Moog Minitaur

[ibisum]

> Tempest wasn't a small box ;)
> http://www.vacoloco.net/synths/tempest/
> 

Tempest is a terrific project, I have lusted to hear it and see it since
the very first pics I saw .. I only never liked the color-scheme .. 



<rant>

I think the panels ought to have a color-flow that fit the process of
the engine, a moving motif of color, and possibly form, as the signal
path goes over the surface.

As a motif the grid layout sells the technological aspect, certainly,
but the physical positions of the knobs and dials could be a little less
dialectic and more plain descriptive.

By form, I mean that the panels are currently rather industriously
arranged equi-distant, perhaps as a style of conformity design influence
(technical panels), but I believe there is an opportunity for
user-intuition being lost by not, for example, devoting a proportionally
larger amount of space for the more important bits, and less for the
less. Consider each panel a word, and each knob/dial element a
character/vowel/consonant.  As a grid-layout, the 'words' of the process
flow (described as a sentence) don't really kern well.    

Lose the grid and focus on what each bit means, most of all, to the
process of the sound, and place accordingly.  Humans adjust quickly to
the recti-linear dimensions, but I believe that our arms, wrists, and so
on, tend towards a radial spheroid in terms of degrees of motion.  I
elbow my way over the keys with a wide, fat panel like tempest-proto,
but when my elbow stays in place, such as when I'm sitting down or at a
desk, I can swing wide with the whole arm.

So aesthetically, I'd see rather than a grid-layout, a more organic and
'swoosh'y style, with a bit of flair perhaps.  It doesn't *have* to be
grid-aligned; its entirely arbitrary.  

> I need to start small before I can grow big, but the reason I replied, which bit puts you off?
> That the Aesthetics comes after the function?

Aesthetics, most certainly, trumps all when it comes to an instrument.
Even the most brilliantly laid out instruments will have no future if
they sound crap.  Or, a crap sounding instrument can persist on the
basis of a brilliant interface.  The difference on the scales is purely
an aesthetic decision on the part of the owner, who must use it or not,
either way.

> 
> Don't get me wrong form and function are closely related, but I wonder how much form affects the way you "use" a synth, it certainly doesnt affect the sound, but it could perhaps affect the way you "approach" or "use" a synth.
> 
> Sorry, I think I'm talking drivvel, I'm just really puzzled what gives something a "OMG I need that" just from it's form.


You are a brilliant person, I don't want to ever give you the impression
you talk drivel, but if I am a source of drivel, please feel free to
mention it.  ;)