SynthFest UK 2023: In the heart of Sheffield, the home of Synthpop
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SynthFest UK 2023 is an annual homage to all things synthesiser, held in the spiritual home of synthpop – Sheffield UK. The show is home to all kinds of synth nerds including eurorack, modular, and digital enthusiasts! Gearnews guitar writer, George Loveridge, attended the show to get a slice of the synthesizer life….
SynthFest 2023
This year’s SynthFest was hosted in Sheffield by Sound On Sound Magazine. An appropriate location for this particular music show, greats such as Phillip Oakey, Jarvis Cocker and Joe Elliot can all call this steel city home. For me, a guitarist, entering The Octagon Centre was rather daunting. I was greeted by the strange and wonderful sounds that only synths can produce. Importantly, I was here partly to catch up with my fellow UK Gearnews editorial team, but also to try and find out what the synth lot get up to “behind closed doors”.
What is SynthFest?
Held annually, SynthFest allows all types of synthesiser brands, products and enthusiasts to showcase their products to members of the public. There’s an appeal for all music lovers. If you’re a seasoned pro, mild enthusiast or complete noob like myself.
On offer were, what appeared to be, every variation of keyboard, desktop, modular, software and rack synths that you could think of. Each stall at the show had synths and synth gear that attendees could try, sample and even purchase!
There were keyboards on display from many big brands such as Yamaha, Oberheim, Sequential, Moog, Arturia and many more. Furthermore, Analogue Solutions brought along their monolithic Maximus synth that greeted you as you entered the main hall.
SynthFest 2023: Analogue Solutions Maximus · Source: Gearnews
Who will you meet at SynthFest?
Honestly, mainly hardcore synth enthusiasts. However, occasionally you’d find guitarists, singers or passers-by wandering about, taking in the sights and sounds. The list of exhibitors was incredible and not just limited to synth manufacturers. Anyone with an interest in music technology will find something of interest at SynthFest. To have so many great names under one roof at a UK show is outstanding; you’ll find the full list of exhibitors on SynthFest’s website.
Refreshingly, there were names I’d never heard of before, such as vintage synth specialists ESL (Europe Synthesizer Laboratories). Based in Italy and established in 2014, they handcraft, weld, and programme bespoke vintage synth gear. We were able to get a hands-on demonstration of their extremely aggressive and dirty Vertice analogue filter bank.
You’ll find a whole swathe of boutique manufacturers at SynthFest, and for those seeking out something different or a little leftfield, it’s a great opportunity.
SynthFest 2023: ESL Demo · Source: Gearnews
40 Years of the DX7
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the quintessential, the G.O.A.T of synths, the Yamaha DX7. SynthFest attendees were treated to a knowledgeable seminar from our very own Rob Puricelli. Rob explained the history and background behind FM synthesis and its mass adoption and development by Yamaha. His talk went into great detail regarding the conception of the product and the impact it had on popular music.
We were also given a live demonstration of the Yamaha Y-CAMS music production suite; possibly the first time this setup has been demonstrated live in decades. Quite a treat for the synth nerds in the audience! Rob also had an additional treat up his sleeve…
Having flown in, especially from America, we were enriched also by Dr. Manny Fernandez; official Yamaha sound designer and expert programmer of FM synthesizers. His wealth of knowledge was exceptional; even a small-minded guitarist just like myself was able to understand the concepts he explained…. well, mostly!
Rob Puricelli – 40 Years of the DX7 · Source: Gearnews
SynthFest 2023 – Long may it continue!
Another year of SynthFest is over and done with; for myself, I hope, the first of many! SynthFest is invaluable if you’re looking to get hands-on with the gear you’ve only read about or seen on screen all year. It’s also a great way to meet the rest of the community and put faces to names.
Were you at SynthFest this year? If so, let us know what your personal highlights were. If not, will you consider going next year?
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