[sdiy] Telharmonium motors, perhaps?

[Glen]

At 05:49 PM 11/22/04 , Gene Stopp wrote:

>I think it was in an old Crowhurst book that I read about a VCO that was
>actually a tape playback with the motor speed (and therefore the pitch)
>under voltage control.

That sounds interesting! I bet a lot of analog lovers would be drooling at
the thought of the built-in tape characteristics imparted onto the sound. I
wonder if the speed could be changed quickly enough to build a monosynth
out of such an oscillator? I bet it would have its own special
"portamento-like" effect on each and every note, unless the motors could
change speeds *very* quickly. The possibility of unique pitch slurring
might even add to the unit's analog charm.  :)

If such a monosynth were actually built, I would think any flanging,
chorusing, and distortion effects should also make use of a tape transport
system. I know that Mellotrons used tape, in a sampler style, but I don't
think this would be the same concept at all. You're talking about using a
tape transport in the core of an oscillator, and not as a "sample player",
isn't that correct?


take care,
Glen