[sdiy] comparative reviews: modular kits

[R. Drake]

I'm in the planning stages of a long-term build/buy modular project:
gradually assembling a machine over time.  Some of the pieces i'm working on
now are smaller and homebrew, but i'd like to wind up with a handful of
really good modules for some of the key components: VCOs and VCFs, in
particular.  Kits seem to like they might be an easy answer without breaking
th bank or getting an engineering degree.

So I'm looking for comparative reviews of any kit-built modules, but VCOs &
VCFs in particular.  MOTM, Blacet, Electronics4Music, Modcan, and Oakley
seem like the leading vendors (maybe PAIA, too?).  I'm interested both in
comparisons of the musical/sonic qualities of different makes, as well as
technical evaluations and the quality of instructions/support.  ideally from
folks who have built or use modules from more than one supplier.

Finally, I'd be interested to hear about your experience mixing modules from
multiple vendors... any issues (beyond expo vs. linear) people have run
into?  A lot of the racks I've seen pictures of on the web look pretty
uniform: folks seem to buy whole systems of modules from a single vendor...
i kind of like the idea of having a selection of oscillators with different
characteristics... but could this cause problems?


thanks,
luigi-bob drake
rdrake at data2action.com