[sdiy] Mired in Old Technology

[Scott Stites]

"Actually I'm not seeing many new ideas.  That's the thing.  Designing a
better mousetrap is good, but I'm seeing what looks like people building
what's already available and/or doing things that are so old and outdated.
I'm seeing a lot of talk about crude 8-bit audio DACs and wavetable
oscillators and ancient 6502 processors.  It's like I'm back in the 1970's
again."


Man, I see this all the time and it completely mystifies me.  Since when
does the vintage of a design nullify its value as a musical instrument?  I
mean, you've been arguing about the nuances of the piano now for days, and
when did development on that instrument start - the 1150's?  Is this derived
from a preference for powdered wigs and codpieces over puka shells and
platform soles?

I admire those who advance the state of synthesis through DSP technique.  It
follows a logical progression of the evolution of new electronic musical
instruments.  But evolution does not follow a straight path - there are
offshoots, and these branches are quite capable of producing some wondrous
fruit of their own.

Generally speaking, mechanical technology gave way to tube technology, which
gave way to discrete semiconductor technology, which gave way to monolithic
analog integrated circuits, which gave way to digital microprocessor/DSP
technology.

Mechanical technology has given us pianos and pipe organs.  Tube technology
has given us superior compressors, amplifiers, and unique synthesizers which
are still being pioneered by some of the more ambitious among us.  Discrete
technology gave us a species of what some consider to be superior VCF, VCO
and VCA designs, which, yes, are still being used today.  Monolithic
integrated circuits gave us polyphonic synthesis.  Microprocessor/DSP
technology has (a) opened the door for further evolution and (b) given us a
means to emulate older technologies (apparently with mixed opinion of actual
result).

Note that *all* of these products are prized to this day by those among us.
Note also that *all* of these paths are still being followed in parallel as
best as can be done with the materials available.  There are reasons why
these things are desired, and to convince people that these  instruments are
unworthy of their time and effort will be as easy as convincing them which
color of the spectrum is 'best'.

We've charged through a lot of gardens in pursuit of technology, and missed
a lot of nice, pretty flowers along the way.  That can be said about a lot
of things, not just musical instruments.