Wiardgroup

I believe one of Wiard's strengths is the integration of features and
functions.  To me this means more than adding VCAs or AR generators to
modules, it is the interaction between the functions that is
interesting.  To date I only own the Wogglebug, but this may be one of
the best examples.  The decaying sinusoidal "woggles" add a second
dimension to the sound.  Taking the audio tones of two woggle parents to
create the ring modulated child tones then produces a third audible
dimension.  This would be a very complex patch in any other system.  It
almost takes you to a "macro" level of synthesis where you can
concentrate on more complex levels of audio.

Another aspect is the combination of controls, both manual and voltage
inputs.  A noise generator connected to a S&H is the simplest
manifestation of a random generator, but once integration of additional
features such as slew, PLLs and feedback paths occurs then the potential
multiplies, rather than just being additive.

The danger with this approach is that the module might be a "one trick
pony."  It could become a single purpose device that is automatically
recognized and ultimately clichéd when used in a composition.  I believe
Grant has avoided this by bringing out the basic functions in
combination with the interactive ones.  Taking the stepped, smoothed or
woggled control voltages to filter CV inputs of a filter and the child
tones to the filter audio inputs adds another "macro" level to the
synthesis.  A combination of a Wogglebug with a Borg Filter (hereafter
called the WoggleBorg) would, with just a few patch cords, create an
interesting stereo tone generation and modification system.  Add in a
Mixolater, and you now have a complete stereo aleatoric synthesizer.
That's a very powerful statement on integrated synthesizer design.

John Loffink
jloffink@austin.rr.com 

> I do tend to assume that everybody knows about the Wiard's strengths
but
> if I think about it, I guess that's kinda absurd really.... (why would
> they be reading if they already knew everything... right???) after
all,
> this is the first place I look for new things to stuff in the muzzle
of my
> patchcord blunderbuss!