Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back) celebrates their impact on music and culture by providing a comprehensive and meticulously researched directory of every major synthesizer, drum machine and sampler made between 1963 and 1995. Each featured instrument is illustrated by hand and shown alongside its vital statistics and some fascinatingly quirky facts.

    From its invention in the early 1960s to the digital revolution of the 1980s right up until the point that analogue circuits could be modelled using software in the mid-1990s, this book tells the story of synthesizers from analogue to digital – and back again.

    Tracing that history and showing off their visual beauty with art-book quality illustrations, this a must for any self-respecting synth fan. The book has 128 pages, is 23cm x 17.4cm in size and printed on high quality 130gsm matt art paper.

    Author Oli Freke says: “This book has grown out of a life-long obsession with synthesizers and electronic music, and it’s fantastic to be able to share this with my fellow synth obsessives and music fans who celebrate the synth’s role in modern music.”


    Ships in mid-Nov

    Other Releases on Velocity Press

    Dreaming in YellowThe Story of the DiY Sound SystemVelocity Press
    Written by Harry Harrison, one of DiY’s founding members, this book traces their origins back to early formative experiences, describing in detail the...
      • Book (350g) 9781913231149£14.99
        In stockAdd to Bag
      Trip Cityby Trevor MillerVelocity Press
      In the summer of 1989, when Trip City was first released with a soundtrack by A Guy Called Gerald, there had been no other British novel like it. This...
        • Book (300g) 5051142008961£14.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Knowledge Magazine25 Year AnniversaryVelocity Press
        Knowledge Magazine returns with a special one-off book celebrating their 25th anniversary. There have been some special issues in the past but this is...
          • Book (1kg) 9781913231019£18.00
            In stockAdd to Bag
          Who Say ReloadThe Stories Behind the Classic Drum & Bass Records of the 90sVelocity Press
          Who Say Reload is an oral history of the records that defined jungle/drum n bass straight from the original sources. The likes of Goldie, DJ Hype, Roni...
            • Book (1kg) 9781913231071£25.00
              In stockAdd to Bag

            People also bought

            Andrew Weatherall: A Jockey Slut TributeJockey Slut
            DON'T MISS OUT on this ESSENTIAL book! An extensive, informative book on main man Andy Weatherall from those who knew him best including ... Bobby Gillespie,...
              Magic from Brazil: Recipes, Spells and RitualsMorwyn
              Born in turn-of-the-century Brazil, the vibrant magical religions of Umbanda, Macumba, Spiritism, and Candomblé combined ecstatic African traditions with...
                • Original Book (500g)£25.00
                  Hard to find original out of print secondhand book in good condition,
                Sven WunderMagnolia / LotusMr Bongo
                Wild, psychedelic, middle eastern-style, cinematic funk vibes from the hotly-tipped Sven Wunder! Very limited 45 release from Mr Bongo - check the breaks!
                • – Magnolia
                • – Lotus
                Soul of a Nation (BOOK)Art in the Age of Black Power
                BACK IN STOCK!!!!In the period of radical change that was 1963-1983, young Black artists at the beginning of their careers in the USA confronted key questions...
                  Sven WunderHanami / ShinrinyokuMr Bongo
                  Wild, psychedelic, middle eastern-style, cinematic funk vibes from the hotly-tipped Sven Wunder! Very limited 45 release from Mr Bongo - check the breaks!
                  • – Hanami
                  • – Shinrinyoku
                  Disco: An Encyclopedic guide to the cover art of disco Presented by Disco Patrick and Patrick Vogt Soul Jazz Books
                  Sorry. Out of Print.New 400-page 12"x12" deluxe heavyweight book on Soul Jazz Records/Books. Foreword by Tom Moulton and Nicky Siano (The Gallery). Presented...
                    Magic In ThreesIIIKingUnderground Records
                    Reissue of 'III' by Nashville combo, Magic In Threes!Killer release that has a vibe that would even fit comfortably next to classic KPM or De Wolfe library...
                    • – Blowfly 1980
                    • – Making Paper
                    • – At Jody's
                    • – Work Tapes
                    • – Just Don't Slow
                    • – Finnish Funk
                    • – Breezy Day
                    • – Takes 10 Minutes
                    • – Let It Simmer
                    • – Shot Thru The Grease
                    • – The Perfect Crime
                    • – Lottery Walk
                    Salvador De Bahia100 ColorfotosCeu Azul De Copacabana
                    Colour photos of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil, the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture such as capoeira and candomble.
                      KraftwerkComputer World (Limited Coloured Vinyl Edition)Parlophone
                      Reissue of this essential Kraftwerk album from 1981, featuring the proto-techno classics 'Numbers' and 'Pocket Calculator'!
                        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) 0190295272302£35.00
                          Limited, translucent neon yellow vinyl edition
                        Lindo Sonho Delirante vol.3: 100 fearless records from Brazil (1986-2000)by Bento AraujoPoeira Press
                        Direct from Brazil - Wicked new Brazilian book featuring 100 underground Brazilian records from the 1980s and 90s and their artwork - lots of Brazilian...
                          Cuba: Music and Revolution - Compiled by Gilles Peterson and Stuart BakerSoul Jazz Records
                          Cuba: Music and Revolution: Culture Clash in Havana: Experiments in Latin Music 1975-85 Vol. 1 is the new album compiled by Gilles Peterson and Stuart...
                          • Grupo Irakere – Chequere Son
                          • Conjunto Rumbavana – El Son Del Campeon
                          • Juan Formell & Los Van Van – Mi Ritmo Caliente
                          • Grupo Monumental – Mi Son Caridad
                          • Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC – Sondeando
                          • Las D'Aida – Con Cadencia y Con Dulzura
                          • Juan Formell & Los Van Van – Y No Le Conviene
                          • Pablo Milanés – Te Quiero Porque Te Quiero
                          • Emíliano Salvador – Luna Wanestain
                          • Los Reyes 73 – Un Lamento Hecho Cancion
                          • Eduardo Ramos – Vocación Revolución
                          • Grupo Mounmental – Hasta Las Cuantas
                          • Los 5 U 4 – Solo Esta Musica
                          • Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC – Canción Con Todos
                          • Orquesta Los Van Van – Yo Se Que Van Van
                          • Grupo Monumental – Nadie Se Siente Cansado
                          • Orquesta Ritmo Oriental – Maria, Baila El Son
                          • Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo – Rompe Cocorioco
                          • Los Reyes 73 – Grandes Amigos
                          • Paquito D'Rivera – La Patica
                          • Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC – Grifo
                          • Raúl Gómez – Dacapo
                          • Grupo Irakere – Juana 1600
                          • 1. Grupo Irakere – Chequere Son
                          • 2. Conjunto Rumbavana – El Son Del Campeon
                          • 3. Juan Formell & Los Van Van – Mi Ritmo Caliente
                          • View full info and tracklisting
                          Jay Dee aka J DillaWelcome 2 Detroit - The 20th Anniversary EditionBBE
                          J Dilla’s classic 'Welcome 2 Detroit', reissued and presented in a deluxe 7” vinyl box set boasting instrumentals, two brand new interpretations by...
                          • – Y’all Ain’t Ready
                          • – Think Twice (Instrumental - faded)
                          • – Shake It Down
                          • – Pause feat Frank 'n' Dank
                          • – B.B.E. - Big Booty Express
                          • – Brazilian Groove EWF (Instrumental)
                          • – Give It Up
                          Tony Allen & Jeff MillsTomorrow Comes The HarvestBlue Note
                          Detroit techno pioneer, Jeff Mills in collusion with the late legendary Afro-beat drummer, Tony Allen - on Blue Note!
                          • – Locked And Loaded
                          • – Altitudes
                          • – On The Run
                          • – The Seed
                          100% Dynamite (Black Vinyl Edition)Soul Jazz Records
                          “100% Dynamite is among the finest compilations ever assembled.” The Quietus This is a new black edition vinyl pressing of Soul Jazz Records’ seminal...
                          • Willie Williams – Armageddon Time
                          • The Maytals – Night and Day
                          • The Marvels – Rock Steady
                          • The Upsetters – Popcorn
                          • Bunny Clarke – Be Thankful
                          • Tommy McCook – Green Mango
                          • Brentford All Stars – Greedy G
                          • Lennie Hibbert – Real Hot
                          • Horace Andy – My Soul
                          • Johnny Osbourne – We Need Love
                          • Bunny Clarke – I Love The Way You Love
                          • Jackie Mittoo – Stereo Freeze
                          • Phyllis Dillon – Woman Of The Ghetto
                          • Cecric Im Brooks – Give Rasta Glory
                          • Alton Ellis – Son Of Man
                          • Sound Dimension – Granny Scratch Scratch
                          • Lloyd Robinson – Cuss Cuss
                          • Sound Dimension – Drum Song
                          • Ken Boothe – Is It Because I'm Black
                          • 2xLP (+ Download Code) SJRLP321£26.00
                            In stockAdd to Bag
                          • MP3 Release SJRD321£9.99
                            In stockAdd to Bag
                          Sun RaDark Myth Equation VisitationStrut
                          During a tour of Egypt in the early 70s, Sun Ra made a number of live recordings. 'Dark Myth Equation Visitation', also known as 'Live In Egypt Vol. 1'...
                          • – Discipline No. 27
                          • – Solar Ship Voyage
                          • – Cosmo-Darkness
                          • – The Light Thereof
                          • – Friendly Galaxy No. 2
                          • – To Nature’s God
                          • – Why Go To The Moon?
                          BoomboxSoul Jazz Records
                          Soul Jazz Records’ new Boombox features some of the many innovative underground first-wave of rap records made in New York in the period 1979-82,...
                          • Mr Sweety G – At The Place To Be
                          • Love Bug Star-Ski and The Harlem World Crew – Positive Life
                          • Neil B – Body Rock
                          • Super 3 – Philosophy Rappin' Spree
                          • Bramsam – Move Your Body
                          • Black Bird & Kevski – On The Go
                          • Count Coolout – Rhythm Rap Rock (CD only)
                          • Harlem World Crew – Rappers Convention
                          • Willie Wood & The Willie Wood Crew – Willie Rap
                          • Bon-Rock & The Rhythm Rebellion – Searching Rap
                          • Sugar Daddy – One More Time
                          • Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three – The New Rap Language
                          • TJ Swan – And You Know That
                          • Portable Patrol – Cop Bop
                          • Master Jay – We Are People Too
                          • Sweet G – Boogie Feelin' Rap
                          • Mistafide – Equidity Funk
                          Bruton Brutoff: The Ambient, Electronic and Pastoral Side of the Bruton Library Catalogue (Clear Vinyl Repress)Trunk Records
                          Rare musical magic from the Bruton library catalogue – ambient, spacey, pastoral and electronic. Music by John Cameron, Alan Hawkshaw, Francis Monkman,...
                          • Frank Ricotti – Vibes
                          • Johnny Scott – Utopia Revisited
                          • John Cameron – Trek
                          • John Cameron – Tropic 2
                          • Frank Reidy & Eric Allen – Reflections
                          • Francis Monkman – Stargazing
                          • John Cameron – Drifting
                          • Les Hurdle & Frank Ricotti – Dissolves
                          • John Cameron – Floatation
                          • Orlando Kimber & John Keliehor – One Language
                          • Alan Hawkshaw – Saturn Rings
                          • Steve Gray – Billowing Sails
                          • Brian Bennett – The Swan
                          Studio One Rocksteady Volume 2 : Rocksteady, Soul and Early Reggae at Studio OneSoul Jazz Records
                          Soul Jazz Records’ new journey into the mighty vaults of Clement Dodd’s Studio One steps once more into the fertile musical environment of Jamaican...
                          • Hortense Ellis – Sitting In The Park
                          • The Termites – Rub Up Push Up
                          • Carlton and The Shoes – Never Let Go
                          • Alton Ellis – I'm Still In Love With You
                          • Owen Gray – Give Me A Little Sign
                          • The Bassies – Big Mistake
                          • Hortense and Alton Ellis – Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
                          • Slim Smith – Born To Love
                          • Cannon and The Soul Vendors – Bad Treatment
                          • John Holt – Strange Things
                          • The Actions – Giddy Up
                          • Larry Marshall – It Makes Me Feel
                          • The Paragons – Change Your Style
                          • Jerry Jones – Trying Times
                          • The Heptones – I Shall Be Released
                          • The Gaylads – The Soul Beat
                          • Delroy Wilson – Run Run
                          • The Soul Two – Puppy Love
                          • Delroy Wilson – Riding For A Fall
                          135 Grand Street, New York, 1979DVD - Dir. by Ericka BeckmanSoul Jazz Records
                          Available now on DVD (and separate bargain-priced CD soundtrack with bonus tracks). “135 Grand Street, New York, 1979 is invaluable. No Wave music...
                          • Theoretical Girls – Glazened Eyes
                          • Theoretical Girls – Contrary Motion
                          • Ut – Sharp's Loose
                          • A Band – Sand and Sea
                          • A Band – Mirror, Mirror
                          • Rhys Chatham – Guitar Trio
                          • Chinese Puzzle – Great Wall Of Prague
                          • The Static – Spectacular Commodity
                          • The Static – My Relationship (CD only bonus track)
                          • Morales – Gay Girl In a Gay Bar
                          • Youth in Asia – Talking Heads pt.1
                          • Youth in Asia – Amnesia
                          • Steve Piccolo – Superior Genes
                          • Steve Piccolo – It's Hard to Be in Love in Times Like These (CD only bonus track)
                          • Jill Kroesen – Fay Shism Blues (CD only bonus track)
                          Foxy BrownLove Is Where You Find ItDug Out
                          From the Black Sublime of Dadawah to the, er, Foxy Brown of Jennifer Hylton: an early-nineties r'n'b-tipped torpedo, recorded by Lloyd Pickout Dennis at...
                          • – Love Is Where You Find It
                          Black Fire! New Spirits! BOOKImages of A Revolution : Radical Jazz in the USA 1960-75Soul Jazz Books
                          Sorry. Out of Print. Featuring: John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Pharoah Sanders, Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman, Roland Kirk, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Alice...
                              Delroy WilsonEase UpPressure Sounds
                              wicked vocal cut from 1988 on the huge "rumours" rhythm made famous by gregory isaacs with version on the b-side. all three 7" come in repro sleeves.
                              • – Ease Up
                              Space Funk - Afro Futurist Electro Funk In Space 1976-84Soul Jazz Records
                              ‘Space Funk – Afro Futurist Electro Funk in Space 1976-84’, is an intergalactic journey into black space, fuelled by funk, powered by computers. ‘Space...
                              • L E O – Fee Fi Fo Fum
                              • The Sonarphonic – Super Breaker
                              • Santiago – Bionic Funk
                              • Frank Cornilius – Computer Games
                              • JUJU & The Space Rangers – Plastic
                              • Jamie Jupitor – Computer Power
                              • Solaris – Space Invaders
                              • Copperfield – Make It Good To Me Baby
                              • Robotron 4 – Electro-?
                              • Ernest Flippin II – Supersonic Space Lady
                              • Funk Machine – Funk Machine
                              • Ramsey 2C-3D – Fly Guy and The Unemployed
                              • Osé – Computer Funk
                              • 7 Below Zero Band – Seven (We Are)
                              • Rodney Stepp – Break-Out
                              Trees SpeakPostHumanSoul Jazz Records
                              This is incredibly Trees Speak’s third album on Soul Jazz Records to be released in the space of one year – and it’s amazing! Trees Speak’s new...
                              • Trees Speak – Double Slit
                              • Trees Speak – Glass
                              • Trees Speak – Chamber of Frequencies
                              • Trees Speak – Divided Light
                              • Trees Speak – Elements of Matter
                              • Trees Speak – Magic Transistor
                              • Trees Speak – Scheinwelt
                              • Trees Speak – PostHuman
                              • Trees Speak – Synthesis
                              • Trees Speak – X Zeit
                              • Trees Speak – Incandescent Sun
                              • Trees Speak – Healing Rods
                              • Trees Speak – Steckdose
                              • Trees Speak – Amnesia Transmitter
                              • Trees Speak – Quantize Humanize
                              • Trees Speak – Gläserner Mensch
                              • Trees Speak – Machine Vision
                              • Trees Speak – Hidden Machine
                              • Limited Edition LP + Free 7" + Download Code SJRLP469£25.00
                                In stockAdd to Bag
                              • CD SJRCD469£12.00
                                In stockAdd to Bag
                              • MP3 Release SJRD469£7.99
                                In stockAdd to Bag
                              Burning Down The HausPunk Rock, Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin WallDialogue Books
                              USA IMPORT HARDBACK BOOK. £14 OFF!!!! THAT"S OVER 50 % DISCOUNT!!! It began with a handful of East Berlin teens who heard the Sex Pistols on a British...