An Open Letter to the Thomas Henry Forum

[Scott Stites]

When my son took this picture of us, Thomas specifically wanted me to upload it to the forum. He had a very definite reason for that.

He wanted to convey the point that this forum is based on friends sharing a common interest. He thought that nothing would illustrate that point more than a picture of two guys meeting just to discuss everything Synth DIY, and even other things - everyone goes OT now and then.

Thomas didn't request the following, this is me talking now: I don't want to sound maudlin, but we do what we do because we love it. Period. We love the art of electronic music, and we love the art of building our own musical instruments to make that music. We love the quest for knowledge; to understand things just a little more than we did before we logged onto the forum. We love discovering new, unique ways to create our music and our instruments. We love carefully putting that contraption together, tuning it up, and experiencing the functionality that we have wrought with our own two hands. We love looking at how others create their instruments, and admiring their work, and learning from each other.

Our purpose here isn't to make money; if we see something we like, we build it. If we can make it easier for others to build, we may, with permission, manufacture a PCB of someone else's sweat, toil and inspiration. We do that because we want to contribute. We ask permission, we don't ask for licensing. We provide out of the noble desire to give something back for what we ourselves have learned; to keep the thread going. We're here to create; to profit artistically, not monetarily, and to never take advantage. If you want to make money, buy Horowitz and Hill, the CMOS cookbook, Electronotes, etc., and expect to spend a good chunk of your life designing circuits. You can expect crushing failure and perhaps that moment of eureka that is yours and yours alone. Then you can sell your own creations for whatever you want.

The designs you see here are for everybody. This forum is not someone's personal field of dreams ripe for monetary harvest; it belongs to us all. If you want to make money, but can't hack Horowitz and Hill, go apply at Moog, Roland, Korg, or Yamaha.

In short: Should you create your own design, by all means sell it for whatever you want. If you want permission to do a PCB of someone else's work, ask. If that person says no, do not persist. If you have permission to do a PCB of someone else's design, make it available, don't lose money, but don't think profiting monetarily from some other guy's good intentions is OK here. It's not. There's no quicker way to kill a good thing.

This picture is of two friends, talking Synth DIY, the same thing that happens on this forum everyday.

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[Wild Zebra]

Who's Who? To be a fly on that wall.




Well said Scott. I bet y'all had a good time. This is the only forum to come to if you want to learn something and "meet" great people. I hope it stays that way for a long time. I read some nasty things on other forums. Everyone really keeps their cool here.

thanks MOSC and the rest of y'all for creating a great atmosphere for electronic music ceativity.

[Scott Stites]

Hey WZ,

The guy on the left (the tall one) is Thomas. I have no idea who that short guy on the right is

[mono-poly]

yeah heads up for great guys like Thomas, Scott, Jurgen, Ian, Fonik and all others who make up this nice and friendly DIY comunity.

[Danno Gee Ray]

Yes, Kudos to all here who contribute so helpfully!

For those of us fortunate enough to have attended EM events in person, (Em 2007 for instance), the atmosphere of acceptance, enveloping cool, and laidback harmony found here is resonant in the flesh at these gatherings. Howard and his ilk are to be congratulated on birthing and raising such a "child". Howard has many members of this family that help to raise this "child" and keep it safe. I am eternally grateful to be allowed to be a playmate of it.

Thank you ALL!

[mosc]

Well-said, Scott, and thanks for posting the picture. Thanks for the kind words all.

This community is amazing. Sometimes, I just can't believe it.

[Thomas Henry]

[kkissinger]

Enjoyed reading the posts here.

Just want to add my words of gratitude to the electro-music.community.

Howard has cultivated a community where people treat each other with respect and value each others' contributions. Such an environment empowers people to share music, circuit designs, patches, and off-topic conversation, too.

Many thanks to all.

[Scott Stites]

[seraph]

[v-un-v]

Yeah- like two people having a jam together. It's a very intense and enjoyable moment.

Nice words Scott. Good moderating

[bitmonkey]

Hear, hear! Nicely said, Scott, though I certainly hope that side businesses like Magic Smoke, MFOS, and sMs don't violate the DIY spirit too much.

Great to put some faces to names, there -- especially Thomas, since I've been a fan since the Polyphony days. (No offense intended, Scott, but I'm sure you know what I mean.)

I also tip my hat to Mosc. Thanks for the E-M forums!

John Mahoney
magsmoke.com

P.S. I'll see about getting pictures of Tim and me up on the magsmoke site (which I'm updating this evening). I don't I have a pic of us both, though, since we've never met in person.

[mosc]

Thanks for the kind words, John. Hey you can meet in Philly next year at electro-music 2008.

[RF]

[v-un-v]

[germaniac]

[Rykhaard]

Great to see the pic Scott! Thanks for posting that! Agreeance all around as well.
I'm very glad that I found this group. It has the same wonderful feel overall that the newsgroup rec.music.synth (NOT rec.music.makers.synth) had in my earliest modular building days in '91 / '92. Helpful / friendly, all around. No other mailing list or group before my joining EM, has had that feeling.

Also - thanks muchlee for starting it in the 1st place Mosc. I hope to eventually be able to help others as much as I've been helped already.

Special thanks as well for all of your great work that I've read about and built over the years: Ian, Thomas and Jurgen.

[Thomas Henry]

[Undergrind]

Thank you for this open letter. Im here for about 1 day now and i must say this forum is a dream come true for me.

things like your designs presented to the world makes it such a great place. my experience is that presents to the world, and would it only be a smile "pay off" instantly. Not always as money but as much more valuable things like friendship or so.

thank you!

[Scott Stites]

to electro-music, Undergrind!

I hope electro-music will prove as fruitful to you as it has been for me. There are a great bunch of people here.

Cheerio,
Scott

[Ayab]

Hello

Just to say what a great picture & story of two modular synth design guru's. It is great to hear of you enjoying your interest that you have been so generous with to others. Very best wishes to both of you and thank you so much for your amazing work. Sending you good vibes and very best wishes from London.

(Must have seemed like you were speaking in strange code language to others !!)

I purchased a mutant vactrol filter - led me to thinking about diy and now am building an SN Voice. Quadrature generator parts all ready.

I have great respect for you both. Thank you.

[stringsthings]

I really appreciate dudes like Thomas Henry who give us DIY'ers inspiration and help us along our DIY path. And forums like this where we can meet up on the net and discuss and share ideas and more.

I'm fairly new to the synth DIY scene but I'm an old-timer DIY from guitar pedal making. I started a long time ago with the Craig Anderton books and and magazine articles.

It's wonderful that the net has brought us forums to share that same DIY spirit that Anderton and others provided so long ago.

[Ayab]

Glad I'm not the only one adding years later comments! And could not agree with you more. Well said

[JCHaywire]

Thank you for this thread and the sentiments expressed above. Maudlin?! Just rock solid.

[did_poutrator]

The best percussion synth ever. Thanks a lot Mister Henry.
I will always love you