Can you break an analog synth by pushing it too far

Pretty sure the answer is no but I just want to double check

If you really make the parameters insane (max tempo, max resonance, max everything so it sounds like it's screaming) there's no risk of some internal component overheating and melting or something is there?

Can you safely use any parameters you want for any period of time?

yeah im on my 11th TB303

  On 11/12/2015 at 10:01 PM, Zeffolia said:

Can you safely use any parameters you want for any period of time?

Yes, unless the electrical circuit is really badly designed. Have never heard of a commercially produced synthesizer with such a problem.

The parameters won't break your synth.

Im sure that some parameters have a greater effect on your synth life than others, like ones that could pulse current instead of constant flow. Although Im no EE but Im sure the effects of this are vastly out-weight by factors such as where you keep your synth: hot/cold/dirty/clean/smokefree or if you drop it.

Most electronics die at the same time as their peers. So if the synth is known for craping out after a certain amount of play time, it usually won't be far off.

Depending on your monitors/speakers you might break them.

I remember temporarily breaking my macbook speaker by recording a yowza mcbowza (no lie) and playing it with loads of added distortion and shit. Made a pop and stopped working for a while. Good times.

  On 11/12/2015 at 10:11 PM, QQQ said:

Depending on your monitors/speakers you might break them.

Speakers are fagile, I think we're all aware of this.

Generally, moving parts = bad.

all analogue synthesizers have a destruct sequence that is triggered by a certain configuration of the ADSR envelope only known to synthesizer engineers, and to be used in an absolute emergency.

A typical filter chip has 14,000 filter sweeps in it's lifetime, choose them wisely.

Take a 1/3 off that number if you sweep with full resonance.

  On 11/12/2015 at 10:56 PM, Chesney said:

A typical filter chip has 14,000 filter sweeps in it's lifetime, choose them wisely.

Take a 1/3 off that number if you sweep with full resonance.

LOL

Look I'm just asking lol, like I said I was 99.99% sure this is a dumb question but I am now 100% sure. And this is now the first result when googling this so now anyone else can see the answer too.

They say oscillators can become detuned and shit like that from extended use and that's the appeal of analog, how would I know whether that can be taken towards an extreme where a capacitor is blown or some bs

Most things break when they're pushed too far. Except black holes... they just get bigger.

Yes you can. That is why I have my synths against the wall now.

  On 11/12/2015 at 11:13 PM, Zeffolia said:

Look I'm just asking lol, like I said I was 99.99% sure this is a dumb question but I am now 100% sure. And this is now the first result when googling this so now anyone else can see the answer too.

 

They say oscillators can become detuned and shit like that from extended use and that's the appeal of analog, how would I know whether that can be taken towards an extreme where a capacitor is blown or some bs

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/

The synths will only break if they are male synths as they are pushed much harder than the female ones.

To properly sex your synth you have to open it up and count every capacitor inside. Even numbers = Male, odd numbers = female.

  On 11/13/2015 at 12:44 AM, StephenG said:

The synths will only break if they are male synths as they are pushed much harder than the female ones.

 

To properly sex your synth you have to open it up and count every capacitor inside. Even numbers = Male, odd numbers = female.

StephenG is correct and make sure to include the ceramic capacitors in that count. Just because their portly doesn't mean that they don't need lovin'.

However I want to add that even though you are told to only couple male to female/female to male connections with your non-polarized capacitors, you can couple them bisexually, full on male and male. But make sure you use plenty of protection and coating or else you'll lead to some nasty discharges and clumps of solder paste all over the place.

i used to be able to make my RM1X have a seizure by pushing it to the max..

whatever you do, don't use any sodomized electrons with analogue gear.

One time in college we plugged the speaker output of a 10 watt guitar amp into the composite video input of an analog projector.

That's the kind of thing you don't want to do.

If you only use your genitals to adjust the parameters, you'll be fine. Just be very careful using your digits; they don't have properly aligned orgone energy unless you rinse them in negatively charged water.

Breaking synths just makes them more vintage.

  On 11/13/2015 at 2:32 AM, yek said:

i used to be able to make my RM1X have a seizure by pushing it to the max..

nice

I love how digital stuff can sound when it's pushed beyond recommended usage, sometimes moreso than analog..

  On 11/13/2015 at 4:46 AM, modey said:

 

  On 11/13/2015 at 2:32 AM, yek said:

i used to be able to make my RM1X have a seizure by pushing it to the max..

nice

 

I love how digital stuff can sound when it's pushed beyond recommended usage, sometimes moreso than analog..

 

Yeah there's something about the complexity of digital systems when you start to push them to their limits, there's more of a rugged "geography" to the texture where analog stuff is more fluid like air or water. Saturating the sequence memory of a paleolithic sequencer and data-fucking any old sound module with it is a pretty good time.

  On 11/13/2015 at 2:49 AM, RSP said:

One time in college we plugged the speaker output of a 10 watt guitar amp into the composite video input of an analog projector.

 

That's the kind of thing you don't want to do.

wew lad

seriously though that's funny as hell

  On 11/13/2015 at 4:46 AM, modey said:

 

  On 11/13/2015 at 2:32 AM, yek said:

i used to be able to make my RM1X have a seizure by pushing it to the max..

nice

 

I love how digital stuff can sound when it's pushed beyond recommended usage, sometimes moreso than analog..

 

3 words:

Intelligent Pitch Shift

  On 11/13/2015 at 3:42 AM, Psychotronic said:

Breaking synths just makes them more vintage.

 

lol very good