#82

Yep… I bought the Sensel and returned it. The configuration software was buggy. It was annoying af to set up because I couldn’t find a way to have the Buchla and the Sensel plugged in at the same time to make changes to the Sensel. In the end when I finally got something useable I just realized that patching with a Pressure Points and/or O-Ctrl was way easier and surprisingly more tactile. Honestly the 0-Ctrl and euro banana convertor is the way to go with the 208c. The lpgs respond to the dynamic envelopes really well. The 0-Ctrl is super playable and is in the spirit of the Easel.

2 Likes
#83

I’m very heavily leaning on getting a 0-CTRL and am currently selling some modules I don’t really find much use for to fund it, mostly to be more self-sustained in mt gear purchaces. Serge TKB is something I’ve been wanting for quite a while, but haven’t been able to justify the price really, so I see it as a somewhat sensible middleground and possible very nice controller for hypothetical future banana synths too. Buying an euro version of TKB would feel a bit stupid, getting an expensive piece of equipment I could possibly need an adapter for at some point, or getting a banana version now and using an adapter because I could possibly get something banana in the future.

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#84

A while back I was on the verge on selling my eurorack setup in favor of buying an Easel, but I was luckily convinced in that for sale thread not to do it.
I have never tried any Buchla nor Serge (except for the euro stuff) and have gotten to know my eurorack setup quite well over the years. Since I was so close on selling everything I’ve come to like my eurorack setup even more. I made a few swaps, gotten even a smaller case to narrow the field of choices and I think I’ve settled down with what I’ve got (that’s something I’ve said an hundred times over the years of module swapping).
The thing is I’ve never really liked all these choices within the eurorack format, but you can’t beat the possibilities either so it’s sort of a catch 22 situation.

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#85

I’m eurorack based too and I’m really in the mindset of building an instrument instead of a modules wall. At the moment my strategy is to analyse architectures of classic or modern synths (modular prebuilt systems, semi modulars or not modular at all) and come up with my own version of a powerful synth voice. I still want this to fit in a single row of 84hp because it really feels like a nice format, and with the right selection of modules I’m convinced I will reach something that will feel like “my instrument”. One thing I like in the eurorack realm is that, even if you make a really classic synth voice, there are so many modules that come with a twist on their role that you can build something that is totally your own.
But I also think you have to learn to let things marinate, it’s clearly an expensive way of doing but at the moment I have many more modules than my case allows and I intend on taking the time to try several combinations until I end up with one I gel with and feel I can spend many years with. Then I’ll just have to sell the rest and call this my synth :slight_smile:

Anyway, my vote is Eurorack with self imposed constraints

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#86

I got the Sensel Morph with my Easel Command and very much like it. It didn’t take long to set up the MIDI configuration to work the way I want, though I’m still experimenting with it a bit.

No doubt a 0-Ctrl or the new Keystep would be great, too.

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#87

I use eurorack mostly for processing of acoustic sounds (granular, looping, fx, filtering…)
and the 4U serge system for “pure” analog synthesis without any effects. Naturally, I use different systems for different music.
The 4U serge systems remind me a lot of when I started ~25 years ago with a Doepfer system. The patching of simple function or patch programming.
In therms of sound: In my ears, the serge has a very powerful sonic presence.

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#88

So here’s something I was working on last night:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGjN97sBN-S/?igshid=1uh2ni9v5hbjz

My setup is currently Buchla, Serge and Euro, all mashed into one small case as you can see.

I have to say, while all this is definitely possible in Euro, the Serge really pushes you in one direction, the Buchla in another, and the Euro in another.

The Serge stuff, especially the SSG, is really already pushing me to think differently about patching. It’s definitely much more granular. I like it a lot. So, not saying you need to buy this stuff to think that way per se but there is something to it.

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#89

Not sure I would give Buchla any money now, given the lawsuit with the creator.

Personally I think most innovative scene is eurorack, with many designers directly inspired by Buchla.

For concrète, a combination of Make Noise and Rossum for example with some outboard would beat anything.

@909one

The Verbos stuff has low mid not low lows emphasis, bandlimited highs and intentional on the edge of breakup characteristics, to only paraphrase Mark. But this is what makes it sound good. I wouldn’t consider the optomix to be a very dimensional low pass gate. Like it more as a mixer and for dampened strikes on noise. Run the CO through Natural Gate or a Borg I or Boogie, it will sound very impressive.

I would consider Cs-L more hifi in the sense of full spectrum, but less immediately musical.

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#90

Are you talking about the issues that Don had with the prior company, BEMI?

"In 2015, various websites, including FACT,[20] reported that Don Buchla had taken the owners of BEMI to court, citing health problems due in part to unpaid consulting fees and asserting a claim to his original intellectual property. The lawsuit alleged breach of contract and “bad-faith conduct” on the part of BEMI’s owners and sought $500,000 in compensation.[21]

Legal documents[22] filed with the state of California indicate that the court ordered the case to be settled by arbitration in July 2015. In August 2016, the court dismissed the case in light of the fact that the parties had reached an out-of-court settlement."

I was under the impression that Buchla USA was doing things on the up-and-up, though I may have missed something.

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#91

Let’s be cautious about spreading misinformation. Is there some current dispute between Foxtone/Buchla USA and Don’s estate?

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#92

I don’t think anybody is intentionally spreading false info…until it was mentioned in this thread, I certainly didn’t know the company was under new management.

Last I heard, prior to Don’s passing, the fam was not endorsing the revived company. I’m still not sure how surviving relatives feel about Buchla USA or whether they receive any compensation for his IP and use of the brand name.

This isn’t meant as slander of current proprietors or meant to guilt any of you into avoiding their new products.

Each person has to make personal decisions about stuff like that…

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#93

That was a long time ago. Its changed owners and the new ones are to thank for the things like improving quality control , the 218 future revamp , the red panel system , potential 100 release and potential 200 release and the 208c. Onwards and upwards!

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#94

Well, after the contributions of all of you I think we have to wait. First, because my violin is still for sale and it will probably take a few months to sell it. Second, it seems that soon there will be new entries on the scene and it will be necessary to assess which way to go. The arrival of a new Easel would be interesting, although taking the leap with hardly having touched a Buchla in my life seems risky.

Thank you all for your fantastic contributions!

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#95

I’ve been trying to follow this stuff for years, and am currently preparing to spend several thousand on Buchla gear, so I want to make a decision based on accurate information. The only lawsuit I know of is resolved. When you say “last I heard”, I have no idea when that was or what, exactly, it was you heard, or from whom. You’re sewing doubt, based on what?

#96

That sums it up. I didn’t realize either but agree with you.

#97

i don’t have any answers, but would recommend reaching out to eric fox/joel davel/marc doty directly about these things rather than random speculation. they have been nothing but kind and generous in my emails with them, and wouldn’t expect anything but an honest answer on the current state of things.

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#98

Yup they seem like stand up guys

#99

Lawsuit settled doesn’t mean amicably or fairly resolved. Are the new owners going to voluntarily re-arbitrate compensation to the estate on the plaintiff’s terms - somehow I doubt that. The ip belongs to the company, no? But as said, there may be some royalty arrangement, like for patents not held by company for newly marketed designs or reissues. Certainly I would like to know if Don’s family is getting something if I were buying a “Buchla.”

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#100

I understand this position, although sometimes I find it difficult to put into practice, and above all, be consistent with it. If we follow this path, we would have to analyze each seller (from the baker on the corner to all the managers of a car company) before buying anything to know if he or she beats their children or wife / husband, mistreats animals, pays his taxes, he’s homophobic, … etc.

And after all, we analyze ourselves to see if we really are pure.

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#101

Yes. I mean one could criticize Verbos or any complex osc design on a similar basis. But if someone is using a name, it’s a little different, I think.