[sdiy] So just what *is* the Buchla 291?

[Paul Perry]

>> So, is Buchla a mad genius, or did he just dick around on a  
>> breadboard until
>> he got something interesting?
>I suspect these are not mutually exclusive. ;)

There are remarkably few truly creative originators in ANY field.
But they have one thing in common: a total and intuitive understanding
of the materials and processes involved.

It is possible for anyone to fluke a useful circuit - but to consistently
produce new stuff, is rather exceptional. I have known a couple of 
successful inventors - they certainly APPEAR to be 'dicking around'
sometimes, but it's acutally pretty focussed dicking.

The definitive article on this is:
"Where do little circuits come from?" by Barrie Gilbert chap 19 of
Analog Circuit Design: Art, Science and Personalities.

Personally, I don't find that 'successfully creative' people have any
personality traits in common (apart from an ability to concentrate,
and an overwhelming passion for their field.)

paul perry Melbourne Australia