We are stoked to announce the new dates for Synthfarm 2020! The residency will be held on February 7th, 8th and 9th. For those who might be wondering what is 'Synthfarm' ? It is India’s leading residency for synthesis, modular sound, music production, conceptual learning and synth-making. The three day annual residency, in it's 5th year now, is set inside lush tropical settings of Dattapukur West Bengal. Till date Synthfarm has hosted over 95 participants, since it's inception in 2015 with faculty from India, Switzerland, Spain and UK. The growing number of participants every year is witness to the diversity of age, experience, background and gender. The institution's core focus is on India - manifesting in education, empowerment of female talent and fostering the nativity of Indian electronic music. Visit the new website and apply for Synthfarm 2020

Shillong, capital of Meghalaya state, is known for rock, blues and reggae music. Traditions that have lasted decades with many men and women as leading artists, some known allover the country. The city is one of the most gender friendly places in India as of now. This year we are hearing about the surge of electronic music in cohorts with the newer generation in Shillong. However tiny in numbers, they are invoking change via synths, new sounds, DIY technology, small warm parties, dialogue and dance. The city is gradually giving way to new local talent and enthusiastic budding producers, synthesizer nerds along-with rappers, song-writers and DJs.







Shillong surrounded by rolling hills, clean air, still untouched by the devastation of progress, is inside a time-warp of sorts. With consequences positive and negative. "I have been into analog synthesis for almost five years and though I like to DJ as well, in Shillong it's hard to draw a lot of people for electronic music. The scene is just about picking up now I feel. It was not there earlier" states Varun Sabherwal, artist, DJ, promoter and handling hospitality business. Varun along with Arpan Purkayasthahas has created Global Illusions. The duo has curated various parties in the hinterland of Shillong providing much needed space for local DJs to slam their mixes for a tiny but upstart audience. "It's hard to call artists that we like to listen to, because Shillong is far away from the big cities. But we do have our own party scene here which is just 30 to 40 odd people, who dig dance music and beautiful spaces" says Paras, a DJ and home-grown producer. Varun Sabherwal plans to bring in more artists from urban india, especially those on the cutting-edge of genres, as well as music education based on technology . "I am working towards bringing more awareness, attention and electronic music into Shillong over the next 2 to 3 years. The idea is combine local talent and national and international mentors. The place has always been open to new music, and you can hear it in the new generation and local radio content."

Formal education and resources to study music management in a professional manner are few and rare in India. Though the music industry in India, be it the mainstream or indie or even underground is huge (given the 1.3 billion population), the number of professionally trained or certified folks working in the field is much less than expected. A vast majority of music business entrepreneurs, agents, bookers and managers in India are from a Do-it-Yourself ethos, an in-the-making-of culture -learning the ropes and gaining experience in ways ad-hoc inside an intensely competitive market. However there is a sizeable growing demographic and a demand for trained professionals to handle the various needs of an organised or even semi-organised industry in India. Of the few professionally trained and experienced people (often referred as "veterans") within the music industry of India, Ritnika Nayan has taken on the lead to educate, impart practical knowledge and share her industry experience. Mid 2017, Ritnika published Indie 101, a nifty guide into the world of career building for young musicians and the various facets of music business containing the many career options within. A folio of steps, information and advice for newbie musicians and bands who would become the artists of the future. This year, she is back with a brand new venture, titled 'Music Business Management Certificate' hosted at the SACAC (Shri Aurobindo Center For Arts And Communication) located in New Delhi. With a weekend only schedule (making it more accessible for young people) the course includes several modules which introduce, explain and train the attendees about the various branches of the music industry. The website offers a neat introduction and goes unto explain the various modules, terms and conditions of the courseware.

Synthfarm, India’s leading residency for synthesis, modular sound and electronic music learning completed it’s 6th edition on 1st, 2nd, 3rd February. Synthfarm 6 introduced new courseware and presentations to a diverse attendance in terms of profile and gender. The residency this year included the highest number of female participants since it's inception in 2015, notching a 65% increase since last year. In all Synthfarm 6 clocked approximately 500+ hours of combined learning time between the 16 visiting participants from various parts of India. The faculty represented from Switzerland, Spain and India presenting 14 unique courses and discussions. In operation and curation, the residency is completely independent in nature, and has acquired an esoteric value for the education, experience and community building tenets.





Highlights of Synthfarm 6 : The ‘synth-makers course’ curated by A.F.A (Animal Factory Amplification) and 5Volts (Varun Desai) was the centre of attraction for many participants. " Previously I had no idea that one could make a simple synth in a matter of hours" said Adi, a budding producer and DJ from Mumbai. The Poca-Synth 3 is a spanking new update from it's previous version, with enhanced touch response and connectivity to modular and analog systems via control voltage. The sound of these devices is gritty, screaming, modulating, all depends what you do with it. Aditya heading Animal Farm Amplification explains "Was great to see the participants so engaged with the build process through and through. We managed to get 10 little 'Pocas' over 3 days". 




POL from Geneva presented a vivid audio-visual journey of electronic instruments and the legacy of innovation which lead to modern synthesizers - a story that spans 100 odd years. Bizarre electro-mechanical machines, monolithic contraptions, early binary devices, military inventions which flopped and the mostly forgotten legacy of scientific and artistic inventions which lead to modern sound synthesis and electronic music. "Amazing to know how long human beings have been at it, inventing all these crazy machines... Now we make music with VSTs and software which would not be possible without that evolution" says Ajinkya Patil, a software engineer interested in modular synthesis and sound-art. "These inventions are now mostly forgotten, yet they remind us and help us to understand the legacy of electronic music. The presentation gave us an idea how we arrived to synths, production and electronic music concepts" states Morgan Campbell, an American PHD based in Bangalore. Morgan along-with Anjali Manakkad were visiting Synthfarm under the Empowerment of Female Talent Program launched in 2017. The residency was also witness to dialogue and conversations about the significance and future of electronic music, participants buzzing with ideas and question about technology, culture and aesthetics. "As an inclusive electronic music residency, we strive to be most accessible in terms of fees, infrastructure and the value for education. Though we remain 100% independent without any corporate money (control) : our aim is to expand Synthfarm organically, aesthetically into an internationally known institution and residency by 2020" states Audio Pervert, curator and administrator at the residency.

Synthfarm 2019 dates are out ! We are thrilled to announce registrations open (having received more than 100 emails this year from musicians, producers, DJs, sound-designers and synth-freaks). For those (still) not aware, Synthfarm is India's leading residency for electronic music, modular science, production and synth-making. The residency, in it's fourth year now is offering a wide range of courses covering many aspects (for beginners and professionals), spread over three days and nights. Varun Desai (5volts), director of the residency states "we have been busy throughout the year creating momentum and a following. I am super excited to introduce the synth-making course to the participants, plus present an 'improved' analog mono-synth, called Poca 2" ['Poca' in Bengali means an 'insect' and in Spanish 'few']. Synthfarm 2019 will take place on 1st, 2nd and 3rd February, Edition 6.

Synthfarm, India's leading residency for electronic music, modular science and sound production has initiated new programs, scholarships and faculty for 2019 and 20. The bi-annual residency has transformed into an annual event, now a formal institution initiating empowerment and development programs in the field of electronic music. Indian talent, emerging artists and sounds being the focus of this international effort (co-funded and managed in India, Switzerland, Spain and Germany). The new website features the first sound library titled 'Sound Farm' and scholarship offers for female talent plus 13 short video narratives from various participants and faculty. The partnership page contains the call for funding : a detailed document outlining the achievements, challenges, future plans and distribution of resources. The residency set in a garden estate inside the lush tropical canvas of West Bengal, is a bright example of creating music education and fostering creativity : electronic music and technology which is 'open to all'. Synthfarm 2019 is on 1st, 2nd and 3rd February.



Synthfarm's ideology, hedged on 'inclusivity and openness' clearly departs from most formal music institutions in India, which are charging exorbitant prices and offering industrial grade training in return. Past 4 years of persistent planning, networking and activism has lead the project to take off  to an extent. "The idea behind synthfarm was borne out of celebrating creativity instead of copying and learning given music technology. We as an older generation of producers and synthesizer lovers in India, felt the need to create a space for learning, sharing and caring - centered around electronic music" states Lionel Dentan, who heads the modular synthesis course at Synthfarm. "At Synthfarm, i learned aspects of electronic music in an organic way using practical and theoretical engagement. Outside the traditional classroom with teacher scene" says Sameeruddin, a bollywood music producer based in Mumbai. "The students here are not afraid to ask questions or engage their doubts nor are the teachers tired of explaining simple things..." says Ryan Ossiv, a DJ and newbie producer based in Orrisa, attending the residency earlier this year. "I am very curious about synthesizers and wanted to learn how sound is created and manipulated on-the-fly. I learned how to make a small synth in 3 days" says Dhanya Pilo, a visual artist, editor and sailor based in Mumbai speaking about her experience at Synthfarm. "It feels like a great place, where we can find peace of mind, space to set up equipment and have fun with friends, producers and synthesizer lovers" states  Matt Black of Coldcut fame and one half of the seminal UK based label Ninja Tune. Matt presented ‘Ninja Jamm’ - An iOS and Android based app which creates instant music using sampled sounds with loop sequencing. "I was here last year and i had a strong feeling that i want to part of this again and again" says United Machines, a live electronica artist and producer based in Mumbai. "It's a beautiful flowering of almost 30 years of Indian electronica that has come together as synthfarm, as a community and a residency" says Darren Sangita, a producer and psy-artist from the UK.



The Synthfarm PR note states, "The cost of education is subsidized at Synthfarm in order to attract more students as well as create diversity (of classes, gender, geographies and practices). A majority of urban music schools and tech-institutions in India charge exorbitant prices (often unaffordable for most amateur artists). Our ideology has gradually succeeded in it’s objective due to appropriated funds and resources of curators and grass-roots planning. Yet sustainability over long term remains insecure, as it did when we started out. Empowering participants with access, education and DIY tools is a vital part of  Synthfarm. We are now reaching out to institutions, patrons, brands and synthesizer experts allover the world in order to create a larger impact and reach... " 




Next Synthfarm will be held 1st, 2nd, 3rd February 2019. Apply Here. For funding options and scholarship details download documents here. Visit http://synthfarm.in/

SOUND-FARM Volume One. 

Synthfarm presents an exclusive and free sound-library, produced by the curators of the residency. This collection of sounds, cheekily titled 'Sound-Farm' is made of original residency sounds and content. Synthfarm press-note states "We grateful to visiting participants, students and faculty who have contributed to this big archive of original sounds. Recording sessions, be they formal or informal are a great source of sounds for composers :  we will be releasing all the sounds edited and archived as a series through 2018 and 19" Volume One of Sound-Farm includes micro, short and long samples plus certain hybrid combined sounds, modular noise, FM-drums and ambient passages. Divided into three sections, the sound-library is loaded with speculative, surprising and contrasting content. A wide range of synthesizers used in the making of this catalog :  including the Korg MS20, Intellijel, Make-Noise, Mutable Instruments, Doepfer, ARP 2600, Elektron Analog, MFB Devices, Lyra-Synth, Roland SH101, Waldorf etc etc. Not so friendly for 'preset-lovers' the esoteric and unique sounds represent the current sonic spectrum of synthesis in India : The sound library is the effort of 20+ emerging artists, newbies as well as the curators : Recorded, archived and packaged by Synthfarm. DOWNLOAD HERE [356MB] Library.


Varun Desai [5Volts] explains "Having archived approximately 160+ hours of prepared synthesis, performance, tweaking. modulations as wave recordings created the possibility for a series of sound-libraries. Previously Synthfarm audio samples were featured in the Ninja Tune App titled NinjaJamm thanks to ColdCut visiting our residency in March 2018" Audio Pervert, based in Spain states "there are many hard vendors of sampled sounds and beats, yet most of their factory made products are exorbitant for most emerging artists and newbie producers. We think sounds, especially abstract tones and beats should be public access, for all composers and musicians" Modular artist Da-Saz explains his efforts as "with crazier sounds and beats the user is pushed to imagine, as compared to generic conventional plug-me-samples which are for everyday production. Modular synths, whacky sounds and noise can be a great source of sound-design for artist who usually don't use or have such instruments"

DOWNLOAD SOUND-FARM Volume One

The Sound Bank is a free download under Creative Commons Share Alike Ideology. Various folders contain selections of long and short duration sounds in WAV/AIFF Format 48khz - 24bit -Mono/Stereo. The curators message to you "We hope the sounds inspire you : happy to hear your feedback : http://synthfarm.in/contact/ "



Update November 2020 - Sound-Farm Library has been downloaded +10K !

Synthfarm, India’s premier residency for synthesis, modular sound and electronic music learning completed it’s 5th edition this year. Though every edition Synthfarm hosts a milieu of artists, producers, Djs, synth geeks and teaching faculty, the 5th edition was chocker block full in attendance, learning as well as surprises. The residency, set inside lush tropical settings in Dattapukur, West Bengal was witness to 20 attendees and 4 faculty members. The annual summit (previously bi-annual) now in it's third year is built upon 'inclusive and community' ethics committed to knowledge in the field of electronic music, production, modular-synthesis, ableton and conceptual learning.





















Highlights of Synthfarm 5 : The ‘circuit makers course’ by 5Volts (Varun Desai) produced 6 synthesizers, titled the ‘Poca-Synth’ put together by the attendees over a period of 10 hours. The Poca-Synth kits and circuitry is a result of an inter-city collaboration between Varun (Kolkata) and A.F.A (Animal Factory Amplification) based in Mumbai. The Poca-Synths are inspired by the cult Atari Punk Consoles (late 1980s) has been revamped with several new features and fun elements. Matt Black of Coldcut fame and one half of the seminal UK based label Ninja Tune, presented his latest project, titled ‘Ninja Jam’ : An IOS based app which creates instant music using samples and loop sequencing. The app demonstration and short lecture by Matt was a reckoner into the world of sampling and it’s creative uses in making music. Synthfarm edition 5 also featured the first Indian modular synthesizer system built by Dhvanit and Richard from Modular Analog based in Mumbai. The modular systems built by these two bright entrepreneurs was a key attraction for many of the attendees at the residency as well a moment of pride for all the Indian synthesizer community. As stated by Richard, “Modular Analog as an enterprise is committed to building creative solutions for electronic musicians who are using synthesizers and modular instruments”.

REAKTOR 6 comes with a comprehensive factory library, which includes hundreds of pre-built instruments, sequencers and effects. These various components are now available as Blocks, a new modular synthesizer framework within Reaktor. The new framework brings the experience of patching analog modular synthesizers and non-virtual devices together, as a coalition of software and hardware. Native Instrument's flagship software, Reaktor has grown tremendously in scope and size over the last 18 years, keeping itself contemporary against the big surge in modular and analog synthesizers fashion. Reaktor remains a favorite sound-tool for thousands of designers of ambient, generative, glitch, noise and cerebral audio art-forms.













2017 year end's festive season, we present a complete free download, worth 1.8 GB of Reaktor Blocks, Ensembles, Effects and some very far out conceptual synthesizers. A new library of instruments (not sounds) for composers, producers and electronic music 'scientists'. Plus the package contains several instruction videos for basic beginners as well as few short lectures on patching, building ensembles and control devices. The download is hosted on public domain as educational media. Sharing is caring!

DOWNLOAD REAKTOR BLOCKS 2017.

Read/Download Complete Reaktor User Manual.

Synthfarm. A three day residency for and by musicians who attempt to demystify the various building blocks of Synthesis, Ableton Live and How to Perform Live Electronic Music - December 2015. Synth Farm was witness to a spectrum of musicians, emerging DJs, studio hacks, synth freaks and sound designers - In discussion, full of questions and exploring the building blocks of electronic music and synthesis through a variety of courses. The in-formation of curriculum, the 3 day event was it's first kind set up by Varun Desai [Littlei / 5volts ] at a completely DIY (inexpensive economic) level. Such efforts are more 'valuable experiences' than the expensive crash-courses offered by music schools and tech-institutions in Delhi and Mumbai.



SynthFarm [4/5/6 December] saw 11 participants, 3 mentors, 2 cooks, 2 dogs and a vast collection of synthesizers, samplers and audio processors wired up. This is the first edition of a planned series of residencies to continue in 2016 and beyond. Approximately 12 hours of formal faculty lessons plus 10 hours of informal discussions, synthesis jams and exchanges were covered in the 3-day residency.

www.synthfarm.in

STUDIO #1 / Da Saz - Modular Science
STUDIO # 2 / The Live Studio by 5volts
STUDIO # 3 / Ableton Live with Audio Pervert

Read the complete project info - http://docdro.id/OWeSsNK