To socket or not to socket?

[Michael Moncur]

Hello, I've been lurking on this list for a couple of weeks and am just 
getting into DIY synths. My main experience is at the complete opposite end 
of the spectrum (digital synths and software synthesis) so I'm interested 
in going back to my roots, as it were.

I do have experience designing, soldering and assembling circuits, but not 
with synths specifically, so I'll undoubtedly have lots of newbie 
questions. Here's one now.

I just received the PAiA FatMan kit, which should be a good starting point, 
and am starting on it now. One thing that caught me off guard was this 
statement in the instructions:

    "Sockets are notorious for being the weak links in the chain of 
connections between electronic components. We use them only in places where 
their advantages outweigh their lack of reliability."

This has generally been the opposite of my philosophy, but perhaps things 
are different with synths. I'm tempted to add sockets for those ICs that 
don't come with them. Would this adversely affect the circuit much? Has 
anyone done this?

I'm also planning a few homebrew synths, mostly based on Tom G's excellent 
plans. Should I plan on avoiding sockets for the ICs in these too?

Thanks for the info and for the making this one of the most useful lists 
I've ever subscribed to.


--
michael moncur   mgm at starlingtech.com   http://www.starlingtech.com/
"I don't have any solution, but I certainly admire the problem."
                 -- Ashleigh Brilliant