Engineering:Axesynth
The AxeSynth is an electronic musical instrument invented by Anthony (Tony) Amendolare of Valley Stream, N.Y. in the winter of 2004 when working under the business name "ElectroKraft", and now as "AxeTronic" (AxeTronic.com). The AxeSynth can be heard on recordings and seen in live performances by the band Mutemath, who have nicknamed it "The Atari" [1], and by the electronic band Velva [2].
The first AxeSynth instruments that were produced used the vintage Texas Instruments SN76477 Sound Generator integrated circuit. The SN76477 IC was the sound synthesizer used in the Space Invaders video arcade game of the late 1970s and early 80's, this fact prompted the AxeSynth to be nicknamed "the Atari" by some of its noted users.
Shaped like a guitar, with a neck and body, it utilizes two sensors as the user interface to produce synthesized tones. The main sensor, located on the "neck" is a Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR) similar to a ribbon controller.
Linear changes in resistance are produced when the FSR is touched at various positions along its length. This variable electrical resistance is similar to that of a common linear potentiometer and subsequently controls the oscillation of frequencies produced by the main synthesizer IC.
The AxeSynth also utilizes a photoresistor sensor, or CdS cell, whereby varying amounts of light received by the sensor is controlled by the musician's hand, resembling Theremin-like frequency control.
Inspired by the experimental electronic art of circuit bending, and particularly the creations of Reed Ghazala.
Other musical instrument inventions by Anthony Amendolare include the ElectroKraft "Super Synth Drums" cartridge, a re-programmed Nintendo NES cartridge for use with the original Nintendo Entertainment System of the 1980s. The re-programmed cartridge allowed the user to create drum/percussion sounds with the NES gamepads (or with a custom made instrument called the ElectroKraft DrumAxe; a derivative of the AxeSynth), and which produced 8 bit digital effects that were characteristic of the NES. Intended for live music, Chiptune performance or recording. SuperSynth Drums Cartridge: ElectroKraft's Super Synth Drums Cartridge. The DrumAxe NES controller: [3]
The AxeSynth was rated by Rankly.com as one of the best musical instruments of all time: [4]
External links
- AxeSynth (SpaceAxe Model) on Gizmodo
- MusicThing: "Doctor Who Prop"
- Chicago Electronic Band Velva Live With Two AxeSynths
- A variation of the AxeSynth called the SonarAxe used by Bryan Lowe
- The AxeSynth rated #10 on Rankly.
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