Pioneering British synth designer Chris Huggett – creator of iconic synths for over 40 years, ranging from the EDP Wasp to the Novation Bass Station – has died.
While we have not seen an official announcement yet, multiple sources have shared the news via social media.
Huggett created notable synths in the last five decades:
- In the 1970’s, Huggett and synthesist Adrian Wagner co-founded Electronic Dream Plant, and under that name created the Wasp, Gnat & Spider synthesizers.
- In the 80’s, Huggett launched Oxford Synthesiser Company. There he created the OSC OSCar, a powerful analog/digital hybrid monosynth. He also worked with Akai to create the S1000 family of samplers.
- In the 90’s, Huggett worked with Novation to create synths like the BassStation analog bass synth and the polyphonic SuperNova synthesizer.
- In the 00’s, Huggett created the A-Station, a 1U rackmount polyphonic synthesizer, based on the SuperNova sound engine. He also created the K-Station, a two-octave keyboard that built on the designs of the SuperNova & A-Station.
- In the last decade, Huggett continued his work with Novation, creating a wide range of synths, including: the UltraNova polyphonic synth; the MiniNova, a minisynth and vocoder; the BassStation II, an updated take on his classic analog monophonic synth design; and the Peak, an 8-voice polyphonic synth that blurs the line between analog and digital designs.
Novation has a profile of Huggett and his work on their site.
Sad news
Though, What a mighty legacy that has been left
Rest in peace
More great Chris bits here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E66vNYsnsME
Sad news.
The Wasp & OSCar are straight up classics. The Bass Station II, Peak and Summit are even better synths and I suspect that they’ll someday be just as revered.
Thanks, Chris, for leaving behind so many beautiful creations.
Gosh fancy designing all those synths. It was so exciting when the Supernova came out and all those synths at the time……..very futuristic. His synths will live on!
Right Mike RIP Chris Hugget
This is very ad news. He was an amazing designer and engineer.
This is sad news indeed. He really changed the synthesiser landscape and helped start a lot of players. A lot more than most in this world.
Peak Strong Dreamsynth
It would be nice Arturia to release Wasp or OSCar in V Collection 8 in memory of Chris.
Its always a wistful day when someone so capable dies. Chris had a creative take on design that was as memorable as Alan Perlman’s. His synths nod to the basics, but never slavishly follow anyone in particular. I got to play a Nova briefly (what a lush sound, with a modest 6 voices), but the SuperNova remains on my list of serious dream synths. I’d love to see that 12-voice model as a proper plug-in. Too bad Chris can’t sign off on one now.
Add to his credit the AFX Station as well. A genius.
We all know of his great contributions to the synth world, but many may not know what a fine gentleman he was. Godspeed, Chris!
Yep Dan
I met Chris after I’d been asked to launch the Gnat at Frankfurt 1981 (because I’d just graduated with a Masters in German and French at Oxford) and became his musical collaborator on the OSCar (I suggested features, did the factory presets, demonstrated it throughout Europe and handled artist liaisons). When OSC had become insolvent in 1986, I got him the job writing the OS for the Akai S1000 family of samplers. I did the first ever BassStation demo for Novation.
I’m very touched to read all the comments about Chris who was certainly Britain’s greatest ever synth designer. Martyn Phillips (whose glittering career as a major record producer started when I got him hired to mend Wasps) and I are planning a big tribute to him at Superbooth 2027.