During the November ’15 residency at Q-O2, F.K.Donche will create automated musical pieces for 3 Fizmo’s on a multiple speaker setup.

The works will be composed on hardware midi sequencers. Depending on the processing power of the sequencers live modulating might be added to the performing of the pieces,

In preparation of these compositions the artist will further research ways to make use of the Fizmo’s faulty control software in order to explore the sound creation on these instruments at its best.

The Fizmo was American synthesiser builder Ensoniq’s last attempt at creating the perfect synthesiser. Developed in 1998, the Fizmo uses Digital Acoustic Simulation Transwaves with 4 MB of ROM, can proces up to 4 voices, each with 2 oscillators, 48 voices maximum.

During its short commercial lifetime, (an estimated 500-2,000 were produced) the Fizmo was much criticised because of its unfinished operating system, unreliability and misunderstood concept and sound.

Worst of all were the editing peculiarities. To access the full power and potential of the instrument, a software tool was required. This software failed to be fully developed back then. Only half working, faulty versions exist to this day.

The Fizmo’s sound can be described as post-modernistic and ambient. Its major strength is generally agreed to be its ability to generate complex evolving pads.

It was a fairly unique synth, and still remains a cult classic of sorts.