1 minute reading time
(76 words)
History of the Synthesizer, Part 2
From the 1980s to today!
Part Two of
Jerry Kovarsky’s History of the Synthesizer starts around 1980. Yamaha introduced the
GS1 and GS2 in 1981, the first FM synthesizers based on
John Chowning’s research. Two years later came the legendary
DX7. Jerry’s article continues with the birth of MIDI, digital sampling and the first physical modeling synthesizers like the
VL1.
Check out History of the Synthesizer
Part Two, and if you missed Part One go
here!
About the author
Yamaha Synthesizer Product Specialist Blake Angelos has over thirty years of experience with music hardware and software. An expert in music technology, Blake has conducted numerous clinics, master classes and presentations throughout the United States, Europe and Canada. In his role as Product Specialist for the Synthesizer Department Blake appears in many product videos and artist interviews, writes many articles for YamahaSynth.com and co-hosts a regular Podcast called “Behind the Synth”.
Before his work with Yamaha, he taught music theory and jazz studies courses at Arizona State University; managed a technology-focused music store in Seattle and was a production supervisor at Microsoft, where he led a team that developed groundbreaking interactive music content for the Microsoft Network. Blake holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University. Blake currently resides in Bellingham, Washington with his family, and between his travels around the world for Yamaha, he performs as much as possible with several jazz and creative music groups in Bellingham, Seattle and other places in the Pacific Northwest.
