tags: mus-407 early-electroacoustic-instruments

Harmonic Tone Generator

The Harmonic Tone Generator is an early electronic instrument invented in 1946 by James Beuchamp at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• one of the first voltage-controlled [additive] [synthesizers]
• invented under direction of Lejaren Hiller, dir. [Experimental Music Studios]
• features
  • precise generation of first six [harmonics] of a [fundamental]
  • various signal parameters controllable via external voltage (fundamental, harmonic [amplitudes], 2nd harmonic [phase])
  • variable [attack]/delay [envelopes]
  • some [signal] [modulation] capabilities

TODO: add picture

Sources

• MUS 407 History of Electroacoustic Music: Early Instruments