Unit Six: Of all of the achievements which are part of the incredible evolution of electronic music, the development of computer music techniques and the establishment of digital systems for sound analysis, synthesis and modification is perhaps the most significant. It may be seen to have far reaching implications for music making in the future. In the early days, it was painstaking to work with computers. In a sense, the cycle of technology invention, innovation, success and failure was repeating - recalling the very early days of the field. Major centers for research around the world supported the effort however, and many technical problems were overcome. Eventually, computer music technique would supplant hardware-based systems like synthesizers while at the same time giving composers hitherto unrealized power and specificity.