Shows
SONIC TALK - Inside Music TechnologyTALK 890 - Zebra 3, Synthfest FranceGuests
Rob Puricelli - Pro Synth Network and 90s synth specialist
Paulee Alex Bow - Magical Synth Adventurer and vintage digital specialist
Watch The episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9chuasvK474
For preshow and Ad free version and much more: Patreon.com/sonicstate
Novation Launch Control XL3
Launch Control XL’s eight precision faders, 24 endless rotary encoders, and 16 assignable buttons give you tactile control over all major DAWs, right out the box. And with intuitive custom mapping for all your plugins and hardware, Launch Control XL makes an ideal st...
2026-04-221h 00
SONIC TALK - Inside Music TechnologySonicTALK 877 - LeviasynthGuests
Steve Hillier - Songwriter, DJ and Dubstar
Rob Puricelli - Pro Synth Network and 90s synth specialist
Video version: https://youtube.com/watch?v=G0f2Ne7J1qk
For preshow and Ad free version and much more: Patreon.com/sonicstate
SonicTALK Supported by
IZotope Ozone 12 Go beyond the limits of mastering with Ozone 12. Unlock the impossible with this complete suite of 20 pro modules, including 3 brand-new, best-in-class additions. Plus, make Master Assistant your own with a new customizable flow. With intelligent tech that guides, not decides...
2026-01-211h 01
The Digital Lifestyle.comThe Fairlight CMI: The Instrument That Changed Music ForeverIn this episode, Ian is joined by Rob Puricelli from the ProSynth Network for a deep dive into one of the most important and influential instruments in music history — the Fairlight CMI. Often described as the world's first music computer, the Fairlight didn't just introduce digital sampling — it completely changed how music was created, performed, and produced throughout the 1980s and beyond. Together, we explore: What the Fairlight CMI was and how it worked How digital sampling was discovered almost by accident The inventors behind the Fairlight — and why they d...
2025-12-161h 00The Digital Lifestyle ShowThe Fairlight CMI: The Instrument That Changed Music ForeverIn this episode, Ian is joined by Rob Puricelli from the ProSynth Network for a deep dive into one of the most important and influential instruments in music history — the Fairlight CMI. Often described as the world's first music computer, the Fairlight didn't just introduce digital sampling — it completely changed how music was created, performed, and produced throughout the 1980s and beyond. Together, we explore: What the Fairlight CMI was and how it worked How digital sampling was discovered almost by accident The inventors behind the Fairlight — and why they de...
2025-12-161h 00The Digital Lifestyle ShowYamaha DX7 History & Legacy | Rob Puricelli on FM Synthesis, Classic Sounds & Synth EvolutionThe Yamaha DX7 is one of the most iconic synthesizers of the 1980s, shaping pop, electronic, and film music with its groundbreaking FM synthesis engine. In this video, I sit down with Rob Puricelli (Pro Synth Network, Gear News) to explore the history, legacy, and lasting influence of the DX7 and its family of FM synths. We cover everything from the origins of FM synthesis at Stanford University to Yamaha's early GS models, the launch of the DX7, and how it changed the sound of an era. Rob shares insights on programming, presets, and why the DX7...
2025-09-1853 minThe Digital Lifestyle.comYamaha DX7 History & Legacy | Rob Puricelli on FM Synthesis, Classic Sounds & Synth EvolutionThe Yamaha DX7 is one of the most iconic synthesizers of the 1980s, shaping pop, electronic, and film music with its groundbreaking FM synthesis engine. In this video, I sit down with Rob Puricelli (Pro Synth Network, Gear News) to explore the history, legacy, and lasting influence of the DX7 and its family of FM synths. We cover everything from the origins of FM synthesis at Stanford University to Yamaha's early GS models, the launch of the DX7, and how it changed the sound of an era. Rob shares insights on programming, presets, and why the DX7...
2025-09-1853 min
Electronic MusicEmulator II 40th AnniversaryIn celebration of the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking E-mu Systems Emulator II sampler, Dave Rossum, Kevin Monahan and Paul Wiffen share inside stories of the development and manufacture of the instrument, their struggles to get around the technological limitations of the time and how the instrument was widely adopted by bands, artists and pop culture.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:50 - The Origins Of The Emulator03:59 - The E-mu Name 04:57 - Kevin's Background08:09 - Paul's Background11:19 - The Motivation For Creating Emulator II 16:26 - Specific Challenges25:19 - The Challenges...
2024-12-171h 08
SOS Magazine Audio ExamplesEmulator II 40th Anniversary | PodcastIn celebration of the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking E-mu Systems Emulator II sampler, Dave Rossum, Kevin Monahan and Paul Wiffen share inside stories of the development and manufacture of the instrument, their struggles to get around the technological limitations of the time and how the instrument was widely adopted by bands, artists and pop culture.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:50 - The Origins Of The Emulator
03:59 - The E-mu Name
04:57 - Kevin's Background
08:09 - Paul's Background
11:19 - The Motivation For Creating Emulator II
16:26 - Specific Challenges
25:19 - The Challenges Of Adding Hard Drives
30:35 - How Did The Iconic Industrial Design Come...
2024-12-161h 08
Electronic MusicLandscape A Go-GoRichard James Burgess is a man who wears many hats. In a career that spans over five decades, Richard was first and foremost a drummer. In the 1970s, he became a part of the London music scene as a session drummer, as well as with the ground- breaking band Landscape. Richard combined his passion for music, drumming and electronics when he worked closely with Dave Simmons on the Simmons SDS-V drum kit. After Landscape dissolved, he began to work more behind the desk, being one of the first to own a Fairlight CMI in the U.K...
2024-01-2559 min
SOS Magazine Audio ExamplesLandscape A Go-Go | PodcastRichard James Burgess is a man who wears many hats. In a career that spans over five decades, Richard was first and foremost a drummer. In the 1970s, he became a part of the London music scene as a session drummer, as well as with the ground- breaking band Landscape.
Richard combined his passion for music, drumming and electronics when he worked closely with Dave Simmons on the Simmons SDS-V drum kit. After Landscape dissolved, he began to work more behind the desk, being one of the first to own a Fairlight CMI in the U.K. He would go...
2024-01-2559 min
Electronic MusicYamaha DX7: The Birth Of FM SynthesisIn May of 1983, the world of synthesizers and electronic music as we knew it would change forever with the launch of the Yamaha DX7. To celebrate 40 years since its launch, Rob Puricelli spoke to Dr John Chowning, the developer of FM synthesis, Dave Bristow and Gary Leuenberger, sound designers for the original DX7 and Manny Fernandez, who has worked on all Yamaha’s FM projects from the Mk.II DX7 through to today’s Montage M series.See the Show Notes for further details.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:55 - First Experiences Of The DX71...
2023-12-201h 20
Electronic MusicRichard Evans - Inventing Electronic PopRichard Evans has worked in the music industry for over thirty years in a variety of roles, including positions at London Records, Factory Records and MTV Europe. In 1998 he set up marketing consultancy The Fan Base and has been connecting musical artists with their audiences ever since. He is the founder of the This Is Not Retro website and record label and has worked for Andy Bell, Vince Clarke and Erasure since 2009.During the pandemic, Richard set out to create a definitive record of electronic music during its earliest and most defining era, between 1978 and 1983. Instead of...
2023-08-2348 min
Electronic MusicDina Pearlman - The ARP Synth LegacyAlan R Pearlman was responsible for some of the greatest sounding and most intuitive synthesizers of the modern age, many of which are still highly sought after or emulated to this day. Inspired, as so many were, by hearing Wendy Carlos’s 'Switched on Bach', he founded Tonus in 1969, a company that would soon become ARP Instruments, and began producing synthesizers such as the legendary ARP 2500, 2600 and Odyssey.Since his passing in 2019 at the age of 93, his daughter, Dina, has been building the Alan R Pearlman Foundation, an organisation that seeks to preserve her father’s legacy and...
2023-07-2744 min
Electronic MusicRichard Barbieri - Porcupine TreeAs part of Japan, Richard Barbieri soon became the thinking person’s synthesist, famous for his rich and textural electronic backings that beautifully complemented the work of other band members to forge what is still a unique sound to this day. Disbanding at the height of their fame, Richard went on to work on a wide array of projects, some with fellow members of Japan, one of which introduced him to Steven Wilson. He joined Porcupine Tree in 1993 and, aside from Wilson, is their longest serving member to this day. After a twelve year hiatus, Porcupine Tree reconvened to wr...
2023-03-2153 min
Electronic MusicMike Lindup - Level 42 And BeyondMike Lindup is best known as the keyboardist and co-vocalist for Brit-Funk legends, Level 42. Mike has blended traditional keyboard instruments, such as the piano and Fender Rhodes, with a myriad pieces of cutting edge music tech over the years. We caught up with him ahead of his new solo release, Changes 2.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:52 - What were your influences?04:21 - Stevie Wonder06:14 - The move from classical to pop08:32 - Robin Scott’s influence11:51 - The transition to music tech and operating it live16:35 - When things go wrong!18:20...
2023-01-2744 min
Electronic MusicDon Lewis - Programming The DX7The following is a short piece of audio that was edited out of the original podcast interview with Don Lewis back in November 2020, where he discusses his time programming the Yamaha DX7’s factory sounds. In the wake of Don’s passing we decided to publish this excerpt, along with a tribute on the website.Chapters00:00 - Introduction02:29 - Yamaha DX7 and DX9 Demo03:02 - The Beginnings Of FM Synthesis09:26 - Working For The Competition12:26 - Yamaha DX7 and DX9 DemoDon Lewis BiogDon Lewis was a gift...
2023-01-2314 min
Electronic MusicMartyn Ware - Electronically YoursMartyn Ware has been at the forefront of the British synth-pop scene since its inception, founding the hugely influential Human League with Phil Oakey and Ian Craig Marsh. Martyn and Ian went on to establish the British Electric Foundation from which Heaven 17 emerged, along with work as a producer for the likes of Tina Turner and Terence Trent D’Arby. Martyn has since ventured into the world of immersive audio through his collaborations with Vince Clarke as well as being a Principal at Tileyard Education, a Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London and a board member at th...
2022-12-1342 min
Electronic MusicMichael Whalen - Imaginary TrainsMichael Whalen is a two-time Emmy Award winning, Grammy-nominated composer with over 30 years experience composing for film and television, as well as being a recording artist in his own right, with over 800 million streams since 2015. Here he talks to Rob Puricelli about performing his latest instrumental album ‘Imaginary Trains’ to a live audience at the EMEAPP museum, using their extensive collection of rare vintage synthesizers.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:47 - What was the inspiration behind the album, “Imaginary Trains”?05:06 - How did you come up with the idea for the live broadcast?10:51 - What instrume...
2022-09-2044 min
Electronic MusicJJ Jeczalik - Art of NoiseAs part of Trevor Horn’s team of technological wizards in the 1980s, JJ Jeczalik emerged as the pre-eminent Fairlight programmer of the day, primarily as one fifth of the art-pop collective, Art of Noise, but also in projects ranging from ABC & Dollar to Yes and Malcolm McLaren. Describing himself as a not a keyboard player, JJ brought his programming skills and talent to bear on a wide range of successful and ground-breaking recordings that were at the vanguard of how cutting edge technology shaped not just the sound of pop music but how pop music itself was made....
2022-05-2455 min
Electronic MusicMatt Johnson - JamiroquaiMatt Johnson has emerged as one of the most talented and prolific keyboard players of the last 20 years, mostly as part of the legendary Jamiroquai, in which he both writes and performs, and more recently as a YouTube channel host where he demonstrates this love of modern and vintage synths.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:37 - How did you get your first big break? 02:34 - Was joining Jamiroquai daunting?03:20 - What was your keyboard rig in those early days? 04:11 - Are workstations an important part of your rig? 04:55 - How did you get...
2022-03-2239 min
Electronic MusicSynth Gems - Mike MetlaySynth Gems 1 is the first Bjooks publication to be authored by their Editor-in-Chief, Dr Mike Metlay, and sets out to document, both visually and in words, some of the most incredible keyboard synthesizers ever made. Using strict selection criteria, Mike, Kim Bjørn and the team have curated a collection of instruments that are pioneering and rare, influential and impactful and, above all, gorgeous to look at. In this podcast, I wanted to dig into that selection process, find out what it took to document these instruments and ask how this book came into existence, so I began by a...
2021-11-2450 min
Electronic MusicIan Boddy - Synth ArtistIn this podcast Rob Puricelli talks to Ian Boddy, who has been a fixture on the electronic music scene for over 40 years, as an artist, a sound designer and a label owner. His label, DiN, celebrates its 100th release this month with one of Ian’s own creations, ‘Nevermore’. Rob finds out more about this niche label, why and how it started and how it still remains a relevant and popular imprint to this day. Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:36 - Where did it all begin? 05:58 - How did you get into sound design? 09:53 - How di...
2021-10-2641 min
Electronic MusicThe Art of Physical Modelling - David BessellFor decades, synth manufacturers and sound designers have strived to recreate the sounds of acoustic instruments, such as brass, woodwind and strings. Digital sampling was launched in 1979 but was unable to express the subtleties and nuances of acoustic instruments, until Physical Modelling came to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. David Bessell talks to Rob Puricelli about how he was inspired by this and sought to explore it further using modular synths and software. Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:22 - Where did your career start?03:24 - What sparked your interest in physical modelling?05:08...
2021-08-2440 min
Electronic MusicThe Bob Moog FoundationMichelle Moog Koussa is the Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, an organisation set up in her father’s memory to carry out educational work in the community and curate and display his extensive archive, and the many instruments he developed in his long career.In recent years, the BMF has increasingly touched the lives and minds of young people interested in electronic sounds, as well as preserving her father’s legacy for current and future generations to enjoy and draw inspiration from via the Moogseum located in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.Chapters00:00 - Intr...
2021-06-2339 min
Electronic MusicDavid Gamson - Scritti PolittiAs one third of the second incarnation of Scritti Politti, David Gamson was the man behind the polished, groove-laden sound of the band’s second album Cupid & Psyche ’85 and their third album, Provision. Gamson went on to write and produce for the likes of Chaka Khan, Meshell Ndegeocello, George Benson and Luther Vandross, and more recently with the likes of Kesha, Charli XCX, Jessie J and Kelly Clarkson.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:19 - Where did your electronic music journey start?03:06 - Geoff Travis steps in and joining Scritti Politti05:13 - The birth and gestation of C...
2021-03-2330 min
Electronic MusicDon Lewis - The Untold Story Of A Synthesizer PioneerDon Lewis began his musical career as a church organist and ended up touring with the Beach Boys, as well as playing studio sessions for Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson.Frustrated by the limitations of music technology of the time, Don used his engineering skills to create LEO, the Live Electronic Orchestra, where he managed to get disparate instruments to “talk” to each other and be completely under his control. His work soon came to the attention of Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of the Roland Corporation, who was inspired by Don’s technological feats to be one of the driving forces...
2020-11-1250 min
Electronic MusicManny Fernandez - From DX to MODXDr Manny Fernandez has been heavily involved in development & programming for Yamaha and is best known for his FM and Physical Modelling work through their glory years of new synthesis technologies in the DX7II, SY77/99, VL1, VP1, EX5, AN1x and FS1R. More recently he has been working with the Reface DX, Montage and MODX.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:50 - Manny’s history 01:29 - Before the DX7 11:22 - The unpredictability of FM 14:58 - How do YOU do FM?17:44 - How did you get to work with Yamaha?24:56 - Birth of...
2020-09-151h 05
Electronic MusicAlex Ball - Making The ARP Synth DocumentaryAlex Ball has built a reputation as one of the most informative and interesting synth historian’s of the YouTube age. Starting with short videos about specific instruments, his work began to grow into more in-depth and elaborate explorations of the companies behind the instruments and the people who used them.Over the last year or so, Alex has been busy producing one of the most detailed examinations of the ARP company, it’s founder Alan R Pearlman, and the numerous people involved in making the American synthesizer manufacturer one of the most revered brands in the industry. This...
2020-07-1437 min
Electronic MusicDavid Vorhaus - That Fairlight Sound !David Vorhaus of White Noise chats with Rob Puricelli about his early involvement with the Fairlight CMI and his Kaleidophon ribbon controller and Maniac sequencer inventions.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:31 - Peter Vogel and the Fairlight CMI01:51 - First Fairlight in the UK03:25 - That Fairlight sound05:32 - Stravinsky Firebird Suite, London Philharmonia06:38 - The KPM albums08:25 - Working with Delia Derbyshire11:15 - Early technological limitations13:20 - Sequential Circuits14:56 - 12 bit sampling16:27 - The Kaleidophon18:40 - Interlude19:05 - The Maniac sequencer21:59 - Modern sampling
2020-06-1631 min
Tim's Take On...Tim's Take On: Episode 513(40 Years of the Fairlight CMI)This week on the show a talk by Rob Puricelli at Synthfest UK marking the 40th Anniversary of the Fairlight CMI the first commercially available sampling synthersizer, he's joined near the end of the talk by record producer Steve Levine. The show is also on Facebook please join the group for exclusive behind the scenes insights and of course also discuss and feedback on the show https://www.facebook.com/groups/187162411486307/ You may wish to contribute to the show's running costs, it's Patreon is here https://www.patreon.com/tdrury ...
2019-11-2257 min
SONIC TALK - Inside Music TechnologySONIC TALK 301 - One CD and Four MinibarsAndy Shillito is just back from the US touring with the Darkness, Failedmuso.com's Rob Puricelli steps in to complete the panel - we discuss Krafwerks sellout Tate Modern shows, then the Grammys production and what goes into a production of that scale with great input from Any Shillito, then we talk product demos - with Moog's recent posting of the superstar monosynth players from NAMM, we also see an awesome demo from DSI's team with the Tempest and Prophet 12 front and centre.
2013-02-1447 min