Berlin Modular Music Interfaces

The workshop combines artistic-productive and scientific-reflective perspectives on modular synthesizers. During extensive hands-on sessions, individual projects can be developed under guidance. Excursions offer insights into the Berlin developer scene.

Berlin is a center of electronic music not only because of its clubs and festivals, DJs and sound artists, but also because of the extensive network in which hardware and software for the production of electronic music is developed, tested and distributed. Internationally active companies and small underground projects, producers of both danceable club music and avant-garde concert music are investigating in particular the possibilities of hardware synthesizer modules, which are the focus of the workshop. 

Interfaces of synthesizer modules for sound generation and modulation are characterized by the arrangement of control elements such as knobs and sliders, the type of inputs and outputs for audio and control signals that can be connected via cables, and last but not least by the visual design and labeling of the front panels. Not only technical and musical aspects are materialized here, but also references to various aesthetic trends in electronic music, to specific commercial or dissident musical cultures and to certain regional or international traditions or collaborations. The history and present of specific musical zones in Berlin are addressed in a variety of ways.

Schedule:

Wednesday, August 21 (10am – 5pm)

Introduction:

Functionality and history of modular synthesizers – Characteristics of interface designs – Berlin as a center of current developments

Exchange between participants about any previous knowledge and interests in the field of electronic music – Formation of small groups (beginners to advanced)

Hands on Modular:

Experimental exploration of various complex modular synthesizer systems (under the guidance of the instructors)

–– Lunch break ––

Short talk by the instructors with discussion:

Specific phenomena of sound design and modulation

Hands on Modular:

In-depth work on the phenomena discussed (under the guidance of the instructors)

Thursday, August 22 (10am – 5pm)

Hands on Modular:

Realization of small tasks and development of individual projects (under the guidance of the instructors)

Short talk by the instructors with discussion:

On the interaction of technical development and aesthetic use in the context of modular synthesizers

–– Lunch break ––

Excursion (talk with discussion):

Berlin-based company for electronic music software and hardware, with a focus on modular connectivity (e.g. Native Instruments or Ableton)

Friday, August 23 (10am – 5pm)

Hands on Modular:

Continuation of individual projects (under the guidance of the instructors)

–– Lunch break ––

Excursions (talks with discussions):

(a) Berlin based manufacturers of modular synthesizers (e.g. Verbos Electronics) 

(b) "Schneidersladen", one of the world's largest synthesizer showrooms 

Saturday, August 24 (10am – 5pm)

Hands on Modular:

Completion of the individual projects (under the guidance of the instructors)

–– Lunch break ––

Hands on Modular:

Mutual presentation of individual projects

Final discussion and outlook

Kim Feser (no pronoun): Musicologist, Philosopher, Sociologist. Lecturer at Berlin University of the Arts, Freie Universität Berlin, and Macromedia University of Applied Sciences Berlin. Main areas of research and teaching: History of technical construction and aesthetic use of synthesizers and sequencers; philosophy of music (esp. Adorno, Deleuze); intersections of experimental avant-garde, sound art, pop and club music.

Photo: Ulrike Feser

Jessica Kert: Electronic Musician, Techno Producer, Synthesizer Expert (Schneidersladen Berlin). Performances at Atonal, Ars Electronica, Tresor/Globus, among others. Modular synthesizer workshops at Superbooth Berlin, Mikro:kosmos Innsbruck, Ars Electronica, among others.

Photo: Julia Castel