I keep having visions of a polyphonic synth where everything is visible without the aid of editing/gui software. It could either be discrete or IC analog. It would have to have the capability of saving presets. Also NO MENUS! Everything right in front of you.
1)So I’m looking at pictures of the Jupiter 8…looking at the sliders. WHAT IF a synth was made with AUTOMATED SLIDERS? So with every preset, everything shifts?
2)Or how about an alternative to patch chords. Every in/out has a small knob with a number from 1-100 or whatever. You want oscililator 1 to go to an envelope? put the “out” knob on 1 and the “in” for the the envelope on 1. There…patched without a patch chord.
So much can be done with a DSI synth via software. I wish it all were on the front. I’m looking at the Tetra software right now. It could all be on a keyboard. I’m sick of needing software on the fly.
And before someone mentions cost…people would be willing to pay. I would. How much more could it reall cost? I doubt thousands.
Since dreaming doesn’t cost more than a certain dissatisfaction with your current gear…
An ultimate synth, to your personal tastes, would probably be best accomplished by hiring someone
to build you a bunch of modular components. Switches fail, and point to point wiring is a real time-
intensive method of construction. Unless you have time and years of assembly skills, and a deep pocket-
I can’t see it feasible at all. But then, I’m over 50.
Others here have gone the route of crafting their own rack systems, and thankfully the market supports
the manufactures of rack parts, and all the electronics, etc. I haven’t a clue what it would cost; maybe a second mortgage…
Automated sliders would break more easily than knobs.
I’d go with a modern version of an EMS pin panel, like on the Vostok.
I personally am not in the market for a Moog poly, but i think around 4-4.5k would be a good price range, with a 2.5-5k rack model.
I think an ergonimic and intuitive synth can be produced very cheap with today’s technology!
The interface should be a big touch sensitive display which shows faders or knobs. I think this can be made for less then 3000 €, however i’m shure that this beast will not be build by moog.
I absolutely hope that does not happen haha. You may as well buy a iPad, or wait for a bigger iPad to come out, haha.. Or a Lemur or something… It might as well be software if its lacking any real physical controls other than a touchscreen for digital input.
I totally want knobs. Motorized faders could be cool. But I like knobs. Buttons and switches are acceptable too within limit.
Too expensive. Look at the LP and T3 to see where the design ethos is probably headed.
While it’s great having hands-on control for everything, a polysynth is usually programmed in advance. I’m speaking for myself, but I find it hard to tweak much more than the filter and a few envelope controls while playing full chords, and also other instruments. A different story for a monosynth where you’re only playing with one hand.
That’s why I’d advocate for an interactive display (I’ve said a couple times before, with visible CV/audio routing on-screen) with some dedicated and/or assignable knobs.
My only worry is in 20+ years, if I still like using my Tetra, will there be editing software for whatever operating systems at that time? Do these hardware synths with software editing have a shelf life?
You don’t have to worry about that with an Oberheim OB-X or a Jupiter 8 etc… If they still work, you can edit sounds no problem. Try getting inside a DSI tabletop synth without the software gui.
I want a DSI where everything is easily accessible without software.
