Kari shoots:
Q: How do you see the future of digital hardware synths?
A: Usability, strong/unique concepts and bizarre/esoteric synthesis being tamed.
Q: What was the video game of your childhood that you liked the most in regards of graphic and soundtrack?
A: Tough! I grew up on video games, they hold a big and special place in my heart. Hard to pick just one, but I think Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon for the N64 influenced me a lot. It’s very bizarre. Oh and of course, the Game Boy, I only had Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Land, but I loved the music on both. I later actually started making music after finding out about LSDj, which runs on the Game Boy.
Q: What kind of synth would you like to see from your competition? Which for of synthesis?
A: Something that makes me afraid.
Q: Do you think you could enjoy creating a GUI that‘s not done with pixel-art.
A: Absolutely! Although we have our main man Ufuk D for that, he’s the talent behind the upcoming, beautiful, Overbridge GUI.
Q: Are you into Virtual analog hardware synths? Do you think that in future digital synthesis will be indistinguishable from analog sound?
A: No, I don’t like VA’s at all, unless they do some freaky stuff on top (e.g Nord Lead A1, which is great!), depending on context they are already indistinguishable from real analog.
Q: C/C++ or Java?
A: For me, I like C. C++ is a bit fancy and Java… Well, I don’t know. Most programming I’ve done has targeted archaic video game platforms, so there hasn’t been an option other than some cranky C compiler. I have started to learn a bit of C++ though.
Q: What would be your advise for someone who wants to build his own synth? (Besides of learning how to program in low level language.)
A: Play with as many synthesizers as you can, and think about what makes them good/not good. Start ‘small’ with Max, PD, Reaktor or Supercollider - focus on making cool sounds before thinking about low level implementations.
Q: Do you guys play any games over lunch time? If yes, which one?
A: Yes! There have been a lot of hadoukens thrown around the office.
Q: If you had unlimited amount of resources, what synthesizer would you love to build?
A: Another FM synth. Haha, no but… Physical modeling done in a more modern and straight forward way, focusing less on accurate modeling and more on interesting stuff you can do with the technology.
Q: Name a plugin/soft synth you would love to have as a hardware?"
A: Native Instruments Razor.