Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

All of these issues are on my mind right now. My first design discussions
with my sister were this past week-end. So, since it is fun for me to talk
about this Im posting my thinking on the issues you presented.

∗∗Portable versus Console∗∗

will you gig? will you not gig? will you gig once in bluemoon? I think this
the most significant issue on which all others rely.

This needs to be coupled with the question of what does the word "stage" mean?
Is it a raised platform, either in a theater like environment or something
temporary in a hall of some sort? Or is it simply "where the band plays."

My whole conception of my case is based on the idea that I will use this on
number of gigs and that for me the word stage is far more likely to be "the
place where the band plays."

therefor ∗Portability∗ is essential

BUT in terms of expansion, it seems somewhat rediculous to go out with a very
large number of modules. As it stands, my case will house all the modules I
own (or will own upon delivery and completion of my 410 and 120), but then it
will be filled. It isnt out of the question that I will have more modules
than can fit in my case by the time the case is finished (seiously, how long
can I go using the Pro-2000 for my portamento...i mean I can have variable up
and down lag time??? VC lag appears much more fun). But expansion for a live
unit does not seem realistic. I will continue to add to my system, but those
modules will be in a larger more sedintary case. I will first be expanding
into a pop-up mixer case.

I think live one can easily have too many modules. Unless you have so many as
to be able to prepatch a few sounds (see Keith's moog and his preset Tarkus
patches)

Unless of course you are doing gigs in a tangerine dream style of music
(which I think is very cool music, but I dont really play it) in which case
you probably have tons of gear to begin with and are used to this sort of
thing (or at least deal with it).

∗Stability∗ see my definition of the word stage. that is the main force
behind my keeping the cabinet 6 inches deep.

∗Ease of Construction∗ granted I had a bit of apprehension before I soldered
my modules together, I did not know I would both enjoy DIYing and have
acceptable skill to do it. I have tried using a saw before......Im a piano
player! Keep that thing away from me!

Seriously, I lucked out on this one. My sister is building my cabinet. She
worked for two years for a specialty furniture store in Burlington Vermont,
is a scupltress (with degrees and everythang), and is starting a job a
middlebury college as an assistant to the art and theater department...she
has skills for both construction and the kind of problem solving needed for
cabinet building. And perhaps we can put the art students at middlebury to
work for us.

("You soldered it all yourself?....wow.....Robby, you were never ever a
craft-y person")

ed. note: It is doubtful I could have assembled these things as well as i did
if it wasn't for Paul's excellent writing skills. Do you think Roland would
fly (and pay him a large sum of $) Paul to Japan so he can give their
technical writers a seminar?

"Rigidity"--See ease of construction

"power" definately a pain in the butt. Power on the back? 10" deep. Power
sharing between the cabinets....not really looking forward to that (must be
done for next order of modules, I will have 11 powered modules when i get my
newest order). I think the next cabinet will be both larger and have its own
power supply. I gave up on "power on the back" partly because I realized that
limitations (as in fewer modules) can lead to inspiration.

∗flexibility∗ half my stuff stays set up in my studio and half of it gets
packed up every thursday around 5:30pm, taken to gigs, and set back up
saturday or sunday (or monday)...depending on gigs. Some stays in cases and
only gets taken out for gigs (I have two set ups for my piano sounds) I
wouldnt mind a large piece that stayed in one place next to my OB-8, but I
also need to be able to move some of it around.

∗Indefensible Rationalizations∗ modular always looks cool no matter what the
size :)

∗∗Angled versus Flat∗∗ tuff one. Im doing my current cabinet flat. If it was
3 rows tall instead of 2, i would definately do it angled. My favorite
looking MOTM 3 rows or smaller is the Eldhart one on David Bradley's page.
The Synth of Doom is my favorite looking modular synth....reminds me of that
big polyfusion that Toto had (or has) and of Keith Emerson's moog.

call me crazy if you want, I like the way MOTM looks more than Moog
(actually, my guess is most of you guys do too). In fact I like the way MOTM
looks more than any of the other ones...except maybe a 2600 and Ill always
have a special place in my heart for an 8 voice oberheim (cough cough...SEM
filter?)

I would love to have an angled, 4 tier, wood cabinet. Not unlike the synth of
doom, but that puppy aint going nowhere. Although I would certainly belive it
if David Bradley posted that he has taken it out for performances.

Im doing it tolex as I am doing a small gig oriented cabinet. If it was not
going to be visting the bars and lounges of Hoboken and Manhattan with me, I
would make it wood.

∗∗Back or No Back∗∗ Must have a back live. This is one of the reasons why I
will not be happy with a pop-up mixer case. Live, my motm may be on the floor
or may be on a chair. I am likely to put the filters on the top row and leave
the CV and the gate lines plugged into VCOs and EGs. Refer to my definition
of "stage." I dont trust patrons or audience or myself. Someone posted a few
weeks back that their MOTM survived at least one beer attack. Thats a chance
I'ld rather not take.

Heres one you missed:

Removable front cover? becomming more important to me. In transit it is
likely to be a good idea. I havnt sprung this issue on my case builder
yet.....but I could do something simple like a just a piece of wood with foam
on the inside.

anyway...there have been moments over the last couple of weeks for me where I
wished Paul gave us cabinet options, but it is kinda fun working the cabinet
thing out myself (with the help I have). And Paul is way too busy to worry
about cabinets (SEM filter?). I had targetted this past sunday as my live
debut of my MOTM, but that did not happen. I spend far more time performing
in front of an audience than I do in a studio and I am dying to take my MOTM
out.

It was only a few years ago that I was doing gigs with a Roland u-220 and a
DX7. People would come to see us play and ask other guys in the band how I
could peform with toys. It didnt bother me much because I could play circles
around most of those guys. Now live with a Kurzweil Sp76 (or fatar studio
900--88 weighted keys--and kurzwiel micropiano, depending on gig), Roland
xp30 (its a ROMpler, but lighter than a rhodes and not half bad at immitating
one), Waldorf Q rack, and eventually my MOTM makes me very very happy. And
gives me better equipment than most have. Certainly in Hoboken NJ. I cant
even bring my self to even turn my SH-101 on anymore now that I have MOTM,
let alone bring to a gig (cant sell it for more modules, I am the original
owner and it was the first keybaord I had that was not a hand-me-down from my
Dad).

Now if I could only figure out a way to fit the OB-8 on stage (cough
cough...SEM filter? old oberheims are my favorite synths after
MOTM)..............

Rob