I’m the proud owner of a fizmo rack, a piece of gear rumoured 50-200 ever been made.
it’s a 4 layer, 2 oscs per layer wavetable-like synth (ensoniq transwave technology) with multi stage envelopes and a ton of features.
The effects processor is in the style of the ensoniq DP processors.
The sound is amazing, just hitting one chord is an experience to listen.
yet, I dont have (or take ) the time to program this beautiful piece of gear.
Maybe I’m intimidated by it, I dont know.
I’m pondering… shall I sell my purple precious?
Its just such a double feeling, I know I will probably never get one again.
Will I miss it, will I regret it? Cant tell.
Don’t sell it… It’s unique and you will miss it. I missed my ASR-X for years until I recently got a DP/4 effects box to get ‘those’ effects. Sit down with the manual and try to learn it a little more slowly, I know the tiny 4-character display does not help much. I count it as a big missed opportunity that I didn’t get one when they were cheap.
If I may project my recent resolution while playing devil’s advocate…
When you don’t use something to its potential & have something else you want/need that will actually be more useful & less dusty, just jump off the deep end, clear the cobwebs, gain some feng shuei and fly.
In the end it’s what you do with what you have.
Be ruthless with your attachments.
I am selling my SH101 & soon some other stuff that needs to go were it will be more appreciated. Cathartic & Liberating if somewhat less rare
I had a future retro 777 and a roland tb303 which I both sold, in a 2 weeks period.
It hurt a bit, especially the 777. But I got a monomachine and an MPC2500 from the money (and new jeans ) and never missed the machines.
Ok, got a bassbot to compensate the missing TB…
But that felt good to move on.
Both machines are hard to get by, but not nearly impossible like the Fizmo Rack.
If it makes you feel any better, no one can program it properly due to the design of the thing… Just twist those F.I.Z.M.O. knobs and hope for the best…
I say hold onto it for a bit, bung it in the cupboard, then see how you feel in a few months?
That’s a sensible strategy. I’ve been looking for a Notron for a long time myself but they’re hard to come by. Instead of the Enigizer though, and possibly requiring a cash transaction, maybe you should consider the Ekdahl Polygamist.
Have you ever owned/used a Waldorf Microwave XT/XTk? It actually is an equally deep beast but incredibly more accessible and now there’s Rob Wentz’s CTRL based “MonstrumWave Editor” which is like taking a key and unlocking more potential under the hood, plus librarian, 2-way direct communication with the XT and still can use the almost 40 encoders. May consider acquiring one to replace the FIZMO or simply properly cover her up and put in storage and revisit at later date. Have seen them sell for around $2000. USD in past year for keyboard model so only can imagine rack would command even more. Might be worth listing with Analoghaven to reach specialized/concentrated potential buyers with tons of gas rather than e-flay.
) the time to program this beautiful piece of gear.