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Austin Aguirre

Writer | Content Manager | Music Tech & Broadband SME

Perfect Circuit •

Inventing Electronic Music: Raymond Scott

In the late 1940s and beyond, electronic aural alchemy was taking place in the audio labs of Raymond Scott. Using self-engineered electronic instruments, he spent decades researching the secrets of synthesis, sequencing, and the collaborative composition of music between humans and machines. While his work did impact some of the most consequential figures in electronic music history, like Bob Moog and Herb Deutsch, in large part, Raymond Scott’s engineering accomplishments existed in a vacuum; t...
Perfect Circuit •

History of the Yamaha CS-80 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer

For many, the Yamaha CS-80 is the pinnacle of vintage synthesizers. Released in 1977, its massive feature set coalesced into a trifecta of layered sound design, novel expressivity, and powerful character. History is filled with brilliant synthesizers. Why is the CS-80 so often referenced as the best synthesizer ever made? What did it do nearly half a century ago that earned such a prominent place in music history? Why does it continue to inspire synthesizer development well into the 21st century...
Perfect Circuit •

Take It to Go: Suitcase Synthesizers

In the early 1970s, synthesizer development took a U-turn. The focus went from enormous metal hulks to portable form factors, many of which folded up into nifty little cases. The way manufacturers executed these designs varied wildly. Some looked like a smaller version of a suitcase Rhodes piano, basically a synth with a wooden top cover. Others were expertly disguised into briefcases unfolding into downright clandestine-looking mystery machines. With some research and a little expert insight, w...
SPIN •

Online Rehearsals Are Changing the Way Musicians Work - SPIN

Real-time online music sessions are here, and they’re starting to have an impact. Musicians of all levels are flocking towards the efficient proposition of doing much of their work online. Music lessons, group rehearsals, onboarding new band members, and even entire band reunions are taking place entirely online using technology that makes it feel like you’re playing with other musicians in the same room, even if you’re hundreds of miles apart. While we are still learning the full scope of its u...
Perfect Circuit •

NAMM 2024 Coverage: In Depth

NAMM returns! And this year, it's reclaiming the ancestral January 25–28 time slot. It’s the time of year when music gear manufacturers and enthusiasts the world over converge in bright and sunny Anaheim, California to get the scoop on some of the year’s biggest releases. And while NAMM is a convention for the musical instrument/equipment retail business as a whole, it’s an exciting time specifically for those interested in synthesizers, drum machines, effects, studio gear, and other electronic...