Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Yeah, I agree with all the above - to call it a sequencer may be confusing if you have never used an analog sequencer and are used to s/w or groove boxes 

I still think it would help to have a basic guide to programming though, the advice in the "manual-ette" to "have a look on google" is a tad disingenuous as you are unlikely to find anything than bog std sound programming tips and nothing relating to the EVO sequencer specifically.

 

With the Sound-turkey software being so shabby, it really could help us noobs who may not have a deep background in analog synthesis if there was a bit more EVO specific literature.

For comparison, I recently brought a Nord Micro (new) for half the price of my Evo, it came with a laminated A4 spiral bound manual (some 200+ pages) and tutorial, free editing software (that works!!) and a host of web based patches and support.

My Evo (though I still love it to bits) came with a tatty little A5 photocopied and unbound leaflet, an extra US$50 for some buggy s/w that won't work and almost zero manufacturer based support (if it wasn't for enthusiasts setting up their own web sites/groups we'd be totally stuffed!).

 

Now I know that DS is a "diamond geezer" etc and it's a niche product with limited appeal but SMOJ it surely warrants a bit more than "have a look on the web for proper tips/advice cos you've paid for it now sucker"

I still use the EVO a lot but for me it is nowhere near worth 2 Nord Micro mods, verdict:

blue corner 0 red corner 9 (Scandinavian efficiency beats stateside complacency hands down I'm afraid) note to DSI marketing - if you're only intending to appeal to die hard analog synthesists and not encourage newcomers and s/w advocates then you will be dead in the water before you can say - nice product, top concept, shame about the customer care.......


		
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On Thu, Oct 07, 2004 at 03:07:53AM -0700, graeme wrote:
> I still use the EVO a lot but for me it is nowhere near worth 2 Nord Micro
> mods, verdict:
> 
> blue corner 0 red corner 9 (Scandinavian efficiency beats stateside
> complacency hands down I'm afraid) note to DSI marketing - if you're only
> intending to appeal to die hard analog synthesists and not encourage
> newcomers and s/w advocates then you will be dead in the water before you
> can say - nice product, top concept, shame about the customer care.......

I love clavia's products, but it's utterly silly to compare them in this way.

The NM _needs_ (good) software, because you can't do a damn thing without it,
and _needs_ a comprehensive manual because it's an extremely complicated
machine.

The Evolver needs neither.  It has a wonderful usable user interface, so you
don't need software _at all_, and frankly doesn't need a huge manual because
despite all the parameters, it's really a pretty traditional synth with a few
twists.  Anyone with any synth experience should be up and running just by
looking at the voice flow diagram and the list of modulation destinations.

I found it completely intuitive from the get-go, and was consing up patches
right out the box; the manual serves mainly as a reference.  In fact, I've
found that's written rather well; who the fuck cares if it's stapled rather
than bound!

The Evolver is not really a synth for complete beginners, sure.  Neither is a
NM.  Buy a triton.

And what's this claim that DSI is somehow shoddy on "customer care"?  Got a
question, a problem, whatever?  _Instant_ replies fromm DSI to email, usually
going out of their way to help you.  Clavia, for all their great products, is
pretty hard to get a reply out of unless your synth is spewing fire or
something.

-Miles
-- 
Fast, small, soon; pick any 2.

I have to agree and disagree. ;)  Support from DSI is great, Dave 
often responds within the hour!  However the interface on the 
evolver leaves a lot to be desired, isn't particularly effective for 
real-time work, and the editor is awful in an early 90's shareware 
vein and overpriced.

It's definately not a beginner synth, buying a mono synth as a 
beginner would be foolish at best and the interface isn't going to 
get a beginner up and running quickly, not to mention the limited 
range of sounds.


--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, Miles Bader <miles@g...> wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 07, 2004 at 03:07:53AM -0700, graeme wrote:
> > I still use the EVO a lot but for me it is nowhere near worth 2 
Nord Micro
> > mods, verdict:
> > 
> > blue corner 0 red corner 9 (Scandinavian efficiency beats 
stateside
> > complacency hands down I'm afraid) note to DSI marketing - if 
you're only
> > intending to appeal to die hard analog synthesists and not 
encourage
> > newcomers and s/w advocates then you will be dead in the water 
before you
> > can say - nice product, top concept, shame about the customer 
care.......
> 
> I love clavia's products, but it's utterly silly to compare them 
in this way.
> 
> The NM _needs_ (good) software, because you can't do a damn thing 
without it,
> and _needs_ a comprehensive manual because it's an extremely 
complicated
> machine.
> 
> The Evolver needs neither.  It has a wonderful usable user 
interface, so you
> don't need software _at all_, and frankly doesn't need a huge 
manual because
> despite all the parameters, it's really a pretty traditional synth 
with a few
> twists.  Anyone with any synth experience should be up and running 
just by
> looking at the voice flow diagram and the list of modulation 
destinations.
> 
> I found it completely intuitive from the get-go, and was consing 
up patches
> right out the box; the manual serves mainly as a reference.  In 
fact, I've
> found that's written rather well; who the fuck cares if it's 
stapled rather
> than bound!
> 
> The Evolver is not really a synth for complete beginners, sure.  
Neither is a
> NM.  Buy a triton.
> 
> And what's this claim that DSI is somehow shoddy on "customer 
care"?  Got a
> question, a problem, whatever?  _Instant_ replies fromm DSI to 
email, usually
> going out of their way to help you.  Clavia, for all their great 
products, is
> pretty hard to get a reply out of unless your synth is spewing 
fire or

> something.
> 
> -Miles
> -- 
> Fast, small, soon; pick any 2.