Simulation Vs Real Things

[jbv]

Paul,

All your comments to my previous message make sense.

But actually, I was refering to what synths SHOULD do, and not to the
limited features that manufacters provide them with.

Furthermore, I know very well for about 20 years that any signal from
a synth module can drive any other synth module, and not only VC.
But actually, I was refering to some other kind of data, like lists
of raw numbers in MAX for instance.
Then, why not imagine a piece generated in real time, whose parameters
could be data from a topological analysis of a landscape of planet Mars,
or data from weather forecast, or the movements of bees around a blossom
tree, or two colonies of ants fighting for food, or whatever...

Preset sounds and patches only limit lazy musicians.
In any synthesis technique, it's good to have a few presets that can
be used as starting points for experiments. Furthermore, when a 
musician is not familiar with a synth technique, it's useful to be
able to modify each parameter one after another, in order to understand
faster how the whole thing works. I remember doing that a long time ago
with the DX7 presets and also with MUSIC V examples.

As for a conclusion, it's seems obvious now that this discussion
about Simulation Vs Real Things is not only about cost and horsepower
of gear, but also about ergonomics, creativity, learning curve, 
imagination, etc. etc.

jbv