[Fpga-synth] Growing pains

[Scott Gravenhorst]

"The making of synthesizers in FPGAs." wrote:
>
>> Can you help me out here - I don't work in DSP, so I think I 
>don't have the experience to > understand this: "all the hacks 
>and false prophets building dark empires by abusing plots and > 
>schemes to sin against the good music and decent digital 
>processing" > > I have to wonder - am I guilty? I do "sin" in 
>that I (for example) use approximations when they > simplify a 
>problem and the approximation doesn't affect the outcome (to my 
>ears). Not sure I > understand what a DSP music dark empire is 
>nor who a false prophet might be. > > I do realize that there is 
>humor here, but again, I think my inexperience prevents me from 
>getting > the full effect of it. 
>
>Sure Scott, I mean not that that is wrong, I suppose it is even fun!
>
>But there is often like a 'faith'  in things that led to music which is
>more based on for me not so attractive processing, which isn't made
>because the persons want the exact kind of sounds, but because they are
>about certain types of processing.
>
>Like if I want t play loud guitar I could buy a Marshal stack or invent
>a new Peavy or use some plugins I love for their sound, but it's more
>like some fairly dark forces want to make sure they' re the lead in the
>whole of plugin land and such.

Aha, ego.

>I mean, why does someone want to do DSP or maybe even more advanced
>(depending on background) FPGA processing, because such a person likes
>music or wants to mesmerize certain people when they get high with
>things music teachers would rightfully ban if they'd have say?

In my years of doing my own music, I've only recently discovered the force of
dissonance, used properly I think it can be very helpful.  But yeah.

>I think making open source machinery and software is almost certain to
>be kind of nice, there's just a lot of 'new' people who don't have your
>and my good musical and sound education in mind, and where I come from
>that led to more powergames then Open Source thus far seems to be able
>to handle in a decent way.

Well, I think it depends on the O.S. project.  O.S. in the linux world has tended to
create a plethora of different UI styles and interaction paradigms that become
difficult to manage.  However, that's because in large part these programs are
supposed to work together.

One thing to remember is that open stuff like linux is far more populous than those
of use who craft digital synthesizers in our dark damp basements.  The more people
involved, the more chance of encountering an over active ego.

For me, the "openness" of what I do with music, synthesis FPGAs is more like "here
it is, have at it" and then I take a step back.  

I am personally motivated by several things:  

- A desire to make sounds I can't get from a commercial device I own.  

- A fascination with a particular process which can be one I don't fully understand
  at the outset.  Implementing the theory often gives me insight and understanding.

- fun.

It's probably wise to know that there is a significant amount of failure involved in
this adventure.  It attempts to serve in keeping me humble.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Theo - yes, the FPGA-Synth Wiki is locked down. I believe that Magnus Danielson runs
that server now.  When Paul Maddox had it, I got an ID for writing to it.  I believe
that it's locked only to keep jackasses from littering it with spam and other
associated bovine flatulence.



-- ScottG
________________________________________________________________________
-- Scott Gravenhorst
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