SYNERGY WEBSITE'S NEW URL and EMAIL ADDRESSES

We've got a new domain name for the Synergy site. Now you can reach us at synergy-emusic.com. You can continue to use www.eclipse.net/~synergy which will remain active. And it seems that www.synergy-emusic.com works too, but you don't actually need that "www" for this URL. Email is stillsynergy@eclipse.net though we're moving that to synergy@synergy-emusic.com. For now you can use either one.

NEKTAR RUMORS

There's been a lot of buzz about a Nektar reunion. The buzz is largely true. There's movement toward getting the Nektar catalog reissued, and getting back together to do a new album. I'll probably be involved. There are many logistical problems to be worked out so it won't happen quickly. You can keep up on the latest developments by checking out the Nektar site at www.nektar.com. As of March, 1999 it looks like this is going to take a long time to get together, but the guys want it to happen so hopefully it will.

SYNERGY MOVES TO POLYGRAM

If you haven't heard, there are some big changes at Third Contact/Synergy. The Synergy catalog of recordings is now manufactured and distributed in North America (the US and Canada) by the PolyGram/Chronicles label. This includes the three titles that had been independently distributed on the Third Contact Media label. These titles moved over to Chronicles in April, 1998. These three, and all of the rest of the Synergy albums are out now. All nine of the Synergy albums are available from our favorite internet online retailers (like The Artist Shop), and from a bunch of new places including your local record store.

Out Now (as of December 1, 1998):

• "Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-042-2)
• "Sequencer" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-043-2)
• "Cords" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-044-2)
• "Games" (PolyGram/Chronicles" 314-558-045-2)
• "Audion" (PolyGram/Chronicles" 314-558-046-2)
• "Semi-Conductor, release 2" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-048-2)
• "The Jupiter Menace" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-047-2)
• "Metropolitan Suite" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-049-2)
• "Computer Experiments, Volume One" (PolyGram/Chronicles 314-558-050-2)

There are still a few copies of the first three CDs on the Third Contact label which might become collectors items now that all of the new copies are from PolyGram/Chronicles. They're available at The Artist Shop.

For you eagle-eye fans, there's a typo on the first reissue copies of The Jupiter Menace that made it into circulation. It might become a collectors item someday.

Watch for further announcements about the releases and distribution on this news page and other locations here at the Synergy site. (If there is anything important about the acquisition of PolyGram by Universal we'll let you know about it.)

LATEST REISSUE RELEASES (Q4 1998)

This finishes it up, they're all out. PolyGram/Chronicles has put out the digitally remastered versions of the atmospheric "Computer Experiments, Volume One", my first feature film score to 1982's sci-fi docudrama "The Jupiter Menace", and the last of the first chapter of Synergy recordings, the electronic-orchestral "Metropolitan Suite".

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All nine SYNERGY albums are available now on the PolyGram/Chronicles label. Visit the HOW TO GET CDs page if you want to get your copies.

If you're new to the SYNERGY recordings, you might want to try the compilation album, the two CD set "Semi-Conductor, release 2". This is an expanded and remastered version of the double LP from 1984 including additional tracks, a revised chronological running order, and a new cleaner and more vibrant digital remastering of the original mixes. Until now, this collection has never been available on CD. There's something from each of the eight other SYNERGY albums, plus two tracks only available on this set.

IRC ONLINE CHATS

The Artist Shop sponsored an online chat with Larry Fast to help celebrate the SYNERGY re-releases of "Games" and "Audion". This IRC Chat was held on Wednesday, July 29 at 9pm eastern time.

During the chat we gave away autographed copies of the Games and Audion CD's. You'll find all the details and a transcript this chat at http://www.artist-shop.com/irc.

The Artist Shop sponsored an earlier online chat with Larry Fast on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 9:00 PM EST. You can read the posted transcript here case you missed it. There was also an IRC session onWednesday, September 3rd, 1997 . A transcript this chat should be available at http://www.artist-shop.com/irc. Visit the The Artist Shop site for information on how to participate in their future chats.

IN CONCERT WITH WENDY CARLOS

Larry Fast played as a member of Wendy Carlos' Switched On Bach Live All-Synthesizer Ensemble. The premier performance of the ensemble was at the BACH AT THE BEACON Festival at The Beacon Theater, New York City on Saturday April 5, 1997. It was an historic moment in electronic music history.

Click below for more information which can be found at Wendy's site:
Wendy Carlos - Bach At The Beacon Information Page

SYNERGY CDs ARE THE FIRST DISTRIBUTED WITH AUDIO WATERMARKING

The SYNERGY recordings are the first publicly available recordings in the world to employ ARIS Technologies MusiCode^TM audio watermarking technology for the identification and tracking of musical performances.

ARIS Technologies, Inc. is an industry leader in proprietary audio watermarking systems and solutions that identify, authenticate and protect content in physical carrier, broadcast, online and other transmission environments. ARIS watermarks have a distinctive "layering" feature that enables multiple layers of information to be encoded in an audio stream at different points of the distribution chain. For example, ARIS' flagship MusiCode^TM system encodes Content ID, recipient/transaction, and copy management information.

MusiCode^TM is the only watermarking technology I examined that met my standards for absolute inaudibility within the music while being robust enough to survive all media formats from DVD and CD, through existing broadcast media, all the way to streamed internet audio. The technology of music distribution is evolving so rapidly that if music publishers and recording companies are to survive, tremendously improved tracking of music ownership is an absolute necessity. MusiCode makes it possible for my music to move seamlessly from traditional CDs and broadcasting to the internet and beyond.

Right now, if you listen to the Synergy CDs you won't hear anything different, which is how it's supposed to be; the coding is audibly transparent. But in the future, especially as music and audio move into cyberspace and away from being tied to a piece of physical plastic, MusiCode^TM will provide a way to track who's got the music up on their servers and how it's being used. Watermarking will also be a big help to present-day analog broadcasting and the coming digital TV and radio standards.

If this seems a little arcane, don't worry. Just understand that this technology is the wave of the future; it's here now; and the Synergy records are THE first ones that you can go out and buy at a record store that have it. Visit ARIS Technologies' MusiCode^TM site atwww.musicode.com to find out more.