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[[File:Ray Wilson pro pic.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]'''Ray Wilson''' (1956–2016) |
[[File:Ray Wilson pro pic.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]'''Ray Wilson''' (1956–2016) was influential in the synth DIY community and many people got a start in the world of synth DIY because of his sharing of his designs.<ref name="rip">[http://www.matrixsynth.com/2016/07/rip-ray-wilson.html RIP Ray Wilson], Matrixsynth, 23 July 2016</ref> |
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== Biography == |
== Biography == |
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=== Education and how MFOS got started === |
=== Education and how MFOS got started === |
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Ray became interested in analog synthesizers in 1968 when he first heard ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-On_Bach Switched-On Bach]'' by Wendy Carlos.<ref name="book">[http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028093.do Make: Analog Synthesizers] by Ray Wilson, Maker Media Inc, 2013, {{ISBN|1-4493-4522-0}}</ref> |
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First employed at a steel mill he bought sold and traded analog synthesizers, mainly Korgs, Mini-Moogs, and a variety of the patchable semi-modular Rolands. There he also went through an electronic repairman apprenticeship program. Supplementing the classroom training with [[breadboard]] experimentation, a Heathkit [[microprocessor]] trainer kit, and a great deal of reading and maths. Learning enough to spend the next fifteen years in the medical electronics industry.<ref name="book" /> |
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Together with a friend in the 1970s through into the early 1980s he sold [[electronics kits]] under the name Waveform Processing, advertised in [[Radio Electronics magazine]]. While keeping on researching, breadboarding and developing [[monophonic]] and [[polyphonic]] synths. Coming across the versatile [[OnChip Systems|Curtis Electromusic Specialties]] ICs designed by [[Doug Curtis]].<ref name="book" /> |
Together with a friend in the 1970s through into the early 1980s he sold [[electronics kits]] under the name Waveform Processing, advertised in [[Radio Electronics magazine]]. While keeping on researching, breadboarding and developing [[monophonic]] and [[polyphonic]] synths. Coming across the versatile [[OnChip Systems|Curtis Electromusic Specialties]] ICs designed by [[Doug Curtis]].<ref name="book" /> |
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Developing and publishing a simple, battery-powered mini-synthesizer, called the [[Sound Lab Mini-Synth]] for which he started selling PCBs, led in 2008<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/company/music-from-outer-space-llc Music From Outer Space LLC], LinkedIn</ref> to the birth of his brand [[Music From Outer Space]] (MFOS). The information available on the MFOS website is respected by synth-DIYers the world over.<ref name="book" /> |
Developing and publishing a simple, battery-powered mini-synthesizer, called the [[Sound Lab Mini-Synth]] for which he started selling PCBs, led in 2008<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/company/music-from-outer-space-llc Music From Outer Space LLC], LinkedIn</ref> to the birth of his brand [[Music From Outer Space]] (MFOS). The information available on the MFOS website is respected by synth-DIYers the world over.<ref name="book" /> |
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On the 21st July 2016 Ray died of cancer |
On the 21st July 2016 Ray died of cancer.<ref name="rip" /> |
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== Not open source == |
== Not open source == |
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Ray was happy to share his circuit designs and knowledge with hobbyists but did not give permission to mass or hand produce what he considered his intellectual property.<ref name="mfos">{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/ELECTRONICS/MakingMoneyWithMFOS.php |title=Making $Money$ With MFOS |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219234252/http://musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/ELECTRONICS/MakingMoneyWithMFOS.php |archivedate=2017-12-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.synthbeat.com/synth-diy/ Ray Wilson of “Music From Outer Space” On Do It Yourself Synthesizers], Synthbeat.com</ref> MFOS designs are now owned by [https://synthcube.com/cart/music-from-outer-space synthCube]. |
Ray was happy to share his circuit designs and knowledge with hobbyists but did not give permission to mass or hand produce what he considered his intellectual property.<ref name="mfos">{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/ELECTRONICS/MakingMoneyWithMFOS.php |title=Making $Money$ With MFOS |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219234252/http://musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/ELECTRONICS/MakingMoneyWithMFOS.php |archivedate=2017-12-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.synthbeat.com/synth-diy/ Ray Wilson of “Music From Outer Space” On Do It Yourself Synthesizers], Synthbeat.com</ref> MFOS designs are now owned by [https://synthcube.com/cart/music-from-outer-space synthCube]. |
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== Inspired others == |
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Many synth DIY hobbyists, budding makers and manufacturers were inspired by Ray for their start. His most popular project of course was the MFOS Soundlab Mini-Synth.<ref>[https://www.matrixsynth.com/2016/07/rip-ray-wilson.html RIP Ray Wilson], Matrixsynth, 23 Jul 2016</ref> |
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== Writings on electronic music == |
== Writings on electronic music == |