200e

Hi folks,
I'm seriously considering buying a 200e. I've been playing synths for
about 12 years now, and I mostly use my Synthi AKS. I play in a band
that tours often and records once a year or so. I like textural sounds
and quirky stuff mostly, but I do some melody work too.

I was thinking about buying a Music Easel for a long time, but it seems
they've become ungodly expensive. When I was toying with the idea two or
three years ago, they were $8-10k. Now it seems like they're more around
20k. I would have to sell some of my favorite things to get a Buchla, so
it's no small decision for me.

My question for those of you that have or have used the 200e is: do you
think a medium-sized 200e setup would be able to replicate most of the
Easel's capabilities (other than the controller)? And more possibly? 

Basically, is there any advantage to looking for vintage Buchla stuff
over the 200e, other than the cool factor of having vintage stuff?

Your opinions would be appreciated. 
-- 
/\/\/\--->luther
http://lowskies.com

> My question for those of you that have or have used the 200e is: do 
you
> think a medium-sized 200e setup would be able to replicate most of the
> Easel's capabilities (other than the controller)? And more possibly? 

yes, definately.  It has been suggested elsewhere that two 4-panel 
boats populated with the proper modules will duplicate 90% of the Easel 
functions while adding additional functions.  It has also been 
suggested that Buchla & Associates should consider a 1 panel ARF and 1 
panel system interface.  Also, another E series module with inverters 
would be nice. Oh, and a delay/reverb module.

E

> It has
> also been 
> suggested that Buchla & Associates should consider a
> 1 panel ARF and 1 
> panel system interface.  Also, another E series
> module with inverters 
> would be nice. Oh, and a delay/reverb module.

I think everyone I know has suggested a new module
idea to Don.. me included!  

 it is important to know the motivation behind Dons
return to making synthesizers before getting your
hopes up about him taking suggestions.. 

he designs them to suit the need of himself, his
friends or to bring new or unexplored concepts to the
world that were previously unavailable ...then he
graciously makes them available for others to purchase
if they want one. 

That being said I wouldn't hold my breath for a 
smaller ARF, the 250 is packed with as much power and
control as would fit in a 2 panel space.  several
functional sacrifices would have to be made to make it
smaller and it would require several months of
expensive R&D for no improvement.

   perhaps a 225e MIDI decoder and external sequencer
would be more suited for smaller set ups? personally I
dont think 2 panel units for the functionality a ARF
gives you is too big of a sacrifice.

as far as a smaller mixer is concerned, again the 227e
packs a ton of functionality into a small space.. in
the older system there were less features in a module
1.5 to 2 times the size! 

if you want a smaller mixer, I might suggest buying an
extra 292e Quad dynamics manager.,, with its summed
output it can be used as a simple 4 input mixer with
facilties for gating and filtering if one should need
them.. plus using the velocity voltage inputs makes
the 292e a voltage controlled audio mixer.

I asked Don about making a new delay module based on
the concepts he had in the 70's and he just laughed..
in my experience thats his way of politely saying
"don't count on it"

but one can dream

to answer the original post regarding the Easel Vs the
200e.. besides the tactile interface the 200e
duplicate and expands the functionality of the Music
Easel... in a package only slightly larger and and
half the weight!

-r


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I still think it'd be great to have an oscillator with no aliasing. 
The 259e's are great for percussive and wild, rude sounds, but for the 
times when we're in a more mellow musical mood, something like the 
original 259 or even the 258 would be a perfect complement. I'm hoping 
the Plan B oscillator from P. Grenader will be able to fill this 
void...

Since the latest software updates, I have not heard any aliasing.  Take 
the square wave from the mod osc and filter is back a little and you 
have some nice soothing sounds.  Also, if you back off the warp, any  
timbre can be perceived as mellow and soft.  Try patching a single CV 
to the velocity inputs on the 292e and the warp inputs on the 259e.  
Warp can definately be abused to the point of thinking the 259e is only 
capable of a few types of timbres.  You have to break out of a single 
pattern of patching and thinking to see how the 259e can be used in 
other context.  Not to belittle the Plan B stuff because it is 
definately very nice sounding, however, the 259e can do any timbre the 
Plan B model 15 can as well as many many many others.  It is all just a 
matter of programming skill.



--- In 200e@yahoogroups.com, "cuari7" <cuari7@c...> wrote:
> I still think it'd be great to have an oscillator with no aliasing. 
> The 259e's are great for percussive and wild, rude sounds, but for 
the 
> times when we're in a more mellow musical mood, something like the 
> original 259 or even the 258 would be a perfect complement. I'm 
hoping 
> the Plan B oscillator from P. Grenader will be able to fill this 
> void...