MOTM

-----Original Message-----

From: Mike Estee [mailto:mikest@...] 

I've always thought it would be nice if one could standardize a 
schematic syntax for modulars. Something for describing topology, not 
so much as an exact sound (tweak the knobs!) I know there's already a 
schematic language for signal processing, and that might be a good 
place to start, but I was hoping for something a little higher level.



Way back in the Dark Ages (the 70's) there WAS a standard for this. In a
flowchart-like format, signal sources were drawn as circles (usually with
the waveform drawn in the center), control voltage sources (controllers)
were rectangles, and modifiers were triangles drawn 'pennant-like.' Signal
flow was generally drawn from left to right; control voltages went
vertically, with a tendency to put CV sources at the bottom affecting the
modifiers, etc. above them. Parameters were drawn under each element, etc.

This is what a lot of us used for many years. You can see it in a lot of old
issues of Keyboard and Polyphony (later Electronic Musician) magazines.

Then modulars winked out of view, and when they came back, it seems everyone
has completely forgotten these conventions. This came up about three years
ago and I mentioned this; few knew what I was talking about. It was
eventually dismissed as an "East-Coast thing."

Honest! This was really used! Widely, at the time, or so we thought! <g>

I've seen a similar convention used in academia.  Barton McLean's
Wavemaker 4 manual uses squares for audio sources, hexagons for audio
modifiers and circles for control voltage sources.  This manual will
eventually make it to my web site.

John Loffink
jloffink@... 

The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com/

The Wavemakers Modular and Integrated Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com/
> 
> Way back in the Dark Ages (the 70's) there WAS a standard for this. In
a
> flowchart-like format, signal sources were drawn as circles (usually
with
> the waveform drawn in the center), control voltage sources
(controllers)
> were rectangles, and modifiers were triangles drawn 'pennant-like.'
Signal
> flow was generally drawn from left to right; control voltages went
> vertically, with a tendency to put CV sources at the bottom affecting
the
> modifiers, etc. above them. Parameters were drawn under each element,
etc.
> 
> This is what a lot of us used for many years. You can see it in a lot
of
> old
> issues of Keyboard and Polyphony (later Electronic Musician)
magazines.
> 
> Then modulars winked out of view, and when they came back, it seems
> everyone
> has completely forgotten these conventions. This came up about three
years
> ago and I mentioned this; few knew what I was talking about. It was
> eventually dismissed as an "East-Coast thing."
> 
> Honest! This was really used! Widely, at the time, or so we thought!
<g>
>

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "Tkacs, Ken" <ken.tkacs@j...> wrote:
> Way back in the Dark Ages (the 70's) there WAS a standard for
> this. In a
> flowchart-like format...
> You can see it in a lot of old
> issues of Keyboard and Polyphony (later Electronic Musician)
> magazines.

That was always my favorite method of documenting patches.

And I got about four of my patches published in Polyphony way back 
then! I think I made $5.00 per accepted patch, which may very well 
be the first professional music gig I ever had!  :)

-Russell