SynthBooth: Virtual Modular Expo with makers, movers, talkers and performers
SynthBooth is a new online event for the modular synthesizer community taking place from the 16th – 18th October 2020 featuring manufacturers, panel discussions, seminars, live performance and a keynote from Suzanne Ciani.
SynthBooth
Feeling like a bit of a mash-up between Synthfest and Superbooth, SynthBooth hopes to capture the imagination of the modular synthesizer community and the modular-curious in a weekend of online, live-streamed and interactive content. It will take place over the weekend via an online web app and access is via ticket only. This isn’t just some thrown together content this is a properly curated event that could really bring some life to the idea of the online trade show.
Speakers
The big star of the event is the Keynote from composer and electronic music pioneer Suzanne Ciani. In a very full program of speakers from around the world we have contributions from the likes of Girts Ozolins from Erica Synths, Andrew Ostler from Expert Sleepers, Ben “DivKid” Wilson, Anna Martinova from Modular Moon, Emmy Parker from Teenage Engineering, Abraham Ingle from AI Synthesis, Alex Anderson from WMD, Leah King from Women’s Audio Mission, Max Ravitz from Moog and Walker Farrell from Make noise to name but a few.
Suzanne Ciani · Source: SynthBooth
Some of these will be panel discussions on various topics and some will be standalone educational seminars. There will be panels on Building Your Modular Synth Community, How to Get Started in Modular, Performing Live with Modular, Modular Technology and Synths and Social Change.
Performers
They’ve got a great bunch of performers ready to live stream for your entertainment including Ann Annie, Afrorack (Bamanya Brian), LaFrae Sci, Bana Haffar, Aqeel Aadam, DesertFish, The Galaxy Electric and Trovarsi.
Afrorack · Source: SynthBooth
Exhibiters
They already have a good roster of manufacturers signed up including 4MS, 1010Music, WMD, Moog Music, AI Synthesis, Expert Sleepers and many more. They will be operating in “Virtual Exhibitor Booths” which you can visit. Exactly what that will look like is anyone’s guess but it sounds exciting. It takes place within the virtual expo hall where you can connect with the synth makers, watch pre-recorded videos or live streamed demos, chat with staff and potentially schedule video calls. There’s also a chat room to hang out with other attendees.
Max Ravitz – Moog Music · Source: SynthBook
Tickets
There’s tickets and everything – it feels like a proper event! There are two ticket levels. For $15 you get the virtual expo and live performances. For $25 you get all that plus access to the Keynote, panel discussions and seminars. Do note that there’s a mysterious and annoying booking “Fee” to pay when you buy the tickets. Ticket sales appear to end the day before the event so don’t leave it too late.
Super-slick
This is all sounding pretty impressive at the moment. All the people involved are top-notch and I think the Speakers are going to be particularly interesting. The event is spread over the weekend and threaded together. So you get a panel, then a live performance, then some expo time, then another panel and so on. There’s a number of organisations trying to put on virtual events at the moment but nothing is looking as well put together as this so far. Maybe going the proprietary route and charging for access is the way forward over the ad-hoc but free and open YouTube or Twitch streaming. We shall see.
For the full line-up and schedule head on over to the SynthBooth website.
More information
- SynthBooth website.
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