Modular Synth Panels

> Scott's MOTM panels are superb if you need to have a consistant feel with the

format with his textured paint finish for a more common design.


Some year or two back I remember reading in some synth forum that someone that made motm 5u style modules was considering using thinner plate which somewhat horrified me to read as I new I would be inevitably wanting 5u sometime. I never remember following what the outcome of that was or if that consideration came to be. I have a vague feeling it was to reduce shipping weight. I was incredulous to read this (maybe it was a joke)and really didn't believe reducing panel thickness by that amount(the thickness it was to change to was miniscule tho i don't remember the figure). can anyone enlighten me concerning this. I would like to think all motm style panels are 3mm, now that i think of it was the idea to shave rounded corners off the oakleys anthing connected or just cosmetic choice by Tony or paul? Are the rounded corners a good thing and are there any problems with integrating these with straight cut panels apart from grime buildup in the gaps maybe?
Another thing i would like to know is what is the finnish like on 5u panels compared to Mu. I am aware that dotcom have a splater finnish which looks really nice i just never seen a 5u close enough to compare. Also some shades of black seem to vary with mu what is the consistency like with 5u? thanks anyone

MOTM panels should be 3mm thick for consistency across modules. I have
three Modcan B, which are thinner. But their color contrast is of
course more obvious than the fact their surface isn't flush with the
next MOTM module.

As far as finish goes, Front Panel Express fails to be consistent. The
black anodized aluminum can have quite a range of hues. I have some
that are even bluish. Panels ordered together seem to come out the
same, since they are probably manufactured together. In addition, the
depth of paint fill for engraved lettering also varies from run to run.
When I took the FPE survey, I complained about these. Since then I've
noticed in the past couple of years is that the black anodizing seems
more consistent than it was before. The FPE black anodized color isn't
likely to exactly match anything you have. You have no control over it.

As far as the rounded corners, I don't think it makes much visual
difference, at least with black rack rails behind them. Black on black
isn't that noticeable. I suppose you might notice the corners more if
they were affixed to wood. The first rounded corner panels I saw came
from Oakley. Frankly, I don't see much benefit to them.

Richard Brewster
http://pugix.com

On 4/4/12 3:04 AM, aliis wrote:
>> Scott's MOTM panels are superb if you need to have a consistant feel with the
> format with his textured paint finish for a more common design.
>
>
> Some year or two back I remember reading in some synth forum that someone that made motm 5u style modules was considering using thinner plate which somewhat horrified me to read as I new I would be inevitably wanting 5u sometime. I never remember following what the outcome of that was or if that consideration came to be. I have a vague feeling it was to reduce shipping weight. I was incredulous to read this (maybe it was a joke)and really didn't believe reducing panel thickness by that amount(the thickness it was to change to was miniscule tho i don't remember the figure). can anyone enlighten me concerning this. I would like to think all motm style panels are 3mm, now that i think of it was the idea to shave rounded corners off the oakleys anthing connected or just cosmetic choice by Tony or paul? Are the rounded corners a good thing and are there any problems with integrating these with straight cut panels apart from grime buildup in the gaps maybe?
> Another thing i would like to know is what is the finnish like on 5u panels compared to Mu. I am aware that dotcom have a splater finnish which looks really nice i just never seen a 5u close enough to compare. Also some shades of black seem to vary with mu what is the consistency like with 5u? thanks anyone
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The thinner plates were something I was contemplating for a 'new' 5U format -- like a hybrid of MU and MOTM. The weight wasn't about shipping, but about moving/ gigging with the bigger synths. I'm not a small fella but threw my shoulder out a bit last time I moved Colossus.