The designer of one of the other analog modulars I own is a ∗BIG∗ EMS
fan/user and decidedly chose NOT to use matrix patching in the system he
designed. That says a lot to me about the quality of the matrix patching.
I would assume he made that choice for the reasons Paul already mentioned.
However, alternative patching methods (other than cords) makes for an
interesting discussion topic. I've probably spent a couple hundred dollars
on raw jacks & cable to make my own patchcords for my MOTM (and other
patchable/modular synths), so cost of other patching systems isn't as much
of an issue as the quality. I believe that they make MIDI-controlled
patching systems for guitar rigs to switch between fx racks & stompboxes,
which could easily be used (I would think) for analog modulars, but I
believe that they're also very expensive. And anyway, I'm a certified
MIDIot, but I'd be curious to hear if anyone has tried using one of those
for synth patching ...
-Doug
ceres@...At 11:02 AM 02/25/2000 -0800, alt-mode <
alt_mode@...> wrote:
>Has anyone played around with an ARP 2500 and can talk about their
experiences with
>the matrix switches used for patching? I've heard reports of crosstalk on
the audio
>side but I've also heard that it is very neat and flexible, allowing patching
>without the mess of lots of patch cables. I wonder if such a thing might
be an
>interesting complement to something like Larry's Magic Bus(tm). There are
>manufacturers that still make the matrix switches these days.