Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Hi James.

Thanks for the info.

I was also considering the possibility of a different setup like using a midi controler like the CakeWalk a-800 with a dedicated pc for recording and the omnisphere softsynth.  I'm told though that realtime control with softsynths via midi controlers isn't as standard or as integrated as it could be because different manufacturers have different standards for a lot of this stuff.

I wonder if there's a keyboard like the poly evolver that doesn't have menus at all?  I was going to look into the arturia origin as well but I don't know a whole lot about that one.

Scott

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: James Elliott 
  To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 9:01 AM
  Subject: Re: [DSI Synths] introduction


    

  Scott,

  I do not have any direct experience with the new polyevolvers with the potentiometer option, however I would imagine it would be much more user friendly for you than your kurzweil - to some degree. There is not a lot of menu diving on the polyevolver however there is some. For example, all of the main envelope, filter, oscillator, and vca controls would have fixed range pots. However, you would still need to be familiar with the ordering of the "destination list" for the third envelope (this has a free mod slot associated with it). I think the LFO controls are still endless encoders though, so you could be spinning those forever. The thing that would make the LFO section a little difficult, and this also applies for the delay's time parameters, is that the frequencey selection is in ascending order followed by clock divisions. So not only would you have to have the "destination list" memorized, you would also have to have the frequency/time/clock divisions memorized as well. Things would become a little tricky with the general modulation section (the modulation routings), the parameter section (where you set things like envelope shape, oscillator slop, and trigger modes), the sequencer section, and of course the global, program, and combo setting menus. Not only will those sections all have endless encoders, you will also need to memorize menu sequences for each of them.

  With that said, I want to state that none of the menus are all that deep though, most are only one page. The only real exceptions would be the global, program, & combo menus. There is almost a one knob or button control for each parameter. For example, there is a knob for each envelope, lfo, filter, vca, oscillator, delay, feedback, and sequencer function. Also, there is a dedicated control for modulation destination for the third envelope and each of the lfo's. There is also a source, destination, and value knob for each parameter in the general modulation section - you just have to be familiar with the ordering of each list for each of the modulation source and destination functions (this also includes the envelope & lfo as mentioned above).

  Overall I don't think the polyevolver will provide as much of a challenge as the kurzweil, however, it won't necessarily be a cakewalk either. 

  As far as the polyevolver and ambient music production goes. Well, they go hand in hand. If you could manage to wrap your head around some of the endless encoders, some of the weird parameter listings (like lfo & delay frequency, glide controls, pre-post high pass filter modes, and the pre-post external input volume level) I think you would be rewarded with beautiful evolving soundscapes. 

  I hope I've managed to help you along in your journey....

  Take care,
  Jim




------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: Scott Lawlor <sklawlor@...>
  To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wed, June 30, 2010 8:46:56 AM
  Subject: [DSI Synths] introduction

    

  Hello.

  I'm thinking about getting one of these poly evolver keyboards.

  I currently have a kurzweil pc3 but since I'm blind, the menus are a bit much for me to memorize and since they roll over and there's no actual zero point, I figured that the evolver might be a good fit.

  I like to feel the control as I work and with all these knobs and switches, I'm hoping this synth will be much more accessible for me.

  I'd like to play more ambient electronic music and the people at sweetwater feel that this might be a good fit for me.

  My inspirations for space and ambient music include people like Tangerine Dream, Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Free System Projekt, Jonn Serrie, Radio Massacre International and others.

  I was using the sound tower software with the pc3 and I could go through the default sounds and presets but that was about it.  I don't know how useable this software is for someone who is blind.

  There isn't anywhere locally for me to get my hands on this thing to check it out but I've heard some of the sounds listening to various YouTube videos and it sounds impressive.

  I just wanted to write to say hi and I hope to learn a lot about this unit and gain some tips and tricks along the way.

  Thanks for reading.

  Scott