[sdiy] ... Simulating a Moog

[Metrophage]

--- Richard Wentk <richard at skydancer.com> wrote:
> But softsynths win easily on reliability, polyphony, versatility,
> cost, size, and ease of transportation.

I'd concede on most of these points, but certainly not that of
reliability, and versatility is relative to how readily ones
applications can be translated to another medium. I have had my
computers crash ONLY when I am making music.

Special purpose hardware is always, i think, more reliable than general
purpose hardware. The size and especially cost is typically the issue
which prompts adapting to general-purpose hardware. Then there is the
issue of how long one needs to wait for the 'faithful replica'... When
is the convincing VST plugin of the Buchla 200 due? How about Eric
Barbour's 'Phattytron'? I could expire before those are ever modeled. 

I have been playing with Max for years also. Quite handy for making
sequencers on my mac. But for many applications i need to make my own
externals or plugins. So what then is the difference between taking up
programming to treat the computer as the mathematical, logical
processor that it is? As i begin to do so, i don't have time to waste
duplicating material instruments.

I think emulation is always a waste of time and energy. Using digital
to re-animate analog circuitry is as foolish as using synths to
'emulate' acoustic instruments such as oboe, tuba, violin, etc. The
only reasons to try this are ;familiarity, and the fact that most
people don't understand or like the truly digital functions and
esthetics.

It's just easier to sell stuff that is familiar, rather than explain a
new kind of music. I have been playing with VST plugins for six years,
and people just barely enable real digital synthesis, like a Kontakt
pitch stretch, or reducing bitrate. As for modular digital
environments... my computer is to slow to use them for crunchy DSP.
Still cheeper to make a standalone DSP board and program it than to buy
a new (general purpose) computer system.

As for control, unless you know exactly which knobs and switches you'll
need when- it still doesn't hurt to have a room full of specific
controls.

I am going for a true hybrid setup. Analog boards for real liquid,
nonlinear shyt (which would be an infinite regress to compute in
binary), and digital for precise timing, switching operations. I just
use each for what they do best.
CJ


	
		
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