On Thu, Nov 17, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Kyle Owen <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 17, 2016 at 10:10 AM, Paul Koning <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > Interesting. From around 1975 or so, and worth learning about is the > > music synthesizer developed on the PLATO system at the University of > > Illinois by Sherwin Gooch. The hardware is described in great detail > > (including full schematics) in US Patent 4,206,675. The software > includes > > a music code compiler, using a code somewhat like the one you referenced > > but different in details. I don't know if one borred from the other or > if > > they are independent inventions. (Sherwin might remember.) > > > > A few years later PLATO added a 16 channel waveform synthesis device, > > controlled by the microprocessor in the terminals. It had a similar > music > > code, plus support for a piano keyboard (with key velocity sensing) for > > music input with real time display of the score, as well as score > > printing. Not long after, Lippold Haken created a keyboard that's > > continuous rather than discrete (think of a keyboard like the fingerboard > > of a violin); a successor of that is still sold today. > > > > I'd be very interested in any sound samples, if anyone has any...I guess > that's perhaps unlikely. And on that note (heh), are there any other > computer music albums out there? I know of the First Philadelphia Computer > Music Festival, the two Unplayed by Human Hands, and it looks like the > University of Melbourne had an electronic music album too. There's a 45 > entitled Computer Composites that featured several IBM systems, > > I'm finding it rather difficult to find LPs that are assuredly produced by > a digital computer versus by other electronic means, like early > synthesizers, etc. > I have an LP, "Electronic Music from the University of Illinois" (1967 or so): https://www.discogs.com/Various-Electronic-Music-From-The-University-Of-Illinois/release/349054. If I recall, they used the U of I's ILLIAC IV in the recording. It's somewhat interesting but the electronic parts of it are sometimes hard to discern :). Looks like someone's digitized it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ueVm8WvRHI. I digitized an 45 of music generated by an Orchestra-80 (TRS-80 4-channel synth), it's called "Classical Mosquito!" -- you can grab it from here: http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/mosquito/ As an aside, I've been (slowly) working on emulating Ted Kaehler's organ keyboard / FM synth for the Xerox Alto (c. 1974) in ContrAlto. I have just enough technical information and code listings to make it possible, but there's just enough information missing to make it difficult... - Josh > > Thanks, Al, for the scan upload! I've enjoyed reading that. > > Kyle >
