Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site laidbak.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!dual!qantel!ihnp4!laidbak!jeq From: jeq@laidbak.UUCP (Jonathan E. Quist) Newsgroups: net.music.synth,net.analog Subject: Re: 'State of the art' questions Message-ID: <153@laidbak.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 20:47:33 EDT Article-I.D.: laidbak.153 Posted: Mon Aug 12 20:47:33 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 22:21:02 EDT References: <772@cadovax.UUCP> Reply-To: jeq@laidbak.UUCP (Jonathan E. Quist) Organization: LAI Chicago Lines: 40 Keywords: MIDI Xref: linus net.music.synth:399 net.analog:415 > 3. MIDI would seem to be a move towards modular synthesizer products. ... > Can I go out and by a keyboard (JUST a keyboard) > to hook up to some sound generation hardware via MIDI? Can I go out > and by sound generating hardware (sans keyboard) to hook up to existing > keyboard equipment via MIDI? Yamaha has a fairly extensive line of MIDI products, including a standalone keyboard (the KX-1, I think) with pressure and velocity sensitive keys. It's basically the same keyboard used in the DX-7 synth. Yamaha's TX-816 is a small rack mount box containing the sound production hardware equivalent to slightly more than 8 DX-7's. > 4. What is the importance (in the studio) of SMPTE time coding, where > related to synthesizers. I would think that perhaps videos of > commercials would find it useful to be able to drive your 'sampling' > effects box or vice versa to provide accurate synching of the sound > and video. Roland has a sync box (the SBX-1?) which will convert MIDI to SMPTE, and vice verse. It also allows the operator to "conduct"; tapping on a keboard switch controls the rate at which the box sends out MIDI tempo information. A friend recently used it to add a soundtrack to a video. To avoid verbosity, I'll simply say that he described the use of SMPTE as indispensable in serious studio work. DAC Caveat: If you are using digital synthesis, the algorithm you use can potentially introduce enough noise to make the best DAC's sound like a crystal radio in a thunderstorm. The noise floor of the Yamaha TX-816 varies drastically between voices. Just one more thing to keep in mind. Jonathan E. Quist ihnp4!laidbak!jeq ``I deny that this is a disclaimer.''