TaDream is a very interesting site for fans of Tangerine Dream. One of the highlights of the site is the Tangerine Tree Project, which provides free downloadable music from many great Tangerine Dream concerts. The site also has many other media files, including interviews and lost tracks. The Tangerine Tree project is a collaborative effort… Read More TaDream
This book is an excellent introduction to the world of software synthesizers by long-time Keyboard columnist Jim Aikin. For anyone new to computer-based synthesis, this book will provide a basic understanding of the ideas of software synthesis. It also reviews many of the most popular software synthesizers. Software Synthesizers: The Definitive Guide to Virtual Musical… Read More Software Synthesizers: The Definitive Guide to Virtual Musical Instruments
This 1997 release by Martin Russ is one of the best introductions to synthesis and sampling in print. It discusses both analog and digital synthesis concepts and sampling in a fairly non-technical fashion, making it a great way to expand your understanding of synthesizers. Sound Synthesis and Sampling is extensively illustrated with diagrams that help… Read More Sound Synthesis and Sampling
Electronic Music Pioneers, a book by Ben Kettlewell, is a popular history of electronic music. Kettlewell covers the highlights of recent electronic music history, and does it in an easy-to-read fashion. The book features interviews with many of the artists and synth designers that have been influential in shaping the world of popular electronica in… Read More Electronic Music Pioneers
With Geogaddi, Boards of Canada continue in the style they defined on their debut album, Music Has the Right to Children. This oblique, psychedelic pop electronica has no immediately catchy tunes or hooks, but if you give it a chance, it will seep into your head, nevertheless. Boards of Canada is actually a Scottish duo,… Read More Boards of Canada – Geogaddi
This site has circuits and other resources for synth diy enthusiasts. In addition, it is the home of the virtual 909! The Synth-Builder’s Online Resource is a labor of love of Chris List, a programmer, synth builder and electronic music fan. Resources at the site include: Circuits & Other Resources Java Potentiometer Graph Applet Links… Read More The Synth Builders Online Reference
Combine programming with music for a total musical geek-out with the Maximum MIDI site. The site is a companion to the book, Maximum MIDI : Music Applications in C++. Need we say more? The site has several projects for the hardcore synth-diy fan. For anyone interested in the technical side of MIDI and synthesizers, both… Read More Maximum MIDI
Electronics for Music is a haven for synth-diy enthusiasts. EFM sells low-cost printed circuit boards for analog synthesizer projects. They currently have a fairly limited line-up that includes the WildCat modular midi synthesizer PC board, and the TomCat midi synthesizer PC board. EFM Synthesizers is located in Houston, Texas USA. EFM has been on the… Read More Electronics For Music- EFM
One of the earliest DIY sites, Analog Music Zone, specializes in guitar effects and electronics. It has instructions for building all types of guitar effects, including clones of popular stompboxes. This labor of love is put together by Jack Orman, a hardcore DIY enthusiast who’s also written extensively for magazines on building custom stompboxes. The… Read More Analog Music Zone Guitar FX Projects
Cloned Analog Gear has schematics and articles for people interested in building DIY versions of classic analog equipment. The site has information on building synthesizers, synth modules, sequencer, vocoders and effects. CAG is for hardcore DIY enthusiasts. The articles come from some classic sources, including Practical Electronics, Radio Electronics, and Electronics Today International.
