Swiss Synthesizer Meeting 2023

The Swiss Synthesizer Meeting is a live event dedicated to electronic music produced exclusively with vintage and modern electronic instruments. The project was born in Zurich in 2006 from the initiative of a group of passionate musicians and since then the meeting has become a regular event. The 2023 edition, organised by me in collaboration with Flavio Boniforti and La Boite Visual Arts, responsible for the Image & Sound part of the Locarno Film Festival, took place in the auditorium of the Gran Rex in Locarno, a historic cinema that was completely renovated in 2017 and equipped with a state-of-the-art audio and video system.

The Analogue Synthesizer Workshop

On a irregular basis, i organise synthesizer workshops in southern Switzerland. Each workshop is limited to max. 20 participants. Media: laptop and beamer [screenshow], a modular synthesizer, PA system. Themes and topics: A brief history of electronic music [the early synthesizers and electronic music studios, 1950s - 1960s]. The modern age: from avantgarde to popular Electronica. Instruments and manufacturers: the early electronic instruments [1930 - 1940s]; modern voltage controlled synthesizers [Bob Moog and Don Buchla]; commercial manufacturers [1970s to present]. The neo-analogue Renaissance: why analogue? Discrete vs. integrated vs. digital circuits; the formats: Moog Modular clones, the Eurorack system, other formats; selected neo-analogue manufacturers; a guide to purchase: vintage or neo-analogue? The analogue synthesizer explained: modules and functions; basic modules, auxiliary and "expert" modules, analogue sequencers; external sound-processing devices: what's best? And finally: let's put your hands on the machines and play with a modular synthesizer.

The analogue synthesizer workshop 2017 [.PDF]

The Analogue Synthesizer Meeting Locarno, 2014

A meeting of analogue synthesizers addicts in italian Switzerland was held in january 2014 collaboration with Xilobis Smart Furniture in the conference room of the Biblioteca Cantonale in Locarno. It was a one day event (14.00 - 22.00) organised by me with talks and demos on the topic "Electronic music and instruments from the 1950s to now" with many guests such as Claudio Alge (Arp 2600, ARP 1613 sequencer, Moog Rogue), René Bossi (Eurorack modular), Giuseppe de Giacomi | halborgnone.ch (Korg MS10, MS20, SQ10), Gianluca Ruggeri | 10111.org (Buchla modular).

Invitation and program [PDF]

1998: my first analogue synthesizer workshop in southern Switzerland

In collaboration with swiss designer Demian Conrad and the Artificio art & communication center in Bellinzona