Back on topic please. QUIT the Sampling vs. Synth war

[Sean Costello]

Lucas Medeiros Reis wrote:
> 
> At 14:57 12/05/98 -0400, you wrote:
> >I thought we just got through the whole discussion about how glad we are
> >that this isn't a flame-friendly site.  Its kind of obvious that samplers
> >and Analog Synths are two different tools with two different applications.
> >Let's get back to building them.
> 
> Martin, don't think like that. A list isn't something that you just have to
> talk about this and that. Why can't we discuss, instead of just asking and
> answering questions?

Because this is Synth-DIY.  Not "I-like-synths" or "let's make music" or
"Analogue Heaven."  This list is about making devices to make your own
sounds. It is not the place for a general discussion of Analog vs.
Digital.  Yeah, I may have started a thread about that recently, but I
tried to make it very relevant to DIY.  

The negative reaction you are getting really isn't due to the questions
themselves being offensive, or to anything personal against you.  It is,
most likely, an reaction against the preponderance of these types of
topics on another mailing list, Analogue Heaven.  Analogue Heaven (AH)
has a lot of people that are quite helpful and knowledgeable (I just got
several excellent emails from Mark Pulver, for example, in answer to
some very specific questions).  AH is also full of a lot of...well,
let's just call them "annoying people" and leave it at that.  The
"sampling vs. analog" topic is far better suited to that list than to
Synth-DIY.  

Most of the people on this list are here because they want to have
higher-level technical discussions of synthesizer theory,
construction,etc.  The list is relatively "noise-free," probably because
the topics discussed are not readily accessible to beginners.  Questions
are asked, the brainiacs on the list discuss it in public, and the rest
of us listen and learn.  People contribute, but only when they have
something really useful to contribute.

The people on this list are amazingly helpful.  Part of the reason they
are helpful is that this is a "noise-free" list.  Subscribe to
Synth-DIY, and you should get a lot of very intersting posts about
electronics, synth theory, math, etc.  Subscribe to AH, and you will be
spending far too much time in a day hitting the "Delete" key.

Quite frankly, this is a list that you really SHOULD "just talk about
this and that."  If the list expanded into more esoteric areas, odds are
that the people on the list that really ARE helpful and knowledgeable
would leave the list.  If people on this list feel like talking about
more general synth issues, they are probably already subscribed to
Analogue Heaven already.

One last thing.  Even though Synth-DIY is a list anyone can subscribe
to, it is also an established community of people that have been
discussing synth construction issues for several years now.  By trying
to change the nature of the list, you run the risk of alienating the
people that have made this list a great place.  With this mailing list -
as well as with ANY mailing list - it is important to keep in mind that
there are real people behind these email addresses.  When you post
something, it would be good to ask yourself if you would feel
comfortable saying it to these people in person.  If you flame someone
(and you haven't, but just in general), ask yourself if you would say
that to someone in person in a bar.

Later,

Sean Costello