[sdiy] Deceptively simple question: Panels

[Greg Amann]

After hitting the delete key until my finger was raw wrt the Monowave 
GPL foolishness, it is great to see a USEFUL post from who else?  Super 
Larry!!!! (To the rescue... dum dee dum dumm ... insert DIY synth 
soundtrack here)  A voice of calm in the recent storm.

To add my 2 cents worth to the form factor question: 

I recently started building a synth.  My criteria are slightly different 
than others that I have seen:

1.- I want to create a modular INSTRUMENT, not necessarily a modular 
SYNTH in the old-school analog sense (abbreviated to OSA for the 
remainder of this post).
2.- I will use the instrument live.  Hence:
2a.- It must be portable by me, I don't have roadies or a road manager.
2b.- It must look good on stage.
3.- Building is therapy for me but I do not have unlimited time: I 
cannot lose too much playing/practice time.

Based on this I have chosen a MOTM based system in SKB cases.  It is not 
the cheapest way to go but it is pretty much electrically and physically 
bomb-proof.  It is large enough to be tweaked on stage in real time and 
is visually large enough that it balances the rest of the kit.  MOTM 
kits are well documented and well supported.  There is an active 
DIY/hack MOTM community that is exceptionally friendly.  Encore, Blacet 
and EAR all offer MOTM compatible products.  Cyndustries will sell you 
stuff to hack into the MOTM format. 

The downside is the cost.  If I were building a studio based system, I 
would probably base it on a Blacet system.  This is not to knock MOTM, 
it's just that the jump from 3.5mm to 1/4" costs money.  But frankly, 
nothing beats the visual retro-cool physical kewlness of plugging stuff 
together with 1/4" audio cables.

Fundamentally, it is always easier to hack something up into a 5U form 
factor than it is the hack something down into a 3U form factor.  But do 
you have the space?

Of course, YMMV, PLL, BFG


J. Larry Hendry wrote:

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Aaron Bader
>Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 9:11 PM
>
>  
>
>>I've seen a lot of different module form factors, things like MOTM, EFM,
>>    
>>
>Oakely, PAIA, Serge, Dotcom... what's common? What do you fellows prefer?
>Are any of these compatible or effectively the same?
>
>---- Larry Hendry writes:
>Aaron,  Since I manufacture and sell panels, I can help with some
>compare-and-contrast facts that may help.
>
>First, let me say that in my opinion, panels fall into 2 basic categories:
>
>Camp # 1: "I like big panels with plenty of space."  Mostly these have 1/4"
>jacks, but you will find some of the larger format with bananas too.  That's
>another discussion.
>
>Camp # 2:  "I want more functionality in a smaller space and I am willing to
>accept a more crowded panel with smaller knobs and jacks."  Mostly, you will
>find 3.5 mm (sometimes called 1/8" jacks on these).
>
>In camp # 1 you will find MOTM, Oakley, and Dot Com from your list.  MOTM
>and Oakley use the exact same form factor.  However, Oakley is no longer
>selling PCBs.  Some Oakley designs are going to be available as
>assembled-only modules from a different group in the USA (EAR).  MOTM, of
>course, is available in kit or assembled.  These panels are 5 rack units in
>height.  Or approximately 8.75 inches.  The vary in width in 1.75"
>increments (rack units again).  So, some modules are 1U, some 2U and a few
>3U wide.
>
>If you want panels in the above format size, and you do not want to DIY
>them, you have at least 3 sources -- Schaeffer in Germany, FPE in the USA
>(same company) and if you had some MOTM and wanted your panels to exactly
>match those, you could get them from Stooge Products (that would be Dave
>Bradley and I).  The Schaeffer and FPE panels are anodized and engraved.
>Mine are painted and silk-screened (to match MOTM)
>
>Also in camp # 1 you have dot com.  It is also 8.75 inches tall.  However,
>the width units are 2.125 inches to match the old Moog (R.I.P. Dr. Bob)
>modules.  These units are sold assembled only.  Modules are mostly 1U and 2U
>wide, but they have some selected other widths.
>
>You can purchase blank dot com panels from Roger Arrick at very reasonable
>prices.  We will screen them with your designs.  And, there is also a guy on
>the dot com list that does them too on occasion.
>
>And in camp # 1 sort of, you have Cyndustries and Modcan.  I say sort of
>cause they are large panels, but tend to lean toward more stuff on them and
>are normally thought of as banana camp. :-)  Modcan does make a "plan B"
>module with 1/4" jacks in this same size format.
>
>In camps # 2, you have PAIA, and one you did not mention Blacet.  I am quite
>fond of a lot of John Blacet's work, and he has a compact and efficient form
>factor.  But, I am a camp # 1 guy. So, I hack the circuits into bigger
>panels.  Maybe Grant R. will pipe up since you did not mention Wiard.  He is
>also in camp # 2 with some newer products.  This form factor is 3U high
>(IIRC) with varied widths.
>
>I am sure you can get this form factor panel too from FPE or Schaeffer.
>Stooge products does not produce them.
>
>Serge panels are large and contain several modules.  Maybe someone else can
>help with dimensions on those I cannot.
>
>I also know nothing about EFM.  I have never purchased any of it. Maybe Tom
>will calm down and act decent long enough to pass along some useful
>information.
>
>I am not omitting anyone on purpose.  But, that covers what you asked about
>and more.
>
>Here is a nice page with some comparison information.
>
>http://www.modularsynth.com/
>
>Larry Hendry
>www.wiseguysynth.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>
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