[sdiy] Moogey jitter - the old times were the oldest.

[Tim Parkhurst]

On 4/21/06, Steve Ridley <spr at spridley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > 2) Analogue, why do people stick with it like a mad thing,
> <big snip>
***
For me, personally, there are two reasons (beside the sounds) why I
like analog: 1, the user interface and 2, the ciruits are simpler. Now
before you say "no they're not," let me explain a bit.

1: The user interface - Generally, the user interface on analog synths
is more immediate and direct. If I want to tweak a sound on my Roland
U-20, I have to sort through menus and scroll back and forth and hit
the right buttons. If I want to tweak a sound on my ARP Odyssey, I
reach out and move a slider. MUCH more gratifying. Now granted, there
are exceptions to the rules, but by and large, the user interface on
an analog monosynth gives me that immediacy that makes them much more
fun to play with. If I need a realistic piano or some great polyphonic
pads, of course I turn to the U-20 (or insert the name of your
favorite digital polysynth here), but if I'm just going to spend some
time enjoying my hobby and playing around, I'll go to the Ody almost
every time.

2: Simpler circuits - I can give someone a PDF of an analog circuit
and they're good to go if they want to make their own. If I've got
something with a micro in it, all of the sudden they need the code and
a way to load it into memory that can be read by the micro. Now if
you're familiar with processors, this is pretty simple stuff, but just
adding even this one extra layer of complexity makes a lot of DIYers
shy away from it.

Again, these are just VERY broad generalizations. There are exceptions
to all the examples I've given here, but I think that for most people
on the hobby / part-time level, a collection of analog modules is a
much easier project to understand and get started on. I can throw
together an LFO or a goofy little noisemaker in an afternoon, and then
enjoy the "I made that" feeling that comes from using it and showing
it off. I think it basically boils down to amount of happiness per
unit of time and money expended:

   3
:-)   /  (H:MM:SS * $)

(cubic happiness per unit of time and money invested) I've simplified
the above equation and left off the terms for time wasted explaining a
new module to spouses or friends who could care less.

Analog = More bang for the buck. At least from my "hobbyist" approach to SDIY.


> Personally, I have two interesing filters under development, and
> I'm just waiting for the EU to intoduce the new standard 25 hour
> days so I can get them finished.
>
***
The downside of that is the metric 100-hour work week. ;-)
****

>
> Steve


Tim (nitroglycerin + male deer = more bang for the buck?) Servo
--
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein