Two weeks ago, we posted a video of Evaton Technologies RF Nomad: a modular synthesizer that employs shortwave radio to create unique sounds. As someone who has always been fascinating with music and the sonic texture of the shortwaves, of course I find this product fascinating.
Forbes magazine does too. This morning, @UlisK3LU shared an article in Forbes where Russell Hoffman, who runs Evaton Technologies, explains why he believes using shortwave radio in new RF Nomad will be a hit:
“What’s interesting about shortwave radio is that it isn’t necessarily musical by design, but there are interesting sounds to be found when the station tuning is less than perfect,” he said. “You can hear all sorts of sounds on shortwave, from voice, to music, to Morse Code or encoded digital transmissions. In addition to the sounds that are transmitted intentionally, there are sounds that are artifacts of the medium itself like heterodynes, pops, crackles, hiss, static crashes, fading and the like.”
But here’s my favorite bit:
“Shortwave radio has a long and storied history, full of intrigue, espionage, piracy, rebellion, propaganda, and subterfuge,” he added. “It propagates around the world and can be received on inexpensive equipment. It is universal, because it can be heard anywhere; and yet at the same time, in a world of internet, TV, and satellite radio, it is also the underground — a hidden world parallel to that of our daily experiences. It offers an additional perspective.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman.
Click here to read “How To Make Music (And Money) From Shortwave Radio” in Forbes magazine.
Check out Evaton Technologies and RF Nomad announcements by clicking here.
Resistance is futile !
Who will employ this device and become the next Karlheinz Stockhausen ? (“Hymnen ” and “Kurzwellen.” come to mind.)
It has potential, and potentiometers !
Ha! “It has potential, and potentiometers !” Love that!
-Thomas