Digital DIY synths?

[Harvey Devoe Thornburg]

> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I've been on this list for a few weeks now, and I'm enjoying a lot of your  
> messages. However, the focus is purely on analog DIY synths. Are digital  
> synths considered heretical here? You see, one of the main disadvantages
> I see  
> with the pure analog way of doing things is that it is hard to reproduce
> the  
> sound or performance afterwards. (I used to have a Teisco 110F in the early  
> eighties, so I know.) 

I think this has more to do with the interface (knobs) than the 
quality of components.  It is definitely possible to get repeatable 
sounds out of analog synths with a certain level of design.
VCO's with adequate temperature compensation (such as those used 
in Serge equipment) simply do not drift: you can run a complex 
FM patch for days and it will sound very much the same. Although
with a very large number of interconnected systems we approach
100% likelihood that something will go wrong...  With pots,
it is very difficult to set precise values.  You have to do everything
by ear rather than rely on mathematical relationships.  Also,
digital systems permit a reuse of components (no repetitive design).

There is little discussion about "digital DIY" because most 
people on the list seem to work primarily (perhaps not exclusively)
with analog.  I don't think there's an explicit attitude against
it, it just doesn't come up that often.  Personally,
I value more DSP discussion.

You might also be interested in the music-dsp list.  About 70% of
the posts are about audio DSP stuff, the other 30% discuss a 
certain member who likes to flood the list with manifestoes and
machine gibberish (I personally find him/her entertaining, and he/she
has developed some interesting software).  find out more at
http://shoko.calarts.edu/~glmrboy/musicdsp/music-dsp.html

so welcome, and I look forward to your posts!
--Harvey