Hi, I'm sorry, I can't buy into there being anything inheriently bad with software synths. They actually provide an elegant solution. Even the dectalk is at it's heart a software synth, it just runs on an external computer all it's own. If I remember the specs, it's a 386 with a meg of memory. If you can get that out of a 386, what should you be able to do with one of the modern processors? Admittedly, the dectalk has some fancy DAC's..... But once again, they are circa 1990.... Shouldn't todays technology be able to at least match it?? After all, we're not talking tubes here. So in summary, I contend that with a modern processor and high end sound hardware it should be possible to exceed "old" hardware synths in all catagories. On the other hand, if you get my dectalk express you'll have to pry it from my cold dead fingers..... Cecil
