The PNW Section’s January 2025 Zoom only meeting was held on January 30 2025, discussing the “comeback” of analog synthesizers. Michael Ashton of Ashton Research, and a PNW Section Committee member, led the discussion. Joining him were fellow ex-Moog employees Trent Thompson (now head of Lauten Audio) and Aureliano “Orly” Pisa. About 20 of the 41 attendees were AES members, from all over the world.

After opening remarks from PNW Chair Dan Mortensen and self-introductions by attendees, Michael Ashton noted the evening agenda and began with his slide show of the history of modern electronic music synthesis. He started with the work of Harald Bode, then people including Robert Moog, Don Buchla, Herb Deutsch, and others. Ashton noted a link between electronic progress and synthesizer progress, tracing products made during discrete transistor, integrated circuit, microprocessor and computer eras. Many in attendance had memories of synthesizer models manufactured over the years.

After naming models made in the “renaissance” years 2010-2020, Michael turned to his panelists for deep discussions, along with the audience, of thoughts about the analog synthesizer. Topics ranged from whether the analog synth will endure or is just a fad; the appeal of analog audio today; microphone modeling, and the studio business.