DX7 controls.

[The Old Crow]

On Fri, 10 Oct 1997 svetengr at earthlink.net wrote:

> At 03:59 PM 10/10/97 +0200, you wrote:
> 
> That was one of the BEST IDEAS I ever had....and now I'm glad I didn't
> commercialize it....:)
> Seriously, it IS a great idea. Perhaps it was too expensive.
> If someone on here would like a real development challenge,
> try making up some kind of FM system with real-time-changeable
> knobs for all functions. It's got to be possible!......

  Back in 1986, I built an outboard system that provided a realtime knob
or switch for every DX7 parameter.  The device was rather large (it was
built into a desk!), but worked quite well.  I called it the DX
Patchmaster. ^^  It was comprised of seven seperate modules, each of which
dropped into the sloping panel behind the desk surface on which the DX7
under torture was placed.  Six of the modules were identical, one for each
operator.  The seventh provided the remaining functions, and also acted as
the router for the serial interfaces on the other six modules.  (The
system was built so that any given module could work in a standalone
fashion, connected to the synth via an RS-232->MIDI converter).

  I sold the whole mess in 1990 to a college synth lab.  I do have the
extra operator module I made somewhere around here; I might take a pic of
it and slap it on the website as a memento of times past.

  And yes, it was a good idea. ^^

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