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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>“digital or analogue electronics” should have been in third line<span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Synth-diy [mailto:synth-diy-bounces@synth-diy.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Rob Kam<br><b>Sent:</b> 30 May 2018 00:44<br><b>To:</b> 'Quincas Moreira' <quincas@gmail.com>; music.maker@gte.net<br><b>Cc:</b> 'synth-diy mailing list' <synth-diy@synth-diy.org><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [sdiy] History of SDIY?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>My mistake asking for a definition, it is a distraction/topic in itself. Everyone has their own interests and slightly different idea of SDIY. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>A definition would be very useful to make the project manageable. Not a book but eventually a sketched outline on the wiki.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Okay to include seems to be: e.g. synthesizers (MIDI and CV/Gate), samplers, sequencers, digital or analogue, DSP, microcontrollers, circuit bending, video synthesis, etc. <br>Related but only superficially included: s<a href="http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewforum.php?f=22&sid=c87a9517696570156891427278fd3faa" target="_blank"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>tompboxes</span></a>, tonewheel organs, theremins, audio electronics, etc.<br>Peripheral but not included: Purely software like SynthEdit or Max, metalworking, carpentry, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Here’s my proto-definition: SDIY requires craft-skills or artistry and soldering, towards making something tactile and musical.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><br>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Synth-diy [<a href="mailto:synth-diy-bounces@synth-diy.org">mailto:synth-diy-bounces@synth-diy.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Quincas Moreira<br><b>Sent:</b> 29 May 2018 21:43<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:music.maker@gte.net">music.maker@gte.net</a><br><b>Cc:</b> synth-diy mailing list <<a href="mailto:synth-diy@synth-diy.org">synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [sdiy] History of SDIY?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Well, I apologize if my musings have offended or excluded anyone. I'm mostly airing thoughts to see how they fare, in the interest of collectively arriving at a definition that would be useful for the OP, to narrow his focus making the project less overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 3:37 PM, Scott Gravenhorst <<a href="mailto:music.maker@gte.net" target="_blank">music.maker@gte.net</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><br>Quincas Moreira <<a href="mailto:quincas@gmail.com">quincas@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>>--===============4210419811675696385==<br>><br>>Paula, it's not elitism because I'm not saying software is any worse or<br>>less valuable than hardware. My intention is just to be realistic as to<br>>what people think about when they hear the term SDIY. <br>>You are the first<br>>person I ever heard say a home made VST is SDIY.<br><br>If it needs another voice, I'll say it too. Code written to make a synth, regardless of<br>what runs it, is no less SDIY than someone's soldered module from downloaded schematics.<br><br>>I understand your<br>>argument, but I'm a practical person, and I think language is meant to<br>>communicate, not confuse. If we make a definition that's too broad it loses<br>>all purpose, IMO. But sure, we can agree to disagree. I have sounds to make<br>>now with my SDIY machines :)<br><br>I think that an all encompassing definition is not "too broad" for a topic as broad as<br>SDIY. Many terms are of this nature - politics for example. I'm an old timer and I've<br>seen some amazing things. I've a friend who made a MIDI controlled bagpipe. SDIY? - you<br>bet. I've written synth code which contains very few if any "traditional parts such as<br>ADSR" and yet, it makes music, it is a synthesizer and I did it myself - again SDIY. And<br>I think as we move into the future, we'll see more and more unusual new ideas that make<br>music by people who do it themselves.<br><br>I also think this discussion is veering into territory that the OP might not have intended<br>- discussing the definition of SDIY? He was asking about the history of it, but maybe<br>more clarification from the OP can help pull it into more of an answer to his own question.<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><br>>On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 3:13 PM, <<a href="mailto:paula@synth.net">paula@synth.net</a>> wrote:<br>><br>>> well, I think that's somewhat discriminatory against a lot of people doing<br>>> a lot of cool stuff with software. consider the mutable instruments stuff,<br>>> it sounds amazing, it's software in a box.. to say "it's only SDIY when<br>>> it's hardware" is, I believe fundamentally wrong and bad for the community<br>>> as it smells of elitism.<br>>><br>>> S we'll have to disagree.<br>>><br>>><br>>><br>>> On 2018-05-29 21:05, Quincas Moreira wrote:<br>>><br>>> Paula, if you water down the definition too much it becomes meaningless.<br>>>> 99% of people I know, when they think SDIY they think of hardware synths<br>>>> and modules, whether they are analog or digital. To me at least it makes<br>>>> sense to keep ITB and dedicated hardware somewhat separate. Call it Soft<br>>>> Synth DIY if you will :)<br>>>> Just my 2 c<br>>>><br>>>> On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 2:57 PM, <<a href="mailto:paula@synth.net">paula@synth.net</a>> wrote:<br>>>><br>>>> why?<br>>>><br>>>> if I write a softsynth, and put it in a VST that's not synth DIY? But if<br>>>> I write a softsynth and put it in a chip in a box that is synth DIY?<br>>>><br>>>> Paula<br>>>><br>>>> On 2018-05-29 16:11, Quincas Moreira wrote:<br>>>> Oh, I would leave soft synths out of it for clarity's sake...<br>>>><br>>>> Software running in a dedicated module or hardware synth, sure :)<br>>>><br>>>> On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 10:05 AM, <<a href="mailto:paula@synth.net">paula@synth.net</a>> wrote:<br>>>> Fair points Tom.<br>>>><br>>>> Though I'd disagree with the electronotes comment, it only covers<br>>>> analogue synthesis techniques.<br>>>><br>>>> for me SDIY encompasses analogue, digital, hybrid and soft synths, as<br>>>> long as you made it yourself :)<br>>>><br>>>> Paula<br>>>><br>>>> On 2018-05-29 15:43, Tom Wiltshire wrote:<br>>>> No need to pigeon hole, but if you were (say) writing a book on the<br>>>> topic, you'd have to decide what you put in and what you leave out.<br>>>><br>>>> I think the magazines and books give a pretty good idea of what was<br>>>> going on through the decades. The Brabani books and R.A. Penfold and<br>>>> R.M.Marston have quite a lot to answer for in my case.<br>>>> In many ways, Bernie's Electronotes *is* the history of Synth-DIY<br>>>> already! Ok, it's only a single source and a single editor, but it<br>>>> follows the progress of the field over a long period of time and<br>>>> covers pretty much everything sooner or later. I doubt there's a more<br>>>> comprehensive overview.<br>>>><br>>>> Tom<br>>>><br>>>> ==================<br>>>> Electric Druid<br>>>> Synth & Stompbox DIY<br>>>> ==================<br>>>><br>>>> On 29 May 2018, at 13:18, <a href="mailto:paula@synth.net">paula@synth.net</a> wrote:<br>>>><br>>>> Why classify/pigeon hole "what" SDIY is?<br>>>> The world seems obsessed with putting things in boxes, let's not do the<br>>>> same here please<br>>>><br>>>> On 2018-05-29 12:36, Rob Kam wrote:<br>>>> Unlike for the history of electronic music <a href="http://120years.net/" target="_blank">http://120years.net/</a>,<br>>>> apparently<br>>>> there's not much documentation specifically for the history of DIY<br>>>> electronic music equipment. I have some questions, if I may.<br>>>> How to define SDIY - it's not just exclusively synths, amateurs making<br>>>> electronic music circuits as opposed to plugging together ready-made<br>>>> parts?<br>>>> When did SDIY begin and how has it developed over the years? Especially<br>>>> since the invention of semiconductors but before then should also be<br>>>> included. What were the significant moments and who were the pioneers<br>>>> along<br>>>> the way?<br>>>> Bob Moog sold Theremin kits in the 1950s. Guitar pedals began development<br>>>> in<br>>>> the 1960s. Before this there were guitar amplifiers with effects built in,<br>>>> and earlier still people used magnetic tape. The PAiA FAQ states that the<br>>>> 1970s were busy, the 1980s were quieter, (with the hobbyists being<br>>>> distracted by PCs) and that interest picked up again in the 1990s. PAiA<br>>>> has<br>>>> been producing synthesizer kits since 1972. Electronotes started in 1972.<br>>>> Various magazine articles by authors such as Tim Orr, John Simonton, Don<br>>>> Lancaster, Craig Anderton, etc. give some sort of indication. The earliest<br>>>> DIY electronic music instrument books seem to be from the early to<br>>>> mid-1970s.<br>>>> How to distinguish what's SDIY from R&D? Obviously the pioneers and<br>>>> inventors like Harald Bode and Kraftwerk had to DIY; does this get<br>>>> ignored?<br>>>> Does it begin with the electro-magnetic Helmholtz resonator?<br>>>> _______________________________________________<br>>>> Synth-diy mailing list<br>>>> <a href="mailto:Synth-diy@synth-diy.org">Synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a><br>>>> <a href="http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy" target="_blank">http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy</a><br>>>> _______________________________________________<br>>>> Synth-diy mailing list<br>>>> <a href="mailto:Synth-diy@synth-diy.org">Synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a><br>>>> <a href="http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy" target="_blank">http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy</a><br>>>><br>>><br>>> _______________________________________________<br>>> Synth-diy mailing list<br>>> <a href="mailto:Synth-diy@synth-diy.org">Synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a><br>>> <a href="http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy" target="_blank">http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy</a><br>>> _______________________________________________<br>>> Synth-diy mailing list<br>>> <a href="mailto:Synth-diy@synth-diy.org">Synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a><br>>> <a href="http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy" target="_blank">http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy</a><br>>><br>>> --<br>>> Quincas Moreira<br>>> Test Pilot at VBrazil Modular<br>>><br>>> --<br>>> Quincas Moreira<br>>> Test Pilot at VBrazil Modular<br>>><br>><br>><br>><br>>-- <br>>Quincas Moreira<br>>Test Pilot at VBrazil Modular<br>><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span class=im>-- ScottG</span><br><span class=im>________________________________________________________________________</span><br><span class=im>-- Scott Gravenhorst</span><br><span class=im>-- </span><a href="http://scott.joviansynth.com/" target="_blank">http://scott.joviansynth.com/</a><br><span class=im>-- When the going gets tough, the tough use the command line.</span><br><span class=im>-- Matt 21:22</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>Synth-diy mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Synth-diy@synth-diy.org">Synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a><br><a href="http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy" target="_blank">http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Quincas Moreira<br>Test Pilot at VBrazil Modular<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>