Hi all, volt standards, CV annenuator type poll

[analogguy at home.com]

Hi everybody,

I've been lurking here for almost a year now but since I've finally got
some time off work to build my "dream modular," you'll probably be
hearing a lot more from me. I have a pretty good background in
electronics so I'm most likely to be asking questions on the order of
*what* to do as opposed to *how* to do it. 

So my first questions relate to voltage standards - good place to
start:  (Please note that I spent an hour digging through the archives
{didn't find what I needed exactly} and have read the standards info on
the ARF page.  So please accept my apologies if this has all been
covered a zillion times.  I've also been off the list for a month - so
if this was covered last week
)  Rather than ask you what to do, I'll
tell you what I believe to be true and let you tell me if I should do
something different.

For voltage level standards (all but EGs & V/oct), I'm planning on going
-5V to +5V and making no level distinctions between CVs and audio
signals (everything's 10vpp).  Is there a more popular standard I should
adopt?  It should be noted that I'm designing all inputs/outputs to be
built for any IO voltage/offset standard so I can always retrofit the
modules if I change my mind.

I'll of course use the 1V/Oct. standard.  For setting up input summers
(and their related offsets if need be) should I assume that 0V is the
lowest note (on the controller) and the CV will only go up from there? 
Or is 0V center scale?

Lastly, it appears that everybody sets their VCA to be "shut off" at
0V_CV.  And subsequently EGs start their attack up from 0 volts.  Is
this the way to go?  

Lastly, I'm taking a poll as to everyone's favorite CV input type: 1)
Reversing attenuator, 2) STD attenuator with toggle for inversion, or 3)
STD attenuator with separate +/- inputs.  What's your ideal choice?  I'm
leaning towards # 2 because I can use any pots, easily set CV to 0V, get
greater CV resolution, and can invert immediately without having to go
through zero.  If I go this route, then I'll probably have some separate
modules just for reversing attenuator functions since I love that
"slow-down-turn-around-and-go-backwards" effect of reversables.

Well, that's all for now.   Maybe next time I won't be so long winded...

Thanks you very much for any and all input.

Buck Buchanan (previously buchanan at qualcomm.com)