andyman.onePersonal site / EN
andYManOne
I love technology with character: iconic retro computers, genuine synthesizers from the early days and classic cars with charm and a soul of their own – things you can still open up, take apart, understand, analyse and, if necessary, repair yourself.
I’m andYManOne. Whether it was my first 8-bit home computer, my first Yamaha PSS synthesizer or my parents’ old F8 – all of them have been part of my life since childhood and my early teens, and they’ve shaped me ever since.
I enjoy bringing supposedly dead technology back to life instead of writing it off too quickly. When, after hours of troubleshooting, the monitor suddenly shows a picture again, the synth makes a sound or the engine finally fires up, that’s a perfect day.
New isn’t automatically better. Then again, neither is old.
Three worlds. One passion.
Old computers – especially my great love, the 8-bit ATARIs I grew up with – don’t belong on a shelf for me, but on the desk, preferably switched on. And when they’re not, they’re usually in my workshop being repaired, upgraded or occasionally modified.
It all started with a small Yamaha PSS synthesizer. Since then, synthetic sounds, sequencers and genuine synthesizers have never really let me go. I’m still fascinated by the technical achievements of sound pioneers like KORG, YAMAHA, AKAI and many others. That’s why many of those old machines are still an essential part of my current studio setup – combined with modern technology and new possibilities. True to the motto: “Save the past and use the future.”
Classic cars don’t have to be perfect for me – they’re meant to be driven, not just displayed in a showroom. They should have character and still be repairable by yourself when needed. That’s exactly why I love my Scirocco: not perfect, but practical, honest and always ready for a good rally or a session in the workshop.
This is where the craziest – and sometimes even the best – ideas come to life, somewhere between new and old computers, studio gear, wild technology and definitely a few too many cables.
Are you just as crazy about these hobbies as I am? Then drop me a line – I’m always happy to talk shop and swap ideas.