[sdiy] Daft Idea, LINUX SYNTH

[Stefano Costa]

>
> MIDI simply isn't enough for a real modular; lag, bandwidth, serial
> nature, 8 bits control  (for note number anyway)..... . I think everyone
> would a ppreciate a "MIDI 2.x".

The digital interface of the future is already here: USB. High througput,
relatevely low latency, cheap to implement (I don't know chip availability, but
they are dirty cheap for mobo producer, i.e. 1.5 US$ range).
My 2 cents about: given that user interface (say knobs, switch, modulation
wheels, plugs for patch cords and the like) is a very personal subject, be "open"
for it. That is

---------
| Open Synth | ---USB-->[PC| HW breakout box| keyboard|...]
---------

So specify with an open protocol the interface between the controller and the
producer. In this way users are more enpowered, since they can chose their right
interface. PC in the studio is great, but is bulky in gigs, so at least 2
different interfaces are needed.
I don't know if it is best to keep a digital or analogue bus for the synth
itself, my knowledge in electronics is too poor at this time to tell which is
simplest/better, but as a resarcher I'm tempted with the "new" (to synth) digital
bus interface between modules. I understand though that analogue people has its
valid reasons.

Stefano