Nostalgic Waves

Let's go back to the late 70s and early 80s, a time when electronic music emerged as a mainstream genre. Picture a small machine that encapsulates this period: the Casio VL-1 released in 1979 was an intriguing amalgamation of a pocket calculator and a monophonic synthesizer.

For me, the VL-1 symbolized a dream during my primary school days. Priced at approximately $70 (back then), this synthesizer was considered to be the most affordable synthesizer one can get, but in my parents' eyes, it was more like an expensive calculator and a luxury item for a child like me. I vividly recall the mixture of envy and fascination as I watched a few of my classmates play with their VL-1s. Its electronic tones, cheesy but nonetheless captivating, are my 'Proustian Madeleine' today, instantly transporting me back to a time of youthful innocence and wide-eyed wonder. The VL-1 was a symbol of the future, an example of how innovation could be both compact and (almost) within reach.

In this soundscape, the VL-1's nostalgic beeps and rhythms are interwoven with layers of (way more expensive) analog synths. They collectively recapture the essence of an era that was just starting to explore the realms of electronic sound.

Complementing the VL-1 in this auditory time capsule is another emblematic piece of technology, Texas Intruments' Speak and Spell released in 1983. This toy was my first encounter with computerized speech, a glimpse into a future where computers (and now mobile phones) could talk to us.

Reflecting on these technologies, I realize their subliminal influence on my journey. Years later, I found myself as a synthesizer sound designer at Roland, shaping the sounds of the 90s. My journey then led me to the Belgian Royal Military Academy, where I taught military students about speech processing and Linear Predictive Coding - the same technology used in the Speak and Spell, but originally developed for low-bitrate military communications. Witnessing their excitement in re-synthesizing their own speech during practical exercices, I remembered my own excitement when I first heard a computer speaking.

Let this soundscape take you on a journey down the memory lane and be a tribute to a simpler, yet innovative time in music history.

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