Collaborative design project proposal

[Batz Goodfortune]

Y-ellow Magnus 'n' y'all.

At 01:28 AM 02/13/00 +0100, Magnus Danielson wrote:
>From: "Batz Goodfortune" <batzman at all-electric.com>
>Subject: RE: Collaborative design project proposal
>Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 13:29:53 +1000
>
>> Y-ellow Y'all.
>
>Batz, you nutty guy,
As a fruit cake. :)

>> 	Ok. For some reason today I'm firing on all cylinders so I kinda have what
>> may be a better and simpler idea here. Not that Dr. E's idea is bad. Oh
>> contrare. Just that Paul P and I were just discussing another matter and an
>> interesting artifact came out of the mix as it were.
>> 
>> Why not simply produce a Synth-DIY CD-ROM?
>
>Yes, but no.
>
>The idea to collect usefull information for Synth-DIY people is a definit go.
>However, I am not sure that a CD-ROM is the best medium. I would rather see
>that we make a better effort on the web instead, providing material so that
>you can use your HTML browser, get PS and/or PDFs for pretty printout etc.
>We can make a tar-ball for people to download if they think that is a usefull
>trick. It does not require all material to be available at the same place, so
>material may be scattered as suitable for the editors to be able to make easy
>updates.

People already have their DIY web sites. There is a DIY web ring. And all
that works very well. The only problem with that is that the web is
dynamic. Meaning that things change all the time. For example. Whilst the
AEK site doesn't have much synth-geek stuff on it right at the moment,
every year I have to fight for the resources to keep it going for another
year. I try and justify this in terms of self promotion to sell CDs. This
doesn't work of course but somehow, each year, and for the past 5 years,
I've managed to find the money to keep it up there. but things could change.

Of course the beauty of the web is that it's dynamic. As new things come
along it can be added to and amended. It's the most up-to-date resource in
human history. In this regard I feel that the body of work from Synth-DIY
people is far superior to that of EN.

However, despite the fact there is an archive for the information that
comes across DIY every day, there is no sorting, indexing or filtering. The
real gems of information are buried in amongst the noise. Such as this
message it self. Which has no bearing on actual Synth/Electronic information.

I cite the Capacitor FAQ. Without going and looking at my downloaded copy I
wish to get on bended knee and thank the person who wrote it. You are a
GOD. And there are heaps of things like this that if they were in some EN
type format that people could refer to (a) off-line and (b) for years to
come, would probably wind up being the most valued synth-electronic
resource on the planet.

All other issues aside, this is the main thrust of my argument. I realize
that people would have to pull their fingers out. That people have day
jobs. That people procrastinate and I'm probably the worst of them all. I
realize that A CD is easily copied and all that. But it's also something
do-able. Certainly more do-able than photocopying a truck load of tree
every time.

There is probably an easier way to do this though. Initially anyway. That
is, Everyone contribute their web pages (Or just the parts which are
relevant) and put them all on A CD. Which we could distribute among
ourselves for the cost of copying and materials. IE the cost of the CD. At
that point no-one would have an issue about copy protection and all that
because it's all available for free on the net anyway. Only this way it's
all in one place and accessible through any CD drive in any computer.

Note here that this is exactly what National Semiconductor Corporation do.
I have their  second latest CD here. It's basically just a copy of their
web site but it is searchable and has all their data sheets, app notes and
articles. If I want to look something up in a hurry I just slip in a CD.
They send me regular updates on what's happening via EMAIL so I should only
need a new CD about once a year.

And for the record. I'm only bandying these ideas about. I'm grateful for
the  discussion and the cautions. These are all  good issues that we need
to be aware of.

But after all said and done, I kinda hoped it might give us all a little
bit more focus in a way. I for one would have more incentive re-writing my
mixer tutorial stuff if I had more focus. Would anyone else find this?

Hope this helps.

Be absolutely Icebox.

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