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Buchla is an American electronic instrument brand with a legendary status in the history of synthesizers, closely associated with the origins of West Coast synthesis. Founded in the 1960s by Don Buchla, the company took a radically different approach to electronic instruments, prioritising timbre, modulation, and experimental control over traditional keyboard-based design.
Buchla instruments are known for non-standard interfaces, touch plates, complex modulation sources, and an emphasis on evolving, organic sound rather than conventional melodies or presets. Their systems have been used extensively in experimental music, academia, sound art, and avant-garde composition, and they remain influential in modern modular synthesis.
For SynthForSale, Buchla sits at the high-end experimental and modular synthesis category — iconic instruments aimed at musicians and sound designers who want to explore unconventional workflows, generative sound, and the deeper artistic side of electronic music rather than traditional performance synthesis.
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Modular is a synthesis format made up of separate, interchangeable modules that are patched together to create custom signal paths. It allows complete freedom over sound design, sequencing, and modulation, with each system built to suit the user’s workflow and creative approach.
New Gear is unused and in original condition, supplied as it leaves the manufacturer. It is chosen for guaranteed reliability, full functionality, and the assurance of manufacturer support. For example, buying new ensures access to the latest design revisions, included accessories, and official warranty coverage.
A patch is a saved sound setting that defines how an instrument is configured at a given moment. It stores parameters such as oscillator settings, filters, modulation, and effects, allowing sounds to be recalled instantly. For example, a patch might be created for a specific bass or lead sound and then recalled during a performance or reused across multiple tracks in a studio project.
A patch bay is a routing device that allows audio and control signals to be quickly connected and reconfigured without constantly plugging and unplugging equipment. It centralises connections from instruments, processors, and interfaces, making signal flow clearer and easier to manage. For example, a patch bay can be used in a studio to route a synthesiser through different effects or processors simply by changing patch cables, saving time and keeping setups flexible and organised.
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