The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum
OTHER DISCUSSIONS => General Synthesis => Off Topic => Topic started by: Paul Dither on March 15, 2016, 03:05:04 PM
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Dear all,
Last week I had the pleasure to chat with Dave, who joined the Nashville Electronic Music & Synthesizer Group via Skype. Here's the video recording. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiEBRT9IZ3E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiEBRT9IZ3E)
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Great introduction!
I only got about 20 minutes into it, but I'll watch the rest tomorrow.
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Thanks, chysn - much appreciated! I'm looking forward to a critical analysis tomorrow. ;D
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I'm sort of live-posting this thing. I love the idea of an audio-rate sequencer at the beginning of the signal path.
Fact of the matter is, the Evolver pretty much already has a 128-step audio-rate sequencer in the form of custom waveform memory.
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I like his business philosophy, in general. I'm not an MBA or anything, but there's a lot to be said for doing what you want to do.
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I never considered the Prophet 6 as a contradiction of Dave Smith's desire to keep moving forward. He seems to have the same sort of duality that I do, oscillating between desire for hands-on simplicity and cerebral complexity. I keep around one instrument for each mode, so the Prophet 6 made a lot of sense as an instrument that moves forward.
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Contrary to what I said I would do, Paul, I stayed up late last night and listened to the entire interview. It was excellent. I liked that you asked Dave very specific and exacting questions. I've heard enough interviews with Dave by now that I feel I could answer the questions for him. They're often so general: "Tell us how you got into building synthesizers." "Do you have a favorite instrument over the years?" And so on. But your questions were obviously prepared beforehand. Plus, you also have a thorough knowledge of the Sequential Circuits and DSI histories. This allowed Dave to give us information that I haven't heard him give before. So, congratulations. I'm sure this interview will be enjoyed by hundreds or even thousands for some time.
I do have a few favorite parts. The best one-liner from Dave: 'I religiously avoid the forums.' I loved that line and laughed out loud when he said it. It makes perfect sense to me. Some might think that an instrument builder has an obligation to carefully monitor the views of his customers about his products. I say, avoid all the online blather and build your instruments as best you can. A little isolation is necessary to the creative mind. Besides, his staff can mention to him anything from the forums that might be worthwhile, such as maintenance issues.
My ears perked up near the beginning when you discussed (oh so briefly) the issues of the Evolvers and their unique stereo design. My ego thought for a moment that you were going to say, "There's this nut on the DSI forum who carries on about stereo this and stereo that, and he's ready to buy his fifth Poly Evolver! Dave, could you make him just a few more?". But Dave didn't take the bait like I wished he had. I guess he's not too sentimental. I thought he might have gone on a bit about his first precious little DSI piece. I would have enjoyed every word, since the Evolver has deeply influenced my whole approach to synthesis.
Perhaps the most newsworthy thing that Dave mentioned was that DSI is about to announce a new product in a month. That's actually what a few of us were expecting. If I remember correctly, this instrument will be another "surprising collaboration," but not with Tom Oberheim, and it sounded small-ish, rather than like a full-sized synthesizer. Did I get that right? In addition, they're working on another instrument for next year, but we all presume that much.
Now Paul, you had me scared stiff over Dave Smith retirement plans. But from the interview, it sounds as if he has no immediate plans for that, as if he can maintain his current pace for quite some time. I was relieved to hear it.
Thanks, again, Paul, for a unique interview and all the thought and preparation you obviously put into it. It was a delight for a DSI fan.
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I concur, it's an excellent piece of work all around.
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It really doesn't look good for dslsynth's hopes of seeing further low-cost instruments from DSI. It would have been untoward for Dave to just say, "Nope, never again." But he came about as close to saying that as decorum would allow.
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Right. On the small module issue, Dave gave as polite a "no" as he could. The only small inexpensive pieces that will likely come from DSI will be more Eurorack modules and hopefully effects devices. The latter is good news.
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Thank you all for the very kind words! I'm glad that the interview is that well received - especially on here.
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I'm sort of live-posting this thing. I love the idea of an audio-rate sequencer at the beginning of the signal path.
Fact of the matter is, the Evolver pretty much already has a 128-step audio-rate sequencer in the form of custom waveform memory.
We may have to found our own little synth company for that.
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It really doesn't look good for dslsynth's hopes of seeing further low-cost instruments from DSI. It would have been untoward for Dave to just say, "Nope, never again." But he came about as close to saying that as decorum would allow.
Yeah, that was precisely my thought too. Economically, though, it makes sense for me. If you look around these days, most people get excited by affordable pure analog hardware. And there is no way DSI could compete with a company like Korg for example. Things have shifted since the early days of DSI. When the early desktop modules came out there were no volcas or whatsoever around yet. One might still argue that the DSI modules are way more powerful than all the rest but to me it seems like the majority of customers are not really after complex engines, but rather specialized (and in that regard limited) and easy to handle units that can be had at a price that doesn't make you think twice.
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Contrary to what I said I would do, Paul, I stayed up late last night and listened to the entire interview. It was excellent. I liked that you asked Dave very specific and exacting questions. I've heard enough interviews with Dave by now that I feel I could answer the questions for him. They're often so general: "Tell us how you got into building synthesizers." "Do you have a favorite instrument over the years?" And so on. But your questions were obviously prepared beforehand. Plus, you also have a thorough knowledge of the Sequential Circuits and DSI histories. This allowed Dave to give us information that I haven't heard him give before. So, congratulations. I'm sure this interview will be enjoyed by hundreds or even thousands for some time.
Thank you! I felt the same about lots of previous interviews, so I wanted to avoid the obvious stuff. A great help was also David Abernethy's "The Prophet from Silicon Valley," which I still recommend to everyone who is into anything DSI-related.
I do have a few favorite parts. The best one-liner from Dave: 'I religiously avoid the forums.' I loved that line and laughed out loud when he said it. It makes perfect sense to me. Some might think that an instrument builder has an obligation to carefully monitor the views of his customers about his products. I say, avoid all the online blather and build your instruments as best you can. A little isolation is necessary to the creative mind. Besides, his staff can mention to him anything from the forums that might be worthwhile, such as maintenance issues.
Well, guess who I had to think of when he mentioned that? ;D
My ears perked up near the beginning when you discussed (oh so briefly) the issues of the Evolvers and their unique stereo design. My ego thought for a moment that you were going to say, "There's this nut on the DSI forum who carries on about stereo this and stereo that, and he's ready to buy his fifth Poly Evolver! Dave, could you make him just a few more?". But Dave didn't take the bait like I wished he had. I guess he's not too sentimental. I thought he might have gone on a bit about his first precious little DSI piece. I would have enjoyed every word, since the Evolver has deeply influenced my whole approach to synthesis.
He admitted though, that the true stereo path was a cool thing and that there might be a chance of having it implemented again. So who knows?
Perhaps the most newsworthy thing that Dave mentioned was that DSI is about to announce a new product in a month. That's actually what a few of us were expecting. If I remember correctly, this instrument will be another "surprising collaboration," but not with Tom Oberheim, and it sounded small-ish, rather than like a full-sized synthesizer. Did I get that right? In addition, they're working on another instrument for next year, but we all presume that much.
I'm not sure about the size, but since he emphasized that the big product coming by the end of the year or the beginning of the next one will be full-sized, the next one might be smaller. I was rather surprised to see how open he was about the possibility to create other poly synths based on the blueprint that has been created with the Prophet-6 and the OB-6 respectively.
Now Paul, you had me scared stiff over Dave Smith retirement plans. But from the interview, it sounds as if he has no immediate plans for that, as if he can maintain his current pace for quite some time. I was relieved to hear it.
Haha - that cliffhanger went overboard. I guess the basic question was only whether the company would go on without him being directly involved in a couple of years - especially since he has a very good and creative team around him.
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One month? ... until a new collaboration? ... wonder who that may be... who participate in that "synth club" that Dave attend sometimes? ... Tom he has collaborated with... MOOG is out of the question... Roger Linn is also done with... that leaves Don Buchla!? ... hardly so I believe.
But I'm exited to see what he comes up with... if it's anything revolutionary, or just another "voiceboard" to plug into the P6 engine like the OB6 is (with a few bells and whistles here and there... Dave style).
It has to be something truly unique to find it's way into one of my last 3 mixer channels ;D
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If it's Buchla then we will gave to wait a year after ordering to get it and sell our houses to fund it.
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It has to be something truly unique to find it's way into one of my last 3 mixer channels ;D
So you want left, right, and center?
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Wow! That was a lot of interesting info. I agree with SacredSynthesis-- there were some questions asked that seemingly never get asked... and I appreciate it so much!
A few points that really interested me:
1. Audio Rate Sequencer
I'd love to see this in Eurorack by DSI. I'm sure they would find a great interface for it with all the right CV control.
2. I wonder if the OB-6 SEM filter will be released in Eurorack...
3. RE: Delay (Evolver-style pitched feedback)
I've mentioned this before, but I think a 1v/oct. delay by DSI in Eurorack would be amazing.
4. Expressiveness w/ modern MIDI Controllers
I'm thinking of writing an email in support of the idea of separate MIDI channels per voice. Ideally for me, they would implement that onto the Tempest, but even if they started adding that feature to the newer instruments, that would be amazing. It's not even necessarily about the sound-- to me it's more about the nice interfaces and easy modulation routing systems that DSI synths offer. I think there is just so much potential! That is not to say that the sound isn't a big part of it :)
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Was hoping you would ask him about why no 8 voices and only small keyboards on the last two releases and any plans for 8 voices and 61 key synths soon.
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1. Audio Rate Sequencer
I'd love to see this in Eurorack by DSI. I'm sure they would find a great interface for it with all the right CV control.
That makes three of us. :)
Also: Thanks for the kind words!
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Was hoping you would ask him about why no 8 voices and only small keyboards on the last two releases and any plans for 8 voices and 61 key synths soon.
I didn't ask for the latter because it seemed to have been answered - or at least hinted at - by Dave referring to the larger scale synth planned for 2017.
As far as the voices go: I personally didn't find that too interesting myself and it wasn't on anybody's mind in the group either (neither in advance nor that night), so that's why the question didn't come up. Also: It has been done this way, so it doesn't really make sense to ask whether a Prophet-6 or OB-6 will reappear with 8 voices. I think we all know that the answer to that is "no," and if you'd like these synths to have more voices you can add a desktop module to the mix at any time (at least in the case of the Prophet-6).
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First of all thanks for a great interview, Paul. It was a pleasure to see! Did spot a few instances of academic decadence in the interview especially during the intro. Take that as a complement! ;)
One thing I was happy to learn is that DSI have hired an extra software developer. Wonder if he is just a replacement for their DSP programmer or if he will support Pym in his work too.
It really doesn't look good for dslsynth's hopes of seeing further low-cost instruments from DSI. It would have been untoward for Dave to just say, "Nope, never again." But he came about as close to saying that as decorum would allow.
Yeah, I am basically giving up on DSI ever being able to make something that will interest me again. Multi-timbral features are a specialist thing and so on. And yet it would make perfect sense for DSI to sell more affordable reduced voice count modules based on their flagship instruments with a simplified UI and OLED display. But no, rather be a high profile black and white dinosaur. Sad!
I disagree on people not wanting to pay the DSI price level for lower voice count modules. DSI are basically the only company out there making complex voices and the sound of the newer discrete electronics voices are very good. It would make perfect sense for DSI to make that available to a larger set of customers even though that is not their primary focus.
So fingers crossed for Mutable Instruments making a modular in a desktop module one of these years. ;)
My ears perked up near the beginning when you discussed (oh so briefly) the issues of the Evolvers and their unique stereo design.
For the record stereo panning of voices is not a nutcase thingy. It makes a significant difference on the sound produced. Prophet 12 does it the right way by permitting voice panning using the modulation matrix. Personally that is the way I would rather like to see it as it permits a stereo signal path whenever needed and having twice as many voices when its not needed. A specialized stack mode permitting easy stereo panning would be useful though.
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That makes three of us. :)
Four! ;) But do take a look at the Morpheus manual (http://www.synthmanuals.com/manuals/emu/morpheus/owners_manual/morpheusownersmanual.pdf) with its advanced multi stage envelopes. Interesting design possibilities could exist when merging such envelopes with sequencer functionality. Also as far as I remember Izotope Iris have wave table lfos. Yet another interesting rattletronics extension!
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And yet it would make perfect sense for DSI to sell more affordable reduced voice count modules based on their flagship instruments with a simplified UI and OLED display.
I'm with you there. But I think that Paul's question (or at least Mr Smith's interpretation of it) was specific to super affordable, Mopho-Brick-slash-Desktop-Evolver-level stuff. I don't think that ceding the low-end market to Korg et al is the same as giving up on monosynths. Specifically, I consider the Pro 2 an "affordable" instrument. If DSI were to give us a monophonic Prophet 6 architecture instrument in the $1500-$1700 USD range, I'd be likely to buy it, provided it comes out relatively soon.
There are certainly other legitimate reasons for DSI giving up on monosynths, and those are of greater concern to me than price, since monosynths are my primary interest. If I were to ask a question of Mr Smith, it wouldn't be "Are you giving up on cheap instruments?" but "Are you giving up on analog monosynths?" Then I'd know how to plan my next purchase(s).
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This is precisely what I had hoped would have appeared by now - a DSI analog mono synth. But unless we see one next month, we won't see one for about a year, if at all.
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This is precisely what I had hoped would have appeared by now - a DSI analog mono synth. But unless we see one next month, we won't see one for about a year, if at all.
What's next month?
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First of all thanks for a great interview, Paul. It was a pleasure to see! Did spot a few instances of academic decadence in the interview especially during the intro. Take that as a complement! ;)
Arrrgh! Come on… ;)
Yeah, I am basically giving up on DSI ever being able to make something that will interest me again. Multi-timbral features are a specialist thing and so on. And yet it would make perfect sense for DSI to sell more affordable reduced voice count modules based on their flagship instruments with a simplified UI and OLED display. But no, rather be a high profile black and white dinosaur. Sad!
Don't leave us!
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I'm with you there. But I think that Paul's question (or at least Mr Smith's interpretation of it) was specific to super affordable, Mopho-Brick-slash-Desktop-Evolver-level stuff.
That's correct. I was referring to the recently retired instruments: Mopho, Evolver, Tetra, Mopho SE, etc.
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What's next month?
Gearmas, part 2.
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...
4. Expressiveness w/ modern MIDI Controllers
I'm thinking of writing an email in support of the idea of separate MIDI channels per voice. Ideally for me, they would implement that onto the Tempest, but even if they started adding that feature to the newer instruments, that would be amazing. It's not even necessarily about the sound-- to me it's more about the nice interfaces and easy modulation routing systems that DSI synths offer. I think there is just so much potential! That is not to say that the sound isn't a big part of it :)
I did ask Roger Linn on the Linnstrument forum if he could talk to Dave about the possibility of implementing multi channel modes on their synths, no idea if he did though but fingers crossed.
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This is precisely what I had hoped would have appeared by now - a DSI analog mono synth. But unless we see one next month, we won't see one for about a year, if at all.
What's next month?
In Paul's interview, Dave said that in a month DSI would be announcing a new product. If I remember correctly, it sounded as if it would be on the small side. Of course, that doesn't rule out the very thing we're wishing for. On the top of my list is a relatively simple analog mono synth. If DSI would produce a 44-key monophonic version of the Prophet-6, and add an LFO dedicated to vibrato, I would be really happy.
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It has to be something truly unique to find it's way into one of my last 3 mixer channels ;D
So you want left, right, and center?
They are fortunately stereo channels... there are stereo mixers out there ;)
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It has to be something truly unique to find it's way into one of my last 3 mixer channels ;D
So you want left, right, and center?
They are fortunately stereo channels... there are stereo mixers out there ;)
No way! ;)
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I did ask Roger Linn on the Linnstrument forum if he could talk to Dave about the possibility of implementing multi channel modes on their synths, no idea if he did though but fingers crossed.
Very cool! Keep us posted.
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What's next month?
To be more precise: Musikmesse Frankfurt is coming up and - more importantly - the Superbooth event in Berlin, organized by Andreas Schneider. As far as I know, Dave and Carson are going to attend the latter, so we better watch out for some spoilers.
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I have the feeling that this new instrument could be an eurorack module collaboration. And who knows that could be with Don Buchla. Many other interesting options exists though. But lets wait and see what happens at The German Gearmas Show (TM).
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Maybe this one's for you, Dslsynth!
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The German Gearmas Show (TM).
Pardon my sarcastic/dark sense of humor, but that almost sounds like a WWII joke. ;D
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Specifically, I consider the Pro 2 an "affordable" instrument.
Well I think we have different views on the cost side as I consider Pro 2 an expensive jewel. What I am after a two or four voice module for around $1K with a minimal user interface.
Maybe this one's for you, Dslsynth!
Fingers crossed but I seriously doubt it. ;)
Pardon my sarcastic/dark sense of humor, but that almost sounds like a WWII joke. ;D
Well I leave that minefield to some very fawlty gu^H^H towers. ;)
I would love to visit The German Geramas Show (TM) one day especially if DSI staff are present at the show. Frankfurt should be an awesome town but its airport is said to be terrible in several areas including staff attitude towards passengers. Oh well. But at least the cakes are great!
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Well I leave that minefield to some very fawlty gu^H^H towers. ;)
Excellent choice! (I might add that I grew up in the British sector.)
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Excellent choice! (I might add that I grew up in the British sector.)
Oh, I love Berlin! Such an awesome city. :D
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Excellent choice! (I might add that I grew up in the British sector.)
Oh, I love Berlin! Such an awesome city. :D
You failed the geographic test though. Although there was of course a British sector in Berlin as well, the British sector I was referring to encompassed the federal states Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia (which is where I'm from), and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
The Funkhaus on the other hand, where the Superbooth is going to take place, was located in the Soviet sector of Berlin.
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Oh, I love Berlin! Such an awesome city. :D
It is in most parts. Gentrification is a bit bothersome here and there though.
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I did ask Roger Linn on the Linnstrument forum if he could talk to Dave about the possibility of implementing multi channel modes on their synths, no idea if he did though but fingers crossed.
I think its fair to say that it would be nice if the largest supplier of some of the best sounding polyphonic analog synthesizers would support note-per-channel modes of operation eventually now that it seems like expressive 3D controllers are finally taking off. KMI will soon publish a full sized keyboard with per note expression and ROLI already have several models on the market. Then add Eigenharp and LinnStrument not to mention SoundPlane.
Anyway the interview clearly stated that Dave is aware of the request and its a matter of deciding if and when to use the resources to implement this feature. Fingers crossed!
One thing to be aware of though is that the synthesizer modules only have a client USB/MIDI port so one would need a computer between the 3D controller and the synthesizer no matter what. Which is an argument for supporting general one-voice-per-channel modes of operation too as that have several other interesting uses.
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You failed the geographic test though. Although there was of course a British sector in Berlin as well, the British sector I was referring to encompassed the federal states Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia (which is where I'm from), and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
I was suspecting that but decided to flash my geographic ignorance as a testament to being an proud engineer! ;)
Never been to Hamburg but I love Lübeck!
It is in most parts. Gentrification is a bit bothersome here and there though.
Much like what is said to have happened in Paris ages ago when the city was "reorganized".
. o O ( history lesson week )
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On the top of my list is a relatively simple analog mono synth. If DSI would produce a 44-key monophonic version of the Prophet-6, and add an LFO dedicated to vibrato, I would be really happy.
It sounds like we're waiting for more or less the same thing, with certain variances in what we're willing to give up.
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Chysn, have you studied the Analogue Solutions synthesizers? I've been taking a good long look at them tonight and, even though they don't fulfill all my requirements, still, they're very impressive. And they're reasonably priced.
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No! I've vaguely heard of them, but never really looked at their stuff. You're right, they are impressive.
Is it just me, or does the Leipzig-SK with the ladder filter sound almost as SEM-y as the Telemark K with the SEM filter? It's a sound that I have sort of mixed feelings about. On the one hand, boy, it takes me back to stuff I used to listen to a lot. On the other hand, it's overpowering, and I worry about aural fatigue; I just couldn't listen to it constantly for years. That filter sound is why I'd prefer a monosynth based on the Prophet 6 over one based on the OB-6.
I think that if I was the kind of guy with a roomful of synths, something like the Telemark would be right at home.
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It's funny that you mention the Telemark. Years ago, my search for it led me to Noisebug and eventually to buying a Prophet '08 they had on offer as a post-NAMM deal. *End of anecdote*