[sdiy] dave smith *instruments*

[legion at helpwantedproductions.com]

> I noticed turning the rotary encoders quite fast made the lcd value go
> berserk, the value would come to a halt or it would start to increase
> when you were turning the other side... I was just stupified that I had
> this problem on a +- 2000€ synth.

A lot have people posted about this already. As stated this isn't a Dave
Smith issue so much as a techinical issue faced by many manufacturers

> The salesmen from musicstore Germany told me : that's dave smith stuff,
> known for being innacurate and , inreliable and cheapo... Can someone
> comment on this ?

Um, how do I say this nicely, BS!! :)

Dave Smith's new stuff is hardly unreliable and cheap. He's actually one
of the current designers who got things *right*. He's very accessible
(hell he's answered email himself the few times I wrote the company) and I
think his stuff is built extraordinarily well. I have an early desktop
evolver and it's never had ANY issue including the encoders. I've gigged
with it and used/abused it in a number of studio and live circumstances
where I would not trust any delicate piece. He's also offered FREE
upgrades to the OS along the way.

If the sales guy was taking about older vintage designs it's important to
know that Dave Smith instruments is NOT Sequential Circuits from the 70s.
It's a new company with a new system of design and manufacturing.
Comparing his new stuff to a Pro One or Sixtrack is quite ignorant really.
I would say both in manufacture and support DSI is a VERY stable company
and not hesitate to buy any of their products. (I have !)


> Any insights on why he released a PE edition ?

I believe he's said a lot of people were asking him to make the Prophet08
more like the original. Old timers liked the pots and the cosmetics of the
caps on them and asked so much he decided to offer it in that flavor. The
PE version's knobs *look* more like the original Prophet5's in addition to
acting like them. I suppose the fact that the "old" design seems to avoid
the problems of the "new" design is a bonus. I'm pretty sure he did not
make the PE edition to resolve the encoders but rather in response to
requests for a more "old school" version.

Hope that helps some. Personally I think DSI stuff sounds GREAT. The
Evolver desktop is still one of the best bargains in analog out there
vintage or new IMO. The sounds you can get from that puppy are amazing.


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