Paul Nelson (3)

American engineer and owner of Sonic Media Studios in Portland, Oregon. Nelson's one and only release is "Vortex", released in 1981 on Newman's own Optiman Systems Inc. imprint. Newman grew up around Portland and had a strong background in music and music theory. He built a PAIA synthesizer when he was in junior high school and developed a keen intuition into analog synthesis. He eventually purchased a MiniMoog. Armed with more gear as time went on (Sequential Circuits 600 sequencer, Oberheim DS-2, etc), Newman was offered an opportunity to record his own album which led to the Recording Associates sessions during which "Vortex" was born. The LP was also half-speed mastered at JVC Studios in CA. 1000 copies were originally pressed and self-distributed by Newman.