Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Hey Dave, list,

Thanks for the feedback on my grouchy post. The following is what I'm
concerned about (from Dave V's post):

"possibly, too, the issue arises due to considerations about panel space and
the cost of adding additional controls that may seem to be of minimal use.
notwithstanding, i agree that more options are better than fewer!"

This seems to come up a lot. I understand that Paul needs to be able to sell
some of these things, and therefore he can't have ultra-expensive (and
LED-heavy [j/k!]) designs for each module.

I hate sounding redundant (yeah, right, ask my friends), but "additional
controls that may seem to be of minimal use" are the only reason for me to
build this modular. I already have synthesizers that are soup to nuts in
sound creation (most of us do I'm sure), have some neat modulation
capabilities, and even have esoteric functions unique to that particular
instrument. But most of them do not have many "additional controls that may
seem to be of minimal use" (well, there is that 'sequencer' on my Moog
Source...). I'm all about minimal use!

A lot of the music I work on involves symmetrical or accumulative sequence
approaches. The overall structures, including tempi, the pitches, even the
timbres are based on relationships within the overall context of the piece
rather than a stylistic choice of "key" or anything else. My inspiration for
these pieces comes mostly from the instruments and coordinators themselves.
In other words, if I had an DADSR contour generator with VC for each stage,
I might sequence the changes to each stage in relation to each other as well
as in relation to other components of the sound making system (studio). In
fact, I've been dying to do just that (which is why I've had such a big
mouth on this issue). Perhaps some would look down their noses at me, but I
don't start with music in my head and find the appropriate instruments to
realize that music. I start with the tools and bang the sticks and rocks
together until I start finding some interesting relationships that are worth
developing (in my oh-so humble opinion).

And THAT'S why David's building a modular. If I were willing to compromise
on features, hell, I'd just buy Doepfer stuff. For the same cost that I have
in the MOTM right now, around $1300, I could have a pretty neat system with
a lot more ins and outs. But I evaluated and chose MOTM for its features,
ergonomics, and quality. Though a lot of the cost goes into the latter two
(large, heavy face plates, high-quality components and design), my money's
going for the features. And for a new case, oh, and more patch cords, but
those are separate issues.

Should be working,

David.