Serge synthesizer
Encyclopedia
The Serge synthesizer is an analogue modular synthesizer
system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin
at CalArts in the 1970s and originally produced by Tcherepnin's Serge Modular Music Systems company.
Serge synthesizers have been used by composers such as Michael Stearns
and Kevin Braheny (who owned a 15-panels system dubbed The Mighty Serge). Serge synthesizers are known for their flexibility, audio quality and relative compactness. Today, Serge synthesizers are built by Sound Transform Systems in Hartland, Wisconsin
, USA.
In addition to fully featured standard synthesis modules such as voltage controlled oscillators, filters
, and envelope generators, the Serge system includes esoteric audio and voltage processors such as a Wave Multiplier, a Frequency Shifter, an Analogue Delay
as well as a very flexible touch-sensitive keyboard
controller combined with a 16-stage analogue sequencer
, known as the TKB.
The first Serge Modular synthesizer created (at CalArts, 1974) became the machine used on the first Greenpeace anti-whaling expedition (1975) by William (Will) Jackson, to approximate whale sounds and broadcast them to whales in the open Pacific. (A photo of this can be found in the Vancouver Sun newspaper archives May 1975.)
Modular synthesizer
The modular synthesizer is a type of synthesizer consisting of separate specialized modules connected by wires to create a so-called patch. Every output generates a signal – an electric voltage of variable strength...
system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin
Serge Tcherepnin
Serge Tcherepnin is an American composer and electronic-instrument builder of Russian-Chinese origin. He created the Serge Modular synthesizer.-Biography:...
at CalArts in the 1970s and originally produced by Tcherepnin's Serge Modular Music Systems company.
Serge synthesizers have been used by composers such as Michael Stearns
Michael Stearns
Michael Stearns is a United States musician and composer of ambient music. He is also known as a film composer, sound designer and soundtrack producer for large format films, theatrical films, documentaries, commercials, and themed attractions....
and Kevin Braheny (who owned a 15-panels system dubbed The Mighty Serge). Serge synthesizers are known for their flexibility, audio quality and relative compactness. Today, Serge synthesizers are built by Sound Transform Systems in Hartland, Wisconsin
Hartland, Wisconsin
Hartland is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, along the Bark River, and is a suburb of Milwaukee. The population was estimated at 8,689 in 2006.-Geography:Hartland is located at...
, USA.
Overview
The module configuration for Serge systems can be selected by the user. With module widths ranging from 1" to 3" or more, several modules are then arranged on a 17" wide panel.In addition to fully featured standard synthesis modules such as voltage controlled oscillators, filters
Voltage-controlled filter
A voltage-controlled filter is a filter whose operating characteristics can be controlled by means of a control voltage applied to one or more inputs...
, and envelope generators, the Serge system includes esoteric audio and voltage processors such as a Wave Multiplier, a Frequency Shifter, an Analogue Delay
Delay (audio effect)
Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.-Early delay...
as well as a very flexible touch-sensitive keyboard
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
controller combined with a 16-stage analogue sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
, known as the TKB.
The first Serge Modular synthesizer created (at CalArts, 1974) became the machine used on the first Greenpeace anti-whaling expedition (1975) by William (Will) Jackson, to approximate whale sounds and broadcast them to whales in the open Pacific. (A photo of this can be found in the Vancouver Sun newspaper archives May 1975.)