Bob Coover and Anthony Marinelli join Julian Rodgers to explore the history, evolution and creative potential of wavetable synthesis, from its early origins to modern instruments, discussing waveform morphing, iconic sounds and where the technology is heading next.
Show Notes
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:43 - What Is Wavetable Synthesis
11:08 - Morphing Between Waveforms
14:42 - History Of Wavetable Synthesis
19:05 - The Wavetable Sound
24:41 - Software Using Wavetables
26:46 - New Instruments With Wavetable Synthesis
30:05 - Morphing Sounds With Tactile Controls
34:01 - Examples In Popular Recordings
39:12 - The Future Of Wavetable Synthesis
#3rdwave #fairlight #ppg #serum
Bob Coover - Biog
Bob Coover is co-founder and Principal DSP Engineer at Groove Synthesis, where he helped create the award-winning 3rd Wave series of advanced wavetable synthesisers. A veteran synth designer and software engineer, he previously worked with Sequential alongside Dave Smith, contributing to instruments including the Prophet-12, Pro 3 and OB-6. Before co-founding Groove Synthesis in 2021 with Andrew Silverman, Coover also spent many years developing music technology for companies including Avid/Digidesign. His passion for classic PPG wavetable synthesis inspired the creation of the 3rd Wave, a modern instrument that combines vintage-inspired sound with contemporary synthesis techniques. Through his work, Coover continues to push the boundaries of hardware synth design, creating instruments that balance deep sound-design capabilities with an intuitive, musician-focused workflow.
https://groovesynthesis.com
https://www.instagram.com/groovesynthesis
Anthony Marinelli - Biog
Anthony Marinelli is an American composer, synthesist, producer and educator whose career spans more than four decades across film, television and popular music. A pioneer of synth programming, he contributed to Michael Jackson's Thriller and has worked with artists including James Brown, Lionel Richie, Van Halen, Supertramp and Herb Alpert. As a film composer he has ammassed more than 100 credits, including Young Guns, Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs and 2 Days in the Valley. An award-winning composer and sound designer, Marinelli is also recognised for his expertise in synthesis and music technology, sharing his knowledge through educational videos, courses and workshops that explore the creative potential of electronic instruments and sound design.
https://www.anthonymarinelli.com
http://instagram.com/anthonymarinellimusic
https://www.facebook.com/anthonymarinellimusic
https://x.com/amarinellimusic
Interviewer: Julian Rodgers - Biog
Julian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio.
www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926
About the Electronic Music podcast channel
On this SOS channel we feature some of the pioneers of the industry, interview musicians, and talk about retro and current gear.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.
