Wiard Design: My near-final take
2002-11-23 by konkuro
So as not to drag this out forever and hit this forum with multiple konkurograms in a row, I've addressed several posts here. As the Hon. Peake pointed out, I have found this exchange quite informative. I still have issues with some aspects of the Wiard design philosophy, but now have a much better understanding of why some people find it attractive. Nigil wrote: >By the way, have you seen some of the new non-300 series (ie: blue) modules that he has been working on lately? They are visually more up your alley! And they are cheaper too! < I didn't see any in the Photos section, though there were some nice silver ones, but for the fact that the jack field isn't centered (which bugs me more than anything). Bill S. wrote: >Exactly my point, as the comparison was between apples and oranges. While I would never place a functional vocoder in a living area, a Wiard has a personality that transforms it into a conversation piece, even among those that do not value synths as much as we do. The nature of the graphics in both instruments serves a different purpose.< You know, you ALMOST won on this point--that the Wiard can double as decoration when not in use as a synth (kind of like a piano). But there are still problems: 1.) The Wiard is rack-mount by default. How many people have racks in their living rooms, or would want them there? As stage dressing, the graphics can't be seen from afar, so they don't work well in that regard either. 2.) Again, if the aesthetics were of that much importance, the jack field would not be askew. That would be like a grand piano with the keyboard shifted three inches to the left. >No trouble, but some people revel in looking at an instrument for the instrument itself - that is a fact of life. I contemplate my Serge from time to time, and admire it as an electronic sculpture of sorts.< You should see my beautiful .com! :-) >The hammer example, unfortunately, does not illustrate the point being discussed - if you talk about a hammer, then we should be talking about screwdrivers, clearly not the center of our discussion.< What about Jan Hammer? :-) You did not grasp my analogy. "Hark, Pagan, while I expound!" [Line from The Royal Hunt of the Sun] A beautiful table is an end. A carpenter uses a hammer as a means to create that end. A beautiful composition is an end. A musician uses a synthesizer to create that end. Whether or not the hammer is exquisitely carved has no bearing on its function, which is to drive nails using a weight on a stick. By the same token, whether or not a synth has cat girls painted on it (please tell me there really isn't a synth like that) has no bearing on its function as a tool used to achieve an end. >Have you seen the Baroque clavichords, their ornaments and fine woods?< Seen them? I used to be able to look at one and tell you when and where it was made. But that was a long time ago. >Again, it is a personal thing to find Wiard's graphics beautiful or detracting - it all comes down to a matter of taste.< On that we agree. But I do think such things as jack placement should be give more thought in the future. Norman Fay wrote: >John, it occurs to me that as the Wiard's pots, sockets and LEDs are not circuit board mounted, if there are any of the modules whose functions, sound etc are interesting to you, you could have Synthesizers.com - style front panels made up to take them. The Wiard is powered by a +15v/0/-15v DC supply, so that part of interfacing it would be no problem.< Hmmmm.... Now THAT is an actual possibility! >Larry Hendry and Cynthia Webster have produced panels to bring other makers' modules into the MOTM and ModCan systems respectively, as you've no doubt seen, so perhaps you could do the same for your system! Admit it! This is an excellent idea!< Yes, it is. And funny you should mention it. As we speak, I'm having some custom panels being made in .com format. If it works out, I plan to convert several designs from other synth mfgrs. to the .com format (though I may need to find a more efficient means of getting panels screened). Among these would be a Blacet time machine, Blacet VCADSR, MOTM sub octave Mux (minus those slippery pots), and some others. >I heartily recommend the Omni Filter and Borg Filters to you as two of the finest analogue synthesiser modules available to-day!< How well do they track? >(PS I have several email address nom-de-plumes because it comes in handy to track where the SPAM is coming from, haha that's the same spam that they carefully research yer web usage so as to target you, before sending the same bloody herbal vi*gra & expand yr member garbage they send to everyone else. Plus, er, it's phun!)< Whew! I'm glad I'm not the only person bombarded daily with spam for Viagra and kits for enlarging one's *membrum.* I was beginning to wonder what the hell made the spammers think either was being sought... Steve wrote: >Im guessing there are more "sonic explorers" in the Wiard camp than in that of any other Marque. Drawn in by the quirkyness and personality of the machine, Grant has made electromechanical art for these intrepid explorers. . < That would make a great "pull quote" for Wiard. A very nice post, BTW. CW wrote: >Doesn't anyone think that the design has become bigger than the synth? It's a shame that the two occasions this list has buzzed with activity in the last year have been the two times the faceplate has been discussed. Seems easily to be the biggest talking point of the Wiard system Again, it's a shame when you look at all the other things it has going for it.< Or, it could be clever marketing on Wiard's part. johnm