The Radio Phonics Laboratory: Telecommunications, Speech Synthesis, and the Birth of Electronic Music

The Radio Phonics Laboratory delves into the intersection of technology and creativity that shaped the sonic landscape of the 20th century. This fascinating exploration unravels the intricate threads of telecommunications, from the invention of the telephone to the advent of global communication networks. At the heart of the narrative is the evolution of speech synthesis, a groundbreaking innovation that not only revolutionised telecommunications but also birthed a new era in electronic music. Tracing the origins of synthetic speech and its applications in various fields, the book unveils the pivotal role it played in shaping the artistic vision of musicians and sound pioneers. This is the story of how electronic music came to be, told through the lens of the telecommunications scientists and composers who helped give birth to the bleeps and blips that have captured the imagination of musicians and dedicated listeners around the world. Read more