S2 first opinion

jrrt · Joined: Oct 12, 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Boston, USA

Hello,

thought I'd write something, because this forum seems hungry for substance. I received my S2 last week, after an intense and exciting email communication with Wowa Cwejman for about 2 weeks. I was shopping for an analog synth with CV inputs that would work with a Lyricon Driver, an analog vintage wind controller from the 1970's (before Midi, with CV outputs). Wowa was great in the communication back and forth about a modification to the S2, and he was very much into making it work for the Lyricon and open to my wish list. He modified an existing S2 for me, to work with the Lyricon. So far I really like to unit, it's built very well, very portable, sturdy, knobs have a good resistance and it has hardly any noise. I didn't choose for the S1 (that would not have required modifications), because I am an performer/improvisor, and endless possibilities (like the S1) are not always good from a performer's perspective. Plus the S1 was above my budget. So far it has the right amount of flexibility and I am getting some really good sounds out of it. Unfortunately I have to wait a little longer for my Lyricon Driver, so I haven't had a chance to test that out yet. Another thing I like about the S2 is the preamp input with Envelope Follower, which seems to be reacting pretty snappily to my saxophone playing. The sounds are warm, friendly and very precise.

Yes, the price is steep, but we're dealing with an instrument builder on a very small scale, who puts an amazing amount of love and vision into his instruments and is very interested and open to musicians with special wishes. Kind of like having a violin custom built for you....

I'll probably post more after I have my Lyricon Driver, so far I'm just using a midi keyboard.

www.jorritdijkstra.com

deknow · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject:

...i hope you are getting a lyricon driver that has been somehow maintained (they do exist). the breath pressure sensor is aparantly a flexible rubber device that dries out and becomes stiff. i have heard that some can repair them, but it is not a standard job. if you know more about this than i do, please let me know (i have a driver in the basement that barely works).

deknow

mosc · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject:

to electro-music.com and congrats on your new synthesizer.

I'm a bit familiar with the Lyricon because I have seen Stu Diamond play his in Electric Diamond, an absolutely superb musicial ensemble. See: http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-68.html

The Lyricon is a very expressive instrument. I would imagine you will get a very powerful combination with the new S2. I hope that you can post some music here when you get everything working.