4mm or 1/4"

[Fraser, Colin J]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Allgood [mailto:oakley at techrepairs.freeserve.co.uk]
> Sent: 15 September 1999 19:38
> To: synth diy
> Subject: 4mm or 1/4"
> 
> I know this has been done to death... I checked the archive; but I am
> about to start my new modular set up this weekend. I am going 
> to use the
> same format as Paul's MOTM, at least as far as module size. 
> But is it to
> be bananas or 1/4" jack? I really cannot make my mind up.

IMO bananas are better for a modular that is a work in progress.
Just make sure you build a module with plenty of banana to 1/4 inch i/o,
electronically fused power supply outputs and an earth connection.

I test new circuits with my modular by sticking croc clips on the ends of
banana jacks and connecting them to pins on the prototype board.

Normalisation should be possible on a banana synth.
I've not tried it yet, but my plan is this:

CV / audio outputs on my modular are within a range of +10 to -10 volts.
If I tie an input to -15v with a very high value resistor and use a
comparator to detect inputs below say -11v, with no connection made the
comparator will activate an analogue switch to make the normalised
connection.
With an low impedance input signal connected the error introduced by the
-15v connection should be small enough not to be noticed.


Colin f