Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM
Subject: Re: [motm] Re: Buchla VCOs
From: jwbarlow@...
Date: 2003-06-08
Are there comparator modules? I know Serge didn't have pulse wave outs or PWM on his VCOs since you would presumably have a few outboard comparator modules which would allow you PWM, or use them for other comparator functions. Though I think it's worth it to have both PWM on the VCOs as well as external comparator modules.
I agree with your appraisal that a synth's "mojo" can be understood in terms of the electronic peculiarities and also idiosyncrasies of the interface (i.e., keyboard, sequencer, computer, controls, and patching necessities).
The MOTM 410 and 490 are great examples of taking the electronic peculiarities and adapting them.
In my earlier post about hoping that some of the mythic Buchla mojo might influence future MOTM modules was in terms of the interface (actual module selection, and the way they are used) and not in the electronic design. I want my VCOs to stay tuned and scaled and I want to have punchy percussive VCAs at my disposal when needed. But I wouldn't mind a bit more of the, "I wonder if I can use this module in this patch to make it a bit more weird?" I see some of that in the new 500 and 600 series.
JB
In a message dated 6/8/2003 8:56:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, synth1@... writes:
What I stress is ∗understanding∗ where the "karma" comes from. I claim that 99.99% of 'musical
karma', especially when dealing with electronics, can be understood AND explained.
There is both intent and luck in Karma Engineering. An example of intent is the use of Vactrols
as control elements. In the MOTM-410, several solutions were available for the CV of the bandpass
filters, but a Vactrol was chosen on purpose. It just has a certain response that people like.
The Moog filter is 100% luck :)
The same is true on the Buchla: has anyone noticed there are no VCAs??!? That's because the ARE
no VCAs in a Buchla. There is a Quad Lowpass Gate module that is Vactrol based, that is used as a
VCA (or cheesy LPF). This prevents 'snappy' envelopes, so the sound is "mushed up" like an
Oberheim Xpander is (the Xpander has SW envelopes that are infamous for non-snappy-ness).
Also, PWM is non-existent. This is a shame, as I am a fan of PWM.
I agree 100% that some people enjoy the fact the Buchla is (being kind) "non-repeatable".
However, that's not my ∗personal idea∗ of what make a "great" modular (to me, it makes a great
pain-in-the-ass modular).