Re: [sdiy] part location help

[jhaible at debitel.net]

>I need some help locating a part.  I need either a pin matrix board or a 
>matrix board with the manual sliders.  Anyone know a place that sells these? 
>  New or old, doesnt matter.


I bought the matrix for my Synthi Clone from www.ghielmetti.ch


>These things are great.  No more patch cables to block your view.


These things *are* great, but IMO only if you have a non-modular
synth of limited size.

Size:

There's an optimal patching solution for each size under ergonomic
aspects. This may vary due to peronal taste, but here are my own
preferences:

(a) Very few parameters: Build a "matrix of pots". This does not
mean you should arrange the pots in matrix form. It means, have
a dedicated pot for each individual routing that "makes sense" (plus
one optional extarnal routing for connections that you didn't implement
directly because it didn't seem to make sanse at first. (;->) )

(b) 8 ... 20 parameters: A matrix is hard to beat. All the advantages
you assiciate with a matrix!

(c) >20 parameters: I prefer Patch Cords here. The number of possible
connections goes up quadratic with the number of parameters. With
a matrix, you have to provide all these possible connections 
all the time (cost factor!), and you have to find your way thru it
(you might loose a clear overview).


Modularity:

A matrix needs to be "learned": It takes some time until your hands
know where to find the location on the matrix for a certain set
of pots on the front panel (I avoid using the word "module" here.)
This learning will only work if you have the same layout all the time,
so it works best with a fixed set of functions, not with a modular that
is permanently changed and growing. (Hard to expand an existing
matrix in size ...)


(This all refers to a pin matrix. I have no experience with a
bus / matrix switch system a la ARP2500.)


JH.