Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

I have mixed feelings about this. I think you should go in either
of two directions.

Option 1: Stay completely with the MOTM format. Same panel color,
same knob size and color, graphics as they are and same jack
placement. This way the Motmized Buchla modules can be placed
interchangeably with standard MOTM in the same cabinet.

Option 2: Stay with the same panel size, but go with a white
background. (Why white? In my experience silver panels tend to look
grungy as they age.) Use colored and different size knobs. (I would
prefer a darker blue rather than the baby blue.) Please do not use
sliders. They always get dirt in them and cannot be sealed unless
you use belt driven rotary pots, which are cumbersome. Go with the
graphics on the panel as Don did. Go "off-grid." Please stick with
the 1/4" phone jacks. Do not use 1/8" jacks or banana plugs.

Option 3: Give the customer a choice. Connect all pots to the PCB
with wires so the customer can go with either panel/layout/knob
color. Offer the modules with your choice of panel and knobs.
Either Buchla Style or Classic MOTM.

If I had the choice I would probably go with option 2. I would put
all the Buchla related modules in a separate cabinet.

If you choose some halfway option of remaining with the black panels
but using colored knobs, etc I would myself consider having
Schaeffer or Stooge panels made and going one way or the other. I
have at times considered having new panels made for all my modules.
Given the choice from the beginning I would have put borders around
the modules for one thing. But I do like the layout, I like the
knob size and spacing and the jack placement. I disagree with
whoever said that the modules are too large.

I would also point out to some of the list members that the biggest
cost items in putting out a module are hardware related. The
panels, the knobs, switches, pots, jacks and of course the PCBs.
With very few exceptions the PCB mounted parts are relatively
cheap. I doubt you'd gain much in cost by using surface mount.