John Mitchell, from San Diego, CA, recently took time to write us about the interesting things he has been doing with his PAIA equipment. John got interested in electronic music in 1968 when he built his first Theremin. Since that time, he has built quite a few instruments for himself, as well as for other people.

He also has been collecting electronic music albums, and has over 55 of them. John's equipment setup is based on an early PAIA 2720 system with the "button controller". He also has several tape recorders, miscellaneous audio processing products and a LOT of homemade equipment.

John not only uses his setup for personal enjoyment, but also synthesizes and records music and sound effects for the San Diego Junior Theater. The theater is run by professionals, and is for youths who take acting seriously. Since each production is highly polished and seen by thousands, the sounds he synthesizes must be very convincing. He said they are almost always a challenge for him.

The projects John has taken on are diverse and sound as if they were large scale productions. He has composed and produced a "dream ballet" for Tom Sawyer, synthesized an avalanche, a dragon's roar, and "magic sounds" for The Hobbit.

He also provided live electronic music for I Sincerely Doubt... and Dracula.

For one production John created an ocean sound complete with seagulls. John's current project is composing and realizing two electronic backgrounds for the San Diego State University Readers Theater Troupe on PAIA, Buchla, and homemade equipment. The compositions will premier in England this year.