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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
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> 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