MOTM

It's not my age.  It's not three seasons of 24.  It's the number of 
module panels in my synthesizer as of today.  The 72nd module is  a DIY 
output mixer (details forthcoming on my website), built with a MUUB-4 board.

A while back I ran across a website called Synthesis Technology, which 
featured Module Of The Month (MOTM) kits.  I've built or purchased 72 
modules in MOTM format (plus six power supplies and four cabinets) in 
about 57 months.  So that's 1.263 Modules per Month!  All soldered with 
my 80's-era General Cement Supertemp 12-070 soldering station using 
*one* steel-clad tip!  Never had to change it.

I finally gave in and got an Encore UEG.  I resisted for a long time, 
mainly because of it being assembled.  Well, that reason isn't as good 
as it used to be.  I'm looking forward to a MOTM VC Pulse Generator, and 
a MOTM Cloud Generator.  I even have a Modcan B CV Recorder on order.  
No doubt I'll run out of cabinet space again, but I don't have room for 
a side cabinet, and I don't want to use a step ladder.  I may be forced 
to part with a few less frequently used modules to make room.

I'm not a motivated musician.  I have not figured out what sort of 
synthesizer music I want to make.  I have a philosophical question 
regarding, What is a musical note?  (Related to that other philosophical 
question, What is Time?)  I am ambivalent about notes in the traditional 
sense.  I am drawn to drones and off-beat time-signature styles, such as 
jazz pieces in "no time".  I like poly-rhythms, too.  Not fond of 
regular beats (I don't dance).  I let my plumber hear some of my synth 
stuff and he remarked, "It don't swing."  I have no target audience, 
other than myself.  I've thought about live synthesizer performance (I 
did it a few times, years ago). I think some people might like to hear a 
synthesizer improvisation, and that would be my motivation.  But I am 
not interested in performing, per se.  Recording doesn't interest me 
much, either, except as a reminder to myself of some of the things I've 
done.  So... in the mean time, while I figure all that out, I've been 
building a machine.  Just for the joy of building.

Richard Brewster
http://www.pugix.com