25 Jul
2005
25 Jul
'05
10:46 a.m.
On Mon, Jul 25, 2005 at 08:22:43 -0400, Dave Phillips wrote:
Phil Mendelsohn wrote:
I've no idea who was the first, but Peter Zinovieff of EMS was using
(pre-UNIX) PDP-9's in the '70s for audio, partly with DCOs though I think
http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/emsstory.html
There was a lot of work with custom architectures at IRCAM, but I dont
know much about it.
I second the recomendation for Roads, it's very good.
- Steve
Audio predates MIDI by about 30 years. Being out
of reach I'll agree
with, for sure!, but there were tube D/A converters being built in the
late 50's at MIT (meaning the resistor ladder type guts, not any
"audiophile" type of thing). Tom Stockham and the Soundstream were
pre-MIDI, there were various things going on in Europe, and the Synclavier
was doing sampling and resynthesis (not sampling playback as we know it)
before MIDI.
Again, just as a pointer, I recommend Curtis Roads' "Computer Music
Tutorial" for a wonderful overview of Ye Olden Tymes. Also look for
reminiscinces from the pioneer electronic composers of the day, e.g.,
Lejaren Hiller, Milton Babbitt, Paul Lansky, Charles Dodge, and so forth.
Btw, who are the leading European lights in the early days of computer
music on that side of the pond ? I know many of the names associated
with electronic and tape music, but I'm woefully ignorant of what went
on in the computer corner.