Wiardgroup

hello to everybody i am beginner and i do not have a Wiard but i 
listen to it and i like it very much!

I read on the Wiard website this :

"We do not recommend these instruments for beginning synthesists. 
These modules are typically used to expand existing modular systems"

Why is not for beginners? Is really so difficult to use it?

And why is typically used with other modular? It has lfo, vca, 
filters, noise source, oscillators.... i think it is complete.

I can afford to buy 2 modular systems ... do you think it will a good 
think to buy Wiard as first and only Modular systems?

thanks to everybody.

Roberto

Sorry for my bed english.

Hello Roberto,

Thank you for posting.

As a very enthusiastic fan all synthesizers, I would not want you 
to purchase an instrument that is so complicated that you decide 
you don't like synthesizers at all. So to protect the begining 
synthesist from being overwhelmed, and possibly discouraged, 
I recommend people begin their learning on a less complex 
instrument.

It is like learning to fly an airplane. You need to start learning on 
simpler models and then work your way up to more complex 
aircraft. The basic skills remain the same, but the number of 
controls increases dramatically along with the number of 
decisions which must be made.

The Wiard modular comes from a family of modular synthesizers 
sometimes called "the West Coast school". They started with the 
Buchla modulars and the ideas are continued in the Serge and 
Wiard modulars.

In this school of thought, the functions of the modules are more 
generalized than that of the East Coast modulars (Moog, ARP)

For example, an ADSR envelope generator only provides ADSR 
envelopes, they can not be recycled and usually are not voltage 
controllable. In the case of more generalized envelope 
generators, such as the Wiard "Envelator" or Serge "Universal 
Slope Generator", the ADSR envelope is only a small part of 
what the module can do.

Since most of the educational materials available are oriented 
toward the East Coast designs, they are easier for the beginning 
synthesist to learn on. Also, once you have a grasp of the 
fundamental principles of synthesis, the added functions of the 
West Coast type seem natural and logical. And the manuals for 
the Wiard assume you already understand synthesizer 
terminology and basic functions.

I hope you enjoy whatever instrument you decide upon.

Best Regards,

Grant Richter

--- In wiardgroup@y..., trobly100@l... wrote:
> hello to everybody i am beginner and i do not have a Wiard but i 
> listen to it and i like it very much!
> 
> I read on the Wiard website this :
> 
> "We do not recommend these instruments for beginning 
synthesists. 
> These modules are typically used to expand existing modular 
systems"
> 
> Why is not for beginners? Is really so difficult to use it?
> 
> And why is typically used with other modular? It has lfo, vca, 
> filters, noise source, oscillators.... i think it is complete.
> 
> I can afford to buy 2 modular systems ... do you think it will a 
good 

> think to buy Wiard as first and only Modular systems?
> 
> thanks to everybody.
> 
> Roberto
> 
> Sorry for my bed english.

Hi Roberto,

I would go for a simple+cheap synth with  knobs and buttons like the 
Doepfer MS404 where the knobs always show the real settings. You then 
have to "program" every sound from scratch and learn VERY fast. Oh, 
and don't buy a Yamaha FS1R. Thats the most difficult thing to 
program (next to a PPG Waveterm...).

Olivier 





--- In wiardgroup@y..., trobly100@l... wrote:
> hello to everybody i am beginner and i do not have a Wiard but i 
> listen to it and i like it very much!
> 
> I read on the Wiard website this :
> 
> "We do not recommend these instruments for beginning synthesists. 
> These modules are typically used to expand existing modular systems"
> 
> Why is not for beginners? Is really so difficult to use it?
> 
> And why is typically used with other modular? It has lfo, vca, 
> filters, noise source, oscillators.... i think it is complete.
> 
> I can afford to buy 2 modular systems ... do you think it will a 
good 

> think to buy Wiard as first and only Modular systems?
> 
> thanks to everybody.
> 
> Roberto
> 
> Sorry for my bed english.