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Synthesist and music educator Sarah Belle Reid – latest video – takes an in-depth look at the Buchla 200 Series modular system, aka The Electric Music Box.

While once a fairly esoteric system, the 200 Series has recently become a mainstream modular system, thanks to the collaboration between Tiptop Audio and Buchla USA to reissue the modules in Eurorack form.

Reid’s video offers a history of the Buchla 200, an overview of the system and its capabilities, and a variety of musical examples.

Topics covered:

00:00 Introduction

2:22 200 Series History

9:15 System Overview (Sound Generation)11:56 System Overview (Mixing Facilities)

13:34 System Overview (Control Voltage Generation and Processing)

17:04 200 Series Workflow Improvements

22:46 Dynamic Timbral Modification

39:44 Polyphonic Signal Generation

49:15 Spatial Location and Mixing

59:04 Complex Pattern Generation

1:10:22 Expressive Interaction in the 200

1:21:13 What is an Electric Music Box?

Video Summary:

“In the spring of 2025, musician/educator Sarah Belle Reid spent a week at the Stony Brook University Electronic Music Studio, working closely with their original Buchla 200 Series modular synthesizer. Built in the early 1970s by pioneering instrument designer Donald Buchla & associates, this rare instrument is one of the few surviving and fully intact systems of its kind. Moreover, the Stony Brook 200 Series instrument in particular has its own rich history, having been used by respected electroacoustic composers such as Bülent Arel and Daria Semegen.

At the time of its creation, the Series 200 Electric Music Box was revolutionary. Its forward-thinking design introduced new ways of shaping sound and interaction that set it apart from other synthesizers of the era. However, because so few systems were ever produced, ownership was largely limited to university studios and research centers. As a result, the instrument remained relatively obscure outside of academic and experimental music circles.

But, over the past 10–15 years, public awareness of the Buchla 200 has increased dramatically—and it has become a significant influence on the world of electronic music and instrument design. The design of the Buchla 200 has become a common point of reference and inspiration for countless contemporary instrument makers, despite the fact that a relatively small number of original 200 Series instruments were ever made.

Due to its rarity, very few musicians have had the opportunity to interact with an original 200 system firsthand. Reid’s video aims to help bridge that gap by sharing the instrument’s sound, design philosophy, and aesthetic intentions with a wider audience.

Reid’s video begins with a brief historical overview of the Buchla 200 Series and its role in the rapidly evolving landscape of 1970s electronic music. From there, she offers a detailed walkthrough of the system, exploring each module with sound demonstrations and examples. The presentation concludes with Reid’s reflections on the Buchla 200’s design philosophy, offering insights into the types of musical interaction the instrument was built to encourage (and why it continues to resonate with musicians and designers today).

This video was created in collaboration with the Buchla Archives, an organization dedicated to the thorough and thoughtful documentation and preservation of Donald Buchla’s work.”

The Bob Moog Foundation – an independent non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of electronic instrument pioneer Bob Moog – shared this ‘lost’ video that captures a once-in-a-lifetime panel discussion, featuring Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim, Dave Smith, Marcus Ryle and Roger Linn.

The Synth Legends symposium, held April 19th, 2005 was not just a historic event, but it was also the last public appearance of Bob Moog, who died later that year.

Here’s what they have to say about the event:

“This historic event, originally organized by Russ Jones of AudioMIDI, brings together synth pioneers Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim, Dave Smith, and Marcus Ryle, with Roger Linn moderating. For the first time ever, the full 1-hour and 38-minute symposium will be broadcast in its entirety.

Note: the original audio recorded at this 2005 event was only captured on the camera mics and is not studio-perfect. We’ve worked to make audio enhancements, including painstaking audio mastering by Harold LaRue, to make this once-in-a-lifetime conversation as clear as possible. We suggest turning on closed captioning in order to not miss any of the content.”

You can find out more about The Bob Moog Foundation, the Moogseum and their mission at the organization’s site.

SRM Sounds has introduced Sleep Piano, a new ambient piano virtual instrument, created in collaboration with composer Max Richter.

It captures the sound of the piano used to conceive of and compose Richter’s seminal work, SLEEP.

“It’s unassuming, unflashy, but wonderful,” notes Richter.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“Recorded at Max’s state-of-the-art recording studio, Studio Richter Mahr, nestled in the British countryside, this is a faithful rendition of the family Kawai home piano, captured with an assortment of classic microphones allowing options to control its colour.

With a quite lively treble, and a beautiful sustain, this is a conversational instrument that draws you in, and is the perfect partner for crafting ideas or capturing more humble, unobtrusive performances.”

Features:

• 1 instrument total ~28GB
• 3 microphone positions (Close Condenser, Close Ribbon, Room)
• 5 round robins
• 4 dynamic layers (ppp to mp)
• Short and long reverb controls
• Action and pedal volume control
• Velocity sensitivity control
• Kontakt Player library (Version 7.10.7 or higher required)

Sleep Piano is available now, with an intro price of £79* through September 30th, 2025 (normally £99).