mjn@panda.UUCP (Mark J. Norton) (02/14/85)
In response to the article asking for desciptions of what equipment I currently have, my only synthesizer is an Arp Oddessy. I was able to pick this up quite cheaply when Arp went out of business. For $500, I got a complete working unit and documentation. I was told at the time that this is close to what it cost to make the thing. In using the Arp, lack of pre-sets dosen't bother me, since I'm not into live performances. I greatly enjoy its modular programablity and ease of play. It has a good, clean sound and several sound features including white and pink noise generation and sample&hold. Pitch bending and tremelo is accomplished with PPC (porportional pitch control) pads. Keyboard covers 3.5 octaves, with a two octave up/down selector. On the negative side, it is not polyphonic. Two oscillators give me at most 2 voices. There are also some modes which generate distortion if more that one key is depressed, which often happens when the fingers start to fly. The sliders are also prone to getting dirty, requiring spray cleaner, though you can go a long time before it is noticeable. The Oddessy does not have MIDI, since it was developed before the standard was developed. However it does have a control voltage input on the back, which I hope to utilize. I've got an old z80 micro lying around which I hope (someday) to convert into a digital sequencer. All I need to this is the right D/A converter, and some random soldering. Fellow synth hackers will want to check out the latest edition of High Technology Magazine. The Kurzwiel synthesizer is featured on the cover, and is described in detail in the article. Also mentioned is a future version of the instrument for under $3000. The current is $10K+. The claim in the article is that the Kurzweil produces the closest thing to a real concert grand piano. Some dispute this, but I couldn't tell the difference. Any rumors in netland about a MIDI interface for the MacIntosh? Mark J. Norton decvax!genrad!{teddy, panda}!mjn