Patchwerks is a community-driven nexus for people who love making sounds with electronics. We focus on education and community in addition to our retail storefront and e-commerce activities. Our staff is passionate about music, recording, synthesizers, modular, and so much more! We love helping people connect with joy through the magic of electronic music and audio gear.
We currently ship boxes with electronic audio goodies all over the world through our website orders, and we also have a lovely showroom in Seattle, USA, where you can try out all kinds of gear, ask questions, and connect with some like-minded people. We offer great support and advice through email and over the telephone. Let us help you get set up with the tools you need to unleash your creativity!
The Patchwerks Story
Our first activities began in late 2015 with a series of synthesizer meetups in the Seattle area. We were overwhelmed with how successful they were, and from that moment we knew we had to open a store. In November 2016, we opened our first location in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood. The old synth shack was originally nothing more than a bedroom with some synths in it, up a flight of stairs once you were able to locate the somewhat-hidden door. What our location lacked in size was made up for in character!
We gradually expanded our equipment offerings and began hosting our events, which ranged across bi-weekly soldering nights, gear demos, artist performances and talks, Max/MSP and Ableton meetups, and much more. We were eventually able to rent the entire ground-level floor and had a proper front door directly off the sidewalk. But in 2021, we had completely outgrown this little synth shack and needed a much bigger space. We knew that to keep expanding our offerings for events, educational programs, and more gear we would need to leave Eastlake behind and find a new place for Patchwerks 2.0. Plus, we knew our customers would love air-conditioning in the summer and some heat during the winter while visiting.
In July 2021, Patchwerks took a huge leap forward with the opening of our Stone Way location in the historic Fremont neighborhood of Seattle (locals call it “the center of the universe”). Our new space allows us to grow in all directions. We’re here to serve more of what you want, which means more selection of gear, more opportunities for learning, and more ways to get involved!
Currently our events and educational offerings are on hold due to the ongoing health crisis, but stay tuned! We can’t wait to bring those back as soon as health conditions allow.
Thanks to all our great customers who keep this engine pumping. We can’t do it without you.
Below you can read about each of us, our favorite synths, and what drives our passion for music. Meet the crew!
Cindy
(she/her) from Canada
First Synthesizer Yamaha DX27
Music Background I've been fascinated by electronic music and synthesizers for as long as I remember. My first band was in 7th grade - I tried to sing but quickly realized keyboards were my forte. I was raised on a steady diet of prog rock and disco which led to a love of 80's new wave, punk and eventually techno, industrial and experimental electronic music. My current studio is a mix of modular (both 5U and Eurorack), synthesizers, drum machines, and software. In addition to playing in the studio and performing live, I am passionate about teaching and introducing others to the joy of synthesizers.
Dream Setup My dream setup includes a really deluxe mixing desk, a layout that lets me access all of my modular and synth gear easily, and enough patch bays to allow me to reconfigure connections quickly and easily. Must-have modules would include a Rossum Assimil8or sampler, Mutable Instruments Plaits, Make Noise DPO, Instruo Arbhar, and an Industrial Music Electronics Stillson Hammer.
Music Goals Ultimately, I think finding my unique voice that makes my music stand out and cultivating that in a series of releases and performances is my long-term goal. I also would love to collaborate with like-minded folks on some fun projects that expand my musical horizons
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) Daniel Lanois
Three Tracks in your Current Rotation "Long Road Home" - Oneohtrix Point Never "All the World Loves Lovers" - Prefab Sprout "Molecular Delusions" - Ramases
DND Alignment Chaotic Good
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Tom
(he/him) from Houston, Texas
First Synthesizer Roland Juno-60
Music Background I grew up with music around my household from childhood with my mom singing and my dad playing piano. I always wanted to be able to control and play the sounds myself, even from when I was a 3-year-old. I took piano lessons and sang in the school choir, but hearing talkbox, synthesizer, and vocoder on the radio inspired me toward the sound of synthesizers and music technology. I got a job at a pizza shop when I was in high school so I could start saving toward a synthesizer studio, and little by little I was able to collect some synths. I grew up in the 80s and 90s, so synthpop and acid house became my goals for music. Those influences still persist in my musical compositions, though it's great to hear all the amazing innovations brought by fusing together R&B, electronics, soul, pop, and whatever else.
Dream Setup I've been collecting synthesizers for so long that I probably already have my dream setup. But that doesn't mean it's ideal. I think currently my dream setup is a small set of powerful and inspiring synths, and I do love my vintage - so PPG Wave, Prophet-VS, Juno-60, Pro-One, and Minimoog. But pair that with a killer mixing desk like the SSL Origin and an array of vintage samplers, like the Emulator-II and MPC3000. I guess I can't leave out the drum machines, which for me are the TR-909, TR-808, LinnDrum, and TR-727 as mainstays. It's tempting to add more and more, but I've found in my experience the tighter the better! So perhaps I'll leave it there, except for the requisite analog preamps and compressors for vocals and digital multiFX like the H3000D/SE and Lexicon PCM80/90. Oh, and I absolutely need a full-size, weighted keyboard controller with 88 keys!
Music Goals I'll always create music for my own enjoyment, but I do love sharing my creations with other people. Some of my music is reflective and contemplative while other recordings are aimed to make you dance and have fun. In a way I'm living my dream already, working with people who want to get into music-making or advance their studio system with synthesizers. Anything that gets me playing and into the groove is going to bring fulfillment and enjoyment to my day. I just strive to get that feeling of inspiration and groove, and when I do that's all I need!
Musician you’d most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) David Bowie
Three Tracks in your Current Rotation "Feels So Real" - Patrice Rushen "Don't Give Up" - Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush "Automatic" - Tensnake featuring Fiora (originally recorded by The Pointer Sisters)
DND Alignment Lawful Good
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Nick
(he/him) from Nebraska
First Synthesizer MicroKorg (returned after I realized I needed something to record it in Ableton, whoops)
Music Background I started out playing trombone in 6th grade, which I played until the end of high school. Along the way, I did Jazz Band from 7th to 12th grade, playing trombone and bass guitar, as well as Marching Band from 9th to 12th grade. I started jamming more in college with the bass guitar with some friends and also started picking up more guitar and keys, but was mostly playing around in Ableton, mixing soft synths with guitars and bass, and trying to make beats with Maschine 1.5. After college, I got a drum set and taught myself drums, and continued more down the route of hardware synthesizers and sequencers. I've played in a few bands with friends here in Seattle, but mostly am playing music in the synth scene with eurorack and standalone hardware.
Dream Setup Honestly, I'm living the dream setup, the main issue is just having everything plugged in and ready to go, so my dream setup would be a studio where I could have all my synths organized and all the cables nicely tucked away, everything synchronized and easily mixed. Though a 5U system would be sick…
Music Goals The ultimate musical dream is happening, one of my passions is teaching and helping out other people, especially in the realm of technology and music. To have found Patchwerks was perfect, because it's amazing how talented and receptive everyone is, both in terms of my coworkers and customers. By creating a space for people to come in and play around with synthesizers and assure folks there actually aren't dumb questions and this world is more accessible than it seems is amazing. It fills me with immense pride to help people find that passion, whether it be just putting together a fun setup for creating weird sounds and exploring, or helping people realize that connecting with other synth folks and performing isn't as daunting as it seems.
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) Any member of Deerhoof
Three Tracks from your Current Rotation "Glamour Profession" - Steely Dan "Rock In The Video Age" - Jan Jelinek "Walk For Me" - DJ Rashad
DND Alignment Chaotic Good
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Matthew
(he/him) from Kirkland, Washington
First Synthesizer MicroKorg
Music Background Grew up studying guitar and singing in bands. Went to school for music production. Started trying to build a band-in-a-box and found myself with a plethora of modular and samplers. Now I run a music YouTube channel with a focus on live performance under the name EZBOT.
Dream Setup More of it all! More modular, more keyboards, more guitars, more microphones, more pedals - I love them all so much!
Music Goals Never stop making music no matter what!
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) Buke and Gase
Three Tracks from your Current Rotation "Medicina" - Buke and Gase "Artifice" - Sohn "Terminal Slam" - Squarepusher
DND Alignment Chaotic Good
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Rae
(they/them) from Seattle, Washington
First Synthesizer Roland SH-201
Music Background As a kiddo I loved playing violin & viola solo, quartet, and orchestral music. At some point I fell in love with rave music and hip hop and eventually started making my own computer music. I made the dive into modular after an inspiring Decibel Festival workshop and haven't looked back! I went on to study Audio Engineering in college and am really into instrument design, specifically the intersection of human expression and physical hardware.
Dream Setup A MIDI Violin, a stack of synths including a Juno + RE-201 Space Echo, a modular case filled with ER-301s, everything Elektron has ever made including specifically a Monomachine, a proper mixing console, two turntables, and a microphone. Aaaand maybe most importantly, everything set up ready to go at the flip of one switch <3
Music Goals #1 have fun. Would also love to tour with friends :)
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) SOPHIE
Three Tracks from your Current Rotation “9 to 5” - Dolly Parton "Carte sim” - Fasme "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" - Idris Muhammad
DND Alignment Chaotic Neutral
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Jesse
(he/him) from Seattle, Washington
First Synthesizer (Plug-in) NI Massive, (Hardware) Novation Bass Station 2
Music Background
Studied in college and self taught
Dream Setup
Having a studio with access to any piece of hardware or software.
Music Goals
Own a studio and to be able to tour around the world performing.
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead)
Thundercat
Three Tracks from your Current Rotation
"In Your Eyes" - BADBADNOTGOOD & Charlotte Day Wilson "Rocky" - Still Woozy "Petrol Bliss" - Choker
DND Alignment
Chaotic Neutral
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Steven
(he/him) from Seattle, Washington
First Synthesizer Moog Mother 32
Music Background I grew up playing the violin and guitar. I studied audio engineering at Edmonds Community College and have been an electronic musician for the past 11 years.
Dream Setup My dream setup is to have a small studio space where I can just host jam sessions with my friends.
Music Goals My goals in music are to put out a full comprehensive LP and to also play out live more often. I'd also like to eventually have my own mixing and mastering studio.
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) Sam Shepherd of Floating Points
Three Tracks from your Current Rotation "Everything That Shines Ain't Gold" - Maurice Moore "Mansions of Millions of Years" - Mammal Hands "Bait And Switch" - The Shins
DND Alignment Chaotic Neutral
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Drew
(he/him) from Mesa, Arizona
First Synthesizer Volca FM
Musical Background Touring Drummer/Guitarist Emery 2012-2013 Kings Kaleidoscope 2009-2019 Propaganda 2017-present Composer for Games 2018-present TURIAN 2015-present
Dream Setup Synthstrom Deluge/OP-1/SP 555/Empress Zoia
Music Goals Just to have fun and share experiences with people!
Artist you’d Most Love to Jam with (Living or Dead) Phil Collins
Three Tracks from your Current Rotation "Switchblade" - D.Dan "December's Spawn" - Crowbar "Should we call it Trance" - 90process
DND Alignment Chaotic Neutral
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Connie
(she/her) from Michigan
First Synth Korg Minilogue
Music Background Making scores for art performances
Dream Setup a cozy studio with natural light and space for my bunnies
Music Goals to make and listen to music that I like with friends n_n
Artist you'd most love to jam with (living or dead) Björk
Three Tracks in your Current Rotation "Delta 8" - Hobbess "Li bu kai" - Organ Tapes "HHH" - Don Sinini
DND Alignment Chaotic Neutral
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Thomas
(he/him) from Huntington Beach, California
First Synth Roland JP-8000
Music Background Grew up playing guitar in metal and hardcore bands in the mid 90's through the early 2000's. Got really into eurorack modular synthesizers around 2009 and was instantly hooked. Since then I've been primarily producing dnb/jungle and techno.
Dream Setup Just continue building up my eurorack setup and picking up drum machines. There really is no dream or perfect setup for me, it's constantly changing.
Music Goals Just write good music
Artist you'd most love to jam with (living or dead) Homemade Weapons
Three Tracks in your Current Rotation "Lightbringer" - ASC "Hawkeye" - Homemade Weapons "Insight" - Bop
DND Alignment Dungeon Master
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Karl
(he/him) from Indiana/South Africa
First Synth Roland GAIA
Music Background
Violin was my first instrument and then Trombone in school band starting around 6th grade. When I was 12 I started playing guitar, and it's been my main instrument for 16 years now. Started using Cakewalk around age 15 and started recording and messing around with MIDI instruments. Studied Sound Design and Audio for Film at Indiana University and received a minor in Music. Composed and scored a few student films and provided foley, sound effects, and editing with Pro Tools. Currently use Ableton as my main DAW and like to perform or tinker with guitar + effects pedals, casio SK1, casio CT410v, OP-1, modular, bass, and a terrible singer but I do it anyway. I've performed with a few bands over the years and record original music at home.
Dream Setup Moog One, Cocoquantus 2, Perkons HD01, OP1, Ondes Martenot, JU-06A, ARP Odyssey, ALL of the guitar pedals...
Music Goals Make music for a Cartoon Network show. Tour internationally as a musician. Have an album reviewed by Pitchfork. Own a home studio. Play a music festival.
Artist you'd most love to jam with (living or dead) Flying Lotus + Thundercat, The Who (especially Keith Moon and John Entwistle), and Modest Mouse
Three Tracks in your Current Rotation "Advice" - Alex G "Flyway" - Kero Kero Bonito "Inside My House; Some Place I Keep Dreaming About" - Ricky Eat Acid
DND Alignment Chaotic Neutral
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Ryan
(he/him) from Seattle/North Carolina (yee-haw)
First Synth MicroKorg
Music Background Lifetime guitar shredder and lover of weird sounds. Occasional synth tickler and recording engineer
Dream Setup Everything on this stage ...Mellotrons specifically.
Music Goals 10,000 person outdoor concert in unbearable summer heat. Or to just have fun playing with my friends in my bands.
Artist you'd most love to jam with (living or dead) I already get to jam with them! My band mates!
Three Tracks in your current rotation "Working in a Coal Mine" - DEVO "Propaganda" - Sepultura "Fools Gold" - Thin Lizzy
DND Alignment Chaotic Good
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Jon (he/him) from Portland, Oregon
First Synth A MicroKorg back in 2006
Music Background I'm a self taught musician and have been playing in bands since high school. I currently play guitar in the Seattle band Dreamdecay and bass in the band U Sco (from Portland).
Dream Setup Abbey Road studios
Music Goals Continue working with friends and artists who inspire me and always be actively working on new music.
Artist you'd most love to jam with (living or dead) Adrian Sherwood
Three Tracks in your current rotation "Pink Trash Can" - Lawn Mower "Gombeen & Doygen" - Auto Lies "Arnold Dreyblatt" - Formation
DND Alignment Chaotic Neutral
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Justin
(he/him) from Talkeetna, Alaska
First synth MicroKorg
Music background Band geek, drummer, audio production
Dream setup Studio space plus ability to have a full-sized piano
Music goals Play the Digitakt like a boss, make some tasty entrees with my spaghetti cables
Artist you’d most love to jam with Jónsi Birgisson
Three tracks “Folds” - Thurpence “Terminal” - Com Truise “Wetlands” - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
DND Lawful Neutral
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