[sdiy] re: video-synth DIY

[Metrophage]

--- bruce tovsky <bruce at skeletonhome.com> wrote:

> i've played a bit with analog video synths, starting back in
> the early 70's, and they can be amazing and extremely quirky.

That probably figures why I feel like I should be playing with some!

> you didn't mention bill etra and you should search him on google -
> the rutt-etra synth is amazing. bill is working on a software version
> of his classic, in fact i saw him perform live just a couple weeks
> ago at a unity gain show in brooklyn. while there were obvious bugs,
the
> potential was exciting. do a search for benton bainbridge as well -
> a current video artist who uses both analog hardware and software.

I have heard of Bill Etra, and of course the Rutt-Etra video synth. I
didn't mention him because I have never gotten to see any of his video.
That's one of the things that really amazes me... not only are the
synths themselves scarce, but the video produced with them is all but
unobtainable. I can check out pioneering electronic music from that era
on CDs, why not the video art? I will try to learn more about Etra and
Benton Bainbridge.

> as far as diy being an alternative to off-the-shelf, particularly 
> cost-wise, forget about it. the amount of work and expense 
> would far outstrip any commercially available software solution 
> for any platform, and would take you years.

I am not into DIY because it is cheap or easy, that is for sure. The
main reason is usually to make a bit of gear which I would not get to
play with any other way. Also, it seems like half of many hardware
video synths were their analog audio modules, so I am close to having
this part covered. Many video synths I have read about were based on
Serge and Buchla systems. 

> if you're a student, or know one, you can get a deep discount 
> on cycling 74 products - max/msp/jitter. i use jitter all the 
> time, and while the learning curve is steep, the potential is 
> limitless. 

I'd love to be a student, but the irony is that if I could afford to go
back to school, I could afford software anyway. Too bad the don't
discount for people who are students in their own lab instead of a
school. I do use Max, which I love, but my version is old - the last
version Opcode put out before they got absorbed. Upgrading to a new
version of Max is a reasonable $50, but it'd be hundreds more to update
to MSP and Jitter, as much as I'd love to someday. Trying NATO on a
500mhz machine was a bit sticky, even with 320X240 resolution. I know
I'd need a faster box for real-time video work. 

> still, there are things that you can do with analog gear that
> is impossible to achieve anywhere else. 

Such is my impression! Same deal with modular analog audio synths.

> one option for you would be to explore working at a place  
> - like the non-profit experimental television center:
> http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/
> they're in upstate new york. i'm sure that there are others 
> spread about the country in colleges and the like. finding 
> a facility where you can learn and work for free or for little 
> money is a definite possibility and that way you can get 
> your feet wet before dedicating your life to building the 
> ultimate analog video synth. 

I have heard of the experimental TV center! Now that I am a family man,
popping off to another state for weeks or months is out of the
question. If I happen to be near such a place where they don't mind my
newbieness, don't want any money from me, then that'd be great. Still,
I try to persue my arts independently, so I am not restricted so much.
A few months toiling away in the garage doesn't bother me so much. I am
certainly not aiming to build the ultimate video synth, but rather *a*
video synth. I don't know enough about video signals or hardware to say
what would be optimal, I settle for a few bits that work to start with!

> and if you do build one, can i  play  with it?

I would expect so, if you happened to be in the neighborhood!

Thanks for the advice, Bruce
CJ



		
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