MOTM Jack-a-mania

[Paul Schreiber]

Having survived panel mania (flat panels won) and knob-a-mania (will use 0.75 & 1.00" Moog style knobs) it's
time for (refrain from the obvious comment) jack opinions.

Originally, the MOTM modules were going to be Digisound 'footprint' compatible. This meant using 3.5mm
jacks (some people call them "1/8th" which is not the case).

Well, since the panels are 1U, 2U, ...wide and 5U tall, before I plunk down $$$ I'd like input on jacks, or
more accurately jack holes/spaces.

The 'Moog look" is of course 1/4" jacks, usually on a 1" x 1" grid. I could drill the panels for them, and (somebody
check this, Gene/Paul/JH) a banana could go in the same sized hole.

Of course, the 3.5mm advocates are hosed.

Now, we all like to chime "Switchcraft" like a holy mantra. Well, dear old Switchcraft does NOT stock 3.5mm jacks
anymore, and they are made in Taiwan and take 6 weeks to get here. The 'industry standard' #112/113
Hi-D enclosed jack you & I can get my the zillions from Mouser, Allied, Farnell, etc. Then, for the
banana crowd, multiple places as well including good old RatShack.

My drawback against 1/4" is the patch cables are a) heavy b) expensive c) expensive d) expensive
but banana isn't shielded, blah blah blah.

So, I'm buying jacks on Monday. If it's 3.5mm, them they aren't Switchcraft but the Switchcraft ones aren't
either. If it's 1/4 (holes), then I will buy the 112 jacks and you can save $$$ if you ask me not to include
them if you want to use something else. In 500+ pieces the jacks are still about $0.90 each.

Lastly, several have asked about the power supply. I am using a pre-assembled, 723-based supply that is
UL listed, 110/220V, and you can get them from 10 different people. They are +-12V @1A. The
modules interconnect using AMP MTA-156 cables. I cannot get the silly Molex disk drive cables made in
less than 10 weeks. Again, the upside is that the MTA stuff has been around since 1963 and it's 
very rugged.

Well, the first wave of pots arrived (using Spectrol Cermet pots in most spots, rt angle pc mount) so things
are coming together. Be patient, I finish my 5 year, non-synth project Feb. 15th and then I'll go into high
gear. I need to get this stuff on order, so that when it all gets here I can ship it out.

Paul Schreiber
Synthesis Technology