[sdiy] thinking Buchla-style

[John L Marshall]

Years ago I built an Aries 300 system. Instead of using 1/8 inch jacks I
used banana jacks. There were no problems with the system except one time
when I used the synthesizer close to a broadcast station. The station was
detected by several of the modules. If I remember correctly, unused high
impedance inputs is where the RF signal was getting in.

My preference is all one type of jack. Signals can sometimes be control
voltage. Control voltage can sometimes be signal. Don't limit the
possibilities.

It is cool to route an output to several inputs; uncool to "wire or" several
outputs. Don't allow outputs to fight each other, ultimately only one will
win. This is a good reason to use mixers.

> for my upcoming modules I'd like to try a connector type different from
that
> to which I'm accustomed (1/4" phone).
>
> I've decided to use on banana connectors...
>
> Before I settle on this, I wondering if a banana/1/8" phone system might
be
> better.  I've researched this combination in the context of previous
useage
> sucesses, but I can't find anything that explains limitations, advantages,
> or particular wiring techniques.
>
> Current info is as follows: use the bananas for control voltages and the
> phones for audio.  So I assume, for instance, that using the output of
VCO1
> to mod the freq of VCO2 is not possible with this system.  Am I missing
> something very basic?  Yet with an entirely banana system, one could
> effectively mult the VCO1 output to - let's say - a filter and to the FM
of
> VCO2 simutaneously. Am I way off on the concepts of mults and stacking
> plugs?
>
> Buchla's modular synths had both banana and 1/8" phone jacks, and I think
> some early PAiA modulars did, too.  Is anyone on the list currently using
> one of these or anything else that has both banana and 1/8"?  Any
theories,
> comments, or suggestions welcome of course.
>
> tia l8r
> jef
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> FREE Personalized Email at Mail.com
> Sign up at http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup