MATRIXSYNTH: Wiard Suitcase Modular in the Works?


Saturday, April 07, 2007

Wiard Suitcase Modular in the Works?

There's been some talk on the Wiard list about Grant working on a suitcase modular. Note this is purely speculation although Grant did write back to the list with the following when asked: "I am attempting to do something on the difficulty level of the Yamaha DX7. Whereas Yamaha has hundreds of people to work on such projects, I am only one person.
Also I have to invent all of this technology from the ground up. There are no existing designs to copy, and no reseach papers to "crib" from."

He also previously mentioned:
"I apologize for any confusion my remark has caused.

I have spent hundreds of man hours over the last 3 years researching new synthesizer technology in advanced controllers and advanced multidimensional waveshaper and wave terrain oscillators.

Like the other Wiard modules, these ideas are new and unique. Because they are so new, the exact method of implementing them is not entirely clear to me yet. But I have far too much invested already to simply abandon the ideas.

When I mentioned the Envelooper, I was hoping someone would come forward in the manner of "I think this would work for this application that I have in mind." People (and myself) still need more time to mull over the application for such advanced devices.

In regards to a fully integrated synthesizer; Many of the great synth companies historically began with modulars, and then released fully integrated instruments. ARP began with the 2500 series and later produced the Oddysey. Moog began with the 900 series and later produced the Mini-Moog. Emu began with a modular and later produced integrated instruments.

Of course, the integrated instruments never have the full capability of the parent modular. There are always design trade offs. While I would like to produce an integrated instrument sometime in the future, it will not be a replacement for the 300 or 1200 series, but will contain a scaled down version of those unique technologies. First I have to finish developing those technologies, before I can concern myself with how best to package them.

At his exact moment, my concern is with getting the existing designs so I can produce them for the next 3 to 5 years. The Envelooper design project has only been placed on the back burner until I can catch up with stocking parts and building your orders.

My use of the word "dropped" was unfortunate because it gave the impression I had abandoned the project. I have not. The Envelooper module and Walkabout Oscillator are still being researched. I have working prototypes of both designs, but they need to be improved for manufacture. I also need to reseach if ideas like downloadable wavetables are fesible.

I apologize again for any confusion."

10 comments:

  1. sounds cool....way too many cool modular products about

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  2. i dont know too much about Grant, I have spoken to him a few times, but I am starting to understand he is up there with Ken Stone, Peter G and Mike at Livewire as thinkers outside the module (box)

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  3. cant wait for my 300 series :-)

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  4. damn, if he puts some kind of a matrix patchbay on it like the one on the ems or something I would get one for sure

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  5. Hey but never to much Wiard modules.
    Hopefully he will be enjoying producing these modules and developing new ones.
    And i hope that people stop crying about and about plexiglass face plates to.
    The discussions going on the Wiard list weren't that funny anymore.
    Hands up for Grant Richter!

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  6. Agreed - I'd LOVE to see new product from Grant without the overhead of costly faceplates... I just dont understand peoples nostalgia for huge metal monoliths. Well, ok I guess I do... :)

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  7. If you want cheap stuff get a Doepfer.
    :)

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  8. Cheap faceplates, ya, but cheap guts... no thank you. Assuming the things don't crack when you patch into them... I don't know my own strength ;)

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  9. of course what we are all REALLY waiting for is that super-cheap line of Behringer modules :)

    ReplyDelete

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