[sdiy] Complete novice asks question...

[Scott Gravenhorst]

The 4700 is no longer made.  Perhaps you mean 9700?

Noting the subject line text, given that the request 
for information was about a first time builder's project:

For a first time builder, a certain amount of 'instant
gratification' is good and encourages the builder to do
more advanced projects.  Not everyone is willing
to put scores of hours as well as hundreds of dollars into 
several modules, when they don't know if electronic 
music is really they want to do in the first place.  Nor
do they necessarily know what a small system is capable of.
Once that has been established in the builder's mind, they
can better determine what else, if anything, they might 
need or want.  That's certainly the case for my own 
experience.

I think if you price out PAiA's modular and also
price out Blacet, MOTM and others you will find
that the phrase "a little more" is not very accurate.
A basic 9700 modular is about 3 times the price of
a FatMan (I just went to their site).  Granted, 
modularity and some extra features are advantageous, 
but they do come with a price.

No one is questioning that more quality comes with
more money spent.  And I am not questioning the quality
of other kit makers.  And in fact, If I had the cash,
I would invest in Blacet, MOTM and others.  What I will 
say is that even though one may move on to bigger and 
better equipment, it does not nullify the investment in 
a FatMan.  It is still useful along side the more advanced 
and has resale value if it is found inadequate.  There is 
something to be said for taking baby steps before trying 
to run a marathon.

IMHO, the characterization term "mediocre" is unfair.
Especially since you don't define exactly what that means.
My two sound quite nice.  Much of that, like any modular
as well, is what you do with it.

"Chris Randall" <chris at smg.org> wrote:
>I (as many people here, to be sure) can vouch for the veracity of John's
>remarks. I have a PS500 that powers 10 modules without even really warming
>up. (All 8 Blacet modules and 2 homebrew). The documentation is also
>top-notch, better than the PAiA docs if you want my honest opinion.
>
>As an aside, while it's a little more money, and a little more complicated,
>wouldn't the 4700-series make a better first time project than the Fatman?
>On top of being far more sophisticated, it can interface with the outside
>world much better than the Fatman, which is in my opinion only a mediocre
>synth, even at the price.
>
>And John, get that VCO and VCA out! I'm only two modules away from a
>complete all-Blacet modular!
>
>-Chris Randall
>
>*
>* Positron! Records: music so addictive, you'll give up crack!
>* http://www.positronrecords.com
>* http://www.mp3.com/positronrecords
>*
>* Check out the new album from Impossible Recording Machine, Axioms,
>available Now!
>* Featuring Matt Walker of Smashing Pumpkins and Filter, and Jim Dinou of
>Exo...
>*
>

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-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
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