OT- where is etLux?

[Raymond62]

I miss him....... or has he gone deeper into the woods to cook some great (as usual) composition?

Raymond

[swinkler]

I've wondered the same thing. I miss his contributions.

Steve Winkler

[sanyarem]

Oh good, I thought I was the only one who hadn't seen anything from him recently...well, maybe that's not good...

I'd love to see him around again as well :)

[bigears]

I wrote to him recently to check on him and he is well and staying very busy with a project. Hopefully he will emerge soon, re-charged and full of his usual blend of wisdom and wit. John

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll30/jtan232/etluxswami.jpg

[Garritan]

et who? :confused: %- ;)

[rbowser-]

I would bet we've all noticed David's absence. But I noticed he's been on the Birthday posts - so he's Semi-here. Really has been quite awhile since he's displayed his more customary Omniscience!

Randy

[RichR]

et who? :confused: %- ;)


No, the Ides of March have alread past us Gary! :p

[germancomponist]

I miss him and Ern *()

[Styxx]

I miss him and Ern *() Ern? Well, now that answers the question. ;):D

[bigears]

When last seen, he was wearing colored tights...........
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll30/jtan232/superheroe.jpg

[Raymond62]

Found him.....

http://www.utsa.edu/today/images/graphics/bigfoot.jpg

Raymond

[Garritan]

Found him.....

http://www.utsa.edu/today/images/graphics/bigfoot.jpg

Raymond
Finally, etLux got a haircut.

http://www.utsa.edu/today/images/graphics/bigfoot.jpg

[Leaf]

I miss him, too.

I think he is working on a movie, "Planet of the etLux's"

Please pass the chicken.

[etLux]

http://www.davidsosnowski.com/images/synth.gif

Sosnowski Synthesizer

[germancomponist]

http://www.davidsosnowski.com/images/synth.gif

Cooooool! :D

An where is Ern?

[etLux]

I miss him....... or has he gone deeper into the woods to cook some great (as usual) composition?

Raymond

Thanks for your concern, Raymond -- and for kind words
(and ribbing... lol), everyone. I miss y'all, too!

I'm well, thanks, so not to worry. In large part, my ears
needed a break -- after listening and commenting on, oh,
gosh, must be thousands of pieces in the LR... all that
diversity! I found I was losing focus. That's a sure sign
that one's overdone a good thing, and it's time to give
it a rest and recharge a little.

I've also been restructuring my business. In tough economic
times like these, you don't work less, you work more and a
lot harder -- trimming operations, and positioning your
business to be fit and ready for better times to come. For
all the pain of them, it's downturns like this that so often
spur innovation and new growth.

One major change is something I've always wanted to do...
I've begun developing musical applications. The first one
out will be an "everyman's synth" (image above)... the
Sosnowski Synthesizer.

A few early demos are available here: A Little Bach (http://www.davidsosnowski.com)

While a modest machine that harks back to Wendy Carlos'
Switched-On Bach, I hope it has the assets of being designed
by a classically-oriented musician. Bill DeWitt recently did
a Mozart concerto demo with this and GPO -- it truly surprised
me how at home it seemed in that context. Danny Williams has
likewise been giving it some exercise with great results.
(Thanks, Danny and Bill!)

Gary's enthusiastically in on the game -- of course! -- which
is probably why it's three months behind schedule... rofl.
Seriously, he's made a number of valuable suggestions, and
has been regularly cheering the project on. As most of you
know, Gary is a personal friend and we have no business
relationship of any kind -- but I think you can consider this
little effort of mine a cousin of the Garritan clan to which
we all belong. Any comments about the synth I've posted here
are, naturally, with Gary's consent and endorsement.

Wish me luck, all -- and I promise I'll be back in the LR
as soon as I get this thing done!

Always my best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[rbowser-]

Wow - Fantastic news, all, David! - And here I was thinking the image you posted of the synth was an April Fool's joke--I probably wasn't the only one.

As for life getting so busy that it's impossible to keep up on the Forum, I can certainly relate. You go!--David, sounds like you're on an excellent roll, and we'll just look forward to the time when we can read your fine posts again.

Best wishes on all your exciting endeavors.

Randy

[valhalx]

Yes, David allowed me honor of testing his snazy synth. As he says, it karkens back to the good ol' days of analog synths. The cool thing about it is, you can create your own sounds. The sky is the limit. It's a lot of fun twisting knobs and pushing sliders and hearing the sound change.

Here is the demo he spoke of. This is Davids synth and GPO playing in Overture.

http://www.valhalx.com/syn_moz.mp3

Bill

[RichR]

Good luck David both in the restructuring of your business but also your ear and listening ability. We do need to step back from time to time to reposition our heads in what we are trying to accomplish.

Best to you!

[etLux]

Here is the demo he spoke of. This is Davids synth and GPO playing in Overture.

http://www.valhalx.com/syn_moz.mp3

Bill

Many thanks for posting that, Bill -- you did one heck of a job on it!

[valhalx]

I'm wondering though. Is release imminent?

Bill

[GrahamKeitch]

I'm well, thanks, so not to worry.

**** That's great news David

I've also been restructuring my business.

**** Yep, this is a good time to review things and look to the future

One major change is something I've always wanted to do...
I've begun developing musical applications.

A few early demos are available here: A Little Bach (http://www.davidsosnowski.com)

**** Enjoyed these David, great fun!

Wish me luck, all -- and I promise I'll be back in the LR
as soon as I get this thing done!

**** Good luck with the synth project and we look forward to having you back in the LR when the time is right, Regards Graham

[Leaf]

Very cool, David! And it sounds fantastic.

I will have to get one of these, when they are released... will they come in royal blue?

I hope you have great success with this synth and any other things you may have up your sleeves.

David

[Garritan]

I've had an opportunity to try out David's synthesizer and he has done an impressive job. It truly is a synthesizer for "everyman", well laid out, easy to use and just plain fun the work with. And best of all, it sounds fantastic.

David has a winner here and this is a needed product. I believe it will be met with great success.

All the best David,

Gary Garritan

[etLux]

I've had an opportunity to try out David's synthesizer and he has done an impressive job. It truly is a synthesizer for "everyman", well laid out, easy to use and just plain fun the work with. And best of all, it sounds fantastic.

David has a winner here and this is a needed product. I believe it will be met with great success.

All the best David,

Gary Garritan

Yes, yes, I've come up for air again... lol.

Gary, thank you so much for the kind words.

And to all who offered good thoughts and encouragement,
likewise!

My best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[wrayer]

While a modest machine that harks back to Wendy Carlos'
Switched-On Bach, I hope it has the assets of being designed
by a classically-oriented musician. Bill DeWitt recently did
a Mozart concerto demo with this and GPO -- it truly surprised
me how at home it seemed in that context. Danny Williams has
likewise been giving it some exercise with great results.
(Thanks, Danny and Bill!)www.DavidSosnowski.com (http://www.DavidSosnowski.com)

Can't wait to see this VST in action on my own computer. best of Luck, David!

best regards,
Bill

[rbowser-]

Hi, David - I just looked back to check - you did say "musical applications"--so your synth is of the software variety. Right?

It can seem amazing to us here in soft synth land, but hardware synths are still being made. There are people who sill feel they rule. I didn't get into "soft synths" at All until I discovered GPO a few years ago. A lot of keyboardists still lay down the bucks for hardware models, just as they did 20 years ago.

But of course the musical software industry is Happening now, and the apps are no longer toys like when the original "Da Hornet" came out.

It's a tough market your facing, isn't it? With all the free synths, analog emulations, bizarro new mutant synths of all sorts, and the hardcore great soft synths developed by Cakewalk and other companies--these things are Everywhere. My eyes glaze when I take a gander at the huge number of available soft synths.

I like my little collection of free, bundled, and purchased soft synths - but they're so much of the same cloth- Actually not that much variety. You put a synth in a piece, and it can sound great, but I really can't tell the difference between freebie Analog Emulation X and an expensive one. They all buzz and swoop and say WENDY CARLOS, no matter what formula of synthesis they use.

(secret---well, no longer a secret - I still love my Casio CZ. I haven't heard a soft synth yet which sounds like it, so I have it in my home studio's MIDI loop.)

There's a current proliferation of soft synths because the basic tools for creating them are very available now. People are stringing together these modules that they get and are coming up with synths which are basically the same, hoping that their particular collection of pre-sets will be what grabs their potential audience. Killer pre-sets - we all dive into those. Sexy GUIs are a draw too, with the pretty PhotoShopped knobs and textures. Hot looking metallic simulations, all that frosting which sells the cake.

Not to be discouraging, but I am wondering how you envision having your synth stand apart from the free synths, from the $19.99 synths we see listed every week in the KVR newsletter? I mean-wow---this Has to be a really tough market. Contracts with big companies so you can piggy-back your synth with the sales of Cubase and Sonar?

I wish you the very best - I'm just a bit breathless with concern!

Randy

[etLux]

Hi Randy,


Hi, David - I just looked back to check - you did say "musical applications"--so your synth is of the software variety. Right?

Correct. A Windows platform standalone and VST.



It can seem amazing to us here in soft synth land, but hardware synths are still being made. There are people who sill feel they rule. I didn't get into "soft synths" at All until I discovered GPO a few years ago. A lot of keyboardists still lay down the bucks for hardware models, just as they did 20 years ago.

Far as I know, the hardware synth market is as robust
as ever. The choice between a hardware or a software
approach depends on a number of factors, I think...
what you're used to, what the venue is, what kind of
work you're doing, and so on.



But of course the musical software industry is Happening now, and the apps are no longer toys like when the original "Da Hornet" came out.

It's a tough market your facing, isn't it? With all the free synths, analog emulations, bizarro new mutant synths of all sorts, and the hardcore great soft synths developed by Cakewalk and other companies--these things are Everywhere. My eyes glaze when I take a gander at the huge number of available soft synths.

You sure have that right, Randy. There must be
hundreds and hundreds of software synth products
out there, ranging in price from free to big bucks.

And I've checked out quite a number of them --
dozens and dozens... lol... I've lost track how many.

On many, quality was questionable, as you might
expect. And, of course, there were, too, many products
I found very well done.

But none of them were quite what I wanted. That's
what set me off to building one, myself.

It's proven quite an adventure, too. I started this in
May of 2008. And I doubt I'll let it into daylight before
May of 2009!



I like my little collection of free, bundled, and purchased soft synths - but they're so much of the same cloth- Actually not that much variety. You put a synth in a piece, and it can sound great, but I really can't tell the difference between freebie Analog Emulation X and an expensive one. They all buzz and swoop and say WENDY CARLOS, no matter what formula of synthesis they use.

(secret---well, no longer a secret - I still love my Casio CZ. I haven't heard a soft synth yet which sounds like it, so I have it in my home studio's MIDI loop.)

There's a current proliferation of soft synths because the basic tools for creating them are very available now.

Quite so. But a gentle reminder that even the finest
of tools does not insure the quality of that built with
them. In the end, it's the skill of the craftsman that
counts most.



People are stringing together these modules that they get and are coming up with synths which are basically the same, hoping that their particular collection of pre-sets will be what grabs their potential audience. Killer pre-sets - we all dive into those. Sexy GUIs are a draw too, with the pretty PhotoShopped knobs and textures. Hot looking metallic simulations, all that frosting which sells the cake.

Yeah... ain't it something? I've seen some really
gorgeous ones that sounded awful, and some ugly
ones that sounded wonderful... lol. Seems like
it would be good if some of these fellows got together
with each other.



Not to be discouraging, but I am wondering how you envision having your synth stand apart from the free synths, from the $19.99 synths we see listed every week in the KVR newsletter? I mean-wow---this Has to be a really tough market. Contracts with big companies so you can piggy-back your synth with the sales of Cubase and Sonar?


Randy, any product like this is something of a
crap-shoot when it comes to marketing. I'm very
well aware of that. And when it comes to marketing,
it's an area I'm godawful lousy at... rofl.

Will it sell? Who knows. It's designed and built to
do what I want it to do, the way I want it to do it.
If that likewise meets the needs and wants of others,
then perhaps it will do well.

A project like this... I can't speak for others, but for
me it's not about the money, really. It's about the
love of doing it, the satisfaction of crafting something
worthwhile of itself.

And while I do have bills to pay like everyone else,
if I never made a nickel off it -- it'd be worth every
one of the hundreds of hours that have gone into it.



I wish you the very best - I'm just a bit breathless with concern!

Randy

All my best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[rbowser-]

Excellent, David - Thanks much for the thorough reply.

You've clearly thought it all through, and it's very good to see how much confidence you have in your synth being something different from what's already available.

With your extremely developed musical sense, seems to me only logical that a synth developed by you would be unique and very useful.

Great!

Randy

[etLux]

Excellent, David - Thanks much for the thorough reply.

Welcome, Randy. I'm afraid I'm rather "old world"
in my attitudes about these things -- which may
well be deadly in the marketplace.



You've clearly thought it all through, and it's very good to see how much confidence you have in your synth being something different from what's already available.

My aim was to make a fairly simple instrument
that is self-contained (onboard sound treatment
and so on)... with which one can make good sounds
that are musically useful, even in classical repertoire.

It is most definitely not intended to be a "super-
synth" -- quite the contrary. It's a basic tool that
does only certain things; but does them well.

To me, one of the shortcomings of many soft synths
is they seek to do everything under the sun for every
conceivable use -- and in the end, succeed mostly
at creating more complication than utility.

That strikes me as akin to trying to build a clarinet that
also sounds like a tuba. I suppose that's physically
possible; but I can't quite fathom why you'd want to
do it... lol.



With your extremely developed musical sense, seems to me only logical that a synth developed by you would be unique and very useful.


Thanks for the kind thought, Randy -- and yes, there
is that factor: I don't think too many synths are developed
by classically trained musicians. Obviously, synths tend
to be almost entirely attuned to popular music.

Perhaps this little machine will find a place because of that!



Great!

Randy

All my best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[rwayland]

Well, David, you are right, most synths are aimed at pop music, mostly the type that I don't have much interest in. You entry impresses me very much. I don't know if I will be able to use it on my system, or if funds will be free enough, but I am convinced that it is a superior sound.

Richard

[rbowser-]

What fun - Now I've listened to the demos posted at your site, David. "Switched on Bach" revisited, indeed! That pronounced and classic "chiff" on the note attacks in the first demo, the happy, twittering resonance filter whistling away on the second MP3. I love that early Wendy Carlos sound. I'd have great fun with this synth.

You have a very receptive, willing audience here at Northern Sounds, David--SO along with everyone else, I'm looking forward to when you can make this available to us. I'll be in that long waiting line, waving a fist full of dollars so I can snatch up my "Sosnowski-atron." :)

Randy

[etLux]

My Friends,

Before I say anything further in this thread, I would again
like to offer a special thanks to Gary Garritan.

I think you'd all agree it's quite extraordinary for Gary to
allow this -- essentially letting me introduce a forthcoming
soundware product here, right on his front steps.

Gary's one of those rare individuals who doesn't just "talk
the talk". When he says "it's all about the music", he means
it; and he truly views all of us as "friends & family".
In talking with Gary, I don't think anything gives him more
of a thrill than when he sees one of the clan accomplishing
something worthwhile.

Thank you, Gary, for the use of the Garritan front porch!

All my best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Well, David, you are right, most synths are aimed at pop music, mostly the type that I don't have much interest in. You entry impresses me very much. I don't know if I will be able to use it on my system, or if funds will be free enough, but I am convinced that it is a superior sound.

Richard

Thanks for the good word, Richard!

Synths in general tend to be a little hungrier with
CPU than well made sampler's like Gary's -- but this
one's pretty conservative. I've had it running happily
on a five-year-old cheap laptop, so it should run well
on most anything -- though, of course, stacking up
multiple instances can quickly build up load.

As far as the pocketbook -- this definitely won't
break anyone's budget. That's a promise.

My best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

What fun - Now I've listened to the demos posted at your site, David. "Switched on Bach" revisited, indeed! That pronounced and classic "chiff" on the note attacks in the first demo, the happy, twittering resonance filter whistling away on the second MP3. I love that early Wendy Carlos sound. I'd have great fun with this synth.

We all owe Wendy Carlos a great debt -- there's no question
all of us here would not be doing what we're doing today were
it not for her brilliant work.

The beast is basically complete as of tonight, by the way, Randy,
so soon enough you'll get to play with it (there's a fully functional
demo, of course). The main holdup now will be backend server
stuff -- that, and building up the sound library, which is quite
time-consuming.

On the other hand, that (the sound library approach) is one of its
assets. Once you make a sound, it's just a small text file that can
be easily shared with others.



You have a very receptive, willing audience here at Northern Sounds, David--SO along with everyone else, I'm looking forward to when you can make this available to us. I'll be in that long waiting line, waving a fist full of dollars so I can snatch up my "Sosnowski-atron." :)

Randy

In Gary's esteemed tradition, I'm tempted to just say that it's
"imminent"... lol. But realistically, probably sometime in May.

And, as mentioned, a "fist full" of dollars really won't be needful.
Honest!

My best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[bigears]

Reports have it that etLux turned to the idea of a VST synth when his early attempts at a hardware synth met with little interest.......one of his prototypes is seen here:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll30/jtan232/davessynth.png

[etLux]

Reports have it that etLux turned to the idea of
a VST synth when his early attempts at a
hardware synth met with little interest...
one of his prototypes is seen here:

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll30/jtan232/davessynth.png


ROFL!

Oh, gosh, John, you don't know the half of it... lol.

My best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com