Archival Electronics

[Don Tillman]

   From: "Andy Main" <mainas at aston.ac.uk>
   Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 12:41:49 -0000

   The future of the analogue synth is not that good.  I know that
   each does have its own characteristic sound (mainly due to its
   filter), however with dsp and software developments advancing so
   rapidly it is possible to emulate the sounds without the problems
   associated with the stuff we build (processors don't need
   tempcos!).

(This sounds very similiar to the argument that samplers will replace
all instruments, eh?  "The waveform's exactly the same, what more
could you want?")

The interesting thing about a Musical Instrument is that the musician
gets to interact with the fundamental processes of the device;
exploring, manipulating and working creatively with the limitations,
subtleties and variations.  It's an intimate relationship, and it's
fun stuff.

If someone seeks to replace the working process of the musical
instrument with some alternate process without the musician's
relationship with the instrument being affected I'd say they're
pretty much missing the point.

That said...

What would it take to remove analog synths from the gene pool?  Much
better modeling, much better programability (including extensibility),
much better user interface, far less demanding musicians, and no
interesting further developments in analog synthesis.

  -- Don