Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Can I suggest looking at the new Roland Gaia? Or Nord Lead 2x?
These have entirely front panel interfaces, no menus, no screen. and are plenty capable too. Perhaps not as complex as the Poly Evolver, and the attraction of 'real analog' is not there, but I reckon it's worth checking out.

T

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, James Elliott <johans121@...> wrote:
>
> Scott, unfortunately, I don't know of any new synths that would fit that 
> criteria. The only think I could recommend are classic analogs. I think the most 
> flexible analog polysynths with no menus would be the prophet 5, jupiter 6 & 8, 
> and the oberheims i.e. ob8. 
> 
> 
> Stay far far away from the alesis andromeda even though it has at least 150,000 
> real time controls it probably has as much if not more menu diving than the most 
> complex Kurzweils.
> 
> I know a couple other fellows from other synth mailing lists who have lost their 
> eyesight that might be able to give you some better advice than I. 
> 
> 
> Rick Massey: seafox@...
> Veli-Pekka Tätilä: vtatila@...
> 
> I don't know either of them personally, however, I'm sure neither would mind 
> helping you out.
> 
> -Jim
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Scott Lawlor <sklawlor@...>
> To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, July 19, 2010 9:39:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [DSI Synths] introduction
> 
>   
>  
> 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@mac. com>
> >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
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >
>