Synthesizer front panel recommendations

[Dan Slater]

Paul Schreiber wrote:
> 
> Panel size is 228 mm X 76 mm (about 9 x 3 inches) which are kind of narrow.
> 
> SURVEY TIME!!!
> 
> Send me dimensions of Serge, Mood, ARP2500, Roland M100, etc. I'll compile a list.
> 

Serge panels are 7" tall by 17" wide.

Buchla 100 / 200 series panels are very similar but include submultiples
in size, ie.;

7"x17"
7"x8.5"
7"x4.25"

Both systems mount the panels to sheet metal chassis that provide
shielding and support. The Serge uses permanently configured submodules,
the Buchla does not allowing convenient rearraingement / replacement of
modules.

The Buchla standard provides the following advantages:

1. There is direct mechanical compatiblity with two systems, Buchla and
Serge. Module built to this standard would fit into either instrument.

2. The Buchla standard is nicely compatible with the 19" rack mount
standards. Quite a bit of electronic equipment is 17" wide for this
reason.

3. Front plates and chassis with these dimensions are readily available
at many electronic parts stores. Nothing to special order from a single
source. Parts are relatively low cost and simple.

4. A wide variety of module complexities are nicely supported by the
varying front panel sizes. You can fit between 1 and 4 modules in a 17"
width.

5. The modules can be made quite compact and with minimum depth
(desirable for briefcase instruments for example). Both the Buchla and
Serge take advantage of this property.

Although the Buchla 100/200 standard has many advantages for module
construction, there are people who would like to put modules into other
pre-existing instruments. With some thought, it may be possible to come
up with a circuit card standard that would allow a circuit card to be
mounted into a variety of different instruments. For example by
orienting the card differently or by supporting several different power
connector options. A good test would be to generate a proposed circuit
card outline (with i/o connectors) and see how many people could fit it
into their instrument.

Dan Slater (dslater at ix.netcom.com)