What’s REALLY the best era for synthesizers? Part 1: 1970 - 1978

[@Geopholus]

Great video. This is the MOST COHERENT rambling,... 'cause it makes sense. Lots of other videos on synths really are all incoherent rambling in which almost nothing really gets said!

[@VincentPresley]

@@Geopholus ha. Thanks a bunch. I do these without a script and think I can just wing it and then when I go to edit stuff together I mock myself stuttering and going off on other topics. I actually had to cut out some stuff. Glad some people like it!

[@MFitz12]

Best era is *right now* ! The stuff that is available right now is absolutely amazing. Never been anything like it.

[@VincentPresley]

@@MFitz12 I’ll definitely get to that and all my favorite modern synths. But nothing new sounds like 70-79. That’s for sure.

[@MFitz12]

@@VincentPresley Just different not better.

[@nagchumpalot]

@@VincentPresley Yes true hard to beat the 70s sound but have You heard the GRP A4 and Baloran River.. they have that vibe for sure..

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

Agreed! Born in 1960, I have been in love with keyboards of all kinds since playing my first, in diapers 😅 Also an electronic tech, so always interested in how things work as well. Today I have access to classic recreations, as well a modern classics in the making. Literally living my best life, with my collection of old and new synthesizers, even using some in live shows ❤😊

[@tomjw1306]

I very much agree with you 💯

[@dewulfe9913]

I've got the CS30 on my list of "synths to hopefully acquire", and it was the one that made me sit up the most in this video. Don't get me wrong - all the synths were great and awesome - but the sounds you were getting out of the CS30, re-affirmed why I put it on my list in the first place... have a sub!

[@VincentPresley]

Remember that mine is modded so I can play it duophonically. If you can, I highly recommend getting the extra cv/gate jacks in the back. It takes a really great weirdo mono synth and makes it one of the coolest and most bizarre duophonic synths out there.

[@barnyardstory]

Best vintage video on YT, thanks for doing this.

[@jamesstevens2362]

Just love the sound of ARPs! They’re like a Moog on shrooms.

[@candikrol]

Thanks! It’s a real treat to hear these things demo(ed) in a non boring way, nice playin’! :)

[@VincentPresley]

I sure appreciate that

[@davidsharp3110]

What a great video, a subject that is important to anyone who loves analog synthesizers.

[@MrNickrobinson7]

Really enjoyed that.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

Loved this discussion ❤ Appreciate you man!

[@mglohmeyer]

There is a lot to love from the '70-'78 era, especially because they were all so unique, raw, new, and original like you say. We have similar loves from that era. I think today is the best synth era, but only because not only do we have all these new options, but also all the old stuff is still out there (vintage or sometimes as a modern re-issue). . I started playing synths more recently, but have managed to buy a few of my favorites from the '70s (or get a modern re-issue). Though I do repairs on the older stuff, if I can get a modern re-issue, I prefer that (e.g. reissues from the original manufacturer like the Moog Minimoog and Korg 700FS). I would rather be playing them than repairing or tuning them, and the re-issues are more affordable than the original '70's era stuff. For actual vintage 70's era stuff, I own and particularly love the early Korg synths and Yamaha CS black series. I have a Maxikorg 800DV and a Korg 770 along with the 700FS, but I also have a CS-30, CS-15, and CS-10. The CS-30 is my favorite from the '70's. Nothing else like it. It is the closest thing to a modular synth I have seen that doesn't require patch cords. A lot of people would call these Korg and Yamaha synths weird, but as you said, that was the era, and that is why I love them. I feel the same about some of the later models into the early '80's like the Korg Sigma (yes a preset synth, but still very unique sound design, and a very expressive synths to play). Thanks for this series of videos (I've seen parts 1-3). Looking forward to the rest.

[@synthmaven]

I sold my Sonic-6, then regretted it so much I finally lucked into an inexpensive one on ebay, for lack of other bidders. Had to have it repaired about a year ago but it will never leave me. It does things and sounds like nothing else. Ditto for the Micromoog.. sold my first one after I got a Mini then realized the Mini does not cover what that one does by a long shot, also got lucky to re-find one again on ebay.. you just have to bid low and hope no one sees you.. What a Trifecta !

[@VincentPresley]

@@synthmaven same. I had one from Tone Tweakers and sold it and then really regretted it. Bought a cheap one that ended up taking several months to get calibrated but tuned up but I love it. I can’t believe how much cheaper they are than the Minimoog.

[@jasonb2089]

Really great video. I started my synth journey in the 90s and always thought the Sonic Six was the best visually designed synth of the 70s. Read too many reviews at that time of it's iffy reliability, so I never picked one up. Great to see and hear one!

[@VincentPresley]

@@jasonb2089 I also started in the 90s. SH1000 $200 and Poly800 $250 from Music Go Round in Greenfield, WI. Yeah the scaling is not great on the Sonic Six but it’s no worse than any other early Moog I have had. The Micromoog was just as bad for sure

[@jasonb2089]

My first was a Roland JX3P with programmer for $200. I think my last 90s purchase was a Roland Sh7 for $700, which felt like a furtune. My favorite oddity from that time was probably a Crumar DS2 for something like $300. Loved turning the cutoff on that one!

[@VincentPresley]

@@jasonb2089 Always wanted to try a DS2 but can't get myself to put 2k into that. Yeah, I got a Jupiter 4 for like $450 back then too. As soon as the tuning seemed to be drifting I sold it as fast as possible because I couldn't find anyone that would even look at repairing old analog stuff.

[@jawoody9745]

My first synthesizer was the MaxiKorg 800DV! It sat on top of my mint Vox Jaguar. Somebody HAD to play drums in our band, so they got traded in on a drum kit. I'm still kicking myself

[@VincentPresley]

@@jawoody9745 I sold my first one as well and it quickly got back on top of the most unique want list. My current one has a screwy keyboard but it has the Kenton cv/gate jacks and I have a cv.ocd converter so it’s a duophonic midi synth.

[@bergsofcanada2757]

The best ERA absolutely is now! Now you can have it all

[@VincentPresley]

@@bergsofcanada2757 That’s not really what I mean. That’s like saying the best era of music is now because you can listen to anything from the past.

[@leo.nordmann]

The examples are superb! Thanks for the nice video :)

[@VincentPresley]

@@leo.nordmann thanks a bunch!

[@pieterkok7486]

nice one! looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@maximummovementtheatre]

Probably the best time for synthesis. Patch memory changed this alot and exploration of sound was what it was all about. I started with a Korg MS10 in 1978 and spent hours exploring what it could do and how it could synthesise other 'instruments'. Having to change sounds in a live environment was a skull and you knew the instrument inside out. Patch memory is great of course but loses so much in understanding. Great video BTW. Subscribed.

[@hafstrat]

Now. We have everything.

[@VincentPresley]

@@hafstrat except nothing can sound close to a lot of these. So it’s a matter of sound vs features. Plus not many new synths are made particularly well. I hate those little plastic toy synths. But I do have some modern synths I love.

[@martinryan]

the yellow mug hovering over your polymoog was stressing me out!😅

[@VincentPresley]

@@martinryan I live dangerously. The mug also says “when the going gets tough, quit”

[@martinryan]

@@VincentPresley 😂

[@bobparker8294]

My first synth (1973) was a Sonic V, the predecessor of the Sonic VI. It was the same synth (except no mod or pitch wheels), but in a kind of art deco walnut veneer cabinet--not exactly portable. Two LFOs, two VCOs, ring mod, a sweet filter--what's not to love? I've had so many other synths over the years, but I still look back on my Sonic V with great fondness.

[@VincentPresley]

@@bobparker8294 I think the V had a different kind of filter as well. Always wanted to play one of those and an EML Electrocomp 101. I almost bought a 101 a couple months ago but walked away after learning that some replacement parts are impossible to get.

[@bobparker8294]

@@VincentPresley My second synth was an Electrocomp 200. It was the most "unmusical" piece of musical gear I've ever owned. Talk about unstable oscillators--you would tune one of them to proper pitch, then the simple act of removing your finger from the knob would make it go out of tune again. It didn't have a conventional keyboard. Instead, it had a 16-button martix (like a touch-tone phone) with 16 knobs corresponding to the buttons. You could set the pitch for each knob--fat lot of good it did you with those oscillators! I really didn't like it back then (I wanted to sound like Keith Emerson; I hadn't yet disconvered Morton Subotnick!), but now that I have gone in a more "west-coast" direction I think I would find it quite useful for my current endeavors.

[@VincentPresley]

@@bobparker8294 crazy! Now I have to go look into that one for way too long.

[@guitarchannel5676]

These are the best synthesizers, by far. In addition, they are in the true spirit of synthesis because there wasn't a push to make synthesizers sound like other keyboard instruments (e.g. piano, electric piano, organ, etc ). Those keyboards were thought best used in combinations with a synthesizer. Sampling of other instruments (e.g. strings, woodwinds, brass, etc) was the domain of Mellotron, Chamberlain, Orchestron, etc. The digital myth continues to be exposed by this excellent video.

[@reedsutter8485]

I’d started typing “I love Yamaha CS’s so much, I wouldn’t miss any other synths if they were the only ones that..” but then you started playing the CAT.

[@VincentPresley]

@@reedsutter8485 The Cat is about as perfect as they come. Although those dual multimode filters on the cs30 sure are nice.

[@suspiciouswatermelon7639]

70-78 was the best era up until about 2017. I would have to say that the golden age of analog synth is NOW.

[@VincentPresley]

@@suspiciouswatermelon7639 yeah I’m looking forward to doing the later era. Although nothing is really making me sell my favorite 70s synths.

[@aboveaxis]

7:50 my yamaha sy-1 disagrees haha... that thing sounds alive! theres some kind of magic with synths from this era... also wow, really nice setup you have there

[@thejollyjoker187]

Of all the synths you played in this video, the one that really appealed to me, sound-wise, is the CAT.

[@VincentPresley]

@@thejollyjoker187 Yeah, it’s as beefy as a Moog, duophonic, 2 kinds of osc sync, 2 oscillators plus 2 sub oscillators, volume sliders for all waveforms available at all times, cross mod in both directions, and the lfo can be different waveforms at different destinations. Absolutely one of the best synths ever made. There’s also the crazy Cat Stick you can hook up to it for even more craziness but it’s way too pricey for me.

[@thejollyjoker187]

@@VincentPresley Thanks for the info, I was just reading about it on VSE...

[@VincentPresley]

@@thejollyjoker187 I think they’re a little wrong. They claim the original Cat was mono and the SRM was duo. They’re both Duophonic. The original acts like the Odyssey where if you let go of the high note while holding a low key the high osc drops to the low note. The SRM acts like the OSCar and 2600 where if you let go of the high key, the high note will ring out until the low key is released or retriggered. I had both. I like the filter better on the first Cat but everything else about the SRM2 is better. I sold the original Cat to Mickey Hart at like 2:30 am after a gig.

[@thejollyjoker187]

@@VincentPresley I have a friend here in Athens that owns a non-functional CAT (the 1st one, he is like 80 y.o.) and I always wondered how it sounded. Now I think it's worth the trouble to get it fixed.

[@roszyknuke]

Interesting overview of early popular synths, although I disagree on the ARP Pro Soloist being "useless". As you also said, these early era synths each had a unique character. Good stuff, subscribed..

[@VincentPresley]

@@roszyknuke yeah, I sit down and do these with no kind of script or anything and just ramble away and then while I’m editing I catch some crazy exaggerations and stuff. Preset synths are also cool for being able to jump to a completely different sound like I was doing on the SH1000.

[@roszyknuke]

@@VincentPresley Yeah, I get it. I'm a 70 year old synth fan from the old school, although I've become a fan of many of the recreations of vintage synths as VSTs. Love this content..

[@MonkeyUnit]

Tony Banks has entered the chat.

[@MonkeyUnit]

The minimoog has entered the chat: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJC3nH6Idsifq7M

[@MonkeyUnit]

minitmoog (dang it)

[@jjdekay6969]

definitely diggin this..........cool stuff.

[@tracyharms3548]

I like that CAT SRM II. Never heard of it before. maybe.

[@VincentPresley]

@@tracyharms3548 Absolutely one of the best. Fat as a Moog, layout like an Odyssey, 2 oscillators plus 2 subs and both oscillators can be multiple waveforms at once. 2 kinds of osc sync, duophonic, cross mod in both directions! And the lfo can be different waveforms at different destinations. Seriously one of the best synths ever made.

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Awesome Video brother

[@mournblade1066]

17:00 Hey, is that a FIZMO in the background? I've got one right behind me in my office. Such a weird--but really great--synth!

[@VincentPresley]

@@mournblade1066 it sure is and it will be featured in the episode 5. I’m swamped with Residents orders right now but will be working on that episode right after I get caught up. Yeah, I love it for sure.

[@mournblade1066]

@@VincentPresley Residents orders?

[@mournblade1066]

@@VincentPresley Never mind--I just read your profile. So you own a record label that The Residents are on? That's pretty awesome! Looking for any new talent?

[@VincentPresley]

@@mournblade1066 yeah I’ve done 9 albums for them plus side projects from them. Between the label, my music, a full time day job, constant gear buying and selling, and these goofy videos, I’m always behind on releases as it is. I have another Martin Atkins thing sitting and waiting for art right now. We only do a few releases a year and it’s basically me, Residents / Ralph Record people, and a couple others.

[@novakillbones2140]

The best era for synths is right now because we can have all of these classic instruments in a laptop we can carry to a gig on the bus. 10 years ago you could make the case that VST emulations weren't as good as the real thing but today that is no longer the case at all. If you doubt me, just have a listen to KORG's new ARP 2600. I don't care whether or not it sounds exactly like the hardware but I'll guarantee it sounds at least as good, probably better, given that they have put a SEM filter into it, as well as the original (somewhat disappointing) filters. It's interesting to see an SH1000 in this round-up, it was the first synth I bought, way back in 1981.

[@VincentPresley]

@@novakillbones2140 I loathe fakey computer synths and never heard one the least bit convincing. I like real instruments. But different strokes for different folks. I was tempted by the Korg 2600 but it’s sounds terrible to me.

[@CVinyl]

My first synthesizer was a Moog Opus 3 🎹

[@alienzardsketter.9076]

Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride 1968 , I was 7 years old , I loved that song , and the intro,, but I dont know if it is a synthesizer or guitars and guitar affects...#1,,, Number 2 , Sweet Intro on Fox on the Run,,, #3,, Gary Wright ,,Dream Weaver 1976,,,,Patrick Cowley ,, Sylvester James ,,, Dance Disco Heat ,, You make Me feel Mighty Real ,, Do You wanna Funk....Donna Summer ,,,Sunset people ,,,aka Giorgio Moroder,,,,ABBA , Does Your Mother Know 1979, ABBA The Visitors 1981,,, Vangelis Chariots of Fire 1981,,, Bronski Beat ,,Small Town Boy 1983,, ,, Nona Hendrix ,,, Keep It Confidential 1983,, Transformations,,) Bee Gees Nights on Broadway 1975 , Kraftwerk AutoBond 1974..))))) Technotronic Pump Up The Jam 1987,, Jo Bogaert ) Enigma 1990.. Culture Beat ) Erasure Victim Of Love 1987,,, Vince Clark JX Son Of A Gun 1994 Corona Rhythm Of The night ,,,Martin Gore duet 2011, Haddaway ,, What Is Love , 1993. Usura ,, Sweat ,, U*S*U*R*A Sweat , Open Your mind 1993,, Marie Davidson - 'Work It, To Be A Winner.. 2018...Sin With Sebastain ,,,,Shut Up And Sleep with me 1995...I tried to advoid Dj.s and only listed people who played hardwear synths ...

[@spiralminus]

My Paia kit synthesizer called the resonance Q as well.

[@VincentPresley]

@@spiralminus I have considered an old Paia modular many times. Very cool company.

[@klinkske]

I think that period is my favorite too, including early 80’s. I keep on buying late 70’s stuff, it seems… maybe a cs30 and i hope it ends. I m out of room 5 synths ago 😂

[@VincentPresley]

I have plenty of room and that's also a problem. It's hard not to buy more stuff when there's plenty of space.

[@axs203]

Wow you have some cool synths! Wish I could have a go on that blue Moog one!

[@VincentPresley]

@@axs203 I have had over 150 synths and that blue Moog is one of the most unique weirdos out there. Heinbach has a great video all about it and I did another little demo of it in an earlier video.

[@axs203]

I thought I had a few .. wow 150! I'll check out his video ta. I've never had an analogue synth. I would love a ProMars!

[@VincentPresley]

@@axs203 150 over the years. Currently 28 and feel very fulfilled but it’s not hard for me to get obsessed with wanting another synth.

[@axs203]

@@VincentPresley 28! What's your favourite? If you had to pick one out of that 150It's hard I know but Im curious.....

[@VincentPresley]

@@axs203 I really don’t think I could pick one. It was pretty difficult to trim it down to 28.

[@pfmmodule5144]

First synth was Roland system 100 (keyboard, expander, sequencer) bought new after a Tangerine Dream concert. Wish I still had it, it was nice, not worth crazy $$$$ though. Subbed.

[@VincentPresley]

@@pfmmodule5144 I have a bit of a trick up my sleeve for that one and I will have a full video about it.

[@tomharcarik3552]

As always great quality content! Learned a lot. Love your passion.

[@synthmaven]

Great demoing btw.. this vibes with my own way of using mine ! Let the synths speak, sing, whatever you can call it..

[@samprock]

The best era is now because I can afford to buy a real MiniMoog in a flesh 😂 and Subsequent 37 fully controllable from VST in DAW! And kARP2600 to pair with MiniMoog like great bands I love to make something of my own! I’m waiting that at some point they’ll remake Odyssey …. with a vintage knob. I can wait as my synth piggy bank will be lean for modern Moog Muse to become instant classic. So - now is the time! Cheers 🎉

[@VincentPresley]

@@samprock I definitely have some modern favorites but nothing sounds like a synth from 70-78.

[@samprock]

@@VincentPresley True! USB control to Buchla 208c is great add-on :)

[@VincentPresley]

@@samprock Yeah most of my stuff is modded / updated in some way. Paraphonic / Duophonic midi added to my Mono/Poly, Polivoks, System 100, CS30, Maxikorg. USB flash drives added to my SQ80, SD1, DSS1, and SY77. Etc.

[@eddy_sonik]

👍Interessant sounds! Subscribed... 💙⚪❤

[@VincentPresley]

thanks a bunch

[@kosmikmusa]

It take 50 years to understand the best era. See you in 100 years from now.

[@Rhythmicons]

Leaving off the 60s era Modulars (Moog, VCS3) kind of gives all the other actors a chance.

[@VincentPresley]

@@Rhythmicons I left that out because A: I don’t have any so I can’t demo any. And B: very few people are going to run out and buy any of them if they love how they sound.

[@Rhythmicons]

@@VincentPresley Rent them. Travel to EMEAPP and see if they will let you shoot a video there.

[@mikegeary8056]

It depends on what type of music you make. Older stuff is probably better for rock music. If you make techno or experimental music the new stuff is better. In my opinion.

[@nagchumpalot]

Right here right now .. Is a pretty dam good Era of Synths!😀

[@VincentPresley]

@@nagchumpalot I will definitely get to the modern stuff. I have a few very powerful modern machines in here.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

As someone who struggled to afford even the simplest of synths in the 1980s, I'd say right now is the golden age. Cheap hardware and VST plugins provide a sound canvas (apologies to Roland) wider and more available than ever.

[@VincentPresley]

@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx definitely not a fan of any vst / software synths. Just like drums, guitars, etc the build and feel are equally important to the sounds.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@VincentPresley Fair enough. The rest of the musical world seems to disagree, as plugins are so widely used, which is my point - they make synths widely available to even the poorest musician. When I was young, you had to have lots of money for a polysynth (CS80) or a sampler (Fairlight). Now, you don't.

[@VincentPresley]

@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx There are plenty of cheap real synthesizers and there have been for a very long time. In the 90s I was only making $4 an hour but still saved up money for a Jupiter 4, Mono/Poly, SH1000, SQ80, etc etc. Use whatever you like. I've never had any interest in what "most people" like or use. I just like what I like and find vsts about as fun as programming fake guitar parts. I'll just play a guitar or play a real synth. That's a lot more enjoyable to me.

[@sailingstar8176]

CS30 sampled onto the SY77?

[@VincentPresley]

@@sailingstar8176 No, I have a duophonic midi mod on my cs30 so I’m just using the sy77 keybed. In the last little jam the sq80 sequencer is playing the cs30 and the sq80 keyboard is playing the Maxikorg which also has duophonic midi.

[@chrisst8922]

Without a doubt, as far as I'm concerned, the best era for synthesizers would be the 1950's. The early 1960's too.

[@VincentPresley]

So, like a Buchla 100 Series or something like that? I've never even been in the same building as anything like that and doubt I ever will so it seemed wrong for me to even talk about any of that.

[@chrisst8922]

@@VincentPresley Oh no. You're not telling me they had them then too! They must've been monsters, all tubes and needing the sole output of a power station just to keep them cool.

[@girlinagale]

Behringer certainly made accessibility a thing.

[@VincentPresley]

@@girlinagale I wouldn’t recommend their gear to anybody. I tried at least 7 of their synths and got rid of them as fast as I could.

[@thisisnev]

You're missing the point of preset synths. In the days before patch memory, they were a godsend for live performance. Try rapidly rearranging the front panel of your Odyssey when you need to switch from a fat bass to a screaming lead solo and back within the same song! On a preset synth, click-click and you're there. There's a reason Tony Banks of Genesis had a Pro Soloist, and it wasn't poverty!

[@VincentPresley]

@@thisisnev yeah, I get it. But now we have presets so I still find them very useless and pointless today. I’ve never been someone that cares what celebrities like. But yeah they had a point once upon a time.

[@skunk77429]

@@VincentPresley Presets and patch memory are important in a performance situation, definitely. OTOH, a player can buy a synth with presets and just use them without digging into the instrument itself, and learning how it works. I use saved patches all the time, but the important thing to me is that that they are MY patches. Thanks for this video, Vincent. Nice work. Your love of these instruments shines through.

[@VincentPresley]

@@skunk77429 Thanks a bunch. Yeah, I realize the importance of preset synths for live performances back then but I'm really talking about using these synths now and what eras are holding up. When I'm going to play live and need presets I'm going to bring something newer with my own saved sounds and I'm definitely not reaching for that SH1000 for some quick "tuba", "flute", or "oboe". Know what I mean?

[@drorlando2416]

1976…1986….

[@timzitzelsberger3200]

Now is the best

[@VincentPresley]

@@timzitzelsberger3200 lots of people are saying that. I definitely have some modern stuff that I love but none of it is replacing any of the synths in this video. Nothing can sound like a Polymoog and I was very disappointed in the remakes of the 2600, Odyssey, and MS20. We’ll tackle the more modern stuff soon enough. EP3 1984-1986 should be up in a couple days. This time I kinda have a guest.

[@timzitzelsberger3200]

@@VincentPresley I get what you're saying it's like the remake of the Dodge charger car doesn't even come close to the originals

[@wendelynmusic]

That's easy. Right now.

[@VincentPresley]

@@wendelynmusic There’s definitely some wonderful modern synths. But none of them can come close to sounding like a Polymoog, Sonic Six, etc. But the modern ones definitely do way more than the vintage ones. I plan on going over all of that and trying to make a final choice. Obviously everyone will land on their own favorite based on personal tastes.

[@wendelynmusic]

​​@@VincentPresley I was in high school in the 70s. I learned about synths through Fripp and Eno ( yeah, tape decks) Tangerine Dream and Jean Michelle Jarre. And also Yes, Pink Floyd, and King Crimson. It wasn't until the 80s that i learned to play on Buchla and Korg in college. It was a great time to be alive synth wise. After college i had an oberheim matrix 6, kurzweil k2000S, Tx81Z, Soundcloud synthcard and was abeta tester for Cakewalk when they started adding the ability to record sounds and not just midi. Such great time!!

[@Maddogonguitar]

....thanks, but I cant take you seriously for ignoring any of the EMS synths previlant in Euorope from 1970... I think you need to look up the VCS3.... the AKS....the super rare PolyAna and the Synthi Hi-Fly.....

[@VincentPresley]

@@Maddogonguitar Yeah I know all about them but don’t have anything to show off. I originally thought I would sit there and name every synth that came out but that got annoying pretty fast. Those synths are also way too expensive for most people to ever consider. This is by no means a complete breakdown of every synth that came out. Just a pretty simple run through the 6 eras that I came up with and some short demos of what I own from each era.

[@entropybentwhistle]

“Hey, just what ya see, pal.”