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Gotharman is an enigma. Most of his instruments could be considered knobby groove-boxes in a traditional context; a combination of synth, sampling, and MIDI sequencing. But look beyond the surface, and you'll find all sorts of unique and wonderful features like:
Stretcher: Tries to time stretch the imput signal, while at the same time keeping up with it. Impossible? Yes, indeed :-)
Among Gotharman's latest designs is Zaturn, a flexible polyphonic instrument that offers a lot of unique sound design possibilities:
We thought you'd be interested to find out more about Gotharman, his instruments and ethos, so we asked the man of mystery a few questions:
My first design was the Gothar 1 synthesizer. I started designing the VCA, then the filter, then the oscillator and lastly the envelopes and LFO's. This took some time. Back then I did not have internet access, so I got the inspiration from books I borrowed at a technical library, while I was taking an education as an engineer of electronics.
Many years ago I was playing synths in my spare time, while having shifting jobs. The last of such jobs I had, was as a mailman. One day I realized that I was spending a fortune every month getting all my analog synths serviced, and I decided to quit the job, and start on an electronics engineering education, so that I could learn to service the synths myself. After a short while in this school, the electronics really caught my interest, and I started to experiment with my own design ideas.
Gotharman's is a one man show.
I have always liked hard and experimental electronic music like Nitzer Ebb, Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy. I also really like Rammstein.
I think my priorities are different, because I have never really been good at thinking business. I just make the instruments that I would like to have myself. I made it possible to change the filter boards, because I feel that it is the filter that is mostly giving a synth its sound. And it makes things a lot easier, if I can just change a filter board, instead of designing a whole new synth.
Some time ago, my favorite synths from other manufactures were the Yamaha FS1R and the Roland V-synth, but now I feel that my own instruments have become advanced enough, so I don't use these any more. The only instruments I currently use from other manufactures, is an Akai MPC One for harddisk recording (I hate to use software :-)), and some eurorack modules.
I have never done any market research. I just make the instruments I would like to have myself.
I am not sure if a stereotypical Gotharman fan exists. I am doing what I can to make the sound possibilities of my instruments span wide.
Currently my own favorite instruments are SpazeDrum and Zaturn.
You can read more about Gotharman's designs at: https://www.gotharman.dk/
Posted by MagicalSynthAdventure an expert in synthesis technology from last Century and Amiga enthusiast.
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