Interested in a reprint of Allen Strange's Electronic Music?

[fumblesmcdrum]

[galanter2]

I have a copy of the Allen Strange book I bought directly from him in .pdf form. Its quality (in terms of imaging) is OK.

It's very much a book of its time. It's a snapshot of how electronic music was done decades ago, and most of those ideas can still be used today.

But if one is looking for "the missing manual" for their Eurorack (or other contemporary) system, I recommend "Notes on Modular Synthesis" by Peter Elsea. It's a print on demand thing here: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/peter-e ... qr6ep.html

I don't mean to rain on the Allen Strange parade here. There's room for both in the world. But for most contemporary modular synthesists I think the Elsea book is probably more useful. A bargain at $20.

[elmegil]

Do you also go into "for sale" threads here and tell people they should get other modules than the ones that are being sold?

I mean seriously. Anyone excited in this thread knows what the Allen Strange book is. I also think you give it very short shrift. Peter's book is a good one (I have a copy myself) but it's ultimately pretty basic. There are some very advanced techniques to learn from the Strange book that Peter gets nowhere near.

[galanter2]

Do you also go into "for sale" threads here and tell people they should get other modules than the ones that are being sold?

I mean seriously. Anyone excited in this thread knows what the Allen Strange book is. I also think you give it very short shrift. Peter's book is a good one (I have a copy myself) but it's ultimately pretty basic. There are some very advanced techniques to learn from the Strange book that Peter gets nowhere near.

"I don't mean to rain on the Allen Strange parade here. There's room for both in the world."

But I would disagree that Peter Elsea's book is somehow lacking depth. It focuses on principles rather than (now dated) specific devices. But don't confuse having a lot of particular details for conceptual depth. Anyone on this board who fully absorbs the Peter Elsea book will not find these "very advanced techniques" in the Strange book as being particularly revelatory.

My best advice...get both!

[elmegil]

"I don't mean to rain on the Allen Strange parade here. There's room for both in the world."

And yet here you are telling everyone that Allen Strange's book is out of date and they should get something else that you consider to be superior.

Again: Do you also go into "for sale" threads here and tell people they should get other modules than the ones that are being sold?

If this were a conversation about "what books to you recommend to learn about synthesis", your commentary would be 100% on topic and I'd have no reason to call you out.

In a thread about a kickstarter for a specific book, you're just being an ass.

[MarilynMonroe]

I have a copy of the Allen Strange book I bought directly from him in .pdf form. Its quality (in terms of imaging) is OK.

It's very much a book of its time. It's a snapshot of how electronic music was done decades ago, and most of those ideas can still be used today.

But if one is looking for "the missing manual" for their Eurorack (or other contemporary) system, I recommend "Notes on Modular Synthesis" by Peter Elsea. It's a print on demand thing here: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/peter-e ... qr6ep.html

I don't mean to rain on the Allen Strange parade here. There's room for both in the world. But for most contemporary modular synthesists I think the Elsea book is probably more useful. A bargain at $20.

wtf is this? Are you kidding? All fans of the Allen Strange book know exactly what they expect. And we will no other book. Shame on you. Open sour own thread if sou will advertise something else. Go ahead…

[galanter2]

In the circles I travel in people commonly suggest books and other texts to other people. It's considered being helpful.

It's only advertising if the poster stands to gain something from it. I do not.

I'm really happy that the Strange book will be available again. But let's not act like we've uncovered a sacred text and all non-believers must be punished. It's a book, and there are other books too.

[luketeaford]

There are separate threads for books and patching resources, let's please keep this one on-topic (although sharing other books is very much appreciated outside of this thread!)

[j450nn014n]

But if one is looking for "the missing manual" for their Eurorack (or other contemporary) system, I recommend "Notes on Modular Synthesis" by Peter Elsea. It's a print on demand thing here: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/peter-e ... qr6ep.html

I don't mean to rain on the Allen Strange parade here. There's room for both in the world. But for most contemporary modular synthesists I think the Elsea book is probably more useful. A bargain at $20.

LOTS of room for more books on the bookshelf. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into getting it.

[JES]

Buying two books is cheaper than buying two modules and people tell people to do that all the time.

[BWBKc6VyUr]

[deleted: was responding to someone’s message that I’d misread]

[tailwagger]

[eklkrl]

Allen Strange's Electronic Music Systems is back! This is the hardcover test print, and it looks great! Kickstarter here we come!
IMG_7572.jpegIMG_7573.jpeg

Looks amazing, can't wait!

[Tonefloat01]

Buying two books is cheaper than buying two modules and people tell people to do that all the time.

Indeed!
I took the chance and ordered it…
I’ll take the risk for $20, there might be some good information in it.
Still down for the hardcover Strange book as well when that launches on Kickstarter.

[Kattefjaes]

Buying two books is cheaper than buying two modules and people tell people to do that all the time.

Indeed!
I took the chance and ordered it…
I’ll take the risk for $20, there might be some good information in it.
Still down for the hardcover Strange book as well when that launches on Kickstarter.

It's no risk, it's a nice book, full of useful well-organised information. I'm fairly sure that most people are more than capable of enjoying both. It will be lovely to have access to a hardback copy of the Allen Strange book again though, really looking forward to it- partly just for the pleasure of having it to leaf through. So delighted that this seems to be getting close to fruition.

[jsleeio]

I have Pelsea's book and it is great.

I also have Roland's wonderful (seriously!) "The Synthesizer" books from 1979.

Will 100% order the Strange book. Multiple perspectives bring more insight

[fumblesmcdrum]

Just ordered the Elsea book and am (im)patiently waiting for the kickstarter announcement! lets gooooooooo

[Bodo1967]

Just ordered the Elsea book and am (im)patiently waiting for the kickstarter announcement! lets gooooooooo

Haha, that could be my post , as in:
I also ordered the Peter Elsea book yesterday and can't wait for the Allen Strange book as well.

[MindMachine]

Buying two books is cheaper than buying two modules and people tell people to do that all the time.

Indeed!
I took the chance and ordered it…
I’ll take the risk for $20, there might be some good information in it.
Still down for the hardcover Strange book as well when that launches on Kickstarter.

There was never a hardcover Strange book as far as I know. All paperback - style.

[Kattefjaes]

Buying two books is cheaper than buying two modules and people tell people to do that all the time.

Indeed!
I took the chance and ordered it…
I’ll take the risk for $20, there might be some good information in it.
Still down for the hardcover Strange book as well when that launches on Kickstarter.

There was never a hardcover Strange book as far as I know. All paperback - style.

They're talking about the kickstarter, which is planned to offer a hardcover variant.

[j450nn014n]

Buying two books is cheaper than buying two modules and people tell people to do that all the time.

Indeed!
I took the chance and ordered it…
I’ll take the risk for $20, there might be some good information in it.
Still down for the hardcover Strange book as well when that launches on Kickstarter.

There was never a hardcover Strange book as far as I know. All paperback - style.

They're talking about the kickstarter, which is planned to offer a hardcover variant.

Yep. There was no PDF version back then either... we'll have all three formats, hard, soft and PDF.

[oblis]

There was never a hardcover Strange book as far as I know. All paperback - style.

There was a hardcover version that I checked out several times from the UT Austin library years ago.

[KSS]

There was never a hardcover Strange book as far as I know. All paperback - style.

There was a hardcover version that I checked out several times from the UT Austin library years ago.

Many libraries do this in-house -quasi-hardcover binding- to better preserve the -mostly- reference books for a longer life with multiple users. It was part of my job when i worked at a country library. It's part of nearly every university library as they need to have the resource available for their own faculty generated worls and graduate theses.

[southphillysynths]

There was never a hardcover Strange book as far as I know. All paperback - style.

There was a hardcover version that I checked out several times from the UT Austin library years ago.

Yeah the copy I checked out from Upenn, which maybe was the Yale copy had this exactly, the soft cover pages within the library hard board.

[fumblesmcdrum]

Same with my university. I had it checked out for so long it went into collections. The fine for replacement was....$100. I did the right thing and brought it back, but told them they should probably put the book in special collections because it's worth several times that much. The undergrad at the desk didn't seem to care.