[PD] CVs

[Andy Farnell]

On Mon, 9 May 2011 07:08:18 -0400
Billy Stiltner <billy.stiltner at gmail.com> wrote:

> Now imagine a whammy bar fixed with the smoothest
> bearings and axle known. Now imagine the atomic structure of the axle and
> bearing. Isn't the whammy bar going to stop at little steps at the flat
> spots where any 2 atoms of the bearings line up with any 2 atoms of the
> axle? Would this not be discrete.


If the whammy was long, a finite, discrete change of angle would make 
the end of the bar move several inches. Since it could not exist in
any position between two discrete angles the end would have to move
instantaneously (infinite velocity) between two positions in space.

This would lead to sore fingers.

Whatever the model you'll get a Kantian muddle. A (phenomenon) "out
there", and its corresponding notion (noumenon) inhabit different 
worlds, and through that dark glass entirely discrete or continuous 
models are quite as absurd as each other with a moment of thought. 
Talking of moments, what's good for space is good for time 
right? The symbols on the paper and the patterns in your mind are tools,
predictive utilities with more or less ability to predict the behaviour
of a third, ineffable thing. Einstein, Podolski and Rosen took a lot of 
symbols, and Mr.Heidegger had to chop a lot of Black Forest wood to say
what George Carlin does so brilliantly in a short sketch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M5eG-aywZQ


On the topic of CVs; Many devices in the 1990s used hybrid technology
in the overlap of analogue and digital ages. Digitally controlled 
oscillators were common for a while. But that is little known 
developmental history, most people would not use the term "control 
voltage" in the context of a digital synth. Maybe they would say 
"control signal", to delineate its function, but not "voltage". 


-- 
Andy Farnell <padawan12 at obiwannabe.co.uk>