Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Wow!  You know how to ask tough questions, don't you?!

You said "purely on a sound level", but let me break "sound level" 
down into three things:  

1) Timbral QUALITY of the basic oscillators and filters (purely a 
personal preference, of course)

2) Timbral RANGE of the basic oscillators and filters (number of 
different tones that can be made)

3) Synthesis features (synthesis architecture, including modulation 
matrix, etc.

For item #1, the Odyssey and Evolver really aren't that dissimilar.  
Certainly, at basic settings, I think the Evolver sounds much closer 
to an Odyssey than a Minimoog.  I've never really thought about it, 
but I'd have to say that I don't have a preference for one over the 
other.  I'd call this one a tie.

For item #2, even on the analog side only, the Evolver has more range 
than the Odyssey.  Both have sawtooth, pulse, pulse width mod, a 
great 24 db/octave resonant lowpass filter, and a highpass filter 
(digital highpass in the case of the Evolver).  However, the Evolver 
adds a triangle, a mixed triangle/saw, and a 12 db/octave lowpass 
filter setting.  Throw in the digital oscillators, and the Evolver 
leaves the Odyssey well behind.  Both machines are very good here, 
with a nice range of tones, but the Evolver wins this one.

For item #3, one of the things I liked best about the Evolver when I 
first saw it is that it can do some of the things that my Odysseys 
could do that no other (or few other) synths could ever do.  There 
are still a few unique tricks that the Odyssey can do that the 
Evolver can't (such as the duophonic operation, S/H lag, ability to 
choose the S/H waveforms, etc.).  However, there are a LOT of things 
the Evolver can do that the Odyssey can't (4 LFO's, 3 EG's, great 
modulation matrix, tunable feedback loop, three delays with feedback, 
distortion, "output hack", 4 track sequencer that can modulate all 
sorts of things, etc.).  Once again, both machines have great 
features, but the Evolver is the clear winner.


I guess that means I'd have to pick the Evolver over the Odyssey as 
the one machine that I'd take to the studio... assuming, of course, 
that I'd have a good keyboard controller with me, too!  (PLEASE don't 
let my Odysseys hear that I said that!  Or the ARP Little Brother, 
either!)

Now... if I could just find the level of composing talent that guys 
like Stefan and Boele have to take into the studio with me too...  


Ski
www.ex5tech.com
EX5Tech Evolver forum:
http://www.ex5tech.com/ex5ubb_cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=23


--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, John <liquid.poet@n...> wrote:
> Hi Ski
> 
> >My Odysseys and Evolver CAN do much the same thing,
> >but it takes a little more work.
> 
> Purely on a sound level. If you was in a studio to record your 
prized
> creations (songs)
> and could take either the Evolver or your Odyssey, which would it 
be?
> 
> John