Why DIY? (was Re: [sdiy] Another new hard to find part....)

[john mahoney]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Wentk" <richard at skydancer.com>
>
> You think a sequencer has a sound?

Good one! But, it does have a "feel."

By the way, Richard, I'm still honestly curious as to why you are on this
list. I ask because you keep implying that synth DIY is a worthless pursuit.


> Anyway, the best way to get huge fat sounds out of Reaktor is to use it
> imaginatively, and not as an analogue clone. The fat sounds live inside
the
> digital features, like the granulation tools.

For all it's power, then, Reaktor is not the solution for people wanting to
make fat, analog synth sounds.


> How awful to have all those features available at the same time. Obviously
> it would be a much better product if it didn't do nearly as much. And
> trying to do something equivalent using patchcords with no memories would
> be a lot more convenient, wouldn't it? ;-)

You make some good points. Heck, a big modular isn't exactly "easy" to get
around on, especially once two dozen patch cords are crisscrossed all over
its face. The extra time/effort required for scrolling is more than offset
by the ability to save patches. (Side note: very large monitors are less
expensive than very large modulars.) One might say that it's easier to
visually understand a patch on a real modular, but I'm not so sure; for one
thing, software allows you to rearrange the graphical layout of the virtual
modules, providing a closer relationship between form and function. Ideally,
you would be able to create custom modules from the standard modules,
providing even closer correlation of form to function (some software may do
this, I don't know).

One other factor is the performance aspect. Although a very large modular is
impractical for live use, a smaller modular is usable on stage -- whereas
using PC-based software live is something that I'd rather not attempt. (By
the way, have they eliminated the latency?)

Finally, DIY is not limited to the features that a product manager decided
to include in a software package. Much DIY activity is, admittedly, centered
on copying the "classic" circuits (Moog ladder, anyone?). But, there are
always people doing new things, like new types of waveshapers and so forth.
If you want to explore completely new areas, Synth DIY is one way to do it,
at least until that open source softsynth arrives.
--
john (who would like to see an open source softsynth)