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Subject: RE: [motm] module selection (newbie questions)

From: "John Loffink" <jloffink@...>
Date: 2004-01-08

Sorry, for option A I meant get a standard 2U _TALL_ 19 inch wide rack
panel.

John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Loffink [mailto:jloffink@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 11:44 PM
> To: 'Seth Elgart'; 'motm@yahoogroups.com'
> Subject: RE: [motm] module selection (newbie questions)
>
> From the MOTM website, 950 description:
> The MOTM-950 powers BOTH standard modules (+-15V at 400ma) and newer
> modules that require +5V (2A output). The internal connector board has 6
> MTA-156, 6-position connectors for newer modules and 3 standard MTA-156 4-
> position connectors. For example, you can power 3 Cloud Generators, a uSeq
> and a MIDI-CV converter plus 3 other modules. Very easy to assemble.
>
> So you could power 9 modules from the 950. +-15 V at 400 mA is enough
> juice for 9 modules (MOTM-900 with 800 mA powers 18-22 modules).
>
> My recommendations:
>
> Option A: Get a blank 2U wide rack panel and mount your own larger power
> supply behind it with Paul's larger power distribution board. Put this on
> the bottom of the SKB popup. This requires some of amount of DIY and
> power wiring knowledge (or friendly MOTMer advice). IMO cutting square
> holes for power switches and outlets is a royal pain though.
>
> Option B: Sounds like you're building this over a period of time. Get
> the MOTM-950, fill up the SKB with 9 modules, then get a second SKB and
> the MOTM-900. Use the second SKB/MOTM-900 to power most of the micro-
> modules (but no 5V modules), as it handles 15 modules (connector
> limitation). Don't think you'll get away with filling just one SKB case.
> :-)
>
> Your module selection looks good, but I would recommend at least one MOTM-
> 300 in place of a uVCO for the additional capabilities: sync, linear FM,
> sine/triangle wave outputs, pulse width controls.
>
> John Loffink
> The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
> http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
> The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
> http://www.wavemakers-synth.com
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Seth Elgart [mailto:selgart@...]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 11:05 PM
> > To: motm@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [motm] module selection (newbie questions)
> >
> > Dear List,
> >
> > I'm new to this and am trying to figure out which modules to start
> > out with. I'm going to put them in an SKB popup case as I already
> > have one for some Waldorf rack mount synths as well as a matching SKB
> > for my mixer.
> >
> > Option one is to get a bunch of the micro modules and a 950 power
> > supply. With this I can do a modular "Minimoog" style arrangement as
> > well as use the new 650 MIDI-to-CV module. The problem with this is
> > that I don't think the 950 power supply has enough jacks (and maybe
> > enough juice) to power 12 "regular" modules plus the 650.
> > (390 LFO, 3 x 310 VCO, 890 mixer, 490 VCF, 190 VCA, 2 x 800 ADSR, 101
> > Noise/S&H, 820 Lag, 2 x 910 Mult)
> >
> > Option 2 is to use two power supplies, a 950 and a 900. I don't
> > really want to have 6 spaces out of the 20 taken up by power
> > supplies, but this way I can power all I'm planning to in the first
> > SKB and then expand into the second without buying another power
> > module. I can fit 10 micro modules in this option, plus the 650.
> > (390 LFO, 3 x 310 VCO, 890 mixer, 490 VCF, 190 VCA, 2 x 800 ADSR, 101
> > Noise/S&H, 910 Mult)
> >
> > Option 3 is to go with the 950 supply but to use the "large" modules
> > (like two 300 VCOs and a 320 LFO in place of three 310 VCOs, a 390
> > LFO and an 890 mixer). This disadvantage of this is that at least in
> > the beginning I have far fewer modules to play with. The advantage, I
> > think, is that I have the "good" modules rather than the "lite"
> > modules, and that a 950 supply can power the 9 modules as well the
> > 650.
> > (320 LFO, 2 x 300 VCO, 490 VCF, 190 VCA, 2 x 800 ADSR, 101 Noise/S&H,
> > 820 Lag , 910 Mult)
> >
> > Here are my questions:
> >
> > A) Can a 950 power supply successfully power this many modules? I
> > don't know how many connectors it has or how much power it can
> > generate. I know the 900 supply has 12 connectors. Does the 950 have
> > 12 "regular" connectors in addition to the new connectors or does it
> > sacrifice regulars to make room for new ones? I don't really want to
> > put expander power distribution boards into the popup case as there's
> > not really a good place to mount them.
> >
> > B) Are there other options for power? Can I get a 900 and a 950 kit,
> > gut them both and then put the parts on a new panel that would go
> > under the two rack rail sets? If I had already built 20 modules I
> > would probably not think twice about doing this. As I have not yet
> > assembled any modules I'm not sure of how difficult or easy this sort
> > of custom wiring would be. The huge advantage of this is that I get
> > back all the space the two power supplies would take up as well as
> > probably being able to power a second SKB and maybe a third.
> >
> > C) Should I just go ahead and build a 950 supply and not worry about
> > this at all until I have enough modules? In other words, I could just
> > start building and deal with it in six months or so.
> >
> > D) A more basic question is whether to build the micro modules or the
> > big ones. Will I regret the 310 VCOs in a year and wish I had the 300
> > VCOs instead? Are the 320 LFOs unbelievably better than the 390 LFO?
> > Should I build a Magic Bus instead of the Mults?
> >
> > Those are some of the things I know I don't know. What also concerns
> > me are the things I don't know that I don't know. I'm sure there are
> > things I haven't even thought of yet. In reality I suppose I'll just
> > get a power supply and a module or two and start off slow and easy. I
> > have a funny feeling however that I'm shortly to be addicted to this,
> > and hey, it's never too early to plan for that third cabinet. <g>
> >
> > Sorry about the length of this post. It's just that I have about a
> > thousand questions that I can think of and probably a lot more that
> > haven't occurred to me yet.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Seth
> >
> >
> >
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