[sdiy] Modular - sound or song

[David G. Dixon]

Paul,

You know what they say: exceptions prove the rule!

> Sorry, but that's a very naieve statement.
> 
>   Look at the moog source, utterly un-inspiring, not flexible and yet
> 100% analogue.
> 
>   Look beyond the word "analogue" or "digital", forget that, look at
> the user interface and experience.
> 
>   You want a digital modular? look at Kyma, or the Nord stuff, I could
> spend days with a nord modular playing, but the thing that detracts
> from it being truly awesome is the UI. The lack of a tactile surface
> (though the Modular G2 keyboards are a step in the right direction).
> 
> Paul
> 
> 
> Quoting "David G. Dixon" <dixon at interchange.ubc.ca>:
> 
> >> I think the biggest distinction between digital and analogue, hardware
> and
> >> software is in the playability.  A modular is slow to patch, hard to
> >> expand, but once set up every parameter is available right there for
> >> realtime tweaking.  On the other hand those tweaks can be difficult to
> >> automate, so it has to be played by a human.
> >>
> >> Digital synths tend to be quicker to patch, but usually only a subset
> of
> >> parameters can be tweaked in realtime as knobs tend to be overloaded
> with
> >> multiple functions.  On the other hand the playing of the instrument
> and
> >> the tweaking of the knobs can be recorded, played back and generally
> >> automated as much as you like.
> >>
> >> This difference in how they are played is the crux for me rather than
> the
> >> sound capabilities.
> >
> > I think you've nailed it!  Analogue is more spontaneous; fleeting, even,
> and
> > thus lends itself to improvisation, while digital demands more planning,
> and
> > thus lends itself to composition.  I think digital is more
> "professional" in
> > the sense that it offers the busy musical professional (and all that
> > connotes) the fastest and most efficient bang for his production buck.
> > Analogue is more of a toy, in the best sense of something which invites
> and
> > inspires play.
> >
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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