Resynator is a new documentary, and “synth resurrection project”, by director Alison Tavel that tells the story of a ‘lost’ synthesizer design of the 1970s, and its rediscovery.
The Resynator was invented by the Tavels’s late father Don Tavel in the ‘70s. Alison Tavel found the synth in her grandmother’s attic, 25 years after her father’s death, and has been on a mission to share it with the world ever since.
The Resynator is an instrument-controlled, monophonic, rack-mount analog/digital hybrid synthesizer. Invented by Don Tavel and engineered by Mike Beigel, the synthesizer can track the pitch of anything from the lowest note on a bass to the highest note of a piccolo.
The new documentary had its world premiere at SXSW in March, and won the Documentary Feature Audience Award. Details on screenings are to be announced. See the film site for more information.
Film Summary:
“In unearthing the revolutionary synthesizer her late father invented in the 1970s, Alison Tavel not only revives his mission to share it with the world, she unexpectedly forges a deep bond with the father she never got the chance to know.”
Directed by Alison Tavel
Executive Producer Grace Potter
Produced by Jon Lullo, Brendan Walter, Kathryn Robson, Sara Nesson, Christopher Noviello, Barbara McDonough
Edited by Kathryn Robson, Chris Gibson
Music by Chris Ruggiero
Animation by Danny Madden
I hope this one is actually real and doesn’t turn out to be made up by a film student collective again.
Are you referencing Blair Witch or was there some documentary that was faked?
See the “The Unbelievable Story Of The Loumavox, The Synthesizer That Time Forgot”
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2021/12/17/the-unbelievable-story-of-the-loumavox-the-synthesizer-that-time-forgot/
It’s real. I saw her give a talk and demonstration at Switched on in Austin during SXSW and got to play it briefly. Didn’t realize the documentary had such big names in it.
It’s was a rack unit with an odd assortment of controls that made buzzy mono synth sounds. No one was sure how the thing worked and she wanted people to come up and just fiddle around with it. I played guitar while a friend blindly twisted various knobs and every once in while he’d find a good spot that did something interesting.
Seeing this trailer gives a bit more context.
I was introduced to Alison Tavel by Jordan Rudess, because I work with Jon Anderson of Yes, and Jon had used a Resynator and had also written a letter to Don Tavel, the inventor of the Resynator. Alison had this letter and I was happy to introduce her to Jon to be interviewed for the film. The film is beautiful and will resonate not only with synth/music fans but with audiences outside of the music sphere due to to human interest story of a woman trying to understand who the father she never knew was. There are some touching, emotional arcs to the story. I’ve seen the whole film, definitely worth a watch.
Been hearing about her quest for a while. Nice to have further insight on it… and that it finally had its première!
Sonic State interview from 5 years back https://youtu.be/7DVJtshn82I?si=_AKLiC5G6PbklRuC
I was introduced to Alison Tavel by Jordan Rudess, because I work with Jon Anderson of Yes, and Jon had used a Resynator and had also written a letter to Don Tavel, the inventor of the Resynator. Alison had this letter and I was happy to introduce her to Jon to be interviewed for the film. The film is beautiful and will resonate not only with synth/music fans but with audiences outside of the music sphere due to to human interest story of a woman trying to understand who the father she never knew was. Definitely some touching, emotional arcs to the story. I’ve seen the whole film, definitely worth a watch.