The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

> etc. Most people just play presets-no programming. They want radio
> friendly sounds in abundance.

And here you have the wisdom of the synth ages speaking through the bearded
prophet - the amazing Mr. Rainbow.

I was remembering a song on Rick Wakeman's 'Criminal Record' called 'The
Breathalizer' today.  The synth has this wonderful, wobbly sound that puts
you in mind of a staggering, whistling drunk.  The background slides a beat
which represents him carelessly speeding down the highway - therefore the
title of the tune.  That lead synth sound is so cool.  Wakeman may have
programmed it himself, or even if he had help I think he should be commended
for the construct of the patch and its overall effectiveness.

I have grown over my many years to have some sort of terribly uncontrollable
allergic reaction to "radio sounds" played with clich\ufffd melodies.  An
autonomic response causes my finger to twitch the dial or bump the track.
Medication doesn't work, I still twitch involuntarily at the buttons when
hearing overused patches and worn out riffs.  A physician I know says some
strong anesthetics may be a symptomatic cure --- but I seem to remember
something like it over 25 years ago didn't really make bad music sound any
better... if I remember right I think the combination made me puke.

Is there a SynthEtic cure for my ailment out there?

Ed Edwards
Leader: Ezekiel's Wheel      \ufffd\ufffd\ufffd\ufffdRetro-Progressive Rock\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd
http://www.untiedmusic.com/ezekiel
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/227/ezekiels_wheel.html
\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd.\ufffd\ufffd

>I have grown over my many years to have some sort of terribly uncontrollable
>allergic reaction to "radio sounds" played with cliché melodies.  [...]
>Is there a SynthEtic cure for my ailment out there?
>
>Ed Edwards

Not really, no, unless you stop listening to the radio. That's what I 
did, and now I find I'm hopelessly out of touch with the music the 
kids are listening to. This doesn't bother me much, usually.

A colleague of mine remarked with horror at the advent of the first 
ROMpler that had a capacity of over 1000 patches, the Roland JV-1080 
I believe. He said, "That's not synth programming...that's cable TV."

Don't mind me, it's still Monday.

mike
-- 
"If at first you don't succeed, try another sewer!"      (the thief)
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Mike Metlay * ATOMIC CITY * PO Box 17083 * Boulder CO 80308-0083 USA
metlay@... *  1-800-924-ATOM  * http://www.atomiccity.com