Incomplete Synth Comes To Life After 40 Years

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Incomplete Synth Comes To Life After 40 Years

Words by Sarah Tonkin

More than 40 years ago, electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram designed a prototype synthesizer. It remained unfinished until a student at Goldsmiths, University of London recently finished building it.

Daphne Oram was the creator of Oramics, a graphical sound technique which was used to create electronic sounds.

Oram’s “Mini-Oramics” synthesizer was designed to be a more convenient and transportable version of her honoured Oramics machine. Oram’s Oramics machine transformed drawings on 35mm film strips to control sound produced.

Oram’s composition machine consisted of a large rectangular metal frame, providing a table-like surface traversed by ten synchronized strips of clear 35mm film. The size and weight of the original device also made it impracticable.

PhD student Tom Richards built a modern day version of Oram’s machine, using her authentic ideas as well using the technology that was only available in 1973. Since the completion of Richard’s device, six musicians have given it a go it and delivered their results.

https://vimeo.com/165892551

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