The first synthesizer was so big it filled an entire room, but in the 1960s inventors like Bob Moog built downsized machines which would revolutionise pop music.

The first synthesizer was so big, it filled an entire room, but during the 1960s inventors built downsized machines which would go on to revolutionise pop music.

Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason charts the work of synth pioneers Bob Moog, Don Buchla and Dave Smith in the story of the most influential electronic instrument of all time.

We learn how the synth came to sing with multiple voices, and how Japanese giants came to dominate the market - but arguably at a cost to creativity.

The series is produced in association with the Open University.

CONTRIBUTORS

Brian Kehew, producer and music historian

Tom Rhea, electronic music historian

Herb Deutsch, musician and collaborator with Bob Moog

Morton Subotnick

Suzanne Ciani

Peter Zinovieff, EMS and inventors of the VCS3 synthesizer

Mark Mothersbaugh, Devo

Nick Rhodes, Duran Duran

Rick Wakeman

Dave Smith, Sequential Circuits and inventor of the Prophet 5

DJ Jazzy Jeff

(Photo: A Moog synthesizer Credit: Getty Images)