Dr. John Chowning - The History of FM Synthesis | Knobcon 2019

Dr. John Chowning is a legendary scientist, musician, and composer best known for the discovery of frequency modulation (FM) synthesis for musical applications. He did not invent the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer, but he discovered the principles underlying the technology, and worked tirelessly to get it into the hands of a company that would develop it into a product. That product, the DX7, became one of the best selling synthesizers of all time.
Dr. Chowning's lecture at Knobcon 2019 delves into the history of the discovery of FM, as well as detailed information on how it works, ending with the creation of the DX7. This discussion is dense and scholarly, but has charts and animations to help explain the principles of the topic. It is a long lecture, but will bear fruit to the student of electronic music that is willing to delve in.
My apologies for the quality of the camera work - it was hand held for two hours. But I hope that the quality of the content transcends the quality of the recording.
Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's RUclips channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.
www.underthebig...

[@gonzalodominguez229]

now you know why this DX7 sounds so goood ... and thank you so much Mr. Chowning!! and the uploader!
This information is Timeless and so Valuable.

[@ecdysview]

It's "the land beyond time" time now.. Last you and I met was when you were summoned
to the french underworld to help create Ircam.. It must've been 1977 or 8. Let me say,
you haven't lost your good looks. Brillant, bright, a great teacher at work (as I learned
when I pushed through your book on FM). Thanks for this great lecture.

[@audioartisan]

And as I combine Modulators with Carriers using the new Korg Opsix, I feel very grateful for John, and the many people who made FM possible. Thank you for sharing this video. Legendary stuff.

[@gregjablunovsky841]

Thanks for committing this valuable content to video. It's seminal work, right from the source.

[@rachellearmstead3411]

Awesome lecture! Just got into Chowning’s music recently, and it’s so cool to hear him talk about his work.

[@FeelingShred]

I wonder if anyone ever showed to him amazing videogame soundtracks like Megaman 3 intro, Castlevania or Mega Turrican (Sega Genesis) or Sonic 3 (this one is spectacular achievement in my opinion of how brilliant FM can ever sound) and many others that were only possible because of this incredible invention

[@komojo]

Great lecture, thanks for sharing! As a programmer myself, I'm really amused by the idea that he was afraid he might break the computer if he set the frequency too high. Don't be afraid to try crazy ideas!

[@Fluxwithit]

thanks so much for getting this up!

[@iansayerpersonal2925]

The singing voice demo is very impressive. Seems like it could be done on a DX9 even but I wonder why I never heard a DX choir patch that went beyond disappointing? Does every thing have to be tuned 'just right' for a single pitch?

[@longde]

1:30:00 voice synthesis demo

[@robertsyrett1992]

Dr. John is looking good!

[@kevinhudac5027]

You try to give the video more brightness it will be great if you do

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love it!!

[@zackhartmann]

wow the man himself

[@jorgevalderramasoto9027]

how did you do it can you share with me , thank you

[@yoavestryn5659]

What did he said at the end?

[@flopasen]

"I claim not, in the sense... that (*indiscernible*), there should have been the guys at Bell Labs, who knew about FM - They knew the theory in and out from radio broadcasting, But they knew it as it a carrier(?) in the megahertz and the modulating wave is the signal, and you need a demodulator to make it have meaning to the auditory system. So, my mind was not prepared in that sense but i was naive- I had no idea about this well known relationship between these parameters of FM and so.. music was important, ears are important in music so ears were my best tool. Thank you."

[@audioartisan]

@@flopasen Thank you for taking the time to type what he said. Important stuff IMO :)

[@davetbassbos]

I wonder if the analog only guys would feel guilty after finding out how much amazing discovery is behind the creation of their bane the DX7?, probably not, haha. Anyways great video, thanks for putting it up!

[@TanTran-px5sl]

You try to give the video more brightness it will be great if you do

[@dinhtran5162]

You try to give the video more brightness it will be great if you do