PAiA
PAiA
Also known as: PAiA Electronics
UnclaimedPAiA Electronics is an American synthesizer kit company founded by John Simonton in Oklahoma City in 1967. The company pioneered the DIY electronic music movement by selling affordable mail-order kits at a time when commercial synthesizers from Moog and ARP cost thousands of dollars — PAiA's original 2700 modular system started at around $230. Beginning with the 2720 modular synthesizer in 1972...
PAiA Electronics is an American synthesizer kit company founded by John Simonton in Oklahoma City in 1967. The company pioneered the DIY electronic music movement by selling affordable mail-order kits at a time when commercial synthesizers from Moog and ARP cost thousands of dollars — PAiA's original 2700 modular system started at around $230. Beginning with the 2720 modular synthesizer in 1972 and later the 4700 series, PAiA made synthesis accessible to hobbyists, schools, and bedroom experimenters.
The company's catalog spans analog synthesizers, theremins, effects, and studio utilities. Long-running products include the FatMan monophonic analog MIDI synth, the Theremax theremin, the 9700 series analog synth modules, vacuum tube preamplifiers, guitar effects kits, and MIDI-to-CV converters. PAiA also released the first programmable electronic drum machine, the Programmable Drum Set, in 1975, and one of the earliest computer-controlled synthesizers, the P4700J.
Beyond hardware, PAiA published Polyphony magazine starting in 1975, which was later renamed Electronic Musician and sold to Mix Publications in 1985. Designs by Simonton and frequent collaborator Craig Anderton anticipated many trends in modern electronic music, and PAiA remains a touchstone reference in the synth DIY community.
PAiA has 9 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Synthesizers, Modular Synthesizers, and Drum Machines. Their gear is featured by 5 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Rock, and Orchestra. Notable users include Moby, Masonna, and Steve Roden.
Artists Who Use PAiA
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