Thomas Dolby Demonstrates synthesizers (1982)

Thomas Dolby Demonstrates synthesizers (1982) clip from BBC Riverside.

[CataTonyx]

He lectures at Johns Hopkins University now, I believe. Very lucky students to have someone who evidently had a tech research approach to sound creation from the outset.

[sockthustra]

I love how Thomas looks in this video. His outfit really makes him look like some sort of mad scientist showing off all of his futuristic gadgets.

[lobabobloblaw]

Dolby’s got such a cool mad scientist vibe that has aged well. The fact that he’s technologically engaged makes a huge difference.

[soulone]

I love how people were so respectful and humble back then pre 90's. No pumped up ego, no bragging, no "look at me, I'm sooo great!!" Just two great guys discussing a new technology and considering the audience that they are presenting it to. I don't care what anyone says, WE were such a better species back then. I miss what we used to be.

[harbottle]

I remember seeing Thomas Dolby as the support act to Depeche Mode at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in 1982. I had no idea who he was. The moment he played 'Wind Power', i was transfixed. Depeche Mode where fantastic. To this day, my love affair with synthesised music continues. Peaking at classic trance in the late 1990's. Even now i enjoy Progressive House/Trance.

[gab_v]

Mike Anderson looks like he's from Kraftwerk lol!

[thomascohen]

Love this. It all seems so basic--crude almost--now. Before Midi--I remember! But those old synths sound so good!

[carlix]

This guy (TD) was my geek hero back in the day. Absolutely loved the golden age of wireless album (still do actually). I remember hearing Wind Power for the first time and had the same feeling I had when I first heard I feel love by Donna Summer. A glimpse into the future feeling. The other kids at school didn’t get it for some reason.

He certainly knew his stuff and became one of those important guys in the background in the end. The 70’s-onwards had Eno. The 80’s-onwards had Dolby.

[ronatopaz]

Not blinded in the slightest, one of the things I adore about Thomas is his ability to communicate at the level of the person he’s speaking with. Having also met him, I noticed it immediately-I’m a musician and singer but I have vascular damage and memory issues, and he communicated in a manner that made everything clear and straightforward. These days it’s rare that I am not forced to ask people to speak slower in an online meeting. Thomas is near perfect as humans go, in pretty much every respect. Seeing him in concert next week, can’t wait.

[davidserlin]

I had such a crush on Thomas Dolby when he first appeared on the scene around 1981. “Urges” is a fantastic single and his first two LPs are knockouts. I think “Airwaves” is one of the most beautiful songs of the past few decades. He still handsome, but here in his heyday he was a gorgeous hot science nerd.

[ktreier]

Golden Age of Wireless had some many great tracks. Influential album!

[loucollinsZEN]

Wow ! love that sequence Thomas is playing sounds lovely

[tannerin]

I love how his sequencer demonstration continues in the background until the end of the clip

[matthewchakera]

thomas dolby, man that guy knows his stuff.

[MorbidManoeuvres]

if i watched this in the 80s id think this was pure sci fi, its remarkable what was existing back then, the complexity

[landonewts]

Thomas Dolby is amazing. I got to see him live a few years ago at a small theater here in Portland OR, and in the early days of the Internet, like late 1990s, he designed a General MIDI sound set that was amazing. And The Golden Age of Wireless is on my list of Top 10 albums. He’s so cool.

[ThinkerThunker]

That was awesome! Thank you for posting it.

[baronvonglowered]

1:17 Da Da Da (The other German 'fook' tune)

[newYorkStories]

I saw Thomas Dolby, presenting some internet tunes at NAB in Vegas in 1999. It was quite memorable.

[friedrichExplorer]

Great history. I started with synths back in 1978 with Yamaha CS10. Anyway thank's for the video😊