4 ms·

using some several times a week, used to design some and built many to be fully pedantic, simulation is often called virtual analog :) random thoughts: - abl

using some several times a week, used to design some and built many to be fully pedantic, simulation is often called virtual analog :) random thoughts: - ableton had some synthesis lessons with interactive demos. - modular is great to learn cv/patching basics - moog werkstat is cheap and patchable - you can certainly find old second hand doepffer modules for a bargain (modular is very expensive) - VCV rack will give you the same experience, on your computer, for free - not exactly the same experience actually, turning a knob and having 1000 dancing and shooting in front of u is always a nice experience, try that sweep with a mouse cursor - similarly, having a failed cable, among many, in front of same audience is nicely terrifying:) - if you're ready to spend nights burning yourself with a soldering iron, there's a lot of ressources for "synth diy". - analog used to sound better due to non-linearities and harmonics, nowadays good (and expensive) plugins achieve impressive results but requires massive cpu - it's much funnier to travel with suitcases full of very expensive gear rather than just a computer. who doesn't dream of TSA destroying your most valuable belongings:)

cronix 5y ago
I actually think modular is the best way to learn vs an all-in-one synth unit. Instead of "Ignore 99% of what you see in front of you, we are going to isolate an oscillator," you just give them an oscillator. Hook it up, hear it. Now change the tone by altering the cv input. Now add a filter by connecting the output to the filter input. I just think it's a lot easier to learn what each component does independently (as much as possible...can't have a filter without something to actually filter) and how they interact without adding the complexity of everything at once. Kind of "additive learning" which is easier than "subtractive learning" :)
PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
If you have a 1000 MIDI knobs, you can connect them all to VCV Rack and have the same experience. It works also if you only have 1. And with Stoermelder's Sail module, the knob can be dynamically assigned to wherever the mouse is, which sometimes feels even easier to use than actual modular. Remember that you can generally only operate 2 knobs at once with your hands, but can get good at using 8 faders at once. > analog used to sound better due to non-linearities and harmonics, It sounds different, not better. > who doesn't dream of TSA destroying your most valuable belongings Given what TSA did to Ballaké Sissoko's hand-made kora (a west African stringed instrument), I'm not sure that anything is safe.
- immmmmm 5y ago
  being corrected by Paul Davis himself is too much of an honor! much, much, much respect, Sir! (sorry writing that too quickly) never used Sail, but sounds good! thanks reminding me i miss 8 hands and 3 brains when performing live :) i have a midibox 8 motorized fader project waiting for an enclosure somewhere, but never really thought of it as more simultaneous controls. but indeed. will probably write a m4l patch to handle long sweeps while doing other stuff too. > it sounds different, not better agreed, sry > Given what TSA did to Ballaké Sissoko's hand-made kora (a west African stringed instrument), I'm not sure that anything is safe. i was thinking of a story by Underground Resistance, but the one you mention is even worst.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
    > (sorry writing that too quickly) well, not really :) There is still a fairly big difference between having all the knobs for module A as part of the faceplate of module A rather than just mapped to some generic MIDI knob surface. Maybe not as much as some people claim, but not zero.
    - immmmmm 5y ago
      yes indeed. i'd further say that having physical patch cables, at least for me, tend to push to more experimentation especially for modulations, at the expense of having patches that are difficult to reproduce. in the end both have their advantages and inconvénients.

cronix 5y ago

I actually think modular is the best way to learn vs an all-in-one synth unit. Instead of "Ignore 99% of what you see in front of you, we are going to isolate an oscillator," you just give them an oscillator. Hook it up, hear it. Now change the tone by altering the cv input. Now add a filter by connecting the output to the filter input. I just think it's a lot easier to learn what each component does independently (as much as possible...can't have a filter without something to actually filter) and how they interact without adding the complexity of everything at once. Kind of "additive learning" which is easier than "subtractive learning" :)

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago

If you have a 1000 MIDI knobs, you can connect them all to VCV Rack and have the same experience. It works also if you only have 1. And with Stoermelder's Sail module, the knob can be dynamically assigned to wherever the mouse is, which sometimes feels even easier to use than actual modular. Remember that you can generally only operate 2 knobs at once with your hands, but can get good at using 8 faders at once. > analog used to sound better due to non-linearities and harmonics, It sounds different, not better. > who doesn't dream of TSA destroying your most valuable belongings Given what TSA did to Ballaké Sissoko's hand-made kora (a west African stringed instrument), I'm not sure that anything is safe.

immmmmm 5y ago
being corrected by Paul Davis himself is too much of an honor! much, much, much respect, Sir! (sorry writing that too quickly) never used Sail, but sounds good! thanks reminding me i miss 8 hands and 3 brains when performing live :) i have a midibox 8 motorized fader project waiting for an enclosure somewhere, but never really thought of it as more simultaneous controls. but indeed. will probably write a m4l patch to handle long sweeps while doing other stuff too. > it sounds different, not better agreed, sry > Given what TSA did to Ballaké Sissoko's hand-made kora (a west African stringed instrument), I'm not sure that anything is safe. i was thinking of a story by Underground Resistance, but the one you mention is even worst.
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  > (sorry writing that too quickly) well, not really :) There is still a fairly big difference between having all the knobs for module A as part of the faceplate of module A rather than just mapped to some generic MIDI knob surface. Maybe not as much as some people claim, but not zero.
  - immmmmm 5y ago
    yes indeed. i'd further say that having physical patch cables, at least for me, tend to push to more experimentation especially for modulations, at the expense of having patches that are difficult to reproduce. in the end both have their advantages and inconvénients.