Downpoly is forging a fresh musical path by transforming the often-overlooked and undervalued Tandy/RadioShack TRS-80 computer into a powerful sound creation tool. This project breathes new life into these iconic machines, demonstrating their potential to create a rich and unconventional palette of sounds. Downpoly’s work is not merely a statement but a testament to the TRS-80’s capabilities, opening doors for both classic and experimental music creation.
At the heart of Downpoly’s setup are the RadioShack TRS-80 microcomputers, augmented by two key attachments: the Orchestra-90 and the custom-designed MIDI/80. Developed by George Phillips and Michael Wessel, the MIDI/80 provides essential MIDI input and output capabilities, connecting the vintage TRS-80 to modern musical instruments and software. One integral part of their setup is the Stereo Orchestra Organ, a custom 2-row, single-octave keyboard. It leverages the TRS-80’s built-in keyboard to control a 2-note software organ, transmitting real-time data to the external Orchestra-90 attachment. The Orchestra-90, a stereo music synthesizer, generates sine, saw, square, and triangle waveforms, with adjustable volume and waveform selection via specialized software.
The audio output from the Orchestra-90 is then sent through a guitar pedal chain for shaping and effects, demonstrating the versatility of the setup. This chain includes a variety of effects like tube pre-amplification, compression, filtering, pitch and wah manipulation, distortion, and stereo effects such as chorus, delay, tremolo, and phasing.
Finally, the signal is routed through various guitar impulse response (IR) mic/amp combinations, yielding a diverse range of sounds from the single TRS-80 machine. This innovative approach allows Downpoly to create a wide spectrum of sounds, from deep, chorused bass guitar amplifier tones to screaming, tube-squashed wah saw waves through a 2×12 Celestion combo. The result is a unique musical experience that showcases the unexpected musical potential of the vintage TRS-80 in a truly compelling way.