Yes, we have no bananas

[Don Tillman]

Getting around to older mail...

   From: "Fraser, Colin J" <Colin.Fraser at scottishpower.plc.uk>
   Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 09:42:41 +0100

   There is a danger with normalized connections in that it doesn't
   encourage you to try new configurations of modules.  'Once you
   realise how you use it' could be re-phrased as 'once you get stuck
   in your ways'.  You can't rip out all the patch leads and start
   from a clean slate - the normalized connections will be there,
   guiding you into using the same voice architectures as always.

I don't think this is a problem in practice, at least I've never fealt
stuck in my ways patching an ARP 2600.  Just turn all the input pots
down and you've got a clean slate.  

One could even argue that normalized connections encourage
experimental patches because of the potential for fewer cables to keep
track of.

(I guess I'm saying that, at least the way I work, I find keeping
track of cables more difficult than ignoring input pots that are
turned down.)

And yes, I often patch up stuff that is pretty "out there".

   Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 14:28:29 +0100 (British Summer Time)
   From: "Paul Maddox" <Paul.Maddox at unilever.com>

   As for pre-patched I agree with colin, NONE of my modules
   are pre-wired, if you want a sound you have to wire at least
   VCO output to Mixer input. I agree that you shouldn't (for modular
   at least) have the standard VCO>VCF>VCA signal route, it defeats
   the whole point.

If I were building a modular right now (and I'm not!) I would build it
normalized, but I would also include a set of screw terminal strips in
the back so I could reprogram the normalized connections with a
screwdriver.  The front panel would have a space to pencil in what the
normalized connections were set to.

(The Rane Vocal Processor does this on a smaller scale; see
http://www.rane.com for an example.)

  -- Don