Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

I understand this is going to be a problem to MOTM people and I have a
solution.  I am not a member of the list.  Could I ask you to pass this on
to that list, verbatum, for me??

here you go:

Dear MOTM-ites,

Greetings.

I am both flattered and pleased to find that there is a certain amount of
interest in the Milton project among the fine group of synthesists which
embody the MOTM users group.  However you are (justifiably) concerned  about
the MOTM pot spacing standards via the relative tight fit of the Milton pots
(.75 inch centers).

To this I have a few possible solutions and comments:

First off, please do not overlook the MOTM Micro Sequencer by Synthesis
Technology as a very viable sequencing solution - it is a marvelous
instrument.

Secondly, has anyone searched out simular knobs, possibly without collars,
which will match the MOTM scheme?

Third - the pots currently solder directly to the bank PCBs on the .75
centers.  However, these could be connected however via wires from the
boards to the faceplate mounted pots at whatever spacing you choose. I see
this as a time consuming task, but probably the best, and definitely the
quickest solution .  In that the current pot pads sit at .1 inch centers,
three position Molex connectors could be used for each of these, much like
Grant Richter has done with the Wiard pots.

Forth- If enough interest comes via hard orders, I could investigate the
possibility of having another bank board designed with pot spacing greater
than the current .75.  But this would effect the price of those boards due
to the design costs AND the additional material real estate which would be
required to fabricate them.

You must be very aware of something which will put a hick-up in items 3 and
4 above:  There are 16 pots to each bank.   Working the math, using the
standard  MOTM pot spacing (1.5 inches) , this would make for a module that
would be well over  the length of a 19 inch rack width, which could be
problematic for your application.  If the Encore .875 spacing was
incorporated, it would more than likely work out.

Another solution has been brought to the table by another MOTM user- making
an 4 x 8 step version, as opposed to 16 steps.  The current method of daisy
chaining the 4051 decade counter on the Milton engine board could be easily
adapted to forfeit the last 8 steps.  This could be done relatively easily.
The bank board however would be a problem due to their width. There is also
the trade-off in functionality which i feel outweighs the benefits.
Therefore, I will not be able to produce such a bank board configuration.  I
would however be happy to supply the electrical, mechanical and timing
conventions so if one chooses, an eight step bank board could be designed by
a third party

I hope these solutions offer some possibilities for you.

best,

Peter Grenader