[sdiy] Good read

[Paul Maddox (QinetiQ)]

Grant,

> This comment is aimed specifically at the Wiard. In the Waveform City,
there
> was no panel space to put an attenuator on the linear FM input.

There always has to be a trade off.
With the Monowave I recently added an LFO (after much code hacking)
the problem now is people want different shapes and a host of other extras.
There is no panel space left..
Once you give people an inch they suddenly want a mile...
Whilst I understand the 'great, can we have this?' concept and appreciate
it, a lot of the time what is asked for is not impossible but just
impracticle.

>The system was returned after some time and then sent to Robert Rich who
didn't
> seem to feel these slight engineering compromises impaired it's
musicality.

Here in lies the problem.
People see modern VA synths with piles and piles of features, the see an
analogue system and want the same features. Without realising the extra
circuitry, work and panel space needed to do such things (I personally
loathe menus)..
One of the biggest problems people have with the monowave is its lack of
memory, and yet most 'players' dont notice that, they notice the sound and
the control aspect (knob for every function), the same can be said of
modular systems, no memory, but plenty of sonic ability.
The people who have bought a monowave love it to death, based on its sonic
ability, not its technical specs..

People are getting more and more 'spec' hungry, and less 'sound' hungry, a
great shame in my view...
People should use their ears when buying a synth, not their eyes...

Paul Maddox
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