In this episode of the Synthworks by Ian Dixon podcast, I talk to Sönke Prigge of Curfew Music about his journey from Germany to London, his early experiences with piano and synthesizers, and a career spanning music education, BBC sound design, composition, studio production and electronic music.

Sönke explains how he moved into music production and MIDI programming, the hardware and software behind his work, and why vintage instruments such as the Roland D-50, Yamaha SY99, Korg instruments, Moog Prodigy and E-mu samplers still have a place in his studio. We also discuss Logic Pro, the Yamaha DM2000, working with sound for television and film, the restored Bechstein grand piano, Curfew as a band and studio project, and his plans for new music.

Listen Now:
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and welcome
01:00 Sönke’s move from Germany to London
02:30 Growing up with piano and music
06:30 Early synth influences and favourite keyboard sounds
14:00 Teaching music and moving into professional work
16:00 Working with the BBC and creating sound for television
19:00 Early studio setup and MIDI programming
20:30 Logic Pro, sequencing and composing for picture
27:45 Curfew’s studio: hardware, software and workflow
34:00 Why vintage synths still matter
43:30 Modern instruments, software and the Behringer debate
47:00 The Bechstein grand piano and making time to play
49:50 Curfew, live shows and current projects
52:00 New music, publishing and future plans
55:00 Closing thoughts

Featured topics:
– Sönke Prigge and Curfew Music
– Moving from Germany to London to work in music
– Piano, progressive rock and early synthesizer influences
– BBC sound design, composition and television work
– MIDI programming, Logic Pro and hardware production
– Vintage Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Moog and E-mu instruments
– The restored 1890s Bechstein grand piano
– Curfew’s live and recording projects

Which part of Sönke’s studio and production journey would you like to hear more about? Let me know in the comments.

http://www.strangeaddiction.co.uk
http://curfewmusic.com/curfew
https://soundcloud.com/sonke-prigge
https://www.rotaryheadrecords.co.uk

If you enjoyed the conversation, please like the video and subscribe to Synthworks by Ian Dixon for more synthesizers, sound design, music technology and interviews.

Website: https://www.curfewmusic.com/studio/

#SönkePrigge #CurfewMusic #Synthesizer #SoundDesign #MusicProduction #BBC #VintageSynthesizers #Synthworks

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Robert Schindler—known as Robeone—joins me to talk about a life in keyboards, progressive rock, studio work and live performance. From discovering the piano and progressive music in New York to playing a Yamaha CS-80, managing Electric Lady Studios and opening for Hall & Oates, Robert’s story connects vintage synthesizers with decades of music-making.

We also discuss his work with the Bob Moog Foundation, performing at Progstock and ROSfest, touring with Lifesigns, building a large hands-on keyboard rig, recording without a computer, and his current projects with Red32, Platypus Planet and musicians around the world.

Robert explains why the CS-80 remains his favourite synthesizer, how he approaches live performance with multiple keyboards, and what aspiring musicians need to understand about connections, publishing, music attorneys and the modern music industry.

Listen Now:
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Chapters:
00:00 Introducing Robert Schindler / Robeone
02:00 Piano, family and early musical influences
04:00 Progressive rock, Genesis, Yes and Brian Auger
08:00 The ARP Odyssey and first synthesizers
10:00 Original bands and the first record deal
12:00 Electric Lady Studios and early studio work
14:00 Vintage keyboard rigs and touring
16:00 Opening for Hall & Oates
18:00 The Yamaha CS-80
20:00 Managing Electric Lady Studios
24:00 Returning to music and discovering Progstock
26:00 The Bob Moog Foundation connection
30:00 Touring keyboards and live performance
34:00 Robert’s studio keyboard collection
36:00 Recording without a computer
38:00 Red32, Platypus Planet and current projects
40:00 Live performance, visas and keeping music alive
42:00 Advice for musicians starting today
46:00 Favourite keyboards and the Yamaha CS-80
48:00 Music, links and supporting the Bob Moog Foundation
50:00 Closing thoughts

Featured Topics:
• Yamaha CS-80 and ARP Odyssey
• Electric Lady Studios
• Hall & Oates touring
• Progstock and ROSfest
• The Bob Moog Foundation
• Hands-on hardware recording
• Progressive rock and keyboard performance
• Red32 and Platypus Planet

Find Robert’s music and projects at https://robeone.com/.

Which keyboard would you save if you could keep only one? Let us know in the comments.

Like the episode, subscribe to The Digital Lifestyle, and share it with anyone interested in synthesizers, progressive rock and electronic music.

#RobertSchindler #Robeone #YamahaCS80 #ARPOdyssey #ProgressiveRock #Synthesizer #BobMoogFoundation

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If you enjoyed the show, subscribe, share, and follow for weekly updates.

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0H4SC46CL

Ken Evans joins me from Australia to talk about recreating classic synthesizer parts for artists including Peter Hook and the Light, and about the sounds and instruments behind New Order’s music.

We discuss how Ken first got into electronic music through Blue Monday and The Human League, his early experiences with instruments including the Roland Jupiter-4, Korg MS-20 and Juno-106, and how his work developed into sound design and programming for other artists.

Ken explains how he approaches rebuilding classic synth parts by ear, including Bizarre Love Triangle, the practical differences between hardware and software, live touring setups, vintage drum machines and the challenges of maintaining older instruments. He also talks about the synths he would save first.

Listen Now:
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Ken Evans and the New Order connection
05:15 Early synth influences: Blue Monday and the Jupiter-4
09:36 From Tycho Brahe to Tycho Sound Design
12:46 Recreating Bizarre Love Triangle
16:08 Working with Peter Hook and the Light
21:39 Recreating New Order’s synth parts
26:49 Juno-106s and live hardware
32:15 Drum machines, samplers and touring rigs
39:26 The synths Ken would save first
43:32 Why the Jupiter-4 is so distinctive
45:16 Hardware versus software
47:55 Tycho Sound Design and where to find Ken

Find out more about Ken’s music and sound-design work through Tycho Brahe website and social channels.
https://tycho.com.au/

Subscribe to The Digital Lifestyle for synth tutorials, sound design, vintage gear and electronic-music interviews.

#Synthesizers #NewOrder #PeterHook

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Ian Dixon and Garry Whittaker return for a TDL Show catch-up covering rescued smart displays, Home Assistant dashboards, local voice control, the E-mu Emax II sampler, Korg Radias videos, synth editors, studio tools and recent music projects. Garry shows how low-cost display hardware and old Meta Portal devices can be repurposed for Home Assistant, while Ian talks about the Emax II, GoTek floppy emulation, new Web MIDI editors and writing tracks around specific synths.

Listen Now:
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Chapters:
00:00 Coming up: Emax II, Radias and Home Assistant displays
01:00 Garry returns for a catch-up show
02:00 Cheap ESP display as a bedside Home Assistant clock
04:00 Reusing old hardware for Home Assistant dashboards
06:00 NSPanel Pro, kiosk mode and garage controls
08:00 Meta Portal as a repurposed smart display
10:00 Local voice control, Home Assistant voices and wake words
12:00 Intercom and voice call experiments
14:00 OpenPortal, APK installs and kiosk satellite
16:00 Fleet management, DNLA and Music Assistant
18:00 Mounting, USB access and hardware limitations
20:00 Cheap Meta Portal devices and useful display ideas
22:00 App stores, browsers and unlocking extra features
24:00 Music Assistant, Sonos-style control and gestures
26:00 Ian’s E-mu Emax II rack sampler
28:00 GoTek floppy emulation and USB libraries
30:00 Classic Emax sounds, sampling and memory limits
32:00 Emax repairs and Korg NX5R editor
34:00 Browser-based synth editors and studio search ideas
36:00 Writing tracks around specific synths
38:00 Sampling workflows and creative constraints
40:00 SCSI, Raspberry Pi emulation and old sampler storage
42:00 Keeping vintage technology alive
44:00 Music playback, Spotify and canvas artwork
46:00 Garry’s socials and Home Assistant video plans
48:00 Wrap-up and next catch-up

Featured Topics:
Home Assistant dashboards and wall displays
Meta Portal repurposing with OpenPortal
Local voice control and wake words
Music Assistant and smart home audio
E-mu Emax II rack sampler
GoTek floppy drive emulation
Korg Radias videos and sound design
Web MIDI synth editors and studio search tools
DX100, DX7 and synth-specific track writing
Vintage sampler storage and SCSI emulation

If you enjoy smart home projects, retro tech, music technology and synth chat, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and tell us in the comments which old device you would repurpose for Home Assistant or studio use.

Watch more videos on the channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@IanDixonTDL

#HomeAssistant #SmartHome #MetaPortal #EmuEmaxII #KorgRadias #Synthesizer #Podcast #TheDigitalLifestyle

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If you enjoyed the show, subscribe, share, and follow for weekly updates.

Also available on streaming services:

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0H4SC46CL

Peter James Stevens from the ProSynth Network joins me for a vintage Yamaha synth chat, focusing on the Yamaha CS and SK analogue instrument range. We talk about the famous CS-80 and the wider CS family that often gets overlooked: CS-5, CS-10, CS-15, CS-30, CS-15D, CS-20M, CS-40M, CS-50, CS-60, CS-70M and the SK string/synth/organ instruments.

Listen Now:
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Peter has a collection of Yamaha analogue synths and brings real hands-on context to the discussion: how the smaller mono synths compare with the big polyphonic machines, how the SK range links back to Yamaha organ technology, why the CS instruments have such a distinctive build and sound, what they are like to service, and why these instruments still matter for players and collectors.

We also talk about Synthfest, the ProSynth Network, restoring and maintaining vintage Yamaha gear, the move from CS analogue synths into DX digital FM instruments, and what makes these old Yamaha instruments worth hearing and playing in person.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and Yamaha CS/SK teaser
00:46 Peter James Stevens joins the show
01:08 From emulators to vintage Yamaha
01:40 Why the smaller CS synths get overlooked
02:16 CS-5, CS-10, CS-15, CS-30 and CS-30L
02:59 CS-15D, CS-20M, CS-40M and memories
03:37 CS-80, CS-40M and CS-70M context
04:36 Yamaha SK range and organ/synth crossover
05:23 Professional stage instruments and Yamaha design
06:03 CS-15, Human League and classic synth references
07:27 Yamaha gear in music college memories
12:15 Servicing, restoration and repairability
12:44 Exploring the mono synths
18:04 Synthfest and playing the instruments in person
20:57 Peter’s Yamaha collecting story
21:07 CS-50, CS-30 and favourite instruments
25:10 The shift from CS analogue to DX digital
25:37 DX1, DX7 and Yamaha’s next era
30:10 Playing vintage Yamaha synths today
31:56 ProSynth Network and where to find Peter

Featured Topics:
Yamaha CS-80 and the flagship CS poly synths
Yamaha CS-5, CS-10, CS-15 and CS-30 mono synths
CS-15D, CS-20M, CS-40M and CS-70M
Yamaha SK string, organ and synth instruments
Vintage Yamaha servicing and restoration
Synthfest and hands-on synth events
The move from analogue CS synths to DX FM synthesis

If you enjoy vintage synth history and hands-on synth chat, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment with the Yamaha CS or SK instrument you would most like to try.

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page.

If you enjoyed the show, subscribe, share, and follow for weekly updates.

Also available on streaming services:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6VDRLOIw2WGH3aMaeGlCXO?si=Nn8UU-bPQBSbSK2DEfQsbA

https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0H4SC46CL

#YamahaCS80 #YamahaCS #VintageSynth #AnalogSynth #SynthChat #ProSynthNetwork #Synthesizer

Welcome to this week’s podcast, where Garry and I are joined by musician and DJ Kelly Myers to talk about his passion for synths, drum machines, and music.

Kelly has an interesting collection of electronic music gear, including the classic Roland TB-303. He shares how he got into music, talks about his gear collection, and explains why he uses both modern and classic synthesizers.

Links from this week’s show:

Exploring the Large Magellanic Cloud: My New Synth Album

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

This is my new album, Large Magellanic Cloud. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a dwarf galaxy and a satellite of the Milky Way. Located around 163,000 light-years away, the LMC is one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.

Inspired by the LMC, I created an atmospheric synth album that takes you on a journey across this distant galaxy.

Each track is built around a performance from the Korg Wavestate (which I’ve made available as a free download), with additional sounds from the Korg Modwave, Multi/Poly, and Uno Drum.

I hope you enjoy this synth-powered journey across the Large Magellanic Cloud!

Listen now on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Youtube Music

Track List

Equipment used

Welcome to this week’s podcast! Garry and I catch up on the latest tech news, including the smart home gadgets he’s been testing—such as using AI to control heating. I also talk about my new Korg sound packs and the latest Windows 11 builds.

Links from this week’s show:

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

Welcome to This Week’s Show!

This week, I’m joined by musician, synth collector, and YouTuber Alex Dalliance, also known as Vulture Culture. Alex has an incredible YouTube channel and a thriving community centered around vintage synthesizers.

Alex regularly hosts a weekly YouTube live stream where he dives deep into the world of vintage and modern synths, sharing his expertise and passion with fans and fellow enthusiasts.

In this episode, we chat about Alex’s journey into music, his first vintage synth, and how he built his impressive collection. He shares insights into the challenges of maintaining vintage synthesizers and reveals which ones he considers overrated and which are absolutely irreplaceable.

Alex’s passion for synths and his community is truly inspiring, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this engaging conversation as much as I did!

Links from this week’s show:

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

Welcome to This Week’s Podcast!

TDL Show #791

This week, I’m joined by Dan Phillips from Korg R&D to dive into Korg’s NAMM announcements and the exciting new Multi/Poly synthesizer.

Dan shares insights about the latest products unveiled at NAMM, focusing on the Multi/Poly—a new analog modeling synthesizer. He discusses the inspiration and development behind this instrument, explaining why the team decided to innovate beyond simply recreating the classic Mono/Poly.

We explore the standout features of the Multi/Poly, including its advanced filters, synth templates, and meticulously modeled envelopes. Dan also explains the inclusion of wave shaping, the role of CMT (Component Modeling Technology), and what’s next for Korg R&D.

Don’t forget to check out my brand-new sound set for the Multi/Poly, along with tutorial videos to help you make the most of this incredible synth!

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife