A happy coincidence whilst on residency in Amsterdam was Amsterdam Dance Event. Sound Lab was based at Compagnie Theatre and was the sound/art/technology hub for the conference and dance event, with sound art installations, a modular synth fair, representatives from leading global electronic music instrument makers (Ableton, Native Instruments, Korg) and the latest products and interfaces and workshops.  Here’s the description:

“ADE Sound Lab is a multi-day program covering everything about sound, where sound synthesis, audiovisual art and innovative ways to produce sound are shared, demonstrated, discussed and developed. The program includes artist and engineer talks, audiovisual art installations and live performances, DIY workshops, and top of the line gear.”

I attended a fascinating talk from Taksuya Takahashi, Developer at KORG behind the Monotron, Tribe, Volca Series and Minilogue. He discussed the reasons behind this re-emergence of analogue synthesizers and about Korg’s product development and brand and organisational structure.

Attended a fascinating workshop Hypothetical Instruments  led by Krystina from STEIM were we used lofi materials to design and imagine musical machines of the future. This was part of a Europe wide three year research project called Giant Steps, a collaboration between STEIM, Native Instruments, Reactable and various academic partners that aims to

“CREATE THE “SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS” FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION IN THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND. WE ENVISION DIGITAL MUSICAL TOOLS THAT UNLEASH THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF PRACTITIONERS BY TARGETING THREE DIRECTIONS:

Developing and integrating musical expert agents

Developing improved interfaces and paradigms for musical human-computer interaction

Addressing low cost portable devices”

This project is interesting in its format as it cuts across research, independent, commercial and academic institutions and practice; their final report is due 2017.

Also of interest were other experimental instrument developers such as the Formonium, through the soundlab open call.