To socket or not to socket?

[Troy Sheets]

With sockets, you don't have to worry about ESD discharge while assembling,
and you don't have to worry about over-heating parts with your soldering
iron.  I don't think sockets add that much of a problem on PCBs.... I would
socket as much as you want.

Oh, and sockets make things about 10x easier to debug...

-troy

> 
> 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
> 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tsheets at saturn5.com                                  <- You have found me   
http://www.saturn5.com/tsheets/audio                 <- my .mp3 tracks
"I just don't have the discipline to be a hippie"    <- Homer J. Simpson