Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "amthewalrus <bob_aloha@h...>" 
<bob_aloha@h...> wrote:
> Ok.  I'm thinking of selling my Pro-1 for an Evolver.  I really 
love 
> my Pro-1 it has suck a great sound and its so easy to use.  Just a 
> very fun machine.  I noticed someone else said they sold their Pro-
1 
> for an evlover.  Anyone else give it a try?


I said that. Don't get me wrong - if I didn't have to pay bills I 
would have kept the Pro-One. "Ease of Use" is a big factor there. The 
Evolver doesn't have the bank of one-per-function knobs that the P1 
has, and that is definitely a consideration. But after over a month 
with the Evolver, I'm still happy with my decision and if I had to 
choose between them again I would not hesitate to make the same call. 

No, the Evolver won't sound exactly like a Pro-One, but then again, 
nothing really does, does it? :) Every synth is different. I've even 
heard people claim that the Prophet-5 doesn't sound like a Pro-One, 
even though it's basically the same architecture in a polyphonic 
version.
The Evolver does have that "Sequential Circuits" sound in it's basic 
elements though, at least to my ear. It goes in new directions from 
there, simply due to added features - and most of the patches I wind 
up creating sound nothing like what comes out of my other gear. I 
would credit the sequencer for most of that. It gets me thinking in a 
different mode. Being able to assign 4 lines of sequence data plus 4 
LFO's all separately to any one of a long list of destinations is 
inspiring. I usually wind up with more "out there" effects and 
strange noises as opposed to traditional synth sounds, though it can 
do that kind of stuff too.

For what it's worth, here is a link to an .mp3 I made when I first 
got the Evolver. Every demo I heard on the net had a complicated 
sequence going with lots of bells and whistles, so I wanted to make a 
straight-forward bass sound just as a reference. I'll make no claims 
as to it's "phatness", "punchiness", or whether or not it sounds like 
any other synth with "Pro" or "One" in it's name...it just is what it 
is:
http://www.absynthinteractive.com/evolver.htm

Oh, one more thing. My decision to sell the Pro-One was also 
influenced, in no small part, by the fact that the Evolver DOES have 
patch memory and MIDI...luxuries often taken for granted after the 
early 80's ;)

-jason