[sdiy] So just what *is* the Buchla 291?

[David G. Dixon]

> > Fortunately, there is a letter by Raymond Scott that puts this straight.
> > From http://www.raymondscott.com/moog.html ...snip...
> 
> Well, there you go.  I guess I should have more faith in humanity. ;^)

Here is what "Analog Days" has to say on the subject.

"The idea of using electromechanical ways to sequence a series of sounds was
very much in the air.  Peter Zinovieff in London was also working on
rudimentary sequencing devices, as was the pioneering jazz musician and
inventor Raymond Scott.  But there was no doubt that Buchla, with his
electronic way of doing it, had achieved a breakthrough.  The sequencer was
the one module that Moog eventually "copped" from Buchla."

Hence, unless Raymond Scott had developed a strictly electronic sequencer in
the late 50's or early 60's, there would have been no reason for Moog to
avoid building such a sequencer.  Based on Scott's open letter, I suppose
that is the conclusion one is meant to draw.  However, I still figure that
Moog simply hadn't worked out how to build an electronic sequencer before
becoming aware of Buchla's.

The book mentions that Moog worked for Scott in the 50's in the footnotes.
and also credits Gene Zumchak with the development of the Moog sequencer in
1968, based on Buchla's ideas.