Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Every synth that I have had that has encoders, has had ones that eventuall flake out or start skipping, often earlier than wished. These include: uQ keyboard, Ensonic ASR-X, Elektron Monomachine, Machinedrum, Notron -- so far not with my 2 evolver desktops, PEK or MEK, but one day I am sure it will happen.

Why? Because encoders are inherently prone to dust and use simply because of the way they work. From a mission critical point of view they all suck. But they do have very nice benefits when used with synths, don't they; but if such were so great, then it follows that the reason less than half the synths out ever use them is that they have a higher failure rate than a regular potentiometer.

Rotary encoders are not cheap. Your basis to make the assertion that DS uses cheap parts based on your single experience on a synth with 70 encoders -- that you refuse to get fixed or send in--even though apparently your synth is still under warranty-- is simply not logical and based on all your other continuing grinding, seems more ill will.

But yes, I completely agree that it sucks big time that 2 encoders are flaky. I am sure Dave will fix them. But it still sucks to have to send things in. I had to send my machinedrum to sweden and that really sucked!

But put it into perspective.

----- Original Message -----

From: William Soraparu

To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 12:11 PM

Subject: Re: [Evolver] Re: PEK Product

Its okay for a system to have limitations....but when encoders act flaky after a few months...and lots of folks have mentioned they have than problem...it seems to me Dave Smith used cheap components. Whats understood does not need to be discussed.

Ravi Ivan Sharma <sharmalaw1@hotmail.com> wrote:

Continually complaining that the Evolver Desktop is louder than the PER. Pity.

Complaining about an extra feature that is essentially a freebee. I cannot imagine one person less would buy their first Evolver Desktop because it could not be chained to any other. But the fact is, is that when it was made, the PER and the PEK and the MEK were not even conceived of it chains perfectly to other desktops as planned and advertised. Another manufacturer could have easily said that the desktop versions chain with each other and not with PEKS and PERS which are in a *different class*. But in this case, it was left in. The thing about no mixers is nonsense. I don't use mixers: Everything goes into my Motus, but the software has mixers inside which can fix any of this. I have 10 synths and I set the internal levels to balance *them* out. Even synths by the same brand, etc. Please shoot me if I every begin to bitterly complain that one of my Rolands has more gain than the other--even though they speak (and were advertised to) via midi . . . omigod!

And unless that person was private messaged by Dave Bryce, they were *all but* told to shut up, because . . . Dave Bryce did *not* tell him to shut up.

People just get tired of reading the same thing over and over again. Every synth I know, wait, every *thing* I know has limitations. Things do not have issues. People have issues with things, or not. So yes, IF one has three PERS and IF one wishes to work precisely as this person believes is correct--for him--, then it may not be so comfortable, for him. It\ufffds a personal issue with a design choice--or a fact of components--that affects . him . . and, of course, the myriads like him. Show of hands please: Who else does this affect so much they haven't stopped about it for a year or so rather than getting on with life?

If the man who made the synth says--after years of requests-- that he can't or won't fix it--for his--I am certain, excellent reasons--he is after all, a father of this all--then THAT IS IT. Why anyone wants to get on every forum and search high and low for similar disgrunts is seems somewhat sad at this point. Especially when apparently no one Evolver owner really gives a crap about something so miniscule and easily remediable.

Dale has found a solution and seems completely at peace with it. Sounds normal (pun!) to me. While one loves a synth so much to buy so many, then spends countless time bad mouthing it is really . . . not interesting.

I am not telling anyone to shut up, but this thread, ported over from at least two other forums, is truly TIRED.

----- Original Message -----

From: Dale

To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 11:00 PM

Subject: Re: [Evolver] Re: PEK Product

If the plugs are such a pain and you need those outs in the manner you mention, why not mod it?

I bet he just has it switched with the jacks.

I would not notice the levels, I run all the synths into a rolls RM203 (a pair of them) so I do balance it all out before it gets to the main

mixer... each synth I have has some quirk that has to worked with, levels out being one of them ...

dale

----- Original Message -----

From: dodgingrain

I'd have to side on the negative to neutral side. Another bug that
exists, actually what I would consider a design flaw is that the
output on the desktop evolver is 6db higher than the output on the
PER and probably the PEK as well. I made this know well over a year
ago and got a luke warm response at best. I was told to use a mixer
to balance the levels, which frankly, I feel is rediculous given the
cost of these products and the fact that a lot of musicians no longer
use mixers at all these days. One of the selling points of the PER
was that you could get 5 voices by polychaining with a desktop....
well yah, sort of. I wouldn't have bought an evolver at all if I had
know about that issue.

I wish someone would do a test on the MEK and let us know if that
issue exists there as well. So when people ask if you can chain the
PEK with an evolver desktop the answer shouldn't be a resounding
yes. Personally I would think this would be fixable as a software
updated to the evolver. If in poly chain mode the lower the output
by 6db.

Another issue I have is with the outputs on the PER. You can't keep
cables connected to both the main outputs and the individual voice
outputs. Personally I feel the best way to use a rack synth is to
have each output and input connected to a patch bay so you can route
whatever you want without having to dig around in the back of a
rack. Now imagine how much of a pain this is when you have 3 PERs
like I do, it's not just swaping a few cables it's swaping a LOT of
cables.

Also when I would point out some of these issues in response to
questions by users or potential buyers on HC I was all but outright
told to shut up about it by the HC Admin at the time who works for
DSI.

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