Dom Sigalas explores the one of the rarest Yamaha Synthesizers. The VP1 is an enigmatic synthesizer. Appearing in 1994, the exceptionally rare VP1 used the same VA (Virtual Acoustic) physical modeling technology found in the VL1 but the implementation is different. Where the VL1 models instruments like woodwinds, brass and strings, the VP1 models instruments that are plucked or struck. The description below comes from the owner’s manual:
“The VP1 utilizes an F/VA (free-oscillating VA) sound system — one of the two variants of the VA approach. The system creates a computerized model consisting of two modules: a “driver” component and a “string” component. The driver component simulates the action of the striking system (analogous to the action of a pick or finger against a guitar string), while the string component simulates the action of the vibrating system (analogous to the combination of the guitar’s string, fret, and bridge). The VP1 fine-tunes the properties of each of these modules to produce a virtual instrument with an extremely realistic sound”
Dom Sigalas experienced one of the only surviving models at the Berlin Synth Space. Check out his exploration of the VP1 below.
Yamaha Synthesizer Product Specialist Blake Angelos has over thirty years of experience with music hardware and software. An expert in music technology, Blake has conducted numerous clinics, master classes and presentations throughout the United States, Europe and Canada. In his role as Product Specialist for the Synthesizer Department Blake appears in many product videos and artist interviews, writes many articles for YamahaSynth.com and co-hosts a regular Podcast called “Behind the Synth”.
Before his work with Yamaha, he taught music theory and jazz studies courses at Arizona State University; managed a technology-focused music store in Seattle and was a production supervisor at Microsoft, where he led a team that developed groundbreaking interactive music content for the Microsoft Network. Blake holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University. Blake currently resides in Bellingham, Washington with his family, and between his travels around the world for Yamaha, he performs as much as possible with several jazz and creative music groups in Bellingham, Seattle and other places in the Pacific Northwest.