--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com , "Rick Massey" <seafox@...> wrote:

>
> You know, I can't understand why the systemizer is less popular, as it's
> absolutely amazing at controlling multi-synth setups. I used mine live for
> months in a band, and since the guitarist and bassist were both using ART FX
> boxes with the foot controllers, we could totally change sound layouts at
> about the same rate and the tweak time between songs was completely
> dependent on how long the singer wanted to chatter with the audience. The
> Alternate patch footswitch, which took me to my solo organ patch, (three
> different synths covering different ranges of drawbars, plus all three
> sampled through a distorted Fender Twin) meant that with a tap of the foot I
> always had my signature voice ready, and the way it handled transpose and
> patch tricks meant that effective brass section stabs were a snap. It's an
> underrespected box, for sure.

Well, it seems that none of these are very popular anyway. Oberheim wasn't very
successful with them. And I have seen very, very few MIDI tools and effects out there ever.
I am not much of a musician, but usually and "end-user" of everything. I can't imagine
having two pieces of MIDI gear connected and NOT see and filter the serial data in real
time, at the very least. If functionality is bundled into something which people already
want to play with and hear, then it gets more exposure and use just by tagging along for
the ride. Like Korg's "KARMA" system, for instance.

I think they all sound great. My guess about the Systemizer and Navigator being less
popular than the others was based only on prices I've observed. Since these two usually
went for less, I guessed that they were less sought-after. I don't really know. Cyclone is
the one I have heard most about over the years and still often goes for the same price it
did new, about $200. When I said that the other units were more popular, I was guessing
that maybe the Systemizer and Navigator were more "utilitarian" compared to Cyclone,
Strummer, and Drummer. Many people who have heard of and seen Perf/X modules have
mentioned that they don't know what those former modules do, even - which is probably
due to its functions being a less simple to explain in a one-word sentence. "arpeggiator"
"guitar-phraser", "interactive pattern sequencer", "... "

Mine doesn't work yet, but it sounds as if it can do splits, remapping, and quite a few
other cool things. Hey, I can barely "control" a single keyboard, so I have much respect for
those who can, and even play a whole system. I'm just a tinkerer who likes low-level
hardware stuff like this.