Who is Max Mathews? Max Mathews (1926 - 2011) is regarded as the Father of Computer Music. Bob had two collaborations with Max, each of 5 years: 1984-1989 and 2006 - 2011.
What is the Radio Baton? It is a midi controller for musical performances consisting of two batons, an antenna board, and an electronics box.
What does it do? It allows a performer to conduct/control a musical score stored in the computer similar to how a conductor leads an orchestral performance.
What is it used for? Primarily, research. Bob's primary application is Music for Deaf Children. Bob is also teaching members of Community Access Unlimited to perform on the radio baton. They "support people with special needs in achieving real lives in the community."
How many are there? Only 10 wireless radio batons were manufactured by Tom Oberheim. According to Max, Bob has radio baton #3.
Where did the radio baton come from? Today's radio baton is the direct descendent of Max's Electronic Drum---the original intelligent instrument used by Bob over twenty years ago in Max Mathews Lab.
What is the Electronic Drum? Max's 1980s forerunner to what evolved over the next decades into the radio baton. In 1984 Bob became the first person to compose for it and perform recitals with it.
How did Bob and Max meet? Bob has Laurie Spiegel to thank. Bob took a course Laurie was teaching at NYU while finishing his Masters degree in musical composition there. Laurie encouraged a meeting between the two men, and the rest, as they say, is history.
site updated Spring 2019