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Subject: Re: [motm] Delay any Delay buying :)

From: Mike Estee <mikest@...>
Date: 2003-10-31

> The good thing about a Delay as a part of a _modular_ synth is that
> you can
> add a lot of features just as you need it, with other modules. Don't
> worry
> about the "right" Loop filter for these echoes growing "distant"
> (loosing
> bass and treble) - you can patch this up with any regular VCF in the
> system.

Amen! This is exactly what I'm talking about.

> What you ∗do∗ need is a _limiter_. Really. Especially with a lot of
> external stuff patched in, which will push the loop gain above unity
> easily, you want a limiter. Digital, part of the DSP code.

Unless the feedback path is all software, wouldn't the limiter need to
be before the AD? :( Saturated ADs sound horrible :(

> And provide a lot of Delay time. 20 seconds minimum. RAM is cheap
> nowadays, and all the Loop Artists will run and buy a MOTM delay

You know, you could probably get away with supporting regular DIMMs and
adding a bit of glue to make delay time dependent on how much Joe MOTM
User is willing to pony up for RAM. This pushes the cost of RAM down
through volume ;) Heck, can you even ∗buy∗ a 16MB simm anymore? In my
music I personally have never found a use for a delay longer than about
4 seconds, but for looping 20 seconds is probably scraping by. Be the
first on your block to have 1GB delay/looper ^_^

> if they can use it as a Looper. Provide switches for clean doubling
> and halfing (is that the word?) of delay time, in addition to CV
> inputs.
> Loopers like this. And a CV input for adding Tape-echo-like wow and
> flutter.

It seems to me like a delay and looper probably belong in different
modules. There are a certain class of features you want for looping
that aren't all that interesting for a delay line, and vise versa. I
have to admit, my lack of imagination is drawing blanks as to how a
looper would be really useful within the signal path of a patch. It
seems like more of a post processing toy. I can certainly imagine using
an electrix repeater with a motm during a performance, but I have a
hard time imagining how it would make sense within a patch.

Anyone care to enlighten me?


> Make it stereo, if it's possible.

I really like Paul's multi-use format modules. It's a VCA, but a two
channel VCA with slightly different behavior for slightly different
problems. Or the filters with their double duty as clean sine wave
generators with 1V/Oct control. Or the White/Pink/Slow/Vibrato/S&H
module. I get good milage out of that one ;)

--mikes