Buchla

Buchla (founded by Don Buchla) was one of the first manufacturers of modular synthesizers. They tend to be associated with a more experimental approach to synthesis and composition. For example, almost all of their instruments do not have a normal keyboard controller, replacing the keys with touch plates in various configurations that are often freely programmable rather than being assigned to triggering a specific note. Some refer to the “West Coast Synthesis” approach when talking about Buchla instruments. Morton Subotnick is one of the earliest composers to demonstrate the power of the Buchla instrument.