Analog DIY versus Digital DIY

[Paul Perry]

At 11:04 PM 5/05/98 +0000, Sean Costello  wrote:
>Philosophical question time:  If a person is just getting into
>electronic music DIY, and is starting from scratch (i.e. NO technical
>background whatsoever), what would be more useful at this point in time:
>learning how to construct analog musical circuits, or learning how to
>program a computer to produce sound?

>construct simple circuits (fuzzboxes, a few filters).  My theoretical
>knowledge has progressed immensely by purchasing the complete
>Electronotes, but I still struggle with the math.  On a more practical
>level, I have found it very difficult to learn soldering, circuit board
>layout, and the other practical skills that lead to good analog synth
>construction.
.....er, are you the only person I havn't told to get "The Art of Electronics"
by Horowitz and Hill, Cambridge University Press?
>
...well like everything in this life.... depends on your skills/abilities...
I have had enough trying to program to know I cant do it to any useful 
level (neither can some people I know who are employed as programmers.. but 
while you can fool the company, you cant fool yourself).
My problem personally is that while analog kinda works when its kinda right,
with digital it has to be 100%. That isn't me...

But soldering? that is practice, and remembering to keep wiping on the sponge :)

paul perry melbourne australia