[sdiy] Dewanatron Hymnotron and Swarmatron

[Adam Inglis]

Thanks Robin

Paul Nagle reviewed the Swarmatron for SOS and wrote of the capricious  
interaction between the obscure control sources...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun11/articles/dewanatron-swarmatron.htm

Not a whole lot unlike applying spanking philosophy to a certain  
monophonic bass synth ;-)

Adam
On 25/01/2012, at 2:53 PM, Robin Whittle wrote:

> (To Analogue Heaven and Synth DIY.)
>
> On AH, John Neilson posted a link to a YouTube video of the
> SoundsAndGear NAMM interview, with Leon Dewan, demonstrating the
> Hymnotron which he and his cousin Brian Dewan designed and built.
>
>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgakrRWs0r8
>
> This is a just-intonation chord organ with a specialized keyboard and
> and extraordinary pedal-steel-guitar-like slide function.  I guess the
> Dewans are from Upstate New York, since they are performing soon at  
> the
> hamlet of Upper Jay.
>
> Google indicates that the word "MIDI" does not appear at the  
> Dewanatron
> site:
>
>  http://www.dewanatron.com
>
> This is a zone of timber panels and cases, chicken-head knobs and
> devices which respond immediately and directly to their physical
> controls.  These instruments do not emulate or resemble any device I
> have heard of, though of course the Hymnotron resembles an organ.   
> From
> their manifesto:
>
>     While inherently musical in their impulses, the machines have no
>     discipline and require governing by judicious overseers.  (...)
>
>     The operators begin a process which develops into a shape beyond
>     their authorship; the operators become gardeners, watering and
>     pruning, mulching and composting sound. The music becomes a
>     contrapuntal morass, twining and climbing, chirping, buzzing,
>     blinking, snapping. The operators guide the instruments, and the
>     instruments carry the operators and others through an ever
>     metamorphosing landscape.
>
> Check out the Swarmatron:
>
>  http://www.dewanatron.com/instruments.php?page=swarmatron
>
>     The span control expands the sound of a swarm of eight notes
>     spread just a few cents apart into a wide chord of equidistant
>     pitches spread over the entire spectrum. The player can "taffy
>     pull" the resulting chord by using the span control and pitch
>     ribbon in tandem.
>
> I just wanted to bring to list members' attention these instruments  
> and
> the philosophy which stands behind them.  Swarmatrons and other
> instruments are available for purchase at:
>
>  http://bigcitymusic.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=3
>
>
>  - Robin         http://www.firstpr.com.au/rwi/dfish/
>
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