[sdiy] Panels: early results

[Neil Johnson]

All,

Some early results from the survey:

========================================================================
Panels
----------------------

Small
-----

5 people have used small (3U) sized panels, of which two found them too
small and fiddly to use.

Large
-----

This is certainly the more popular, with 9 people going this way.  The
general height seems to be either 5U (8.72") or 9", in various widths
between 2-3".

Huge
----

Jim Patchell likes his panels REALLY BIG!

Conclusion
----------

Larger panels can accomodate larger knobs (titter ye not!) and connectors
without getting all squashed up, so ideal for live performance on a dark
stage, or for those of us with large fingers.

But, smaller panels offer a higher density of function, which may or may
not be as desirable, and only really practical for a studio-based synth.

Jim's out there on his own :)

=========================================================================
Connectors
---------------------

1/4", 6.35mm
------------

6 people prefer these to their smaller cousins, and they are mechanically
robust too.

1/8", 3.5mm
-----------

Not quite as popular, with 4 people using them, as they are compatible
with the Aries, Paia and Analogue Systems modules.  Also tend to be a bit
less robust than the larger jacks.

Bananas
-------

Bit of an oddity.  Used by at least one person, and also favoured by
Buchla, Serge, Fenix, ModCan, and Tony Clark's synth.  Quite a few people
expressed a preference for them, while not currently using them.  The
stackable feature seems to be the main benefit, together with
colour-coding.  And electrically they are possibly the most robust.

Conclusion
----------

Most people seem to want to go bananas, with their colour-coding and
stackability, but stick with jacks for compatibility with other systems
(MOTM, Moog, Oakley, Digisound, Paia, etc...)

Probably best summed up by Ken Stone:
  3.5mm  - compact, normalized
  6.5mm  - robust, normalized
  banana - stackable, colorful (for color coding).

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Many thanks to all those who have contributed so far.  And if you haven't
yet done so, please do.

As for me, I'm kinda tempted towards the 3U+banana combination at the
moment.

Neil

--
Neil Johnson :: Computer Laboratory :: University of Cambridge ::
http://www.njohnson.co.uk          http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~nej22
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