Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver Keyboard: Improvisation LIV

Published on Sep 11, 2015 Sacred Synthesis

"This piece is pure Evolver - every single note. I wanted to demonstrate two sounds: a string pad using the 2-pole filter setting and full resonance in which the cutoff frequency is swept with the modulation wheel, and a classic sawtooth solo patch. I offer these as musical examples of the Evolver's tone, and also as a comparison with the Prophet '08's versions of the same sounds.

The strings do "sizzle" in this improvisation, as synthesists often say of the Curtiss chip timbre. Many hate it and endlessly carry on about its insufferable tone, but I like it and find it distinctive. To my ears, it's reminiscent of the Polymoog. I specifically wanted to demonstrate its characteristics and give people a good listen to it in a musical context, although in the 2-pole filter mode it is a little mellower than in 4-pole. I don't know what I would do without this 2-pole; I use it constantly and really like it's extra ethereal effect on strings. I also wanted to improvise through the filter's range and linger especially around the mid range points, coming and going from them slowly; they offer a mysterious timbre all their own - choir-like in tone.

For the sawtooth patch, only the two analog oscillators were used, and the delay comes from the instrument itself - a feature I really appreciate. I would have preferred to have added the digital sawtooths as well, at least softly for added depth. But the digital aliasing - even on the sawtooth (waveshape #2) - is just terrible in the higher registers. This is one of my main criticisms of the Evolvers - the aliasing that makes many of the waveshapes nearly un-useable, at least in certain ranges. The Evolver in general is a noisy instrument, though still exceptional.

I would love to hear the Prophet 12 perform this piece, side-by-side for comparison. Would it sound as good, or better? I'm thinking....

Instrumentation:
DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard (2)
DSI Poly Evolver Rack
DSI Evolver Desktop
Hammond XPK 200L

Effects:
Lexicon MX300

Performed live and recorded directly to CD

All music on this channel is the property of Sacred Synthesis."