Abbey Road launch music institute, fake Sennheiser trader convicted, and Don Buchla takes new owners of his brand to court.
The Father of the Digital Synth. “I was aware that I was probably the first person to ever hear these sounds, and that what I was hearing was something musical that had probably never been heard by anyone before — at least, not by anyone on this planet.” John Chowning‘s story is told, from his musical beginning as a percussionist in a US Navy jazz band, through American and European avant-garde modernism as a composer and an academic, to his discovery and invention of a synthesis technique that would revolutionise synth-making and prove a gigantic commercial success: FM synthesis. Read the long form piece here.
Three creative strategies for electronic music producers. Ableton‘s first book, which was recently released as a 350-page hardback and is soon to be as an ebook: Making Music—74 Creative Strategies For Electronic Music Producers by veteran composer and electronic producer Dennis DeSantis suggests practical ways of solving 74 kinds of creative dilemma. The book is broken into three main sections—Problems Of Beginning, Problems Of Progressing and Problems Of Finishing—and in each offers simple steps to combat familiar studio issues, from staring at an empty project screen to finishing a failed track. Resident Advisor presents the first chapter of each section. Check them out here.
Abbey Road Launch Music Institute. The legendary studio where artists including The Beatles recorded, Abbey Road have announced the launch of their own educational institute, where students aged 18 and over will be able to study for a 12-month advanced diploma in music production and sound engineering. Students are also promised the opportunity to use the studio’s recording spaces, control rooms and equipment. Find out more at their website, and in the Guardian‘s article.
Fake Sennheiser Trader Convicted. An online trader has been caught selling fake Sennheiser products, and has subsequently been convicted by a UK court. The perpetrator admitted selling the counterfeit items with a total value of €235,000 to more than 7,000 online customers via Amazon. He has been put on probation for almost a year and will be required to complete 200 hours of community service. Further legal action is now pending, and the trader could also be held liable for damages. Find out more here.
Don Buchla Takes New Owners of his Brand to Court. The man behind early synths like the Series 100 modular, Don Buchla sold his original company Buchla & Associates to Australian music distributor Audio Supermarket Pty. Ltd. after a battle with cancer required him to secure cash for his future. The 77-year-old inventor is currently taking the new owners of his brand to court for $500,000 for a breach of contract, alleging that he was he was promised $440,000 for the sale of the company, but has been paid less than $110,000 so far, and also alleging that the defendants breached the Asset Purchase Agreement of Buchla & Associates by “failing to use reasonable business efforts to reach sales targets.” Find out more here.