Hi gang,
I'm about to put in an order to Paul for some MOTM stuff for my students to build in my Spring synth theory & design class (after some thinking, I decided this time around to go with one manufacurer for consistency. Enough people have signed up that I'm sure the department would let me offer it again, and I'll have some funding for educational stuff kicking in this summer to buy synth stuff next year, so maybe next year I'll do Blacet.) One of the first HW assignments will be - split up into teams, # teams = number of modules, # persons per team depends on complexity of module, build the module, make it work.
I haven't decided exactly where to go from there, but for the final project, I want it to be something like: design a module from scratch (i.e. start with the idea of, say, making a Sallen-Key out of SSM2164s, and then go from there...), build it, make it work. I might do something in between in the middle of the semester, where they build something from a schematic, say from like Rene's or Ian's sites or something... just go get pactice with prototyping before they try their own original design.
Maybe have them design a full module from scratch would be too much for one semester - I'm also not sure how to prevent people from dishonestly plagarizing a schematic on the net and claiming it's theirs. Maybe it will instead be something like "take a schematic on the net, change the design around, see what effect that has..."
Anyway... the people who run our ECE4006 senior design labs have agreed to let my synth class use their facilities, so I spent some time touring them the other day.
There's bananas everywhere. Rows and rows of banana connectors hanging on the walls, all the test equipment has banana jacks, etc... (and I have been fascinated with Serge's designs lately, and it's all bananas). I also like the way bananas plug in and unplug quickly and easily, and the fact that you have automatic multiples.
...so I was thinking, when we build the MOTM modules, should we "bananaize" them? I will then have a ready made stack of patch cords - and if someone wanted to plug the output of the Moog filter into an oscillascope, they're right there. Are there any "gotchas" in doing that?
I'm sure Paul has some thoughts on this, but I wanted to hear about experiences from the rest of the list too. I've occasionally seen "bananaized MOTM" modules for sale...
In case you're curious, here's the system I currently have speced out:
101 noise/SH
190 uVCA (2 VCA/ring)
300 ultra VCO
310 uVCO
490 uVCF (moog) (I plan do a whole lecture on the Moog ladder filter)
420 VCF (ms-20) (several lectures will be on using OTAs to replace
resistors and the resulting filter topologies)
390 uLFO (2 LFO)
700 2:1 VC router
800 ADSR
830 dual-mode mixer (I like the idea of a design that's good at both DC and audio - I want to talk about those issues in class, it's something Buchla emphasizes, about being hard to do both well)
950 power supply
And I'm almost done building Paul's version of the Yamaha GX-1 filter (I just have the front panel wiring yet to do.)
I need a second EG of some sort, but I want some diversity of modules... would rather get some other "twist" on ADSR.
While I'm asking about bananas - has anyone "bananaized" their Blacet modules?
Class starts Jan 9. I'm excited but at the same time so not ready to start!
- Aaron
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