Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

> I think the rise of the DSP synths (Virus and esp. the Nord Modular) 
> is pointing in exactly this direction: a dedicated hardware interface 
> for a reprogrammable synth engine, providing the best of both worlds. 
> We're starting to see some "open" platforms, like the Chameleon; I 
> think these make more sense than the PC-with-knobs-on approach in 
> spite of the latter's instant compatibility advantage. Windows, no 
> matter how tweaked, is never going to be a match for an embedded, 
> synthesis-specific OS.
> 
> Roland should open up the VariOS to third-party developers, and 
> someone really needs to do a full-on tabletop DSP platform with a 
> good set of controls and the ability to load VST plugins, etc. One 
> tricky thing will be the multi-purpose interface...it's easy to 
> assume there'll always be at least a filter cutoff knob, but what 
> about more esoteric functions? How do you have dedicated knobs *and* 
> a flexible interface? Lots of LCDs, maybe, or a super touchscreen 
> display.


We've discussed this topic considerably at the ampfea.org music bar.
(I'm cross posting this to that list now to re-evoke the subject). 

I agree completely with everything you've said. What would you think is
important in a universal interface?

-m@