[LAU] Hardware synths

[Chuckk Hubbard]

On Dec 1, 2007 2:31 AM, TheRevoltingX <therevoltingx at gmail.com> wrote:
> Since I've never owned a hardware synth I'm only speaking theoretically
> but I don't think that there's anything that my baby Csound can't
> reproduce if not improve upon.

Amen.
Csound, among others, is a bona fide programming language; that means
that any technique executed by a computer inside any synth (or any
refrigerator, microwave, or BMW) can be implemented using Csound.
The difference between a programmable computer and a dedicated
computer inside a hard synth is that the programmable one has to be
prepared to do other things too, so there may be more work involved in
emulating the hard synth.  But that also means that it would be
possible to emulate any number of hard synths at the same time, feed
them into each other, vocode with them, etc.
Analog is a different question, one that analog freaks don't even want
to debate.  Meh.  I like analog sounds, but I like precise tuning
control better.

As far as the interface, all a computer does is take input and give
output; where the input comes from and where the output goes is up to
the user.  You could hook up the exact same knobs and buttons to input
to a softsynth in any way whatsoever.
Granted, there is often a steeper learning curve for programmable
softsynths; but there is a higher learning curve for English than for
Hawaiian, and that doesn't mean Hawaiian is more useful for writing
poetry.

-Chuckk

-- 
http://www.badmuthahubbard.com