[sdiy] OT: How would you define "cheesy" ?

[Magnus Danielson]

From: Glen <mclilith at ezwv.com>
Subject: [sdiy] OT: How would you define "cheesy" ?
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 01:04:41 -0500

> 
> Okay this is not totally on topic, but it *is* related to synths, and they
> way they sound. I keep reading one adjective over and over, and this is the
> word "cheesy." Perhaps it's obvious to everyone here except me, but just
> what is the definition of "cheesy", as applied to the sound of synths and
> other electronic keyboards?
> 
> The word usually has a definitely negative connotation, but then again,
> some people actually *like* an instrument that they consider "cheesy."
> Also, I've yet to find any consensus on which instruments are "cheesy" and
> which aren't. The only trend that I can spot is that a higher percentage of
> younger people seem to use this word. 
> 
> Is being "cheesy" at least in part a function of an instrument's age? Some
> people seem to think that anything built 3 years ago is not worth having
> any longer, it's simply too "cheesy." The same has been said of synthesizer
> patches as well. Sounds that were popular 3 years ago, are simply "cheesy"
> by today's standards.
> 
> So I ask one last time, what *is* "cheesy" - exactly?

For me, this term is a descriptive word within some context, it may be
its sound ("it sounds cheesy"), its physical design ("it feels
cheesy") or it may be an overall conclusion ("it is cheesy"). All
these are for most of the time negative.

The aspects in the sounds that could make a synth cheesy is rounded
off waveforms in the VCO (i.e. not as strong on harmonics), flat
filters (no resonance), to weak filters, fixed filter (you may not
tweak it live or let a LFO or envelope do it for you) and things like
that, simply put, it just doesn't cut it to allow you do anything
normally usefull. Many synths sounds cheesy when not set up properly,
these are the sounds you normally jump over or modify into something
usefull. If the sound does not speak to you directly as in "you want
to have me", then you are into chees usually.

I might add that I totally adore Vangelis for his ability of taking a
ultra-cheesy sound and play it exactly right in order to make it the
things that makes the whole tune lift, and then it is not weak by
other cheesy sounds!

A cheesy design has many aspects, it could mean that it is not
behaving well on physical stress like pushing buttons. If the synth
twists as you play the keyboard or if pushbuttons threatens to lock
down as you push them, then you are waaay into cheesiness. A too
plastic feeling is a good cheesy alert. It could also be the
design. If you have a piece of gear which looks like a add for itself
(not in the Moog-55 sence), then you are into cheese with margin.

If we are going to deem out particular sets of gear, home organs and
home keyboards are there easilly, especially with all these autocomp
and rythm box stuff (who plays Tango, Mazurka and Waltz these days?).

However, all this talk of cheese makes me recall that it is time for
breakfast and to put some cheese on holeweat bread and a cup of tea.

Cheers, ehh...
Magnus