Muff's Modules & More

frank diego

Hi there,

I'm lurking around this forum for about a year maybe...
Just yesterday I finally got hold of a copy of Allen Stranges Book: Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls. It's often praised as probably the best book about synthesizers...
Well, I think it's probably the best educational book I've ever read!
Really nice organized, really good explanations of complicated concepts (or not that complicated once you get it) and great examples.
I wish i had read this book 4 years ago, all the other books I read about the subject are really redundant now.
Just one example for the greatnessof the book:
Biofeedback! Using alpha brainwaves to contol parameters of the synthi, then listining to the results, which causes the brain to change in its activity which can be heard on the synthi... CRAZY!!! woah

Just wanted to tell you how stoked I am....

Who loves the book as much as I do?

Kent · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:15 am Post subject:

I also love Allen Strange's book. It's one of two tomes that I've kept on the subject. The other being Devarahi's book.

To this day, I still think that the best instructional book ever written remains:

artisokka

frank diego · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:16 am Post subject:

oh well, I totally forgot about the book of iceberg slim...
d'oh!

starkaudio · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:24 am Post subject:

It's a great book and hard to find. If you live in the Boston area, it's available through the Minuteman Library Network at your local library.

Umcorps · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:47 am Post subject:

You've got to add FM Theory and Applications (by musicians for musicians) by Chowning & Bristow to the Great Synthesis Book List as well.

That plus Strange and you've got it pretty much covered (Never managed to find a copy of Devarahi waah

)

noobyscooby · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:30 pm Post subject:

polyroy · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:47 pm Post subject:

I remember seeing a copy of the Devarahi book for £75 on Amazon last summer and I checked the price when the thread mentioned above was posted and it was like £350 or something absurd. Really want a hard copy of it as well as the Allen Strange book, Howard Massey's DX7 and the Chowning text.

dougcl · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject:

I can't seem to drag myself through Allen Strange's book. Bores me to tears.

starkaudio · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject:

richard · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:22 am Post subject:

just for balance: I bought Devari for $50 and sold it for £50, I also got 2 copies of Strange 2nd ed for £20 - all on Amazon - one was a bit smelly though. If you are patient these things turn up.

its a bit like the QMMG, if you say its great and worth twice as much as it is then this board immediately makes it true! (BTW: I had Deveri on sale here for about a year before it sold)

I found Devari pretty to be much conventional subtractive synthesis apart from the cosmic/meditational philosophy which is fine but didn't tell me anything new. Strange lays out some west coast techniques, experimental ideas, as well as the usual stuff and that makes it special. Its also a glimpse into a historical moment when all this was being explored for the first time

Rob Hordijk's Nord modular ebook is very useful too but not really a cover to cover read, I much prefer paper

I think there is a huge gap in the market for a more comprehensive, "modern" text on modular synthesis. Shouldn't one of us be writing one?

sandyb · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:23 am Post subject:

if this thread, as is usual for ones discussing Allen Strange's book, degenerates into people simply asking for links to illegal pdfs or posting links to same it will be deleted.

if you wish to discuss the merits of the book in some way carry on...

richard · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:43 am Post subject:

thus spake The Enforcer! SlayerBadger!

m0n0mania · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:18 am Post subject:

Which is the thread that has the illegal download links?

Lyonel · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:11 am Post subject:

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:13 am Post subject:

I'd enjoy a more philosophical discussion on what one does with royalties after death, however.

diophantine · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:06 am Post subject:

I'm not advocating illegal downloading, but Sandy, please bear in mind that:
- the book has been out of print for nearly 30 years.
- the ebook was discontinued at some point prior to this year.

Short of spending $150+ on a used copy, or being lucky enough to borrow one from a library (neither of which give royalties), there's no legitimate way to get a copy of this book. Some of us, myself included, have written to the publisher to try and find out about the possibility of either reprinting or making the ebook available again, but to no avail (nor, in my case, even a reply).

Preemptive locking of these threads doesn't help anyone, and merely makes the question come up again and again. Plus, I think nearly everyone on this site is polite enough to not post any links to downloads.

EDIT: Of course, if you (or anyone) can suggest other ways to legitimately obtain this book, or how to encourage it to be republished, I think we would be all ears!

dan_p · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:06 am Post subject:

^ your not thinking of being dead are you Nelson? I was sure you were immortal?

Babaluma · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:15 am Post subject:

there's a cheap copy going near higashi kanagawa "book off" if anyone wants it, sold it to them just before we left japan...

solaris · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:23 am Post subject:

sandyb · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:35 am Post subject:

noobyscooby · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:24 pm Post subject:

And if you allow links for one thing, you'd have to allow links for everything which I'm sure would get a firestorm of lawyers up Muff's ass at some point.

There's other sites where links flow free I am sure. I like that Muff's is clean.

zapp550 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:17 pm Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:40 pm Post subject:

Weird question, but why would anyone ever delete an available ebook listing?

Inventory costs are zero with an ebook or a print-on-demand book. The file just sits there quietly until someone wants it. I can't think of a reason other than a new published edition in the works, or a possible legal issue.

infradead · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:42 pm Post subject:

diophantine · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:04 pm Post subject:

zapp550 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:05 pm Post subject:

infradead · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:07 pm Post subject:

i honestly think if we could figure out who owns the rights we could either get it released to public domain or at least sold again as an ebook

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject:

richard · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:46 pm Post subject:

Allen Strange told me he wasn't very happy with the ebook himself and I'm pretty sure he had no role in its appearance in that form

I thought it was hard to find, hard to buy once I did, expensive, badly scanned, and the damned copyright protection meant I lost access to it when my computer crashed leaving me with nothing. Its the only ebook I have ever bought and will probably be the last too.

Sections of it are so out of date that republishing it in hard copy seems absurd - I think no publisher would even consider it

the book should no doubt be in the public domain at this point and it would be great if that was achieved. I have no practical idea how to go about it though - a petition? But to whom...?

zapp550 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:02 pm Post subject:

If McGraw-Hill had it listed as an available eBook just a couple years ago i'd imagine they have the rights to it. They still have one of his other books available seriously, i just don't get it

zapp550 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject:

Monobass · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:19 pm Post subject:

cbm · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:42 pm Post subject:

I have a .pdf copy of the ebook, but it relies on Adobe Digital Editions DRM crap. The Adobe Digital Editions doesn't run in OS X 10.7 so I can't even use the book. I't was a really crappy scan anyway. I won't be buying any more McGraw-Hill ebooks, that's for sure.

patchdub · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject:

^same here. the mcgraw version is not really worth it.

i got lucky and got the book off amazon about 9 months ago for $50.

definitely worth looking for but not sure its worth over $100.

check out the sound on sound synth secrets articles...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

giorgio · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject:

just checked out devarahi and computer music by dodge and jense. so far the devarahi doesn't seem that great. I already own the Strange book which seems way better for advanced stuff.

Monobass · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject:

staying late at work to print this book out wink

giorgio · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:18 pm Post subject:

haha I have done the same with many PDF manuals and such.

Neo · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:32 am Post subject:

Just received my copy from Amazon. It's got heaps of cool stuff in it, including a patch for frequency shift compensation in exponential FM thumbs up

nrdvrgr · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:54 am Post subject:

Don´t you just hate when you cant get what you want. Even the pirates are working against me. I´ll go back to knitting instead.

Hainbach · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:58 am Post subject:

After futile searching online for affordable versions I used mad ninja skills (library research d'oh!

) and tracked copies in musicology institutes in Hamburg and Freiburg. Next time I am in my old alma mater I will fire up the old photocopy machine and finally get to read this book.

abstraktor · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:10 am Post subject:

It's worth it.
I tracked down a copy that was in the University of Glasgow Library database - couldnt find the time to go and look at it, bought the McGraw Hill pdf -had a nightmare trying to view it with all the DRM shit (and lost it when a laptop gave up the ghost). Eventually I bought an ok 1st edition copy from a guy at the EM forum. Phew.
I wish there was a re-print of the 2nd edition though.

Edit: The pdf scan by McGraw Hill is pretty bad btw, but legible

klstay · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:38 am Post subject:

I managed to score a McGraw Hill copy for free several years ago, but the quality of the original scans is indeed not the greatest. Still, it is something I greatly value and feel lucky to have a copy.

Another great reference is SoS Synth Secrets by Gordon Reid.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

amsonx · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:52 am Post subject:

infradead · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:40 pm Post subject:

its now going for 900$ on amazon when i looked the other day

fuck me..

Babaluma · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:43 pm Post subject:

that's ridiculous, i "sold" a copy to the "hard off" shop, near higashi kanagawa station in yokohama, for about 50 yen six months ago...

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject:

HueMonContact · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:49 pm Post subject:

Woah $900 is pretty outrageous.
But I have to say the most informative thing I've learned in this thread is that Nord is Knitting again... I got dibs on the first skiff cozy.

home_listening · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:52 am Post subject:

I had a dream this was on Book Depository for $8 delivered...

Oh well, guess I'll start saving.

darenager · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

$900? That is crazy zombie

dan_k · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:21 pm Post subject:

Is it *actually* going for $900? unfortunately there seems to be a trend from certain "booksellers" to overinflate the price because there aren't many copies online. It must be "rare" so it must be worth a lot of money.. whether copies actually every exchange hands for that sum or not..

amnesia · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:24 pm Post subject:

I am pissed as I bought a legit copy a few years back as a pdf and the damn DRM wont let me use it today its blank :-( God knows where I bought it 2 - 3 years ago.

Slabwax · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:54 pm Post subject:

I pick up a first edition in Nov. or Dec. of last year for $35.00 on Amazon.

Dean

Backroads · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:29 am Post subject:

I recently grabbed this book from my university's library. I'll have to look up that section on biofeedback!

dan_k · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:43 am Post subject:

auricle · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:55 am Post subject:

For those of you who own the ebook version and also have an iPad - you can install Bluefire Reader on it. It can read Digital Edition books - as long as you can remember your adobe account settings. I managed to open my copy in Bluefire even after registering my desktop computer with Adobe.

synthguru · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:57 am Post subject:

So, what is an original copy of this book worth?

Zon

Babaluma · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:02 am Post subject:

Whatever someone is willing to pay? lol

monads · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:11 am Post subject:

AntManBee · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:36 am Post subject:

I also like The Technique of Electronic Music by Thomas Wells which you recommended in an old thread and which seems to be more readily available than the Allen Strange book.

infradead · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject:

and a first edition is on ebay with a BIN of $108 confused

Babaluma · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:22 pm Post subject:

108 what? first edition is supposed to be naff anyway.

abstraktor · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:28 pm Post subject:

infradead · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:28 pm Post subject:

Mike Fun · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:16 pm Post subject:

I found a torrent of the .pdf of vol. 2 about a year ago. Not sure why anyone would pay such an obscene amount for a hard copy. Apparently the attitude is that it's ok to profit off of it, but it's not ok to give it away.

With that being said, if you know me, I'll happily give you a copy. In person.

CF3 · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject:

Cool book. love the sequencer section. found a copy in 2008 for $35... sold it recently on CL for $75.... hihi

I don't understand the high price tag, I'm not a "book collector", I just wanted the info contained within. Ended up costing me more to replace the ink cartridges in my printer than I paid for the book. oops

shred · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:13 pm Post subject:

literally just got my hands on a copy from the library at the university I used to go to! don't know why i didn't think to look there sooner. I have to wait two more hours tho till I get home from work to actually dive in hyper

polyroy · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:15 pm Post subject:

It is a great text without a doubt. I think it was Allen Strange who wrote the Music Easel text as well, which is very interesting.

Babaluma · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject:

yep, patmeo!

www.wavemakers-synth.com/buchla/PaMtEO.pdf

polyroy · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject:

Ah I thought so!

Badr0b0t · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:24 am Post subject:

I just bought a 2nd edition for $31.18 off of Amazon. I also have the ebook version which is scanned badly.

hollowman · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:37 am Post subject:

I am reading a copy from my university library - not madly impressed....

I will buy a copy - but only at less than $30.

There is nothing that revolutionary in it for someone who knows something about electronics and synths.

Maybe some patching ideas for those who need them.

mckenic · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:55 am Post subject:

Just 'won' one for around €50 including Int. shipping - hope it arrives now!

I can write it off as 'study aid' or 'reference source' hihi

Kaput · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:28 pm Post subject:

It's a great text. thumbs up

Another book I like is ARP's 'Learning Music With Synthesizers', although that's more fixed-architecture in nature (it was written with the Odyssey in mind).

But you can't go wrong with Allen Strange.

Just wish I could find a cheap copy of the Roland 'The Synthesizer' set. waah

Babaluma · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject:

i sold a set on here a couple of years back for about $50... was great for the basics, nice graphics etc., but not a patch on the strange text, if you ask me.

Kaput · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject:

No, I would imagine it's more basic than the Strange... but still, interesting.

Nice graphics are always good, though. love

sgnhh · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject:

i prefer this allen strange: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Journey_of_Allen_Strange

Navs · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:39 am Post subject:

Strange is good, but Gordon Reid is better.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

If you can read German, Florian Anwander's Synthesizer book is essential.

http://www.schneidersladen.de/florian-anwander-synthesizer

Floyd Pepper · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:44 am Post subject:

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the differences between Allen Strange 1st and 2nd editions. They're very different books. 1st edition was before certain standards were established and is more of a historic document. 2nd edition is more useful. Both are good but make sure you get the right one before splashing the

Devarahi's Complete guide to synthesiser looks like an easier read. Having seen the recommendation I popped over to Google and 2 mins later had it as a pdf Guinness ftw!

And +1 for the Sound on Sound series and Nord Modular eBooks.

Backroads · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:57 am Post subject:

I found a 2e at my university's library! Indeed, it is an excellent book. Nothing like curling up in front of the modular, trying out his simple exercises ~to understand a simple concept, e.g. VCO/VCF tracking~ rather than going nuts and patching everything all at once!

chinard · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:10 am Post subject:

just getting caught up on this thread.

$900 for a copy and you can bet NONE of that is going to Alan Strange's family.
So, remind me where the moral high-ground is in BUYING a copy?

I too bought the Adobe Reader DRM crippled version of the document. What a steaming pile of shit Adobe Reader is. I cannot wait to see that company go down in flames.
FUCK ADOBE!

I just wanted a copy i could keep on my ipad with alot of other reference, and because it is actually a bitmap level scan it exported to a 350mb PDF (which is still adobe but at least a usable format.)

grapejuice · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject:

if you were to google the title of the book and the short form of a certain portable document format you might find a link.

it seems reasonable that this is made available seeing as it's entirely out of print and used copies are extortionately expesnive.

infradead · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject:

Babaluma · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:40 pm Post subject:

...not to mention what you signed up for when you joined this site:

http://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47217

grapejuice · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 12:49 pm Post subject:

Babaluma · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:28 pm Post subject:

you can argue the moral hoo-ha's as much as you like, this way or that, and you can do what you like via private message or email, but the fact of the matter is (for whatever reason), that the dissemination of links to copyrighted material on this public forum is not tolerated.

Drumdrumdrumdrum · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:52 am Post subject:

vav · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:46 pm Post subject:

How would we go about buying the rights?

peripatitis · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:08 pm Post subject:

So is the book copyrighted ?
The copies sold seem to be 30 years old....

komyta · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:39 am Post subject:

BTByrd · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:48 am Post subject:

I've contacted the publisher (which is apparently McGraw Hill, at the moment) through my university's MH sales rep; he's e-mailed the editor in charge of the rights to the latest softcover and PDF version and will let me know what's up once he finds out.

komyta · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:07 pm Post subject:

Great !

Please keep us informed ! hyper

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:45 pm Post subject:

vav · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject:

Yeah i'm in for a hundred or two. I have the 2nd edition, but i'd be thrilled to help make it available for everyone who wants.

Bendu · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject:

What about a Kickstarter campaign to buy the rights and publish/e-publish a new edition?

a100user · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:54 am Post subject:

I have a 2nd edition, which is still quite low quality in places. But would love to own a high quality copy both paper and e-book.

So happy to contribute.

russma · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:28 am Post subject:

Babaluma · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:35 am Post subject:

yeah, imagine something like the strange text, mixed with sos synth secrets, with nice modern layout and graphics, in hard cover. drool...

Reality Checkpoint · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:37 am Post subject:

Count me in for a contribution!

I do like the idea of a Kickstarter / Indiegogo campaign though.

shred · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:41 am Post subject:

I would absolutely contribute to this as well

BTByrd · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject:

Apparently the editor in charge of the title at McGraw Hill is on vacation until next week; once she's back, I should have a better idea of what's up with this title. I'm just happy there's a copy in my university's library.

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject:

Thanks for staying on top of this. thumbs up

diophantine · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:21 pm Post subject:

Indeed, thanks! Glad someone has made more progress with McGraw Hill than some of us other folks have!

A few weeks back I tried to check it out from the public library here. Shows as 'Available' on the computers, but it is nowhere to be found in the shelves.... I'm guessing someone walked off with it. confused

KnobHell · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:21 pm Post subject:

Hi

Any progress on this???

BTByrd · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 6:06 pm Post subject:

Edit: I'm still making inquiries!

Drumdrumdrumdrum · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 6:11 am Post subject:

Excellent

wetwetsuit · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 1:30 pm Post subject:

This is a good idea. I like having the Strange book on hand to understand what is actually happening. I would be interested in a modernized version, but only if it was actually printed on paper. There are a couple diesel engine boards that compile their tips and tricks into paper books for members to buy. Maybe something like that could be done with Muff's? For us oldies that like to have something on paper to look at.

poppinger · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:38 am Post subject:

nickster · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:00 am Post subject:

Whoot

Today I got my copy of Allen Strange's masterpiece. Only cost $5 on Amazon. Could not believe the reasonable price at the time. Needless to say I clicked buy quicker than a wiggler puts an offer in on a used Maths.
Still can't quite get my head around the £190 wants from some book stores. Ridiculous I think. Pleased I got it at a bargin. Only wish they had heaps more so those who do want it don't have to pay a golden sheeps ransom for it. Feels a shame that no one else was also able to benefit from this great deal.
waah

I'll be happy reading it in bed tonight.
nanners

KnobHell · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:14 am Post subject:

bjarneroe · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:28 pm Post subject:

admin edit.

that wasn't a legal source for this book.

sandy

Monobass · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:51 pm Post subject:

Nice find

widdly · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:59 am Post subject:

Monobass · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:32 am Post subject:

The author is sadly no longer with us. You don't have to look too far online to find a version that isn't financially benefiting a scam operation though. If an ebook was republished it would be interesting to know if the Strange estate get any of the proceeds.

elmegil · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:51 am Post subject:

I wanted to chime in on the idea of a kickstarter or indiegogo to purchase the rights. I'd be in for $100. I'm one of the lucky ones...I actually got both editions at different library sales at university for quite a bit less than the current going rate. But I agree that it should be made available legally.

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject:

I'd be in for $100 too.

As I said earlier in this thread, a Muff's consortium to buy the rights and sell either PDF of print-on-demand copies would be ideal, and I'd get behind that in a heartbeat.

Monobass · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject:

KnobHell · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:34 pm Post subject:

Monobass · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:31 am Post subject:

Totally agree Len, the blind defence of copyright always ends up unintentionally legitimising the most odious aspects of the free market.

It is easy enough to find people distributing PDFs of books exactly like this in a totally enlightened, not-for-profit fashion fortunately. They just can't post links on Muffs.

BKehew · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:43 am Post subject:

Once upon a time, books like this were everywhere. Those of us too poor to outright buy (or rent) any real synth couldn't even find one in most stores to play. The Strange book was a godsend, it gave you actual programming experience without having a synth around. We read catalogs and spec sheets with the features he talked about in the book.

I met Allen ages ago and told him how helpful his book really was to me. He seemed humble and surprised that anyone cared about it.

Years later, I had tons of synth books, one of which sold for $200. I quickly grabbed a few more copies to sell and the next went for $150, then $90, then on down til my fourth one sold was about $20.

The people who will pay Big Bucks tend to make you think there is a market, when it's just a crazy few. Reprinted it might sell a few hundred at $25, but not quickly. I do wish it was widely sold before, as it's good to have... BUT you don't need it if you know synths.

BKehew · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:46 am Post subject:

BTW - the expensive book I sold on ebay was a DIY book for building analog synth modules (kind of ahead of it's time, you might say!)

From the '80s - anyone remember what it was (I don't!)?

dan_k · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:45 am Post subject:

"Music Synthesizers: A Manual of Design & Construction" by Delton T. Horn on TAB books?

http://m.matrixsynth.com/2012/03/music-synthesizers-by-delton-t-horn.h tml

russma · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:57 am Post subject:

Great to have you here, Brian.

Guinness ftw!

BKehew · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:57 am Post subject:

Scot Solida · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:25 am Post subject:

I still have that Delton Horn book. thumbs up

drewtoothpaste · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:40 am Post subject:

There are 3 copies for $33 on Amazon right now...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/069703612X/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp _0?ie=UTF8&condition=used&tag=natdee-20&qid=1344951278&sr=8-1

screaming goo yo

oskies · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:40 am Post subject:

At least the ones at betterworldbooks are 1st editions, it is my understanding that 2nd editions are better?

solitaryzen · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject:

elmegil · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:59 pm Post subject:

What I've heard is that the 1st edition is more dated, it was written before a lot of terms and methods were standardized. And I'd agree it looks like those are likely the first edition.

I have both but haven't actually read them for comparison's sake, I'm currently working my way through the second edition...

dougt · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:02 pm Post subject:

As I recall from old AH/SDIY list discussions that Delton Horn book is full of errors...

MA.n · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:37 am Post subject:

Hey all. Relatively new to this forum... But seem to have an ever growing interest in modular synths since I saw my first one a year ago. Got some great reading suggestions here. Anyone recommend some easy, basic books / articles for beginners like myself ?

sandyb · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 1:21 pm Post subject: