Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM
Subject: 200-Series Modules
From: mbedtom@...
Date: 2003-06-11
Regarding Buchla MOTM modules...
Everyone has their own polarization as to implementation, use, and aesthetics of modernized classics and that is to be expected. I fear that uncollated opinions might only muddy the water rather than providing a definitive direction however. Might I suggest a method for everyone to weigh in with opinions, from which Paul might be able to conclude a "popular opinion"?
All list members have exactly $20 to spend on their "wants". You have a $10 bill, a $5 bill, and five $1 bills. You are not permitted to 'make change' or otherwise alter your monetary denominations. (No, voting with pounds sterling!)
How much will you spend on...
1. Knob placement (on grid like MOTM or off grid like Buchla)
2. Knob color (MOTM standard or color-coded)
3. Jack location (MOTM bottom or varied according to function)
4. Panel color (MOTM basic black or color-coded by function)
5. Additional graphic elements (minimalist or heavy-duty)
I would allocate my $20 as follows:
1. $3 to keep knobs on MOTM grid
2. $1 to keep standard MOTM knob color/model
3. $5 to keep jack location the same as most all other MOTM modules
4. $10 to keep the panel color as "basic black" MOTM standard look
5. $1 to keep graphic elements to a minimum
Put simply, I'd want the modules to look "at home" in my cabinet. With the orange peel paint texture currently in use, detailed graphics are pretty much out of the question. I like the uniformity of jacks on the bottom and somewhat standard spacing of the controls. Color-coded anything does nothing for me. My principal interest lies with the sound. When playing a CD of music I cannot see the people or the instruments used to create what my ears enjoy. As long as the modules are reliable, workable, repeatable, and stable, not much else matters to me.
I really don't like color-coding anything on a sonic tinker-toy. That makes me think too much "inside the box". "CV inputs shall be color-coded red and audio paths will be blue for easy identification." Bah! Interchanging CV and audio signals makes for very interesting patches. If you think that one or another signal is of a specific ilk you will miss entire fields of sonic palettes.
Then again, I'm utterly mad.
TF