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Digital & Decks

Hannah Peel & Richard Norris chart a musical history through iconic instruments with the DX7 Synth and SL1200 Turntable in the spotlight. With Brian Eno, Shiva Feshareki & more.

Hannah Peel & Richard Norris chart a musical history through iconic instruments, with the DX7 Synth and SL1200 Turntable in the spotlight.

The Yamaha DX7 was one of the biggest digital synths of the 80s. Peaking in 1986, its sound appeared on thousands of tracks across all genres that decade. Brian Eno reveals how he was one of the few people who managed to programme it. And Youtuber Cuckoo celebrates the sounds of the DX7 that were used in video game soundtracks of the 80s and 90s.

The Technics SL1200 turntables are legendary amongst DJ across dance, hip hop and beyond. Carl Cox explains why, and how he managed to mix on three of them at once. And turntablist Shiva Feshareki reveals how finding a scrap of paper while researching Delia Derbyshire, led to her 2018 Prom for two turntables and orchestra.

From the Theremin to the MPC, the 808 to Ableton, Instrumental takes drum machines, samplers, synths, and software as a springboard to celebrate creativity in all its facets. Across the series hear from fellow musicians, creatives and instrument builders including Brian Eno, Carl Cox, Marta Salogni, Roger Linn, Jlin, Jacob Collier, Richie Hawtin, Andre Huang, Patten, The Mad Professor, Shiva Feshareki and more, on how people have been using, and misusing these tools to create new and wonderful music.

Release date:

1 hour

On radio

Tomorrow 23:00

Broadcast

  • Tomorrow 23:00