SynthModules

From: "Carlos Cervantes B." <chavakhan@yahoo.com.mx>
>
> Actually I'm using a Roland MPU-101 and MAX/MSP  with
> my Roland 100-M system.
> So: what does the PSIM what I can not do with my
> set-up?

I'll try to answer, to see if I my understanding is correct (especially
since I'm getting one of the next units!).

Your current setup can read MIDI, do any processing you program it to do
(using and/or processing the MIDI data, if desired), and it can send MIDI
messages.

The PSIM, on the other hand, has 4 analog inputs. These can digitize analog
signals, so your PSIM program can react to them (if desired). The PSIM does
not output MIDI (yet?) but does output 4 analog signals. I keep thinking of
them as CV outs, but these can be used as audio outputs (but there are
limitations, and this is not the PSIM's original purpose).

Analog signals that will be fed into the PSIM will typically include pitch,
gate, clock, EGs, and/or LFOs.
Analog outputs from the PSIM may be pitch (quantized, if desired), gate or
trigger, clock, envelope, LFO, and more.

Adding a hardware MIDI-to-C/V converter to your existing system would allow
you to generate CVs (control voltages) by sending MIDI from Max/MSP to the
converter. But you would lack the analog inputs.

So, bottom line: Your current setup is more MIDI-oriented, whereas the PSIM
is more CV-oriented. (Future expansion may change this.)

How did I do, Brice?
--
john

> is more CV-oriented. (Future expansion may change this.)
> 
> How did I do, Brice?
> --
> john

From: "Mike Marsh" <mmarsh@websense.com>
>
> Max is definitely for MIDI-oriented rigs.  The addition of MSP
> however, allows all of the creation and manipulation of analog
> signals.  It also allows sampling of analog inputs and there use in
> the output.
>
> So, Carlos's rig can do anyhting the PSIM will do, given that he has
> 4 ins and outs.

That's a rather large "given." Specifically, *how* would one add such analog
ins & outs? Such an interface must work together with Max/MSP (in this case)
and must have DC-coupled ins & outs -- AC-coupled audio ins/outs will not
suffice. Are you aware of a such an interface? (If so, I know some of some
folks looking for one.)


> BUT!  The PSIM's BASIC-like language is much simpler to master and
> quicker (I suspect) to get the stuff you want out of it and into
> your modular.

I thought that it might be a simpler language. On the other hand, Max/MSP
has a lot of pre-built modules, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
--
john

From: "Mike Marsh" <mmarsh@websense.com>
To: <SynthModules@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 12:00 PM
Subject: [SynthModules] Re: dumb question


> Not specifically, but I do know that it is frequently discussed on
> the Max groups.  It's been done.  Folks also have a Max object to
> connect directly to a Kyma, which is pretty interesting.  Mac only,
> as far as I remember.
>
> Bill asked what Max/MSP is: it's a graphical language for MIDI and
> Audio manipulation/synthesis/effects. Check out www.cycling74.com.  I
> have it and I love it!
>
> Mike
>
> --- In SynthModules@yahoogroups.com, "john mahoney" <jmahoney@g...>
> wrote:
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Mike Marsh" <mmarsh@w...>
> > >
> > > Max is definitely for MIDI-oriented rigs.  The addition of MSP
> > > however, allows all of the creation and manipulation of analog
> > > signals.  It also allows sampling of analog inputs and there use
> in
> > > the output.
> > >
> > > So, Carlos's rig can do anyhting the PSIM will do, given that he
> has
> > > 4 ins and outs.
> >
> > That's a rather large "given." Specifically, *how* would one add
> such analog
> > ins & outs? Such an interface must work together with Max/MSP (in
> this case)
> > and must have DC-coupled ins & outs -- AC-coupled audio ins/outs
> will not
> > suffice. Are you aware of a such an interface? (If so, I know some
> of some
> > folks looking for one.)
> >
> >
> > > BUT!  The PSIM's BASIC-like language is much simpler to master and
> > > quicker (I suspect) to get the stuff you want out of it and into
> > > your modular.
> >
> > I thought that it might be a simpler language. On the other hand,
> Max/MSP
> > has a lot of pre-built modules, so you don't have to reinvent the
> wheel.
> > --
> > john
>
>
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>
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From: "Brice D. Hornback" <synthmodules@synthmodules.com>

> The more I learn about Max/MSP... the more I don't see any similarity
> between it's capabilities and the PSIM-1.  The PSIM-1 is a programmable
> hybrid analog/digital module.  It is programmed in MBasic and then the
> compiled code is downloaded to the module.  Four analog inputs and four
> analog outputs.  Considering the Roland MPU-101 is a MIDI to CV converter
> and Max/MSP is basically a graphical interface for MIDI devices... I don't
> see any similarity.
>
> Can the MPU-101 w/ Max/MSP (even if you had four analog CV inputs) perform
> the function of a QUAD Quantizer?  Then again, it won't all fit in a
single
> frac-rack size module anyway.

Well, yes, these capabilities are theoretically available (no, not in a Frac
Rack module -- you need both a computer and an interface). This is what I
asked Mike Marsh about, and he replied that somebody makes such a device.
The trick is finding it. ;-) Other folks on AH and/or SDIY are interested
but nobody has named an actual product, AFAIK. Not picking on Mike, really.
Actually, I found one someplace (now *I* forget the name) but it only worked
on zero to +5 Volts, so people weren't really interested. (V could be
scaled, we know...)

With the right interface, Max could do what the PSIM can with control
voltages. I don't see why not.

I've been interested in Max for years, but I still like the small size and
standalone, modular nature of the PSIM.
--
john

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "john mahoney" <jmahoney@gate.net>
To: <SynthModules@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 3:34 PM
Subject: Re: [SynthModules] Re: *No such thing as a* dumb question


<snip>
> I've been interested in Max for years, but I still like the small size and
> standalone, modular nature of the PSIM.