DAY 4 of the SYNTH WORLD CUP
SEMI-FINALS!
The last two days have seen the thirty-two starting synths whittled down to just eight over rounds one and two. They will now face each other in the four quarter-finals. Which will reach the semi-finals?!
Vote now: https://twitter.com/weare1of100
Semi Final 1: Moog Minimoog Model D vs Moog Modular
Semi Final 2: ARP Odyssey vs Roland TB-303
Previous rounds and all synth info here:
https://www.synthevolution.net/blog/2021/3/3/vintage-synth-world-cup
The quarter finals saw the Minimoog just beat the Jupiter 8 and it couldn’t have been closer - 50.5% v 49.5%. The classic mono / poly divide - some people like chords and some people like basslines in equal measure.
Quarter Final 2 saw a surprising upset - two ARPs facing each other - and the Odyssey, amazingly, beat the 2600. This was a surprise to me, at least. The 2600 was the first major ARP instrument released and was a breakthrough semi-modular that influenced a generation. Whilst the Odyssey was a more conventional monosynth (more accurately a duosynth). I guess I feel the 2600 was more groundbreaking for its time, whilst Odyssey represents a more standardised form. Obviously it sounds great though, and demonstrably has many fans out there!
Quarter Final 3 saw another major monosynth, the Moog Modular, beat another classic polysynth, the Prophet 5. Another tough choice, but you all went for the original modular synthesizer that kicked off the electronic music revolution in 1964. Fair enough!
Quarter Final 4 was Roland v Roland, and probably no surprise to see the acid house legend TB-303 beat the equally classic SH-101. As fine as the SH-101 is, it isn’t single-handedly responsible for multiple genres like acid house, acid techno, acid trance, etc…
So - some equally tough choices for the semi-finals - get voting!
EIGHT SYNTHS FROM QUARTER FINALS
TO NOW FEATURE ON A BRAND
NEW SPECIAL EDITION 1OF100 T-SHIRT!
SEMI FINAL 1
Moog Minimoog Model D (1970)
Analogue / Mono / 3 VCOs
One of the most iconic synths ever made; offering the essence of Moog’s modular synths in a 'mini' hardwired form. Gary Numan cites hearing one at the Spaceward studio in the mid-1970s as being the moment that changed The Tubeway Army into a synthesizer focussed band. Another great example - Parliament, ‘Flashlight' (1978).
Moog Modular (900 series) (1964 - 1970)
Analogue / Modular / 3-7 Oscillators
Between 1964 and 1970 Moog Instruments made a series of modular synthesizers using the 900 series of oscillators, filters, LFOs and more. These had a profound effect on the development of electronic music and the use of synthesizers in popular music, starting with Wendy Carlos' 'Switched on Bach' (1968).
SEMI FINAL 2
ARP Odyssey (1972)
Analogue / Duophonic / 2 Oscillators
A relative simple, but powerful monosynth that could be used in duophonic mode. Used by many musicians over the years including Peter Powell for the iconic Dr Who theme tune in 1980.
Roland TB-303 (1982)
Analogue / Mono / 1 VCO
The machine that kick-started the acid house revolution in 1986 with Phuture's, 'Acid Tracks’, debuted by DJ Ron Hardy at The Music Box, Chicago. Not many one-oscillator monosynths with only two waveforms have single handedly formed the back-bone of dance music for over thirty years…