Synth Porn: Buchla Music Easel

This surreal and haunting video shows Charles Cohen on the "Buchla Music Easel," an almost ancient synthesizer — 1973! — that uses a modular system to allow musicians to generate and modify musical noises within the same unit. Don Buchla created the Music Easel's predecessor, the "Music Box," in 1963, the same year Bob Moog invented his famous synth.

The Music Easel can be run on batteries and easily transported, weighing only 30 pounds. Sadly, only 14 were ever made.

The most beautiful piece of synth porn I've ever seen [Music Thing]

[#1 posted by Anonymous , April 21, 2008 7:46 AM]

There was a Buchla at the Ontario College of Art and Design (and there may still be). It is incredibly difficult to produce sounds with any sense of control and what the dude is doing with one is awsome!

[#2 posted by dineriz , April 21, 2008 8:18 AM]

NOTHING compares with the
synthesizer patel collection of
synthesizers.
I mean, this guy has changed his name in "synthesizer", amazing ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cv1_Bw_sBo

D.

[#3 posted by Adzuom , April 21, 2008 3:42 PM]

That was an amazing vid, loved the music.
Didn't much like the camera work though.

[#4 posted by spaceling , April 21, 2008 5:02 PM]

You can see Charles Cohen play his instrument regularly in Philadelphia. He is an excellent collaborator having played with almost every improvisational jazz and electronic project interested in hooking up with him.