Wiardgroup

So as not to drag this out forever and hit this forum with multiple 
konkurograms in a row, I've addressed several posts here.

As the Hon. Peake  pointed out, I have found this exchange quite 
informative.  I still have issues with some aspects of the Wiard 
design philosophy, but now have a much better understanding of why 
some people find it attractive.

Nigil wrote:

>By the way, have you seen some of the new non-300 series (ie: blue) 
modules
that he has been working on lately? They are visually more up your 
alley! And they are cheaper too! <

I didn't see any in the Photos section, though there were some nice 
silver ones, but for the fact that the jack field isn't centered 
(which bugs me more than anything).

Bill S. wrote:

>Exactly my point, as the comparison was between apples and oranges.
While I would never place a functional vocoder in a living area, a 
Wiard
has a personality that transforms it into a conversation piece, even
among those that do not value synths as much as we do. The nature of
the graphics in both instruments serves a different purpose.<

You know, you ALMOST won on this point--that the Wiard can double as 
decoration when not in use as a synth (kind of like a piano).  But 
there are still problems:

1.)  The Wiard is rack-mount by default.  How many people have racks 
in their living rooms, or would want them there?  As stage dressing, 
the graphics can't be seen from afar, so they don't work well in that 
regard either. 

2.)  Again, if the aesthetics were of that much importance, the jack 
field would not be askew.  That would be like a grand piano with the 
keyboard shifted three inches to the left.

>No trouble, but some people revel in looking at an instrument for the
instrument itself - that is a fact of life. I contemplate my Serge
from time to time, and admire it as an electronic sculpture of sorts.<

You should see my beautiful .com!   :-)

>The hammer example, unfortunately, does not
illustrate the point being discussed - if you talk about a hammer, 
then
we should be talking about screwdrivers, clearly not the center of our
discussion.<

What about Jan Hammer?  :-)

You did not grasp my analogy.  "Hark, Pagan, while I expound!" [Line 
from The Royal Hunt of the Sun]

A beautiful table is an end.  A carpenter uses a hammer as a means to 
create that end.  A beautiful composition is an end.  A musician uses 
a synthesizer to create that end.  Whether or not the hammer is 
exquisitely carved has no bearing on its function, which is to drive 
nails using a weight on a stick.  By the same token, whether or not a 
synth has cat girls painted on it (please tell me there really isn't 
a synth like that) has no bearing on its function as a tool used to 
achieve an end.

>Have you seen the Baroque clavichords, their ornaments and fine 
woods?<

Seen them?  I used to be able to look at one and tell you when and 
where it was made.  But that was a long time ago.

>Again, it is a personal thing to find Wiard's graphics beautiful or
detracting - it all comes down to a matter of taste.<

On that we agree.  But I do think such things as jack placement 
should be give more thought in the future.

Norman Fay wrote:

>John, it occurs to me that as the Wiard's pots, sockets and LEDs are 
not 
circuit board mounted, if there are any of the modules whose 
functions, 
sound etc are interesting to you, you could have Synthesizers.com - 
style front panels made up to take them. The Wiard is powered by a 
+15v/0/-15v DC supply, so that part of interfacing it would be no 
problem.<

Hmmmm....  Now THAT is an actual possibility!

>Larry Hendry and Cynthia Webster have produced panels to bring 
other makers' modules into the MOTM and ModCan systems respectively, 
as 
you've no doubt seen, so perhaps you could do the same for your 
system! 
Admit it! This is an excellent idea!<

Yes, it is.  And funny you should mention it.  As we speak, I'm 
having some custom panels being made in .com format.  If it works 
out, I plan to convert several designs from other synth mfgrs. to 
the .com format (though I may need to find a more efficient means of 
getting panels screened). Among these would be a Blacet time machine, 
Blacet VCADSR, MOTM sub octave Mux (minus those slippery pots), and 
some others.

>I heartily recommend the Omni Filter and Borg Filters to you as two 
of 
the finest analogue synthesiser modules available to-day!<

How well do they track?

>(PS I have several email address nom-de-plumes because it comes in 
handy 
to track where the SPAM is coming from, haha that's the same spam 
that 
they carefully research yer web usage so as to target you, before 
sending the same bloody herbal vi*gra & expand yr member garbage they 
send to everyone else. Plus, er, it's phun!)<

Whew!  I'm glad I'm not the only person bombarded daily with spam for 
Viagra and kits for enlarging one's *membrum.*  I was beginning to 
wonder what the hell made the spammers think either was being 
sought...

Steve wrote:

>Im guessing there are more "sonic explorers" in the Wiard camp than 
in 
that of any other Marque. Drawn in by the quirkyness and personality 
of the machine, Grant has made electromechanical art for these 
intrepid explorers. . <

That would make a great "pull quote" for Wiard.  A very nice post, 
BTW.

CW wrote:

>Doesn't anyone think that the design has become bigger than the 
synth?
It's a shame that the two occasions this list has buzzed with 
activity in
the last year have been the two times the faceplate has been 
discussed.
Seems easily to be the biggest talking point of the Wiard system
Again, it's a shame when you look at all the other things it has 
going for
it.<

Or, it could be clever marketing on Wiard's part.  

johnm