Electronic instrument design

[Dave2002]

I found this interview with Roger Linn ** about electronic instrument design quite interesting - https://www.kvraudio.com/interviews/...ger-linn-31893 In particular, the notion that someone would make a 3D virtual model of a new design before implementing it is a technical approach which is probably not an option for many people, though presumably the models are non-functional. I'm not sure if there would be any merit - or even if it would be feasible - to try to introduce functionality into a 3D model, and at some point a physical design mockup prototype would be needed.

** I don't think anything to do with Linn Records or Linn turntables

[Frances_iom]

Dave try looking at various model engineering sites - 3D software is readily available - several aimed at the professional market (ie high cost market) have versions free to home enthusiasts (suggest try searching on sites such as https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/ ) - the compute power to run them is no longer expensive - it's more the time + ability to get through the steep learning curve that is the problem especially for those of us no longer young (or anywhere near young)

[Dave2002]

Indeed. Blender is one such tool, which I have tried to use (see https://www.blender.org/ and Andrew Price's tutorial videos), and there are now many people who are trying out tools such as this. Also, in some cases it is quite easy to model "objects" virtually, but later on to produce physical versions using 3D printers. There have been examples of physical instruments being made this way - simple ones, such as recorders, but also some more complex ones.

The article about Roger Linn was discussing the design of electronic instruments, so there would have to be several different aspects to developing virtual models - which was the point I was trying to get across. Knob twiddling on virtual machines (often just a 2D representation) is not as satisfying as using a real physical one, which I think is one reason why there is still interest in real hardware synthesisers.