In this episode of the TDL Synth Chat, I travel to Prague to speak with Marek Hradil, an electronic music composer and synth expert. We dive deep into his incredible collection of vintage gear—including classic Yamaha CS and DX synths—and explore his fascinating journey from using VSTs to repairing and even designing his own custom hardware.

Marik shares insights into his workflow as a computer game composer, the unique expressivity of analog instruments like the Yamaha SY2, and how he balances the convenience of modern technology with the tactile inspiration of physical synthesizers.

🕒 Timestamps

• 0:00 - Introduction to the TDL Synth Chat
• 0:38 - Meet Marik: Composer and synth enthusiast from Prague
• 1:05 - Moving from VSTs to physical hardware (Novation Bass Station)
• 1:43 - Learning the art of synth repair: From Logan String Melody to Yamaha CS series
• 3:50 - Upgrading vintage logic: Bringing a Yamaha CS40 into the 21st century
• 4:30 - The philosophy of modding: Preserving the "soul" of the original design
• 5:40 - Exploring the collection: Roland System 100 & the Vangelis connection
• 6:40 - The Yamaha SY2: A monophonic piece of the legendary GX1
• 7:30 - Why analog? The unparalleled expressivity of aftertouch
• 9:19 - Composing for video games: Using analog gear in a professional workflow
• 11:06 - The Great Debate: Can you really tell the difference between VSTs and hardware?
• 13:48 - Hybrid workflow: Rapid composition with VSTs vs. final recording with hardware
• 15:02 - The "Weight Trick": Live performance tips inspired by Vangelis
• 16:45 - The Korg DSS-1: A 1980s sampling powerhouse
• 18:00 - From repair to design: Why Marik now builds his own instruments
• 18:50 - The "Holy Grail" search: Korg Trident and the Yamaha CS80
• 21:13 - Desert Island Synth: Which one would he take?
• 22:34 - Where to find Marik's music (Bandcamp & Voltage Control Romance)
• 24:12 - Showcase: Marik's custom-designed synthesizers
• 25:52 - Designing from scratch: The joy of original circuitry

Connect with Marik:

• Bandcamp: Matt Maverick / Aist Train / Mariel
• Project: Voltage Control Romance

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#Synthesizers #VintageSynths #MusicComposition #YamahaCS80 #SynthRepair #ElectronicMusic #TDLSynthChat