--- In
AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Metlay" <metlay@a...> wrote:
>
> spaceanimals said:
> > So if I had the money, with the AN1x. the Piano Bar and an amp
> > simulator like the POD(or a 65 Fender Twin) and a few plug ins I
> > could get 80% of what I want in a dream synth.I'm scared to think
> > what music technology will look like in another 10 years.
>
> For me it's going in the wrong direction, mostly. Synths 10 years ago had 90%
> of what I wanted in a dream machine, and the number's been slowly dropping
> ever since.
>
I find that hard to believe...ten years ago there were a only handful of manufacturers
offering inovative features and some of them are no longer in business or succumbed
to economic realities, i.e., ROMplers are cash cows. Workstations are light years
beyond where they were in the early 90's and the plethora of boutique synths, V/A,
and modulars is nothiing but on the rise.
> Aftertouch sensors going away, or almost as bad, being made cheaply without
> regard to feel and reliability;
...you get what you pay for - there are plenty of keyboards at a variety of price points
that offer 'more better' aftertouch than low cost models. But you know this already.
poly aftertouch gone forever as an actual
> keyboard-based control;
probably true but not for certain. Unfortunately the market has proven over and over
that this is not an option enough people are willing to pay for. And there have been,
what, two(?) 'recent' keyboardds that even support release velocity (K5000s and XTk.)
arpeggiators multiplying in presets but not providing
> actual editing capability any more;
...becuase it's better done in software. Geez, how many arp enironment layers can be
had for Logic Audio alone? I'm certain it's a similar situation for Cubase/Sonare/etc.
tuning tables and intonation adjustment
> pretty much gone;
...again, not enough demand in the market for this feauture (you really should pick up
a couple of 2nd hand Ensoniq keyboards: maybe a VFX-SD or TS10 and a MR Rack.)
> vector synthesis gone;
...unless you count the ES2, XPhraze, and the upcoming Wavestation softsynth.
wavetables almost gone (at least
> until MX4 comes out and someone ports the PPG tables into it)...
see above - not too mention the Waldorf PPG VSTi and the MW XT series. And then
there always additive softsynth such as Virsyn, Vertigo and Zebra.
>
> There have been a few victories (better modulation routings, more interesting
> oscillator structures, better but not perfect time sync of parameters to
> global clocks) but they've been few and far between.
>
User Interfaces and build qualtiy have improved dramatically. Have you checked out
the Access Indigo or Waldord MicroQ keyboards? Built like tanks they are (as is the
new Alesis ION and just about every Nord keyboard.)
> Don't mind me... it's Monday.
>
Okay ;-)
Jon