[sdiy] Pros and cons of Buchla 200 series?

[Magnus Danielson]

From: "J Alexander" <diyid at hotmail.com>
Subject: [sdiy] Pros and cons of Buchla 200 series?
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 03:31:08 +0000
Message-ID: <Law12-F90yGz2stY3Uy0000387d at hotmail.com>

> What are the pros and cons of the Buchla 200 series in terms of 
> functionality, in comparison to other modular systems?   What is distinctive 
> about this series?

I am not the self-appointed expert or traveling salesman on Buchla 200s, but I
will list a few things and then we can call in the experts to let them have a
go at it, OK?

* Control and Signal voltages separated by different contacts.

* The traditional negative synthesis tradition (VCO-VCF-VCA) works in a quite
  different way on most (but not all) Buchla 200s. Instead will the waveshapers
  of a 259 allow you to handle things quite differently. You might miss the
  resonant responce, but there are some filters around too.

* Almost averything is under CV control.

* Modules like "Source of Uncertainty" (a deluxe noise module) makes life
  sufficiently more interesting.

* The differences forces you on different patching expeditions than you usually
  do - if you let yourself go with the stream. You need to meet one to
  understand what I mean.

* Things are named quite differently, so a VCA is called a Gate etc.

There is a bunch of bigger and smaller details I've skipped, but I think this
is enought to give you an idea of what you might find.

In the end, the best thing is to make a date with one, this way you get a
sense of what it is and how usefull it is to you. I think that unconventional
is a good word to sum it up.

Cheers,
Magnus