RCA connectors as patch points?

[Andrew Schrock]

On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, tomg wrote:
> > What's everybody's thoughts on using RCA(phono) connectors (right angle,
> > or normal) for a modular synth's patch points? It seems like it would be
> > better (and cheaper) then the typical 1/4 and 1/8ers.  I haven't seen a
> > synth yet that uses them, is there a legitimate reason?
> Although I've see some that do, generally RCA-jacks don't have switching
> contacts. Makes normalization hard to do. They are not very rugged
> and not really enough room to grab and go with. 1/8 are ok for the
> type of synth you're not going to re-patch very often. Banana jacks
> are ok if you use the ITT brand (they cost as much as 1/4!) and put 
> it all on one panel. They also don't switch. !/4 is the best bet for some-
> thing thats going to last and continue to work without noise or loss of 
> signal/voltage. Nothing hurts a synth design more than bad connectors!!!! 
> No matter what you do you'll have to keep it clean. Been there!

Yep! For most modules, the switchcraft 112a jacks I use are literally as
expensive as ALL the other parts combined! (of course, I'm working on VCO
and VCF modules which require 10-12 per module) I'd never switch, too much
headache. 

I've never had good experiences with RCA, they seem to break all the time.
And forget attaching them to the front panel.. the _worst_ implementation
is seen on paia's fatman, where the RCA jacks are visible through the
front panel but not attached in any way.. every time you insert you're
putting massive stress on the solder joints. Mine didn't last a week
before flaking out. 

They are, however, cheap, but again I wouldn't use them any more than I
would 1/8" connectors. 

Andrew

-| Andrew Schrock | aschrock at cs.brandeis.edu |-