[sdiy] Radio Shack catalogs

[David G. Dixon]

> This kind of "pocket calculator" interface pretty much took away all the
> fun of *synthesizing* and reduced the machines to what's called
> "Preset-Schleuder" in German (roughly translating into "preset
> catapult").

Genau!

> So it has become worse again? Digital interfaces like on e.g. the Yamaha
> SY77 or (especially) the Ensoniq ESQ1/SQ80 I find quite a good
> compromise. Easily accessible parameters, no "dial the right number,
> then select its value".

I'm sure there are some good ones.  Just not on any of the machines at my
local music megastore right now.  I believe this is the reason why the
keyboard section of my local music megastore is nearly always deserted.

> And in some cases there's just no way you could go back to twiddling
> knobs. After all, an SY77 voice can have up to 4096(!) parameters (4AFM)
> There's no way you could get this *easily* with knobs.

My point exactly!  It could be argued that any system with 4096 parameters
is beyond any human being's capability to control.  And, considering that
probably no more than a few are under the user's immediate control at any
given time, most people would simply give up in frustration.

Give a toddler a very complex toy, and he'll play with the box it came in.

Probably the only way to get a decent interface now is with software, but
who wants to play a computer?

> > Also, in my humble opinion, the fact that one has no choice but to
> > start from a (typically awful) factory patch on an "analog emulating"
> > machine is just horrible.
> 
> With complex synthesis, however, I'd argue that this is maybe a better
> way than starting a sound from scratch.

Perhaps, but then it's always someone elses idea of how to start, isn't it?
The sense of discovery one gets from the old analog synths is replaced by a
feeling that it's all been done for you.  I'm always a little bit surprised
at how unappealing most of the presets on these machines are.

> Which, in term, also means that a synthesizer is an instrument of its
> own with its very own distinct sound -- and reducing it to a playback
> device of pre-recorded sounds just takes away the fun.

You've nailed it, Rainer!  And, ultimately, what is a preset but a
pre-recorded sound?