Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Thanks to all for their input on the "module arrangement" question. For us "electronic music neophytes" , this is what really makes the list so useful!

The general concensus seems to be that each system is (and should be) different and dynamic. This is pretty much what I had decided before I asked the question. I've played around with "top-down", "left-to-right", and several other module configurations, but as new modules come out, I scrap each idea and try something different.

Since I hope to have a fairly large MOTM system when I finally finish, my main concern now is to minimize the number and length of patchcords that I will have to fabricate/purchase. This raises more questions that you "electronics wizards" might be able to answer for me.

Say that I find a patch that I really like and want to duplicate in the future, and so I carefully note all of the switch and dial settings, etc. on my patch sheet. My question is this: Do I also need to note which specific length of patchcord I use to make each connection? Will using different length cords in future patches cause small changes to occur in the voltages between modules and thus change the sound significantly? Likewise, will using different cords made by different manufacturers have a big effect on the patch's sound? Lastly, is there a maximum length that patchcords can be before excess noise or signal degradation starts to detrimentally effect the sound?

So far, I haven't experienced any problems with reproducing patches using commercially available cords, but they have all been of the same length and from the same manufacturer. Now I am about to start making a bunch of cords on my own and several musician friends of mine have raised these possible questions, so I thought I'd ask!

Thanks for letting me pick your brains!

Chris "Working on Stoogedom" Parker