Elektron Musical Instruments

hi

I don't pay much attention to Future Music reviews ever since they gave a
less than glowing review of the Virus instead preferring the Anx1 ???

Anyways since one of their reviewers got caught for ripping of SOS reviews
they really lost all credibility


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeremy Smith" <jeremyalansmith@...>
To: <elektron-users@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 5:12 PM
Subject: [elektron] Fizmo


> > This question is probably quite naive, but I'll ask it anyway.
> >
> > I have an Ensoniq Fizmo synth (glad to see it mentioned by someone as
> > a "unique hardware synth" cos it's my first synth and it certainly
> > beats to shit any other synth I've played!).
>
> I'll probably sound like a total anorak, but never mind.
>
> The Chief Engineer on the Fizmo was the same guy who designed the SID chip
used in the SIDstation! Bob Yannes. I spoke to him some years back about the
SID, and he thought that Future Music gave him a terribly inaccurate review
of the Fizmo - he wasn't pleased.

>
> Jeremy.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

> The Chief Engineer on the Fizmo was the same guy who designed the 
SID chip used in the SIDstation! Bob Yannes.

Yes I know! I couldn't believe it when I was reading up on the 
SidStation and discovered in Andreas Varga's interview with Bob 
Yannes that it is really the same guy who made my beloved Fizmo!

But I think the Fizmo and the SidStation are two completely different 
things. The Fizmo is a complex synth capable of video game sounds, 
but unlike the SidStation it is also capable of the most graceful, 
organic, evolving, sophisticated sounds. To the best of my knowledge 
(and I haven't played one yet), the SidStation is much better for 
dirtier, grittier stuff, and warmer sounds. But that's just what I've 
read.

le 21/04/2003 00:22, Col Dee à coldee@... a écrit :

> But I think the Fizmo and the SidStation are two completely different
> things. The Fizmo is a complex synth capable of video game sounds,
> but unlike the SidStation it is also capable of the most graceful,
> organic, evolving, sophisticated sounds. To the best of my knowledge
> (and I haven't played one yet), the SidStation is much better for
> dirtier, grittier stuff, and warmer sounds. But that's just what I've
> read.

To say it in a few words:

-sid is a kind of very bad digital oscillator (I'm sure wome here could give
us lessons on it ;)
-Fizmo is the latest Ensoniq's impersonation of wavetables ("transwaves")

Fizmo had such a bad marketing launch it's a crime. I want one one dayŠ
He's so VIOLET. :)

Denis U]
With MD now!
================================================
lepetitmartien           M.I.C.                http://www.macmusic.org

le 21/04/2003 02:17, Raj à rajah_patel@... a écrit :

> But "FIZMO" is just about the best name i've heard for any product

People are still wondering what it is about ;)
Maybe it means in ensoniqian "ugly 80s violet launched when it was not
fashionable"

> Pity that the Ensoniq peeps never got to release a fully finished version of
> it
> ...i mean the little LED display was a crime

Any ensoniq's launch of synthesizers is a crime.
They don't deserve the synth they make.

Who needs a big informative screen anyway ;)))

Maybe the led display was a C64 reminiscency

Denis U]

================================================
lepetitmartien           M.I.C.                http://www.macmusic.org

>bad marketing launch it's a crime
But "FIZMO" is just about the best name i've heard for any product

Pity that the Ensoniq peeps never got to release a fully finished version of
it
...i mean the little LED display was a crime

----- Original Message -----
From: "I've got a LASER, Earthman!" <lepetitmartien@...>
To: <elektron-users@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 11:47 PM
Subject: Re: [elektron] Fizmo


le 21/04/2003 00:22, Col Dee \ufffd coldee@... a \ufffdcrit :

> But I think the Fizmo and the SidStation are two completely different
> things. The Fizmo is a complex synth capable of video game sounds,
> but unlike the SidStation it is also capable of the most graceful,
> organic, evolving, sophisticated sounds. To the best of my knowledge
> (and I haven't played one yet), the SidStation is much better for
> dirtier, grittier stuff, and warmer sounds. But that's just what I've
> read.

To say it in a few words:

-sid is a kind of very bad digital oscillator (I'm sure wome here could give
us lessons on it ;)
-Fizmo is the latest Ensoniq's impersonation of wavetables ("transwaves")

Fizmo had such a bad marketing launch it's a crime. I want one one dayS
He's so VIOLET. :)

Denis U]
With MD now!
================================================
lepetitmartien           M.I.C.                http://www.macmusic.org





Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> Fizmo had such a bad marketing launch it's a crime. I want one one 
dayŠ
> He's so VIOLET. :)

I admit that Fizmo's colour scheme is bad, very bad. To denounce it 
as a mere "impersonation of wavetables" is really inaccurate, though. 
The Fizmo is unique. Try doing sounds like it can on a PPG.

Col.

> Pity that the Ensoniq peeps never got to release a fully finished 
version of it ...i mean the little LED display was a crime

Agreed. Also the power supply they fitted with it is SHIT! I had to 
replace mine at a cost of £75 ! Sometimes, when using it, you can 
tell that it is unfinished, that the job was rushed latterly, that 
the designers wanted to make a really amazing machine but weren't 
given enough time to iron out the flaws.

For instance, I'm having connecting it via MIDI to my computer!

le 21/04/2003 04:20, Col Dee à coldee@... a écrit :

> I admit that Fizmo's colour scheme is bad, very bad.

In fact it never shocked me, but as I'm a graphic designer I should be
ashamed. (no dischromatopsy in the family)

> To denounce it 
> as a mere "impersonation of wavetables" is really inaccurate, though.

It's just the easier way to understand it. Else it's wavetables arranged in
"frames"Š one step higher than PPG

Other brothers are vector synths (Prophet VS, Wavestation) but it also
different.

Wavetables in violet, how cute :)

> The Fizmo is unique. Try doing sounds like it can on a PPG.

PPG: Wavetables in blue

Me want modular PPG :) (no wavetables but in black)
(me want tooooooo many things)

le 21/04/2003 04:23, Col Dee à coldee@... a écrit :

> Agreed. Also the power supply they fitted with it is SHIT! I had to
> replace mine at a cost of £75 !

I had forgotten about this one :)))
Almost as irresistible as the moving supply of Arp 2600 (What a name
dropper)

> Sometimes, when using it, you can
> tell that it is unfinished, that the job was rushed latterly, that
> the designers wanted to make a really amazing machine but weren't
> given enough time to iron out the flaws.

(sigh)

> For instance, I'm having connecting it via MIDI to my computer!

You're having what? Whites rabbits? Booze? instant Forbidden Planet?
problems?

Denis U] should go to bed (with MD)

================================================
lepetitmartien           M.I.C.                http://www.macmusic.org

> Wavetables in violet, how cute :)

> You're having what? Whites rabbits? Booze? instant Forbidden Planet?
> problems?

Bloody hell! I'll have some of what this guy's had!