Re:The first electro-mechanical desktop synthesizer
by soundarana on Thursday December 07, 2023 @07:19PM
(#38563746)
> wiggle a voltage in proportion to the return value, feed the output stream into a digital-to analog-converter
The first part of this sentence, the wiggle, is already a DAC.
Re:The first electro-mechanical desktop synthesizer
by javajosh on Friday December 08, 2023 @02:15PM
(#38572934)
You're right, I misspoke. The DAC turns data into a voltage wiggle which moves the magnet which moves the membrane of the speaker. But my point stands, I think.
Re:The first electro-mechanical desktop synthesizer
by eternityforest on Friday December 08, 2023 @12:32AM
(#38565775)
I like them as alternate history retro computing art pieces. They look cool and do in fact make actual music.
I just don't like them enough that I'd ever want to actually own one...
The only other boundary condition on the function is that we want to parameterize it in a way that is comprehensible and pleasant for humans to manipulate. I would suggest that a simulation of this synth would be superior to the synth itself in every way. If you were clever enough (or masochistic enough) you could even build in "flakiness" and "parts wear" and "thermal variation".
If you really want an analog sound, then get an orchestral instrument, or an electric guitar! I don't understand this half-measure of "use-machines-to-synthesize-sounds-but-not-THAT-way".