influential solo albums of the 1970s and the electronic duo System 7. Renowned for his distinctive “glissando” guitar style, Hillage later became a key figure in ambient techno and psychedelic dance music, blending electronic production with live guitar performance alongside longtime creative partner Miquette Giraudy.http://stevehillage.comhttps://www.facebook.com/stevehillagebandhttps://www.instagram.com/stevehillage Miquette BiogMiquette is a French keyboardist, vocalist and composer known for her work with Gong, Steve Hillage and System 7. A major creative force behind System 7’s ambient and techno sound, she has collaborated with Hillage since the 1970s, contributing keyboards, vocals, programming and production across a wide range of psychedelic, ambient and electronic music projects.https://www.instagram.com/miqui7777https://www.facebook.com/p/Miquette-Giraudy-100063115306402 Kevin Paul BiogKevin Paul started his career as a DJ but quickly found his passion was sound engineering. His first audio job was at Soho Studios in 1991, moving to Konk Studios six months later, where he worked alongside successful producers and engineers such as Bob Clearmountain, Adam Mosley, Pascal Gabriel and Gil Norton, as well as bands such as The Kinks, Galliano, Terrorvision, UFO and Elastica. After working on archiving the Depeche Mode back catalogue in 1994, he was offered an engineering role at Mute Records’ in-house studio, which eventually lead to a position as Head Engineer, which gave him access to the entire Mute Records roster. Highlights include mixing Goldfrapp’s 'Felt Mountain', David Bowie’s 'Hours' and Nick Cave’s 'No More Shall We Part'. He also worked in 5:1, mixing Moby’s 'Hotel', Goldfrapp’s 'Black Cherry' and more for DVD. In 2004 Kevin went freelance and re-mixed the entire Depeche Mode and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds back catalogues for SACD/DVD. Since 2008, Kevin Paul has been in charge of mixing and remixing performances at the iTunes Festivals in the UK and Germany. He has mixed over 100 artists to date, including Adele, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The XX, Calvin Harris, Foo Fighters, Jack White, Linkin Park, Florence & The Machine, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Jessie J., Norah Jones, Oasis, Mumford & Sons, N.E.R.D., Lykke Li, James Blunt, KT Tunstall, Hot Chip, Paul Weller and many more. He continues to record, engineer, produce and mix many projects in music and film, runs the mixing and surround mixing modules for the Masters Degree course at UK’s Westminster University and divides his time between London and Berlin. Recent works include the International selling new album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and mixing the latest album of Denmark’s “Dúné” with the first single premiering at the Danish Music Awards, plus the latest iTunes Music Festival.http://www.kevin-paul.com/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

James Richmond and Julian Rodgers dive into the world of modular synthesis, explaining what it is and how it fits into both studio production and live performance. They explore the process of creating unique sounds from scratch, the challenges of patch recall and share practical advice for anyone looking to get started with modular gear. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Modular Synth Definition 01:50 - Semi-Modular 02:59 - James' Modular Synthesis Work 04:05 - Reaktor And Max 07:32 - The Appeal Of Modular 09:54 - Generating Your Own Sounds 11:24 - Creating A System 13:11 - Software Vs Hardware Systems 14:02 - Creating Brand New Sounds 16:16 - Stochastic Modulation 21:31 - Handling Recall 22:57 - Gigging With Modular 26:42 - Preparing For Performance 28:12 - East Coast Vs West Coast 29:44 - Practical Performance Challenges 31:34 - Careful Onstage Monitoring 33:08 - Starting Out In Modular 37:08 - Affordable Synthesis #NIreaktor #cycling74max #makenoisemaths #mutableinstrumentsrings #mutableinstrumentsclouds #doepfer #verbos James Richmond BiogJames Richmond is a composer, producer and audio engineer working across electronic and guitar-based music. He is the guitarist and producer for Liam Vincent & The Odd Foxes, has released experimental electronic work under the name Euclidean Circuits and has a solo project called The Deathbird. He also develops bespoke audio tools through EventFieldAudio and writes about music production, studio systems and monitoring from his hybrid modular and analogue studio.https://www.jamesrichmond.com/https://www.facebook.com/jamesrichmondaudio/https://twitter.com/octatonichttps://www.instagram.com/jamesrichmondaudio Julian Rodgers BiogJulian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio.https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926 Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

DJ and techno producer Kerrie joins Caro C to talk about her journey into DJing and production, the influences that shaped her sound and the live performance setup she now takes with her around the world. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:21 - From DJ to Producer 04:37 - Techno Influence 06:26 - Producing From A Dancefloor Perspective 09:23 - Live Performance Setup 15:56 - Transporting Gig Kit 18:27 - Combining Live And Studio 20:13 - A Workflow Without A Laptop 21:35 - Community And Shared Experiences 26:35 - Sound Choices 28:27 - Exploring Fresh Ideas #ElektronAnalogRytm #ElektronAnalogFour #ElektronDigitaktII #CycloneAnalogicTT-303BassBot #Allen&HeathXone:96 #StrymonBigSkyReverb #OtoBoumWarmingUnit #DoepferA-100 #Soundtoys Kerrie Anderson BiogIrish-born, Manchester-based Kerrie is a multidisciplinary artist and resident DJ at Tresor. Performing live sets, producing music and DJing worldwide, she also runs her label Dark Machine Funk, which showcases her raw, industrial-tinged techno sound. Kerrie developed her musical foundation during an 11-year tenure at Manchester’s legendary record shop Eastern Bloc Records, where she also held a DJ residency. Her high-energy sets blend UK, Detroit and European techno with electro and broken rhythms, earning appearances at venues including Berghain and fabric, as well as festivals worldwide. As a producer, she has released music on respected techno labels including Blueprint Records and Tresor Records, alongside her own Dark Machine Funk imprint. Now touring internationally, Kerrie continues to build a reputation for powerful productions and uncompromising techno rooted in decades of dedication to electronic music culture. https://www.facebook.com/DJKerrie https://www.instagram.com/kerrie_musichttps://x.com/kerrie_music 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: http://carocsound.com/ Twitter: @carocsoundInst: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

To commemorate the centenary of electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram on 31 December 2025, Caro C explores Oram’s lasting influence in a conversation with Sarah Angliss and Ian Stonehouse. The episode continues with Shiva Feshareki and James Bulley discussing their Proms performance of Still Point, Oram’s innovative orchestral work from 1948 that integrated electronic sound and live manipulation. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction Sarah Angliss & Ian Stonehouse 02:15 - Composer, Inventor and the Radiophonic Workshop 06:42 - Inspired by the sound-houses of Francis Bacon 11:34 - Working In Frequency, Not Pitch 13:01 - Tower Folly and the Oramics Machine 16:09 - Working With Post-War Equipment 22:12 - Insights and Inspiration from the Archives 26:56 - Top Musical Selections From the Archive Shiva Feshareki & James Bulley 32:57 - A Proms Performance Of Still Point 37:55 - The Daphne Oram Archive and Goldsmiths 41:12 - Creating A Historically Accurate Performance 45:22 - Following The Written Instructions 53:27 - Creating An Updated Score See also:https://www.soundonsound.com/people/graham-wrench-story-daphne-orams-optical-synthesizerhttps://www.soundonsound.com/people/story-bbc-radiophonic-workshop Daphne Oram BiogDaphne Oram (1925–2003) was a pioneering British composer and inventor, and one of the founders of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. A trailblazer in electronic music, she developed the Oramics system, a groundbreaking method of composing sound by drawing directly onto film, allowing pitch, timbre and dynamics to be controlled visually rather than through traditional notation. Her work fundamentally reshaped ideas about how music could be created, laying the foundations for electronic composition, sound synthesis and experimental music practices that continue to influence composers, producers and sound designers today.Website: www.daphneoram.org Sarah Angliss BiogSarah Angliss is an Ivor Novello Award-winning composer, performer, and instrument designer working across film, theatre, and live performance in Europe and North America. Her work includes the electroacoustic score for Romola Garai’s Amulet and the opera Giant, which combines baroque instruments with electronics and DIY music machines. Drawing on European folk, cybernetics, and electroacoustic engineering, her music explores inventive sound design. Sarah has received the Visionary Award from the Ivors Academy (2021) and a Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers (2018). She’s recently joined the Augmented Instruments Lab at Imperial College, London, for researching lost alternative design strategies dormant in forgotten electronic musical instruments. Website: www.sarahangliss.com Instagram: @sarah_angliss Ian Stonehouse BiogIan Stonehouse is an archivist, researcher and performer working in the Electronic Music Studios and Special Collections at Goldsmiths, University of London, with the archives of composers Daphne Oram, Lily Greenham and Hugh Davies. He has lectured in Sonic Art for over 30 years and was Head of the Electronic Music Studios at Goldsmiths from 2004-2019. Most recently he's been a research consultant and instrument maker for projects including Lily Greenham: An Art of Living at Badischer Kunstverein in Karlsruhe, Germany (2024), the Science Museum's Time Loops concert series with composer Gavin Bryars and the group Icebreaker (2024-25), Ensemble Contrechamps' Daphne Oram: An Individual Note concert at the Auditorium Ansermet in Geneva (2025), Nonclassical's Vari/ations: An Ode to Oram event at the Barbican in London (2025) and as part of an ensemble celebrating the legacy of experimental group Gentle Fire at Cafe Oto in London (2026). Bandcamp: ianstonehouse.bandcamp.comInstagram: @soonheisatune Shiva Feshareki Biog A doctoral composition graduate from the Royal College of Music, Shiva Feshareki is an Ivor Novello award-winning British-Iranian composer and turntablist, working at the intersection of contemporary-classical and electronic music. She has performed internationally in concert halls, galleries, and raves, including the BBC Proms, Southbank Centre, Barbican, Konzerthaus Berlin, Mutek Montreal, and Amsterdam Dance Event, collaborating with ensembles such as the BBC Singers, London Contemporary Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, and Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.Website: studiofeshareki.comInstagram: @shivafesharekiX - @shivafeshareki James Bulley BiogJames Bulley is an artist and musician working with sound across installation, performance, immersive audio, film, theatre, and public art. His work has been presented internationally in galleries, concert halls, and public spaces. Projects include the world-premiere performance of Daphne Oram’s Still Point at the BBC Proms, alongside collaborations with artists, filmmakers, and institutions including Marshmallow Laser Feast, the National Trust, Opera North, and the BBC. Website: jamesbulley.com Instagram: @jjbulley 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. Website: carocsound.com X: @carocsoundInstagram: @carocsound Facebook: www.facebook.com/carocsound Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 - Introduction 02:06 - Field Recording, Musique Concrète and DIY Electronics 05:34 - Residency In Russia 06:27 - Neural Synthesis And Machine Learning 10:53 - Working On Aura Machine 14:16 - Working With AI Technologies 16:35 - Open Source Software 18:30 - Developing An Immersive Sound Installation 20:41 - Fear Around Technology 22:23 - Spatial Audio Using Spat 25:28 - Routing Ableton For Spatial Audio 27:53 - Sculptures As Sound Sources 30:32 - Adopting Emergent Technology 33:53 - Geology As A Source Of Inspiration #ableton #spat Vicky 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 exhibited at CTM, ICA, MUTEK, National Science & Media Museum, QO2 and STEIM amongst others. Her latest EP AURA MACHINE is out now on LOL Editions. https://vickyclarke.org/https://www.instagram.com/sonamb__/https://linktr.ee/sonamb__http://sleepstates.net/https://loleditions.bandcamp.com/album/aura-machine 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: http://carocsound.com/ Twitter: @carocsoundInst: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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-156 Jonathan 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 Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Morcheeba, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom.  Alongside being a guitarist and pianist, he is a synthesis enthusiast with a particular interest in sampling and explorative sound manipulation. As a producer and engineer, he has made albums with acclaimed avant-garde musicians from composer Tullis Rennie to Mute Records artist Louis Carnell. “I’m always seeking out the most ‘out-there’, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,” he says, “to capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.”  Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London. https://www.vokagentle.com/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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: http://carocsound.com/ Twitter: @carocsoundInst: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 227e Kaitlyn 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 aesthetics, focusing on the heightened awareness of and presence in the world where every interaction, whether with people, objects or nature, has the potential to become a moment of connection and personification. https://kaitlynaureliasmith.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynaurelia/https://www.facebook.com/kaitlynaurelia/https://x.com/kaitlynaurelia William J. Stokes BiogWilliam J. 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 Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Morcheeba, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom.  Alongside being a guitarist and pianist, he is a synthesis enthusiast with a particular interest in sampling and explorative sound manipulation. As a producer and engineer, he has made albums with acclaimed avant-garde musicians from composer Tullis Rennie to Mute Records artist Louis Carnell. “I’m always seeking out the most ‘out-there’, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,” he says, “to capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.”  Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London. https://www.vokagentle.com/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 - Teaching Catherine 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 (2018) albums before departing in 2019. She released her debut solo album Confessions of a Romance Novelist in 2016, a collaborative album In Memory of My Feelings (2020) with Bernard Butler. The Art Of Losing (2021), and Versions (2023). http://theanchoress.co.uk/ http://www.facebook.com/theanchoresshttp://instagram.com/theanchoressofficialhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCprifKdWotavrgXSy_qelEw 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: http://carocsound.com/ Twitter: @carocsoundInst: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 - Introduction 01:26 - An Accidental Film Composer 05:44 - Recording And Mixing Process 11:38 - Visiting Erica Synths13:21 - Trans Musicale Festival In Rennes 18:47 - Eskal Studio On Ouessant Island 21:00 - Module 1: Serge New Timbral Oscillator 25:51 - Module 2: Instruō Lúbadh 31:06 - Module 3: Mutable Instruments Beads 32:58 - Module 4: Erica Synths Black Stereo Delay 37:21 - Module 5: TouellSkouarn Ar Merc'het Brao 41:30 - Yann Tiersen Performance Yann 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 coast of Brittany and continues to tour internationally. https://www.yanntiersen.com/https://www.instagram.com/yanntiersenhttps://www.facebook.com/yanntiersen.officialhttps://www.youtube.com/yanntiersen 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 Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Morcheeba, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom.  Alongside being a guitarist and pianist, he is a synthesis enthusiast with a particular interest in sampling and explorative sound manipulation. As a producer and engineer, he has made albums with acclaimed avant-garde musicians from composer Tullis Rennie to Mute Records artist Louis Carnell. “I’m always seeking out the most ‘out-there’, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,” he says, “to capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.”  Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London. https://www.vokagentle.com/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 Judged The 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 2020 by Jan Garelick in the Boston Globe. Albert received his B.M. from Loyola University New Orleans, and his M.M. from the University of New Orleans. In May of 2013, he became the first graduate of the PhD program in Experimental Music and Digital Media at Louisiana State University, where he was a founding member of the Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana (LOLs). https://jeffalbert.com/ Paul McCabe BiogPaul McCabe is the Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation at Roland, where he has spearheaded the development of the Future Design Labs. Under his leadership, this global R&D team of engineers and researchers has been dedicated to exploring and harnessing emerging trends, fostering innovation, and shaping the global creative landscape for the next 50 years. In addition to his work at Future Design Labs, Paul also brings his expertise to Roland's Central Marketing Group, where he provides executive leadership to Consumer Research and Insights. Throughout his career, Paul has held numerous leadership positions, including VP of R&D and Strategic Partnerships, VP of Global CX and VP of Global Marketing. At Roland Canada, he served in various key roles such as President & CEO, COO, Product Manager, Marketing Communications Manager, Technical Marketing and Product Specialist. https://mccabepaulj.com/https://www.instagram.com/mccabep/ Nick Rothwell BiogNick Rothwell is a composer, performer, software architect, coder and visual artist. He has built media performance systems for projects with Ballett Frankfurt and Vienna Volksoper, composed sound scores for Aydın Teker (Istanbul / Kapadokya), Shobana Jeyasingh, AWA Dance, Luz&Mannion Dance (Flamenco) and Undercurrent Theatre, programmed physical media sculptures with Simeon Nelson and Rob Godman, live coded in Mexico and in Berlin with sitar player Shama Rahman, collaborated with the body>data>space collective in Prague, Paris and Dresden, written software for Studio Wayne McGregor, Beinghuman in Kathmandu, the Pina Bausch Foundation and Nesta's FutureFest, consulted for Tate Modern, and developed algorithmic visuals for large-scale outdoor projections in Poland, Estonia, the Cambridge Music Festival and Lumiere (London / Durham). He has taught design at CODE Berlin and currently runs the Computer Science undergraduate course at University of the Arts London. Project Cassiel - https://cassiel.com Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 Sampling Oli 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/olifreke Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts