The Shape Of Things That Hum is a synthesizer documentary series, originally aired by Channel 4 in the UK in 2001.
Featured instruments include:
- Mini Moog 00:12
- Vocoder 09:45
- DX7 20:19
- Fairlight 30:27
- Simmons 40:12
- TB-303 50:27
- TR-808 1.01.01
- Akai Sampler 1.11.20
The series focused on electronic instruments that helped shaped modern music, with every episode focusing on a specific instrument. The episodes were broadcast between 01.30am and 01.41am, and featured musicians talking about classic vintage synthesizers.
Episodes:
- Mini Moog (15-01-2001) – Cult electronic instruments that helped to shape modern music.
- Vocoder (22-01-2001) – Developed as a scrambling device in World War II, includes interviews with Orbital and Rick Wakeman.
- DX7 (29-01-2001) – Synthesizer that defined the sound of the 1980s. Interviews with Vince Clarke and Nick Rhodes.
- Fairlight (05-02-2001) – Computer based snthesizer offering sampling, digital recording, sequencing and editing. Includes Nick Rhodes.
- Simmons (12-02-2001) – Includes producer Arthur Baker talking about making “Planet Rock”.
- Roland TB-303 (19-02-2001) – House innovators Coldcut and Orbital discuss the Roland 303 synthesizer.
- Roland TR-808 (26-02-2001) – Includes producer Arthur Baker, plus Ray Keith talks about the importance of the bass.
- Akai Sampler (05-03-2001) – Instrument that helped fuel the rave scene and the white label explosion
Entirely worth it for the few minutes of Ann Shenton.
I was initially hesitant to watch this as well, but I’m glad I dd. They really slammed the fairlight.
TB 808?:)
The vocoder was just a talkbox thingy.
I think I want a DX–7 now
Anybody found a better quality video?