We write, design and publish books on music gear, makers and artists.
In Issue 13 of Waveform Magazine, Kim Bjørn, Founder, Author, and Designer at Bjooks, explores the creative journey and inspiration behind the acclaimed Bjooks publications.
A heartfelt thank you to Waveform Magazine for the feature—be sure to pick up a copy and give it a read!
An art gallery of electronic aesthetics...
SYNTH GEMS 1 is your guide to an eclectic and amazing collection of synthesizers as art.
Check it out here: https://bjooks.com/products/synth-gems-1-exploring-vintage-synthesizers
PATCH & TWEAK with KORG is an in-depth look at Korg’s diverse collection of patchable synthesizers – the MS-20 mini, ARP 2600 M, and volca modular, as well as the SQ-1 and SQ-64 sequencers and the NTS-2 Oscilloscope.
PATCH & TWEAK with KORG covers:
· Analog and semi-modular synthesis basics
· Tips and techniques with the three Korg semi-modulars
· Extending the power of your rig with external gear
· Techniques and tricks for the Korg sequencers
· The powerful NTS-2 and all of its studio tools
· Interviews, tricks, and patches from artists
· Insider interviews with Korg engineers
· The history and synthesizers of ARP Instruments
· A photo tour of Korg synthesizers through the years
Whether you're a seasoned synth enthusiast or a curious beginner, this book has something for everyone. Check it out here: https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-with-korg
If you run a guitar, bass, keyboard, or other instrument through stompboxes, PEDAL CRUSH will open new doors for you in ways you never imagined!
Which effects pedal has taken your sound to the next level and how?
We value the feedback and reviews from our readers. Your insights inspire us to keep creating and bringing new ideas to life.
What’s the most interesting detail or insight you’ve gained from INSPIRE THE MUSIC?
Artist interviews can be fun to read, but do they ever teach you anything you can use? In PATCH & TWEAK With Moog, they do! Nearly every interview takes time to discuss how these artists use the very synthesizers featured in this book. You’ll get ideas, inspiration, and tons of specially-created patch ideas for the five Moog semi-modulars, all from the people who rule the music world with them.
A sound design favorite from Sarah Schachner featured in the book:
"On the Matriarch, a simple trick is to patch the NOISE to the CV IN of the filter cutoff as an easy way to add subtle randomization and texture to those gorgeous pads you can get."
Discover more tips and tricks from inspirational artists in PATCH & TWEAK with Moog: https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-with-moog
Want to unlock the creativity and techniques of Andrew Huang?
In PATCH & TWEAK with KORG, you’ll dive into Andrew's journey, discovering how he uses the power of KORG synths to create his unique soundscapes. Explore his tips, tricks, and creative processes to elevate your own music production!
Check it out here: https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-with-korg
Have you ever wondered why one synthesizer is fabulously inspiring while another leaves you flat? How the simplest of design choices can make radical differences in how a musical instrument is used? What divides the truly historic from the quickly forgotten? And why your bandmates love one synthesizer while you love another?
PUSH TURN MOVE lays out the answers! Check it out here: https://bjooks.com/products/push-turn-move-the-book
For experimental multi-instrumentalist Nick Reinhart, guitar pedals and other sound-mangling devices are an essential part of his vocabulary.
Do you follow any of Nick's gear tips? Let us know!
Chris Meyer, the co-author of PATCH & TWEAK, likes to use the following patch to create a simple complex oscillator with a pair of common digital VCOs: A Mutable Instruments Braids in FOLD mode serves as the modulator, and an Expert Sleepers Disting mk1 or mk2 set to algorithm 4C (a through-zero linear FM oscillator with a very pure sine wave) works as the carrier. The Braids is patched through a VCA to input Y on the Disting. Instead of patching the Disting into a waveshaper module, Timbre and Color on the Braids acts as the waveshaper – in this case, creating a more or less complex waveform to modulate the Disting, with its own depth courtesy of the Braids’ Timbre and Color controls.
For more PATCH tips, look into PATCH & TWEAK https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-exploring-modular-synthesis
Happy Birthday Richard Wright! 🎹
As the keyboardist for Pink Floyd, Richard Wright's haunting melodies and atmospheric sounds became a defining part of the band's iconic music.
Thank you, Richard Wright, for creating such influential music that has inspired countless people throughout the world. 🙏
Exciting Update on The Minimoog Book!
We’re thrilled to share that everything is on track and progressing smoothly. We've incorporated extra material, rare finds, and interviews that may challenge existing perceptions about the Minimoog. This book is shaping up to be the ultimate Minimoog resource.
What to expect:
· Intriguing facts and rare Minimoogs
· Stunning photos and behind-the-scenes stories
· Visual explainers, patch charts, and illustrations
Our team is dedicated to making this a comprehensive and visually compelling book. Updates, including videos and images from the print start, will be shared in a few weeks.
Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm!
Warm regards,
Kim Bjørn & The Minimoog Team
P.S. If you’re attending Knobcon in Chicago (September 6-8), you might get a chance to preview some early samples of the book.
If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy of THE MINIMOOG BOOK yet, you can do so here: https://bjooks.com/products/the-minimoog-book
Composer and producer on his favorite 808 tracks:
“On all three of these records, the 808 has such character that you don’t even have to add music. When you take the ‘Mardi Gras’ sample out of the Run DMC record, it’s just the 808! It’s the only drum machine where you can just play the beat and it has so much character before you get to applying music. That’s what was amazing to me about those three records – they were all produced by Rick Rubin. It’s still amazing for me how it’s just a drum machine, just the vocals and the 808. The character is incredible.”
Jermaine confesses, “I’m an 808 junkie,” and his list of hits confirms it.
What's your favorite 808 track?
Uncover the secrets of instrument design and the creative minds behind them with PUSH TURN MOVE!
Dive into electronic instruments, and design concepts, categorized and explained in photos and illustrations, while getting inspiration from interviews with makers and artists.
PUSH TURN MOVE features hundreds of photos and diagrams, dozens of interviews with designers and artists, and eye-opening essays on history, philosophy, design, and user experience. With clear writing and stunning photography, it builds a bridge between abstract design concepts and the feelings we have when we touch our music... between technology and humanity. Science, engineering, passion, and inspiration come together in a unique look at the special bond between instrument and player. PUSH TURN MOVE is a love letter from human to machine that has to be experienced to be believed.
Check out PUSH TURN MOVE on bjooks.com
Get to know KORG and ARP semi-modulars!
PATCH & TWEAK with KORG is an in-depth look at Korg’s diverse collection of patchable synthesizers – the MS-20 mini, ARP 2600 M, and volca modular, as well as the SQ-1 and SQ-64 sequencers and the NTS-2 Oscilloscope.
· Packed with patching tips, and synthesis tricks
· 25+ interviews with artists and engineers
· Foreword by legendary composer and musician Kitaro
· 216 colorful pages printed on high-quality certified-ecofriendly paper
· Hardcover format (9.8" x 9.8" / 25 x 25 cm)
Explore the principles of semi-modular synthesis, and supercharge your creativity with dozens of tips, techniques, and patches. Synth novices, experienced professionals, Korg enthusiasts, and ARP lovers alike will find this book an essential resource.
Check it out on bjooks.com
Happy Birthday to Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure), who wrote the foreword for SYNTH GEMS 1, taking you on a tour of over 60 remarkable keyboards - large and small, famed and rare, elegant, beautiful, and brutal… and ranging from classics that define entire genres to rare oddities that bring their own grace to the world.
Each synthesizer is presented in a series of finely detailed photographs, with a discussion of its origins and importance. From the dawn of
commercial synthesis to the close of the Twentieth Century, the lives and times of these unique instruments are chronicled in exquisite pictures and thoughtful stories – mingling music, technology, commerce, and visual art.
Check it out on https://bjooks.com/products/synth-gems-1-exploring-vintage-synthesizers - oh, and while we're at it, why not grab the preorder of The Minimoog Book before they run out?
Thanks Wallpaper* magazine! The top photo in this feature - that's nice...
We explore eight titles that get under the skin of music history, technological evolution and the art and experience of digital culture
Don't miss the opportunity to win a $5,000 Minimoog Model D 🤩
There are only five days left of the Bob Moog Foundation fundraising raffle for a Minimoog Model D reissue signed by Jordan Rudess (who is also interviewed for The Minimoog Book! The synthesizer, generously donated by Moog Music for the raffle, features a beautifully distinctive Appalachian Cherry cabinet, has been customized with pulse width modulation (PWM) in and LFO out modifications, and builds upon the revolutionary legacy of the Minimoog. Check the raffle on https://moogfoundation.org/spring2024raffle/
What is your favorite song that features the Minimoog? Pre-order your limited Kickstarter edition of The Minimoog Book now on https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
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Explore 50+ years of music history through the lens of the synthesizer that changed it forever - sounds, stories, and technology.
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Opening with a foreword from prolific Rush frontman Geddy Lee, THE MINIMOOG BOOK presents more than a decade’s worth of research-turned-storytelling by author, esteemed journalist, and music historian JoE Silva.
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Readers can expect exclusive interviews and features with legendary musicians like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Chick Corea, Tony Visconti (David Bowie), George Duke, Anne Dudley (Art of Noise), Bernie Worrell, Devo, Kraftwerk, Air, J Dilla, Gary Numan, and many others — as well as some of today’s most respected songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, such as Greg Kurstin (Adele), Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter), Mac DeMarco, and many more.
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THE MINIMOOG BOOK features exquisite and detailed photography — much of it brand new — as well as schematics, historical promotional materials, engineering interviews, illustrated sound patches, and over 70 artist features. It is the perfect coffee table book and keepsake for synthesizers, music history, illustration, photography, and timeless book lovers.
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https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
What type of Minimoog sounds do you like the most? Pre-order your copy of The Minimoog Book (to be released in September) now on https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
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Explore 50+ years of music history through the lens of the synthesizer that changed it forever - sounds, stories, and technology.
- - -
Opening with a foreword from prolific Rush frontman Geddy Lee, THE MINIMOOG BOOK presents more than a decade’s worth of research-turned-storytelling by author, esteemed journalist, and music historian JoE Silva.
- - -
Readers can expect exclusive interviews and features with legendary musicians like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Chick Corea, Tony Visconti (David Bowie), George Duke, Anne Dudley (Art of Noise), Bernie Worrell, Devo, Kraftwerk, Air, J Dilla, Gary Numan, and many others — as well as some of today’s most respected songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, such as Greg Kurstin (Adele), Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter), Mac DeMarco, and many more.
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THE MINIMOOG BOOK features exquisite and detailed photography — much of it brand new — as well as schematics, historical promotional materials, engineering interviews, illustrated sound patches, and over 70 artist features. It is the perfect coffee table book and keepsake for synthesizers, music history, illustration, photography, and timeless book lovers.
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https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
Our friends at The Bob Moog Foundation are doing this amazing raffle. You'll not only support a great cause but also get the chance to win a Moog Music Minimoog Model D; what's not to like?!
In celebration of Bob Moog's 90th birthday, we are excited to announce our fundraising raffle for a Minimoog Model D reissue signed by Music Radar Magazine's "Best Keyboardist of All Time," Jordan Rudess. The synthesizer, generously donated by Moog Music for the raffle, features a beautifully distin...
Only 3 hours left to get the special edition at a VERY good discount! More than 1.160 people already got theirs - be sure not to miss out...
Explore 50+ years of music history through the lens of the synthesizer that changed it forever. Sounds, stories, and technology.
Only one day left! We're nearing the end of our Kickstarter campaign for the Minimoog book, and we’re blown away! Over one thousand supporters have backed this monumental project that JoE Silva started over a decade ago, and that Bjooks has nurtured for the past two years. We can't wait to get this into your hands later this year.
This is your chance to get The Minimoog Book—a premium 368+ page hardcover in full color—in a special edition with a unique serial number and dust jacket, at a 37% discount! Last days to secure your copy before the campaign ends. Thank you all for your amazing support!
https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
We're nearing the end of our Kickstarter campaign for the Minimoog book, and we’re blown away! Over one thousand supporters have backed this monumental project that JoE Silva started over a decade ago, and that Bjooks has nurtured for the past two years. We can't wait to get this into your hands later this year.
This is your chance to get The Minimoog Book - a premium 368+ page hardcover in full color - in a special edition with a unique serial number and dust jacket, at a 37% discount! Last days to secure your copy before the campaign ends. Thank you all for your amazing support!
Go to https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook to get your copy.
More than 1,000 backers have already secured their special Kickstarter edition—don't miss out! This special Kickstarter edition comes with a unique serial number and dust jacket. All Kickstarter backers are also eligible for a very special offer on our upcoming Bjooks Club, which will offer more content related to all of our titles, extra patches, weekly podcasts, interviews, and video and audio content.
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Don't miss this special offer and massive discount - secure your visual journey of the synthesizer that changed music history forever - in a hardcover book that will last for generations.
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Pre-order now on https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
Remembering Bob Moog on what would have been his 90th year birthday. The humble, struggling, but enduring inventor that gave us so much. Massive thanks to the Moogseum, Moog Music, The Bob Moog Foundation Emeapp -Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project and the one and only Moogstress for keeping Bob's legacy, and innovative spirit alive.
Only a few days left! Now's your chance to save up to 40% on our other titles when pre-ordering THE MINIMOOG BOOK on Kickstarter! But hurry up: the campaign ends this Monday on Memorial Day!
Comment BJOOKS to get a direct link - or go to https://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
Years in the making, THE MINIMOOG BOOK illustrates more than five decades of electronic music history through the lens of the synthesizer that changed everything.
An undeniable must-have for any electronic music fan, this comprehensive work chronicles the Minimoog’s entire journey — from its prototypes and the very first Model D #1001 through the Minimoog Voyager models to the present day.
Opening with a foreword from prolific Rush frontman Geddy Lee, THE MINIMOOG BOOK presents more than a decade’s worth of research-turned-storytelling by author, esteemed journalist, and music historian JoE Silva.
"When I started digging into the history of the Minimoog back in 2010,” Silva noted, “I quickly realized how universal it was. I was continuously stumbling upon artist after artist or another famous piece of music that used it. It was pretty clear right away how important the instrument became once it came out…”
Readers can expect exclusive interviews and features with legendary musicians like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Chick Corea, Tony Visconti (David Bowie), George Duke, Anne Dudley (Art of Noise), Bernie Worrell, Devo, Kraftwerk, Air, J Dilla, Gary Numan, and many others — as well as some of today’s most respected songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, such as Greg Kurstin (Adele), Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter), Mac DeMarco, and more.
THE MINIMOOG BOOK features exquisite and detailed photography — much of it brand new — as well as schematics, historical promotional materials, engineering interviews, illustrated sound patches, and over 70 artist features. It is the perfect coffee table book and keepsake for lovers of synthesizers, music history, illustration, photography, and timeless books.
🎉 Happy Early 5th Anniversary to and the team at and
As you celebrate on May 23rd, we've chosen to donate 50 copies of our upcoming Minimoog Book to you in honor of your great work preserving Bob Moog's legacy and inspiring future generations of music makers.
Thanks to Michelle and the whole team, we can create The Minimoog Book and other previous titles. They've been incredibly helpful with conversations, research, interviews, documentation, and images. Thank you for your hard work for the whole music community 🙌 🙏
PS: If you want to know more about The Minimoog Book: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bjooks/the-minimoog-book
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We're proud to announce THE MINIMOOG BOOK! Our new book, coming to Kickstarter, features exquisite and detailed photography — much of it brand new — as well as schematics, historical promotional materials, engineering interviews, illustrated sound patches, and over 70 artist features. It is the perfect coffee table book and keepsake for lovers of synthesizers, music history, illustration, photography, and timeless books. To be notified when the book is available on Kickstarter, visit http://bjooks.com/theminimoogbook
Bjooks Journey with Kim Bjørn - vlog 3
TRUE CUCKOO Giveaway 🥳🥳🥳 (Instagram) It is our pleasure to announce a giveaway in collaboration with True Cuckoo! As a way of saying thank you to everyone who was at our booth at Superbooth to enjoy True Cuckoo's performance and obviously a thank you to True Cuckoo's fans, we're giving away 2 books! All you have to do is: - Follow @truecuckoo and @wemakebjooks - Tell us what your favorite moment of True Cuckoo is - Be sure to tag a True Cuckoo fan you know! The answer with the most originality will receive 2 Bjooks books of their choice. The winner will be announced Monday 4 PM CET, on Instagram. Good luck! 🍀
🧡 Today is 505-day! Do you like the TR-505 or MC-505 best? Feast your eyes on the Roland TRs and MCs in INSPIRE THE MUSIC. Find INSPIRE THE MUSIC here https://bjooks.com/products/inspire-the-music-50-years-of-roland-history
SYNTH GEMS 1 📔 "The title of this book covers it. This book covers a nice selection of Synthesizer gems in the form of an attractive coffee-table book. Besides the most obvious models, some obscure, less-known models get attention. Very nice photographed, with relevant information and facts about how it was made and/or used." - Customer We LOVE these reviews! Thank you so much! Find SYNTH GEMS 1 here: https://bjooks.com/products/synth-gems-1-exploring-vintage-synthesizers
PATCH & TWEAK with KORG 📖 "These books are great. They are packed with fascinating material, interesting commentary and inspiring ideas. Kim has a great ability to bring together artists and engineers to inform on the story of the gear. This sheds new light on these fabulous instruments. While Inspire the Music has a historical importance, the Patch & Tweak series feels much more immediate and something you would open in the studio, not just flick through on the coffee table." - Gearnews.com Thank you for this amazing review Gearnews! Find PATCH & TWEAK with KORG here: https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-with-korg
PATCH & TWEAK with Moog 📘 "Excellent book full of tips for those that have one or more Moogs!!!!! Loads of great info on patching, modular incorporating other hardware/DAW's etc and great history of Moog!!!!! Definitely get this!!" - Customer Thank you for all your support! Visit our store and grab your copy of PATCH & TWEAK with Moog https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-with-moog
Tell us your favourite Roland product...🤩🧡 Find INSPIRE THE MUSIC - 50 YEARS OF ROLAND HISTORY here https://bjooks.com/products/inspire-the-music-50-years-of-roland-history
PUSH TURN MOVE 📕 "It's beautifully produced and it is hard to put down. A lot of info on the design of electronic music instruments. Full colour, great pictures, interesting theory explanations and many interviews. Offers lots of looking and reading pleasure. I will certainly buy other books from this series. Thanks!" - Customer We are very grateful to read these reviews about our Bjooks! Thank you for all the support. ✨ Find this book in our shop: https://bjooks.com/products/push-turn-move-the-book
🧡Today is 4️⃣0️⃣4️⃣-day - and we have the full story on the SP-range in INSPIRE THE MUSIC! Find INSPIRE THE MUSIC here https://bjooks.com/products/inspire-the-music-50-years-of-roland-history
Struggling to master the Double Diffusion Pedal technique? In this video, Anne Sulikowski provides an in-depth explanation of the technique and how to use it to create amazing music. Learn from one of the top sound designers and take your music production skills to the next level with this simple yet powerful technique. Follow Anne Sulikowski on Instagram or YouTube @AnneSulikowski Buy PEDAL CRUSH: https://bjooks.com/products/pedal-crush-stompbox-effects-for-creative-music-making
Anne Sulikowski x Bjooks | PEDAL CRUSH: Pedal Tips - Asymmetrical Reverb 📓 Are you a guitar player looking for some new ways to incorporate reverb into your sound? Check out this video, where Anne Sulikowski explains one of the most popular reverb techniques - Asymmetrical Reverb. Learn tips and tricks from the book Pedal Crush and get creative with your music! INSTANT PREMIERE on our YOUTUBE 1st of March: https://youtu.be/TAtNEhSUv_4 Follow Anne Sulikowski on Instagram or YouTube @AnneSulikowski Buy PEDAL CRUSH: https://bjooks.com/products/pedal-crush-stompbox-effects-for-creative-music-making
GLÆDELIG JUL / HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Bjooks 🎄 We wish you some safe, pleasant, and cozy holidays wherever you are in the world. Don't forget to curl up with a nice cup of cinnamon tea/coffee and a Bjook - it's time to wind down, and get ready for a hopeful brighter year ahead. Thanks for following us, supporting us, and letting us inspire you 🙏
Find BJOOKS around the world! 🌍 bjooks.com
Get lots of tips and patching tricks in PATCH & TWEAK with KORG! Check it out on https//bjooks.com
PATCH & TWEAK with KORG is an in-depth look at Korg’s diverse collection of patchable synthesizers – the MS-20 mini, ARP 2600 M, and volca modular, as well as the SQ-1 and SQ-64 sequencers and the NTS-2 Oscilloscope. This new book features 25+ interviews with artists and engineers - among them is Kristin Hsiao! Check the book out here: https://bjooks.com/products/patch-tweak-with-korg - Foreword by legendary composer and musician Kitaro - 216 colorful pages - Hardcover format (9.8" x 9.8" / 25 x 25 cm) Explore the principles of semi-modular synthesis, and supercharge your creativity with dozens of tips, techniques, and patches. Synth novices, experienced professionals, Korg enthusiasts, and ARP lovers alike will find this book an essential resource.
PATCH & TWEAK has been reviewed by Sound Bytes!! ⭐️ "Patch and Tweak is a book about modular synthesizers (I noted someone calling it the bible of modular synths). It is not the first book by Bjooks, and it comes after Push Turn Move, dedicated to the design of user interfaces in electronic music. Even before diving into the pages, the book stands out for its design, with heavy, glossy paper, full-colour pages, stunning schemes, and patching examples that make this object something worth exposing on a bookshelf. " Review: https://soundbytesmag.net/words-on-music-patch-and-tweak-by-kim-bjorn-and-chris-meyer/
Have you spotted our BJOOKS? Tag @wemakebjooks or @bjooks! We would love to reshare your photos or videos 😁✨ www.bjooks.com
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