The World’s Largest Touring Synthesizer – ‘The Chrome TONTO’
In this video, composer and synthesizer Anthony Marinelli takes a look at the world’s largest touring synthesizer, aka ‘The Chrome TONTO’.
The Chrome TONTO is a custom Moog format modular synthesizer, created for the electronic funk band Chromeo (David Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel). It’s based around modules created by Synthesizers.com, in a case that’s inspired by the original T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer of Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff.
Marinelli and co-host Rob Rosen talk to Patrick Gemayel, aka P-Thugg from Chromeo. They take a look at the massive 18 feet long x 8 feet tall synthesizer, including how it is assembled, how the system is customized and normalized behind the panel, and what’s needed to tour with a synth like this.
They also look at how they use Ableton Live and AbleSet for music playback, set lists, and lighting cues.
Watch the video and share thoughts on the system in the comments!
Topics covered:
00:00:00 Intro (music)
00:00:55 Meet P-Thugg
00:01:11 Building the Modules / Jam 1
00:02:53 The MIDI Keyboards
00:04:53 Building the Tiers / Jam 2
00:06:33 Custom system by Synthesizers.com (https://shop.synthesizers.com)
00:12:15 Custom Tuner Module
00:13:10 Synthesizer Tuner Hack
00:14:10 Modular and Poly Synth Output Configuration
00:15:50 Look Mum, no patch cords – Hard Wired Presets
00:17:34 Culmination of a Modular Dream / Monster Polyphonic Dream Next
00:19:07 Building the MIDI / Jam 3
00:22:44 Fully Built Instrument (after 3 hours setting up)
00:24:05 Preset Patching System
00:29:47 Bypassing the Preset Patches
00:30:21 Switching Presets on Stage
00:33:40 Spontaneously Programming Sounds on Stage
00:34:42 P-Thugg’s Favorite Sound
00:35:25 Presets Switch between Live Panel Settings
00:36:39 Re-creating the Album in a Live Setting
00:37:35 Changing The Face Panel
00:40:09 Patching the MIDI Polyphonic Synthesizer Keyboards
00:43:15 Tuning Drifting Oscillators – Custom Tuner Module
00:43:51 Connecting All 4 Modular Instruments
00:45:59 Cleaning the Chrome
00:46:35 MIDI Interface Routing
00:48:47 Moog Modular Flexibility with Minimoog Speed
00:49:14 Front Panel Tour
00:51:20 Overriding the Presets with Patch Cords / Multi-Mode Filter
00:53:34 AbleSet by Leolabs – Set Lists, MIDI Patch Changes, Ableton Live Playback connection (https://ableset.app)
00:56:10 Ableton Light Cues
00:57:02 DAW Software – Cubase, Pro Tools, Ableton Live
00:57:50 Adapting the Show to the Song
00:59:37 Chromeo’s Mission
01:01:20 Conclusion
01:01:47 Logo (music)
