MOTM idea and MOTM madness

[Christopher_List at Sonymusic.Com]

> What other 1/2 module "utilities" can we dream up?
> CV processor (ala Serge), Noise source....

Yes, a utility summer / scaler is important. Also logic gates, clock
dividers, envelope followers, sample & hold, simple vc-lfo's, simple
envelope generators, and simple output mixers all make good 1/2-width
utility modules. A ring mod, noise source, and sample & hold can all fit
onto one 1/2 width module - easily.

One thing I noticed however, while looking at those Digisound pics on the
web - the digisound modules have their mounting screws closer to the
corners rather than centered at 1.5" intervals. They're spaced like 1", 2",
1", 2", etc. This seems like a waste to me - in the same way that making
them 1/4" taller than standard rack height seems like a waste.

OTOH, I would understand Paul's desire to stick to the original layout for
the sake of backwards compatibility, historical value,
respect-for-those-who-came-before, etc. etc.

Paul, what's your take on this half width module thing?

I see Paul's issues with the rack thing - about the case and the shielding
and powersupply. Now there's no reason why the PS has to be mounted, it
could be in a little case all it's own, but those open frame supplies don't
really lend themselves to this kind of a setup. OTOH, If you had a 6 space
calzone (or even SKB) case, the modules aren't going to reach all the way
to the back of the case. There's no reason why you can't mount the PS
directly to the bottom of the case, on the inside, behind the modular. With
a 6 space case, you'd also have enough space for a nice effects box or
compressor over the modular. I've mounted a 1.5amp open frame supply in a
Calzone turntable case, and it's very heavy, but it's rock solid. I just
used long narrow screws up through the bottom of the case and through the
top of the supply on all four corners. With a normal open-back road case,
there's no convenient place to mount a power input module (one of those
switch + RFI filter + fuse + three prong removable cord thingys) - but, you
can always put most of that stuff "inline" and mount the power switch on
the front panel. Then again, if you don't mind getting cutting up a case,
and the case is wood (Calzone) you could always mount one of these input
modules into the SIDE of the case. I actually did this and was careful with
my cutout and SAVED the cutout piece of wood. Months later I decided I
wasn't happy with the position of the switch and moved it. I epoxied the
cutout back in place with that nasty CP-7 (or whatever it's called) black
epoxy - and you can barely tell it was ever cut (it's also probably more
solid than the original wood with all the epoxy I put on the thing)!
Besides, you only need one 1.5 or 3 amp PS for at least 3 rows...

As far as the shielding and dust and stuff goes. If you have two solid
rails on the top and bottom that the panels are mounted to, you could
easily have a sheet metal "shell" that wraps like so....

SIDE VIEW
Shell-----> |------------
Rail -----> |xxx         |
            |            |
Module----> |---------   |
8.75"high,  |         |  |
7.5" usable |         |  |
space       |         |  |
between     |         |  |
rails       |         |  |
            |---------   |
            |            |
            |xIx         |
            |-I----------
             ^^Screws from top and bottom hold shell to rails

The rails run just below the top and bottom of the panels to leave room for
the shell (and possible the heads of the screws). Figure 3/8" high rails +
1/4" for the shell, means 5/8" of "lost" space at the top and bottom of a
8.75" panel = 7.5" of "usable" panel space.

Something like this is super easy to make if it has only 3 sides (top back,
bottom) - you can make it by folding a rectangular piece of sheet metal. If
you wanna get fancy and have sides, it's a little more work - You have to
cut out the corners and do more folding, or make it in pieces like the
FracRack stuff...

Lastly (perhaps most importantly), there's no reason standard rack height
panels can't be mounted in long fancy wooden cases....

- CList