> First off, is this the right list?? This seems like sdiy-off-topic. The
> only posts about motm I've seen here have been from Paul Schreiber. Is
> there an announce-only list?? Is their a smaller motm list that is more
> on-topic??
>
Touche! The list has been very off topic of late. But you've got the right
one.
> I am looking to do two things with my motm:
> 1) process audio
> 2) generate mod sources to control other gear
>
> I want an LFO that I cab sync to an incoming clock, and several people
have
> told me to check out the 320 LFO. Besides having a superior LFO, I've
> compared motm to several other manufactures, and these are my conclusions:
>
The MOTM VCLFO can sync to incoming clock, but that means the waveform will
be reset as well, including the sawtooth, sine or triangle output. If you
need contiguous waveforms from your synced LFO then the Encore UEG might
work better. Another option, assuming the incoming clock is a gate rather
than trigger signal, just feed it to an 820 VC Lag and control the rise and
fall times.
>
> Wiard -- Powerful, innovative, and space efficient, but too expensive. I
> love the idea of a joystick controller, but like most people I hate 1/8"
> jacks which is why they're probably going out of business.
>
One reason Wiard is so expensive because of the anodized front panels. Why
they'd build panels that will last 20 years with jacks that will only last a
couple is beyond me. Some very interesting modules though.
> Synthesizers.com -- While their systems seem very affordable, these people
> seem to have absolutely no imagination whatsoever. Not only do their
> modules demonstrate an utter dearth of innovative features, they stole
> their look from another manufacture. They couldn't even think of a better
> name than "synthesizers.com"!!
>
I've got their sequencer which is good but could use a few improvements.
Otherwise we're mostly in agreement. What scared me away was the web future
page: a few more modules and the system is done. What impressed me,
however, is that Roger seemed to have put together the whole package:
keyboard, cabinets, sequencer, and a complete (if basic) module set. I
think he'll do well with the crowd that always wanted a Moog modular.
> Doepfer -- I also already have two TB-303's and an SH-101, and that's all
> the flimsy crap with 1/8" jacks I'll ever need.
>
> RSIntegrator/AnalogueSystems -- Their assortment of modules seems fairly
> good, but all their prices were in British Pounds.
>
A tempting selection of modules if you put together Doepfer, Analogue
Solutions and Analogue Systems, but all built using those darned 1/8" jacks.
> Technosaurus -- While I love their name, the descriptions on their website
> seemed awfully vague.
>
Have been around a few years with the same modules. They've gotten good
reviews, but without new modules the feature set is still not much more than
basic. Technosaurus has lately been concentrating on small, feature limited
boxes.
> MOTM -- Extremely accurate, innovative, and not the least bit space
> efficient, with a limited number of modules that seems to be growing.
> While affordable in kit form, they seem a bit pricey when purchased
> assembled.
>
Paul passed my pop quiz on jack grounding and future module feature sets
with flying colors. I prefer the kit form. The modules are easy to put
together and the entire process of soldering and assembling is relaxing
IMHO. Remember that kits and other similar format modules are available
from Oakley, Blacet and Encore not to mention the Larry specials. The only
frustrating thing is waiting for the slow release rate of MOTM modules. But
quality is better than quantity if you're bulding a system you want to last
for decades.
> Serge -- Powerful, innovative, and space efficient, but way too expensive.
> Paul S. answers his email, but STS won't even pick up their phone -- do
the
> math.
>
My inquiry to Rex Probe in 1994 resulted in a bad xerox of an old catalog (I
had a better one from 1982) and a letter that said "Dir Sir, BLOOG!
Sincerely, Rex Probe". I'm still reeling from that one! I had always
wanted a Serge, I even took a university electronic music class last summer
to use a seven panel system in their studio. The Serge is very powerful but
the experience proved one thing to me, that my patches are too dense for a
compact system like the Serge and the smaller knobs were too wide ranging
and not subtle enough in their response. And the new higher prices were the
final straw.
> I am also looking to offset and invert envelopes and LFO's. For example,
I
> would like to take a bipolar LFO (that goes from -5V to +5V) and make it
go
> from 0V to 5V. I would also like to take envelopes and make them go the
> other way. Is there any part of the motm system that can do this??
>
I have to admit I bought a Synthesizers.com Signal Processor module to do
this. Nothing from MOTM yet.
> While an analog ring mod would be nice, I'm thinking that most of the
audio
> (samples, outputs from other synths) will already be VCA'ed. I also have
> several resonant pass filters that I can use with external sounds (eg.
> Frostwave Resonator, Mini Moog).
>
> I plan to mount the PS elsewhere, which gives me 10 units:
>
> 1) 910 mult
> 2-3) Encore UEG
> 4-5) 820 Lag Processor
> 6) 800 EG
> 7-8) 320 VC LFO
> 9-10) 410 Triple Resonant Filter
>
> How does that sound?? Is there anything that I might have overlooked??
This will give you some good modulation sources and for that I'd say the
UEG, 820 Lag and 320 VC LFO are virtually required. Overall this seems like
a good setup for a 5U modulation and processing system.
best,
John Loffink
microtonal@...