A4: a better form factor for modular synthesizers?

Rick Jelliffe sent me a link to an article he wrote on O'Reilly Digital Media which proposes a new form factor for modular synthesizers. The form factor? A4 - the standard size for a sheet of paper outside North America and the Phillipines. The article is in response to Grant Richter of Wiard calling for the use of different materials for modular faceplates to cut down costs (see this post). Title link takes you to full article. The following is an excerpt:

"But for the rest of us, Grant is entirely right, but it is more than just the cost, it is also the time delay and logistics and also the lack of flexibility that causes users problems. Why is it that we currently have the several dozen different form factors for synthesizer modules?

I think there is another way to approach the issue that solves several other problems, especially for the new and DIY maker: adopt A4 (the paper size used outside North America and the Philippines) as the standard size for module front panels. 210 x 297 millimeters or 8.27 x 11.69 inches.

The first question that probably will pop up is Rick are you insane? A4 is about the same size as US letter paper, surely that is way too big? Plus it isn’t an even multiple of any of the current standard sizes…what gives?

Well, lets start off by redefining the problem. DIY people need to buy the expensive panels because they don’t have the skills or tools to cut and make decent panels themselves. But buying in a good-looking panel has a hidden cost: it makes it difficult to evolve and experiment with the module, in particular with anything that requires new knobs, lights or jacks: so new functionality has to go into a new module, which then needs a new panel. Plus if spend your cash on panels, you don’t have a brass razoo for other modules: there is a substitution cost. So Grant is right that the cost of panels is a disincentive to purchasing panels, but it is also a disincentive to incrementally evolving them."

syntezatory.prv.pl - korg prophecy

YouTube via Jexus.

zorlon cannon demonstration

YouTube via meatlog.

"test of a voltage-controlled audio noise / pseudorandom gate generator module inspired by the atari 8-bit computer's sound generation algorithm"

The Havestman

Korg M1 Synthesizer

Korg M1 Synthesizer - Part One


Korg M1 Synthesizer - Part Two "Plus 1" Expansion

YouTube via williamenroh.

Matrixsynth by Johan

Click the image for a bigger shot. Via Johan of random voltage. Guess the synth.
Pretty damn cool. Thanks Johan! BTW, I make this my new wallpaper. It looks great centered on black.

Descent - Parallax

YouTube via hamsterdunce, aka Dave of umop and The Packrat.

"Original song - get CD on umop.com! More progressive rock ultra wanky horse puckey for you."

Ensoniq FIZMO

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. This one almost went up on Matrixsynth-b, but I really like this shot. I remember when the FIZMO came out. It bombed because people were expecting it to sound like an agressive analog style synth, because of all the knobs. It doesn't emulate analog well at all. Why? Because it's a transwave synth which was Ensoniq's rendition of wavetable synthesis. The oscillator sources were what they called transwaves which you could sweep through in time. It made for some interesting textures. FIZMO was an appropriate name as it was definitely capable of some fizzy sounds. For an example of an oddball FIZMO sound, check out this post. When I first ran across it, it reminded me a bit of a drawn out pad in the same vein of COIL's After the Snow. If you ever plan to own a FIZMO, be sure to read this. If you don't you might find yourself with a dead FIZMO.

Previous FIZMO posts

Solaris Interview at the Messe with Samples

Title link takes you to a podcast on delamar.de. Scroll to get to the player when you get there. Midway John plays a few sounds followed by talking about the synthesis engine.

Via fat eric in the comments of this post. fat eric babblefished the following off of delemar.de. Thanks fat eric! These are the first samples of the Solaris I'm aware of.

"One of the few highlights on the music fair 2007 for me is surely the Solaris, a Synthesizer, which was developed of nobody smaller than John Bowen. The Solaris began as semimodular software Synth for the Scope DSP maps of CreamWare, where it gained fast a good reputation as versatile applicable Synth. Marc and I had the large pleasure the symphatischen and still inspired Synth veterans to interviewen - the result can hear you as Podcast at the end of the article. With the Solaris it acts around a Synthesizer based on SHARC DSPs with 5 oktaven a keyboard, which with a 96kHz audio engine works. Under that about 40 buttons are 5 LCDs, which represent the button parameters. Additionally there is a graphic display, whose use us is not yet completely clear. The algorithms used in the Solaris are to be waited and improved occasionally over software updates. Also extensions are technically feasible and planned according to John Bowen. Perhaps it will also give at a later time some the Scope algorithms for the Solaris. However - John Bowen recommends to switch on and straight on play the equipment simply. The secrets reveal themselves then allegedly automatically. Who cannot allude the hippen Synth with a music shop, should absolutely clean-hear in the Podcast, because it enters or other hearing sample of the master there himself. An inspiring Synth, which by play joy and great sounds from the mass out-stings. The price will lie around the EUR3000. -. Thank you at John Bowen for the interview!"

Modular Cube

Via sequencer.de.

Arturia Jupiter-8V Demo Available

Title link takes you to the download.