Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site ssc-vax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxb!mhuxn!mhuxm!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!zadco From: zadco@ssc-vax.UUCP (Rick Fairfield) Newsgroups: net.music.synth Subject: Re: PCs <--> Synths: Info request Message-ID: <410@ssc-vax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 11-Feb-85 23:27:47 EST Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.410 Posted: Mon Feb 11 23:27:47 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 14-Feb-85 00:43:28 EST References: <2391@hplabsc.UUCP> Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA Lines: 62 > I am interesting composing music on a personal computer in non-real-time > fashion and then feeding it to a synthesizer to playback to me. I have > access to various kinds of personal computers, almost all of which have > a serial RS-232 port in the back. > > Does anyone make a synthesizer which is polyphonic and can be driven through > a serial port? I am just starting out in this area and would appreciate > any information people on the net can give about products, costs, etc. > I would be willing to assemble circuits from kits if I have to. > > Thanks much. > > Arvind Kumar > ...!hplabs!kumar If you have a fair amount of money you could get a Synergy or a Rhodes Chroma; both are accessible via RS232C. I don't know how much Chromas cost - they used to be about $4000.00. A Synergy that can be controlled and voiced via an RS232 port lists for about $6000.00 (including software that runs on a KAYPRO computer). The Synergy is far more powerful if you're into creating sounds and such but the Rhodes is fun too. If money is a major factor you might look into PAiA Electronics Inc. They make kits, some of which have digital interfaces. The drawback is that the interfaces are pretty raw so you may have to convert the i/o to RS232 yourself. For example, their "Universal Keyboard Controllers" provide parallel data to a DB25 connector. PAiA's phone number is 405-843-9626. Depending on what kind of a computer you have, you might consider going with the MIDI interface. Lots of synthesizer companies are offering the guts of their more popular instruments in "expander" format. What you usually get is all of the voices, programs, parameters, sequencing, and envelopes but no keyboard and only a few (if any) controls; everything is controlled through the MIDI port by another (MIDI equipped) synthesizer or a computer that has a MIDI interface. The cheaper expanders don't let you program voices (you have to have access to a fully equipped synth of the same type) but some of the newer models allow any function that can be performed on the full synthesizer to be performed on the expander via the MIDI port. Be careful, because there are a lot of misleading claims by makers of MIDI equipment. I'd take some time to learn about the machines and not believe any advertised function unless you've actually seen it work. I like these MIDI expander synths a lot and am thinking of getting one (maybe the Oberheim) to interface with my Synergy and my computer. If you are going to compose mainly from the computer this might be a good way of getting a lot of instrument for your $'s without having to pay for a keyboard and controls that you don't need. The major drawback is that you can only access those functions that the manufacturer has included in his interpretation of the MIDI spec. When you say that you want to compose in non-real time do you mean that you are going to compose note sequences, chords, time values, etc., or are you going to actually compute wave tables or perform some other type of basic synthesis. If you mean the former then you can probably get a lot more real-time than you think with your own or a vendor's MIDI music composition software and a MIDI synth or expander. If you mean the latter then why not hang some good quality d/a converters off the back of your PC and make your own sounds? That's what I'd do if I had a decent computer and the wherewithal. zzzzzadco