[sdiy] Most popular DIY modular format?

[Andre Majorel]

On 2006-04-14 18:44 -0700, Nicholas Gregorich wrote:

> So, do you use a 19" rack?  Your own custom paneling?
> Euro-rack?  Frac-rac?  MOTM?  .COM?  Other?  Modcan?  Please
> share.

To answer that part of your question, I prefer 3U formats over
larger (5U etc.) formats because of the finer granularity. For a
simple module, a single width panel uses about 40 cm² in a 3U
format, 99 cm² in MOTM format and 120 cm² in Moog format. With the
large formats, you have to choose between grouping modules and
wasting panel space.

The large formats are generally less dense in terms of pots or
jacks per unit area. The Moog and MOTM formats are really designed
for big knobs. With small knobs, they're too wide for one and too
narrow for two.

Here's a eurorack format panel design using 14 mm knobs (Mony
41007-1 or 41007-2) and 1/4" Cliff jacks :

  http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/misc/panel.ps
  http://www.oep.com/Products/Tuning/tuning2.htm
  http://www.knobs.com.tw/tuning-main.htm

The easiest way of all is to use 19" panels but it has its
drawbacks. Several modules per panel and you can't rearrange them.

You have to balance all those factors. How big is your studio ? Do
you have fat fingers ? Do you prefer 14 mm knobs or 25 mm knobs ?

-- 
André Majorel <amajorel at teaser.fr>
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/