Trautonium (2026)
Trautonium
The Trautonium, one of the first synthesizers from the 1930s has captivated me for years. The relatively unknown instrument has a unique and expressive playing experience that is difficult to describe. Drawn to the instrument I spent the final months of my studies researching and rebuilding the original interface, consisting of a manual made of a resistive wire suspended over a metal plate. Pressing the wire down creates a sound that has a continuous pitch control similar to a fretless instrument. My goal was to recreate the playing manuals, staying as true to the original design as possible.
The Mixtur-Trautonium, a version of the instrument developed by Oskar Sala, perhaps best known for his sound design in Hitchcock's The Birds, is a more complex version of the original. It contains two manuals that are monophonic and can be played simultaneously. Each of the manuals contains a series of subharmonic oscillators that can be mixed together to create a harmonic structure.
More information coming soon.