[sdiy] SV: Software/Hardware (was Freescale Soundbuite)

[karl dalen]

--- Tom Wiltshire <tom at electricdruid.net> skrev:

> 
> On 26 Jan 2008, at 02:13, karl dalen wrote:
> 
> > Hmm, its going to be a software synth behind a aluminum face plate.
> 
> I'm not sure this division between hardware and software is really  
> that useful at this level.

Its not division im talking about its merging.It is all coming down
to some sort of vacuum cleaner/hair dryer kind of status to the whole
synth thing, all based on or do the same thing just the look are
slightly different. Sounds a bit negative, i know, im just a bit bored. :-) 

>The distinction comes from programming and  
>general-purpose computing - you know, PCs and stuff. When you're  
>talking about embedded processors, people talk of 'firmware' which  
>already blurs the boundary a little. Dedicated hardware around the  
>processor blurs it further, since the system becomes a mixture of  
>hardware and software elements. FPGAs blur it completely - are you  
>'programming' a FPGA when you set up a design, or are you designing  
>dedicated hardware? Who cares if the sound moves you?!

Thats what i meant, its narrowed down into hair dryers,whats the point
to do anything at all in analog domain? I sugest about zero! 

For instance all the errors that a VCO has can easily be adopted into
the DSP algo i don't see any limit, its just that current DSP developers
simply don't implement these errors, so when people buy VCO's they actually
base their purchase on a argument that they buy a difference they thought
are only viable in VCO's which they aren't!Just look at these endless which-
VCO-are-the-best-and-why kind of discussion's that are all over the web.
So the real reason to base a modular module on a DSP/MCU are based on a
reason of competiton from other modular manufacturers not that users actually
asks for it, because the average john doe modular user on the street has
about zero clue.They just say OH! A module with a DSP in it? What can it do?
Fine, lets use it. Or they simply reject the whole idea because of a weird
predetermined idea they have what a modular should and should not be based on. 
 
> Obviously there is a continuum here. Sticking a cheap motherboard and  
> soundcard with Windows and a VST running on it behind a panel would  
> really be a softsynth dressed up as hardware (Ahem! Korg OASYS?).

As you said qoute:
>Who cares if the sound moves you?!

>As  the hardware becomes more specific to the purpose (addition of A/D  
> and D/A channels, for example) and the software becomes less general  
> purpose (replacing a standard OS with dedicated firmware) you move  
> closer to a 'hardware' synth.

??
Its just a matter of software, not whether you add a AD DA or not, i dont see
what a general purpose OS has to do with application specific code running
on that OS? As if it then would be less/more of a softsynth if the same code
are run on a MCU placed in a shoe box? No off course not, its still same old
routines running on sillycone.

The distinction of software and hardware is very blurred.

You know, the industry (not Music) talks about embedded systems,
whatever that is! Or *when* it is! If it is?! The same thing can be
applied on synth's. Is it modular just because its behind a alu plate
or a plastic shell shaped as a banana? Does it really matter?

>Aside from analog modulars, just about  
>everything is going to include a software element, and has done ever  
>since the Prophet 5.
 > So don't bother worrying about what kind of synth it is (it'll be a  
> hybrid!), just built it!

Im not worrying! From where did you get that?
All i say its a bit of imagined desperation among modular makers, obviously
modular makers want to profiling them self's to the current audience as if it
didnt make any difference.I cant get the reason for why they are almost
desperate and for what reason, and i dont think it matter,perhaps they are
afraid sales will drop if people find DSP's behind panels? Nor not find DSP's?
For whatever reason they would think that i have not the slightest clue,
but its going to be a harder market for some folks. For instance Tom how
many wanted to buy the Zero osc but bought the Osc you did instead? 
Obviously price was the deciding factor.

Im sure Barry in a couple months time will do a complete DX7 behind an alu
plate, some knobs a LCD and some neat things and sell that as a zero osc.
And frankly i wouldn't mind if he did or if someone else did.I would buy
one instantly.

So it's just going to narrow down further and further until it vanishes
and everyone starts to play flute again! :-)

Just look at Kraftwerk, four old men standing behind a laptop in gloving
suits, no mistakes made, no nothing, quite naturally because they arent
playing anything! Can it be more boring? OBS! I didnt say the tune's was
boring, to the contrary, just the performance or the lack of performance. 

Rant mode off!
 
Regards
KD (just bored a bit)


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