19" Rack panels for DIY synths?

[Tom May]

Haible Juergen <Juergen.Haible at nbgm.siemens.de> writes:

> As for *real* 19" modules, there is a problem with the form factor. A
> typical
> module would just cover 1U height and so you'd have everything in a linear
> arrangement - hart to associate knobs to jacks.

I thought about this and didn't see much value in being able to
associate knobs with jacks, since that only allows one to easily
associate the input jack with a knob when what (to me) is of equal or
greater importantance is what output jack is driving that input.  And
once everything is patched up all I care about is what knob to turn to
get more of this or less of that or whatever, and I usually don't have
to know the input jack to remember what knob does what.  Similar to
tweaking knobs on a prepatched synth where there are no jacks.  The
best scenario is something like the Odyssey where you can look at the
switch below the slider to see what is patched into the slider, but
you can't really make a UI like that on a patchable system.

I found more value in being able to put all the patch cords on one
side of the panel out of the way of the knobs, hence my own ASM-1
panel design (http://www.you-bastards.com/asm-1/obl2m.jpg).  I've got
more modules (with no panels made yet, I'm lazy and making panels is
not my favorite thing) and (as has been suggested previously) they are
either duals which take up a complete 1U panel, or multiple modules
will be combined in sensible ways.

fTom.