Software vs. Hardware

[Matt Picone]

> I was thinking about this.  What is the minimum number of simultaneous
> parameters to be musically useful? 

1.

> Is there a minimum?

Yes. 1.

> Could a mouse be an expressive control?

Totally.

> I tend to agree that fewer control parameters lead to greater expressiveness. At least
> my violin, piano, electronics experience supports this anecdotally.

I think it's a false conclusion. And, I'm not reeeallly sure that 
"expressiveness" can even be measured. Can it?

> The violin was by far the most expressive of the three with the electronics
> being the least expressive despite the absurd number of knobs, sliders, and
> buttons available (remember back when I won the knob, button count contest
> ;) ).

Electronics "least expressive"? Whoah. I can't believe you said that in 
HERE?

 > My suspicion is
> that because of the nature of our hands, eyes, and brains, there is a reason
> that traditional instruments have developed and persevered they way they
> have.

Interesting. So, what, in your opinion, do electronic instruments need 
to do to be as expressive with as few control parameters?

-m@