Since the dawn of synthesisers, a kind of synthesisers that has stood apart from the rest of the stand-alone keyboard synthesisers, are such as Minimoog, Arp Odyssey, Roland Jupiter 8, Yamaha DX7 etc. All of them are modular synthesisers and we are going to explore one of them today, which is Buchla Easel.
Modular synthesisers
A modular synthesiser is a kind of the odd siblings of the synthesiser categories as of analog, digital or hybrid even though typically a modular system is analogue. They are one odd ones due to its strange and vast possibilities sound designing capabilities. Although it is odd ones, a modular synthesiser is one of splendour of synthesiser family.
The invention of Buchla
From the very beginning of the synthesiser decade, Buchla is one the name that will always pop up. Buchla made various advance and additive synthesis possible out of analog synthesis with the Buchla Modular systems. Buchla came out at the same time when Moog was already dominating the market. Buchla did not gain as much reputation as of Moog synthesisers yet this is one of the most powerful and underrated synthesisers ever.
Buchla came to existence in 1960s with the help of the innovative mind of Don Buchla, an American electronic engineer from Berkeley, California. He began with modular synthesisers and made pretty complex synthesis possible with the Buchla Modular synhtesisers.
One downside was, this was the time of ultimate live performance and musicians would often prefer something portable. It was inconvenient to carry a whole modular synthesisers for performance. It was particularly difficult for musicians who were constantly on tour.
Compact modular synthesiser
Buchla Easel is the response to all of these concerns. Buchla Easel is mini portable version of the Buchla modular. But this is not a fully Modular synthesiser, rather a semi-modular synthesiser. Although the semi-modular sounds like someone just chopped the whole modular in two and shipped it with Easel, it is still incredibly powerful and strange as of Buchla Modular system.
This is also an analogue synthesiser with pure power and weirdness. Easel has all of the primary components you need to create a massive and sonic sound of your desire and the typical Buchla behaviour you expect. Buchla Music Easel originally came out in 1973. This was soon picked up by many of the contemporary electronic avant-garde musicians and composers.