My research project involves examining vintage
synthesizers under the mentorship of Dr. Jesse Guessford, director of the Music
Technology program. Our music technology
program has in its possession a large variety of vintage analog and digital
synthesizers, and my job involves researching components of each of these
models, including production dates, notable features of each instrument, and
artists who have performed on that model.
In the future this information will be put into a website or database so
it will be available to other students in the program and to anyone who wishes
to use our synth collection.
The majority of my research involves reading
articles and manuals about each of the synthesizers and about the general
components of analog synthesis. I also
visit the music technology studio where I can gain hands-on experience playing
each of these synthesizers, allowing me to put what I’ve learned into
practice. This project has helped me
gain a better understanding of signal flow, the evolution of analog to digital
synthesis, and of electronic music history.
Recently I have been reading about ADSR envelopes, which are the
components of analog synthesizers that control the rate of the sound attack and
decay.
I am planning to attend graduate school next
year to study ethnomusicology so the research skills I have gained in this position
will be very helpful. I am interested in
the music technology field and in music history, and I want to continue
learning about both of these fields after graduation.
