Software synths

[Janina Sajka]

But, Cecil, it's not a question of should or could, it's a question of
is and does.

Clearly, all synths rely on software, whether or not they're housed in
the main computer or an auxiliary device. The point is how they
interface to the principle computer, and what resources they require to
function. To date it remains my quantified experience that those running
on the host computer are less respectful of system resources. I guess
it's something along the lines of software expanding to fill all
available space.

The issue is further exaserbated if one attempts to do any serious audio
work while using a synth as one's interface device. At the moment, the
quickest way to crash Gnopernicus is to try and launch an audio
application like Beast or Gmorgan. Is that Gnopernicus fault? Or perhaps
gnome-speech? Or perhaps Esd? Or perhaps Jack? I don't know, and neither
does anyone else. The issue of appropriately handling multiple audio
streams on Linux remains fluid and unresolved. On Windows things aren't
much better as witnessed by all those messages in the MIDI-Mag archive
about keeping the speech synthesizer out of the music.

So, the theory is just that--theory. The facts are something else.

Whitley CTR Cecil H writes:
> From: Whitley CTR Cecil H <WhitleyCH.ctr at cherrypoint.usmc.mil>
> 
> Hi,
> I'm sorry, I can't buy into there being anything inheriently bad with
> software synths.  They actually provide an elegant solution.  Even the
> dectalk is at it's heart a software synth, it just runs on an external
> computer all it's own.  If I remember the specs, it's a 386 with a meg of
> memory.  If you can get that out of a 386, what should you be able to do
> with one of the modern processors?
> 
> Admittedly, the dectalk has some fancy DAC's.....  But once again, they are
> circa 1990....  Shouldn't todays technology be able to at least match it??
> After all, we're not talking tubes here.  
> 
> So in summary, I contend that with a modern processor and high end sound
> hardware it should be possible to exceed "old" hardware synths in all
> catagories.  On the other hand, if you get my dectalk express you'll have to
> pry it from my cold dead fingers.....
> 
> Cecil
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-- 
	
Janina Sajka
Email: janina at rednote.net		
Phone: +1 (202) 408-8175

Director, Technology Research and Development
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
http://www.afb.org

Chair, Accessibility Work Group
Free Standards Group
http://a11y.org