The Synclavier

The Prototype Synclavier (1975) was developed at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Sydney Alonso designed the hardware. Cameron Jones wrote the software. Jon Appleton was the musical advisor to the project.

The Synclavier was a self-contained digital music synthesiser based on a network of integrated circuits and microprocessors. The user was shielded from the software complexities by a comprehensive push-button keypad. Later models had a video display, keyboard and hard disk. A touch strip enabled continuous pitch control.

In 1976, the New England Digital Corporation was formed to market the machine.


The original Synclavier development group, 1975:
Sydney Alonso (left), Cameron Jones, Jon Appleton (seated)

Further Information:

Demas Inc, Home of the Synclavier.

This page was adapted from http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/machines/synclavier/