[sdiy] Raymond Scott

[Electronium]

Mr. Scott was, indeed, quite successful... probably much more so than Moog
or Buchla, although he made his fortune through radio and television (not by
marketing his inventions).  Scott was extremely secretive about his designs
and concerned that if other composers had access to his devices, they would
be able to edge in on the electronic music market, which Scott had cornered.

Scott wrote the famous big-band tune, "Powerhouse".

A good place to start researching his work would be
http://www.raymondscott.com.  Google searches on Raymond Scott or his
machines (Electronium, Clavivox or Circle Machine) will also turn up lots of
info.

As Paul & Larry mentioned, Scott & Moog had a working relationship, where
Moog would build sub-modules for Scott's devices.  Apparently, when R.A.
Moog Co. was just starting out, Bob & his father would travel out to
Raymond's place to discuss these contracts.

I was at one time considering trying to build something like Scott's Circle
Machine... it was an electro-mechanical sequencer or sorts.  The device had
several lamp bulbs configured in a ring... each lamp had an intensity
adjustment.  In the center of the ring was an electric motor with an arm
extending out from the rotor (like half an airplane propeller) on the
underside of the tip of the arm, was an "electric eye", which I assume was
actually some sort of photo sensitive resistor.  Kind of a crazy idea... but
maybe I'll build a modern equivalent someday!


----- Original Message -----
From: "prototek" <prototek at optonline.net>
To: "synth diy" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 7:11 PM
Subject: [sdiy] Raymond Scott


>     I've been reading up on Raymond Scott and I'm really amazed how ahead
of
> his time he was. If I had to equate him with the more "famous" synth
> inventors, I was say Don Buchla.
>     Basically I'm wondering why this man never seemed to achieve the
status
> of such people like Buchla, Bob Moog, etc... Did he ever make any of his
> creations commercially available? Also, does anyone know what his circuits
> consisted of? Anyone ever try to replicate any of his designs?
>
>                 cheers,
>                 John
>