Modulations: A Landmark 90s Electronic Music Documentary

Before video streaming platforms like YouTube dominated the internet, Viddler.com served as a popular hosting site for a variety of content. Among its offerings was a significant electronic music documentary from the 1990s titled "Modulations" that was shared by user "viddlerbuba".

About the Documentary

Based on discussions from The People's Republic of Cork forums, "Modulations" was highly regarded as an in-depth exploration of electronic dance music (EDM). What made this documentary particularly noteworthy was its comprehensive approach to the genre's history, tracing EDM back to its origins while covering a diverse range of styles.

Forum members particularly appreciated that "Modulations" was "more focussed on EDM" while still maintaining historical context. One commenter noted it was "by far the best one i've seen yet" and "much more universal than Universal Techno," referring to another documentary in the genre.

The Moog Pronunciation

An interesting point raised in the discussion was the documentary's correct pronunciation of "Moog" (the famous synthesizer brand). One commenter mentioned this was "the first one I've seen where 'Moog' is actually pronounced correctly." This sparked a side conversation about how Robert Moog reportedly changed the pronunciation from "mooh-g" to "moh-g" because his wife, a teacher, "used to get hassle from the kids" about the original pronunciation.

Cultural Significance

The enthusiasm in the forum posts suggests "Modulations" held significant cultural value for electronic music enthusiasts. One commenter mentioned they "had the sticker but missed the film when it was out," indicating the documentary had promotional materials and likely a theatrical or festival release.

While the original video is no longer available on Viddler (which ceased operations in 2022), "Modulations" appears to have been an important documentary for understanding the evolution of electronic music in its various forms.

Legacy of Electronic Music Documentation

Documentaries like "Modulations" played a crucial role in preserving the history and cultural context of electronic music during a period of rapid evolution in the 1990s. They captured interviews with pioneering artists and documented emerging scenes before the ubiquity of social media and digital archives.

For those interested in electronic music history, resources like this documentary provided valuable insights into the technological developments, cultural movements, and artistic innovations that shaped modern electronic music.