A Q&A Session with Dave Smith

[Paul Dither]

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).

[dslsynth]

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.

[dslsynth]

That makes three of us. 

Four! But do take a look at the Morpheus manual 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!

[chysn]

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).

[Sacred Synthesis]

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.

[chysn]

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?

[Paul Dither]

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!

[Paul Dither]

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.

[Paul Dither]

What's next month?

Gearmas, part 2.

[BobTheDog]

...
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.

[Sacred Synthesis]

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.

[Razmo]

It has to be something truly unique to find it's way into one of my last 3 mixer channels 

So you want left, right, and center?

They are fortunately stereo channels... there are stereo mixers out there 

[Paul Dither]

It has to be something truly unique to find it's way into one of my last 3 mixer channels 

So you want left, right, and center?

They are fortunately stereo channels... there are stereo mixers out there 

No way! 

[Paul Dither]

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.

[Paul Dither]

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.

[dslsynth]

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).

[Sacred Synthesis]

Maybe this one's for you, Dslsynth!

[Paul Dither]

The German Gearmas Show (TM).

Pardon my sarcastic/dark sense of humor, but that almost sounds like a WWII joke. 

[dslsynth]

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. 

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!

[Paul Dither]

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.)