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Message

Re: polyphony

2003-06-19 by steve_the_composer

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Ravi Ivan Sharma" <noision1@h...> wrote:
> I AM REALLY OFFENDED! Oh brother again.


Sorry I offened you again. 

Please lighten up; don't be offended.  Forgive this old-timer for 
trying to get caught up with new uses for old terminology.

I can remember when the first polyphonic Moog came out (early '70s). 
A music store salesman tried to tell me monophonic meant you can play 
more than one note at a time and polyphonic meant you can play only 
one note at a time.

I still think he had it backwards.

Of course, the 1969-1970 generation Moog could have multiple notes 
sounded simultaneously but only one key at a time on the keyboard 
could trigger the complex sound.  Back then it was called monophonic.

Yet, when I sent the output of 2 different envelope generator 
controlled VCAs through two trunk lines into a two track tape 
recorder, I had stereo. I suppose it could be called 2 voice non-
polyphonic stereo.  ;-)

And to think, 33 years later each E-Mu layer (that is, each 
monophonic voice of which my Command Station has 128) has at least a 
billion times the functionality and complexity of the Moog.  Phew!

  
--Steve 8-)

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