[sdiy] modular synth

[Scott Gravenhorst]

This is precisely why I don't jump on the "precise sawtooth"
or whatever waveform bandwagon, at least for VCO waveforms.
One winds up "distorting" them with waveshapers, filters,
and what have you anyway.  I have always thought that it's an 
instrument's imperfections that make it sound unique and 
interesting.

grichter at asapnet.net wrote:
>This discussion, and the review of the MOTM system in EM has made me
>re-evaluate certain of my own assumptions.
>
>One of the underlying assumptions I have always used is that distortion in a
>synthesizer is welcomed and expected as a part of the sound of the
>instrument. That is to say, a synthesizer is (IMHO) one big distortion unit.
>But that is OK, because it is inside the closed loop of the operator
>adjusting the tone. What ever distortion is there is used as part of unique
>tone that the artist programs.
>
>Distortion simply increases the harmonic content of the signal. So if some
>distortion exists, the filters will be closed down slightly to make the
>sound "darker" again. The comments in the MOTM article about LEDs loading
>op-amps are correct. An LED attached to the output of op-amp will introduce
>some tiny distortion (maybe 0.1% or less). But so what? That just becomes
>part of the sound of the instrument, and is compensated for by the
>programming process.
>
>It is a trade off, but the incredible increase in ease of use gained by
>using visual feedback (LEDs) more than makes up for a miniscule brightening
>in tone color.
>
>

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