You should know James West, the Black inventor of the electret microphone

Black engineers have made massive contributions to sound and music technology, overcoming systemic discrimination. And yet, they’re too often unsung, even today. One anyone in sound should know is James West, who, as part of a prolific career, revolutionized recording with the electret microphone in research with Gerhard Sessler at Bell Labs.

Finally, a silly synth so small you could swallow it (but please don’t)

Mitxela has continued a project to make the “smallest and worst” synthesizers possible – and he’s one-upped himself this time. This MIDI synth is barely larger than the size of its USB-C connector.

Peter Kirn - December 19, 2023

The Commodordion: 8-bit instrument made of taped-together C64s and floppies

Eat your heart out, Roland V-Accordion. Meet the Commodordion, an 8-bit chip instrument with bellows made of floppies and gaffer tape – and a surprisingly deep feature set.

Peter Kirn - October 24, 2022

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