OK... I'm curious to know about vintage synthesizers, or maybe even current synths, whether hardware or software/vsts, etc., that have unusual, interesting, or flat-out annoying personality quirks.
The reason I thought about bringing this up is because I just turned on my Synclavier and nearly went deaf because of a little quirk I forgot about. First some background:
It seems every few years when there's been a lot of solar activity my Firepod gets fried, which will remain so for a few months. Same thing happened roughly 4 years ago. It has 8 ins on the front, so I have no problem jacking in my Synclav sampling and FM synthesizer straight in. I keep my monitors pretty hot and levels down so as to have plenty of headroom until I'm ready to do some heavy-duty recording, and I can adjust the levels inside Logic so I don't ruin my hearing.
So my Firepod is out of commission and I don't really want to switch to a backup. No big deal, I just take the SynclavFM out from my patchbay and plug it straight into monitor. That worked pretty good for me this morning. It's hot today, I'm trying to save on electricity by not running the AC, and I have to power down the 'clav so it doesn't melt down or set the house on fire (we live in a small double-wide, not really the type of place you expect to see one of these beasts). I've got a small box fan blowing some cool air in from the living room. I go meet my wife for lunch, get done with errands early, come home, and figure I've got some time to start a new composition. I figure since I'm not going to run through the firepod, I won't bother with the usual "power-up" ritual. I reach over and very FIRMLY hit the power button.
BOOM!! !! SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!! !! !! !! !! !! !
Yeah....forgot to kill the monitors first or unplug the 'clav. Ears are bleeding, and my sub nearly blew my feet off at the ankles.
I'm ok, though. I've only had to go the hospital for this once before, and I know exactly what to do to keep from going permanently deaf and avoid an amputation. And by far that's not the strangest thing that's ever happened. The day I GOT it, nearly a year ago, actually, I tried to power it up only to learn that several cables had come loose during shipping. I fixed it up and got it working by the next day. I went to the doctor because of some back pain, which I thought was just a muscle I'd pulled from getting everything installed. Turns out one of my vertebra was missing--totally vanished.
OK, kidding about that last bit, but moving and servicing a Synclav is NOT my idea of a good time.
But seriously...
So my question: What stories do you have about gear that you use/used? Anyone ever own a Fairlight that caught fire? Anyone ever lose equipment due to "operator error," manufacturing defects, or experience a close call with an unfortunate gardening accident? Or just get sick of the damn thing and send it crashing down 3 floors to the sidewalk? I'd love to hear some musical instrument stories, especially interesting or annoying features--er, I mean bugs--you've run across dealing with instruments.
14 Apr 2011, 2:09 pm
