[sdiy] History of SDIY?

[Quincas Moreira]

Pete, the Telharmonium, the Novacord, the Ondes Martenot, the Trautonium
and even the Hammond Organ, all could be considered early synths.  However,
they still lack any kind of control interaction between different parts,
except for maybe some rudimentary envelopes. They are mostly manually
controlled via hands on drawbars, ribbons, keys, switches and levers.  And
the term "Synthesizer" did not exist then. It was born with the RCA Mark
II. So for historical clarity, though these instruments can behave like
synths, I still insist on calling them early electronic musical
instruments, but not synths. At least that's what I tell students at my
lectures. It's kind of subjective I guess...



On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 11:06 AM, Tim Ressel <timr at circuitabbey.com> wrote:

> At the risk of sounding smart-ass-ish, define DIY.  If you are the first
> to do something, it that automatically DIY?  Is Robert Moog guilty of DIY?
> What about Thaddeus Cahill and his Telharmonium, is that DIY?
>
> --tim (and his highly intelligent bottom) ressel
>
>
>
> On 5/29/2018 4:36 AM, Rob Kam wrote:
>
>> Unlike for the history of electronic music http://120years.net/,
>> apparently
>> there's not much documentation specifically for the history of DIY
>> electronic music equipment. I have some questions, if I may.
>>
>> How to define SDIY - it's not just exclusively synths, amateurs making
>> electronic music circuits as opposed to plugging together ready-made
>> parts?
>>   When did SDIY begin and how has it developed over the years? Especially
>> since the invention of semiconductors but before then should also be
>> included. What were the significant moments and who were the pioneers
>> along
>> the way?
>>
>> Bob Moog sold Theremin kits in the 1950s. Guitar pedals began development
>> in
>> the 1960s. Before this there were guitar amplifiers with effects built in,
>> and earlier still people used magnetic tape. The PAiA FAQ states that the
>> 1970s were busy, the 1980s were quieter, (with the hobbyists being
>> distracted by PCs) and that interest picked up again in the 1990s. PAiA
>> has
>> been producing synthesizer kits since 1972. Electronotes started in 1972.
>> Various magazine articles by authors such as Tim Orr, John Simonton, Don
>> Lancaster, Craig Anderton, etc. give some sort of indication. The earliest
>> DIY electronic music instrument books seem to be from the early to
>> mid-1970s.
>>
>> How to distinguish what's SDIY from R&D? Obviously the pioneers and
>> inventors like Harald Bode and Kraftwerk had to DIY; does this get
>> ignored?
>> Does it begin with the electro-magnetic Helmholtz resonator?
>>
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>>
> --
> --Tim Ressel
> Circuit Abbey
> timr at circuitabbey.com
>
>
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-- 
Quincas Moreira
Test Pilot at VBrazil Modular
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