[sdiy] Another new hard to find part....

[Scott Gravenhorst]

<philgallo at attglobal.net> wrote:
>The soft synth problem IMHO is:
>
> 1) The attempt to copy pre-existing synths (resulting in the mouse to
>control metaphor, fancy graphic display, corny approaches to emulating
>known characteristics). 
>
>2) the desktop pc "context" (i.e. it often is not dedicated to just the
>soft synth so it must conform to the requirements of other software.
>
>If not for the above,  a softsynth execute on a single board computer,
>with 8 bit color and solid state disk.
>
>regards,
>p

I wouldn't mind seeing a linux based soft synth that doesn't even use the
GUI.  Patches made with XML or perhaps a special purpose patch language.
 Even if the thing had to be compiled for each patch.  Just a thought,
probably a ridiculous one.


>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of Scott
>Gravenhorst
>Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 11:15 AM
>To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>Subject: Re: [sdiy] Another new hard to find part....
>
>
>Rainer Buchty <buchty at cs.tum.edu> wrote:
>>> I have 3 boxes that I use as Linux servers, but they won't support 
>>> the GUI in anything more than the basic SVGA mode, which denies me 
>>> the full resolution of the video cards.
>>
>>Which makes me wonder what kind of exotic video cards you're running.
>
>SiS.  Well known banes, I found this out too late, they are cheap, but
>not ubiquitous.  I bought the boxes before I got into Linux.  I can't
>afford to keep buying hardware for computers.  I've tried installing
>Linux with GUI support on each and every one of the six boxes I have and
>all default to crappy SVGA with limited color and resolution support.
>HCLs for RedHat (which I know and understand) don't mention the video
>hardware I have.  If I could go back in time, I would have bought
>different hardware, but I've yet to find the flux-capacitor I need to
>build a time machine.
>
>I also don't like knobless synths.  And I don't want to BUY more
>hardware for MIDI to do the knob thing.
>
>>Under Linux, you might be a turn or two late when it comes to 
>>state-of-the-art graphics cards and getting access to their special 
>>features, but *at least* resolution setting works fine. There might be 
>>issues with 3d acceleration, but that's another story.
>>
>>ATI and nVidia actively support Linux nowadays; and all the other stuff
>
>>is quite nicely handled by the standard xsvga driver.
>>
>>So far I ran a fair share of graphics cards under Linux, from stone-age
>
>>S3-Trio, a more recent S3 Savage/MX, ATI RageIIc, Matrox Milennium and 
>>some more recent nVidia. Never had a problem with *resolution*, but 
>>couldn't get the 3D acceleration for the Savage/MX to work two years 
>>ago (or better: didn't want to go the hassle to build a special Xserver
>
>>version needed for a special package which might have enabled 3D 
>>acceleration). There might be an out-of-the-box solution present these 
>>days.
>>
>>> To run Linux with the GUI, I'd yet again have to go out and buy 
>>> either another box, or at least another video system.  What's the 
>>> point of the free software when I can't use it on the 6 freaking 
>>> computers I already own?
>>
>>Until proven otherwise, I'd rather say you're doing something wrong or 
>>you're using some really weird piece of hardware.
>
>Cheap stuff purchased at the computer swaps that was designed for and
>works for WinBlows, but that linux finds issues mainly with the video.
>I'm tired of constantly upgrading and buying new bits for these things.
>
>>If resolution is all what you care for, then you always have the 
>>possibility to use the framebuffer device and speaking plain VESA with 
>>it.
>>
>>> I also don't want to tink around with a kernel that I am not 
>>> qualified to tink with and could likely break it.
>>
>>Then go with a distribution which does all the update stuff 
>>automagically for you, like e.g. SuSE Linux. I'm quite sure, RedHat and
>
>>Mandrake offer similar mechanisms.
>
>Perhaps, but I still can't do crap without the GUI and my hardware won't
>support anything more than SVGA.
>
>Building little circuits works, has real knobs, doesn't need upgrades,
>doesn't need a team of developers, doesn't crash, sounds like what I
>want to hear, doesn't cost a lot, can be repaired by me and can be
>modified in minutes, by me.
>
>>Rainer
>>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------
>- Where merit is not rewarded, excellence fades.
>- Hydrogen is pointless without solar.
>- What good are laws that only lawyers understand?
>- The media's credibility should always be questioned.
>- The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.
>- Governments do nothing well, save collect taxes.
>
>-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
>-- Linux Rex         | RedWebMail by RedStarWare
>-- FatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/FatMan/
>-- NonFatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/electronics/
>-- Autodidactic Master of Arcane and Hidden Knowledge.
>

---------------------------------------------------------
- Where merit is not rewarded, excellence fades.
- Hydrogen is pointless without solar.
- What good are laws that only lawyers understand?
- The media's credibility should always be questioned.
- The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.
- Governments do nothing well, save collect taxes.

-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
-- Linux Rex         | RedWebMail by RedStarWare
-- FatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/FatMan/
-- NonFatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/electronics/
-- Autodidactic Master of Arcane and Hidden Knowledge.