SergeModular

If you are performing I would definitely choose mechanical rigidity
over anything else - no question. Last thing you want in the middle
of a show is to pull a cable and have the entire panel arrangement
become undone. Although I am sure the audience would think it was
cool, the electronic spaghetti! ;-)

When mounting the panels into the Zero I used a layer of rug-gripping
rubber (think this is what it is called - a semi-soft web-like
rubbery material sold in rolls, used to prevent rugs from slipping on
hardwood floors) between the panels - added foam on the top/bottom -
when combined with the gripper rubber makes the fit tight enough that
the panels won't come off easily even when pulling Pomonas. Gives a
tighter fit than just using straight foam, but indeed it is not as
strong as mounting directly on the case.

The configuration that you propose should work fine - once encased it
almost creates a cube. Toyed with that arrangement for a while and
then gave up once my system got larger - from the pics I uploaded I
divided my Serge system into three parts: a fixed studio (top
panels), a semi-portable (Zero), and a travel system, an Animoo with
TKB. These days two panels are enough for me.


Regards,

Bill
__________________________________________
Bill Sequeira, PHD - Principal
Axon Hillock - http://www.axonhillock.com/

On Mar 13, 2007, at 6:57 PM, riluttante wrote:

> --- In SergeModular@yahoogroups.com, Bill Sequeira <bill@...> wrote:
>>
>> LOL!
>>
>> Never pictured you in the fridge business but it makes sense. ;-)
>
> Bill,
>
> Thanks very much for uploading those detailed pictures. Looks
> great, just how I imagined.
>
>>
>> I have tried over the years to design a portable case and the
>> showstopper has always been shock absorption. I concluded that I
>> could have a lightweight case that required a heavy duty case for
>> travel.
>
> On the other hand, I am a little unsure of how stable the solution
> of squeezing the panels
> into the suitcase with blocks of foam is. After a week or two of
> messing around with my
> new system, I find that it sometimes requires a LOT of pulling
> strength to unplug a banana
> cable. I'm a little concerned that with a case vertically mounted
> and me frantically pulling
> at patch cables during a gig, I'd pull the whole panel out.
>
> The shock absorption issue makes sense. On the other hand, I've
> traveled widely with a
> Doepfer A-100 (rack-mounted in one of their flightcases) and an EMS
> Synthi A (fixed
> inside the typical Synthi briefcase). Both of these synths are hard-
> mounted inside their
> cases without any shock absorption as far as I can tell, and I've
> never had any problems
> with them.
> I'm tempted to sacrifice shock absorption for stability and have my
> panels solidly fixed to
> a custom flight case after all.
> I guess the point is that I always handle the cases very carefully,
> take them in my lap when
> riding in a car, always take them with me as carry-on on airplanes
> etc.
>
> I've uploaded two pictures of my four panels arranged the way I'll
> be mounting them into a
> case. If tightly packed together like this, two panels in each lid,
> four of them will actually
> fit as carry-on luggage on a plane!
> They're in the "Four panels facing each other" album.
>
> Thomas
>
>>
>> I guess it depends on how you view your system and cases in general -
>> cases are either for transportation/protection or the case becomes an
>> inherent part of the instrument. Think both views work together, but
>> neither one can optimally supplant the other.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Bill
>> __________________________________________
>> Bill Sequeira, PHD - Principal
>> Axon Hillock - http://www.axonhillock.com/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 29, 2007, at 8:55 PM, darkstr1746@... wrote:
>>
>>> another option would be to contact Maxxline cases in Wilsonville
>>> Oregon. they make custom cases for just about every application
>>> imaginable. At one time they made me a custom case that housed a PS
>>> 6 and four panels complete with wiring harness. the PS was mounted
>>> to the bottome of the case and the back cover had recessed
>>> telescoping handle and the whole thing had wheels on the back. It
>>> was pretty cool. It was also a total pig. The case weighed at least
>>> four tijmes that of the panels and the PS combined. It was also
>>> more than double the depth of the panels. It looked like a small
>>> refrigerator. I really dug it although it was totaly absurd. I used
>>> it for about a year. there are no pictures of it. I was too
>>> embarassed to take pictures. everyone laughed and i don't blame
>>> them.
>>> so save your self a bunch of money and just wrap the panels up in a
>>> beach towel and carry the PS in a suitcase. You'll be glad you
>>> did. LOL
>>> john d
>>> -------------- Original message ----------------------
>>> From: Bill Sequeira <bill@...>
>>>> Thank you - will try to upload some more pics in a couple of days
>>>> showing how the panels fit together and the side foam.
>>>>
>>>> I agree that fixing the panels to the case would create too much
>>>> of a
>>>> shock transfer risk.
>>>>
>>>> On the other hand, portable in the Serge worlds means
>>>> "portable". I
>>>> would never think of it as traveling with a briefcase. :-)
>>>>
>>>> Even my animoo/tkb combo is substantial once you add psu etc.
>>>>
>>>> I use a plain old canvas suitcase that is slightly bigger than the
>>>> Zero when I need to move it, to prevent any unnecessary scratches.
>>>>
>>>> But if I was in a traveling band using the Serge, I would invest in
>>>> an ATA case custom designed for the Zero - OR, have one custom
>>>> designed to rack mount the panels. I love the look of the Zero
>>>> so I
>>>> did not entertain that option.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Bill
>>>> __________________________________________
>>>> Bill Sequeira, PHD - Principal
>>>> Axon Hillock - http://www.axonhillock.com/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 29, 2007, at 6:34 AM, riluttante wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> --- In SergeModular@yahoogroups.com, Bill Sequeira <bill@> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There is an (older) picture of my system in Kevin Lightner's site
>>>>>> under Serge Station
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.synthfool.com/sequeira.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Humble when compared to the Fist of God at its glorious peak.
>>>>>
>>>>> Looks great
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I designed the stand so that the system could function as a
>>>>>> studio
>>>>>> system that could be split into a portable 8-panel system in a
>>>>>> Zero
>>>>>> case if I wanted to travel with it.
>>>>>
>>>>> You probably never took the 8-panel system on an airplane though,
>>>>> right?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Since then the system has grown to a total of 16 panels, but
>>>>>> ended up
>>>>>> creating a mini-system out of a mod'ed animal/TKB, so now the
>>>>>> stand
>>>>>> is back to supporting 14-panels as in the picture.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Zero case system began its life as a 6-panel. The trick (per
>>>>>> Rex's design) was to use thick foam to go around and in-between
>>>>>> the 3-
>>>>>> panels per side, the foam being a bit wider than the actual case
>>>>>> (but
>>>>>> not much) in order to create mechanical tension on the panel
>>>>>> sides.
>>>>>
>>>>> Right, that's what he suggested to me too. He'd basically squeeze
>>>>> the panels in with foam
>>>>> on all sides, and have the power harness run below/beside the
>>>>> panels.
>>>>>
>>>>> He didn't want to fix the panels to the case directly using screws
>>>>> etc. because shocks to
>>>>> the case would mechanically transfer to the circuit boards that
>>>>> way, and presumably cause
>>>>> more damage than when the panels are simply held in place by
>>>>> blocks
>>>>> of foam.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When I upgraded to 8-panels I did away with the horizontal foam
>>>>>> between the modules and added a layer of non-slip rubber between
>>>>>> panels to both protect and create pressure to keep the panels in
>>>>>> tight.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mechanically it works OK as long as you are not attaching a
>>>>>> banana
>>>>>> cable to your truck's winch, although it is not quite as stable
>>>>>> as if
>>>>>> you were actually rackmounting the panels.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You do have to be careful with the distro cards - if you have too
>>>>>> many oscillator panels that have two connectors (instead of the
>>>>>> average one) you may require more than two distro cards - I was
>>>>>> lucky
>>>>>> and my configuration needed exactly two.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Can upload more pics if any one is interested.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you have a chance, I'd love to see some more detailed pics of
>>>>> the "travel" system and of
>>>>> how the panels were/are mounted inside the case.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>> Thomas
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bill
>>>>>> __________________________________________
>>>>>> Bill Sequeira, PHD - Principal
>>>>>> Axon Hillock - http://www.axonhillock.com/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jan 28, 2007, at 11:19 AM, darkstr1746@ wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm not understanding why you can't do four panels in a case
>>>>>>> like
>>>>>>> the one pictured at the link shown. I had a case like the one
>>>>>>> shown. . .hell, that might even be a picture of the system i
>>>>>>> had at
>>>>>>> one time. It was an elegant solution although six panels was a
>>>>>>> little heavy and not all that protable. Four panels in that
>>>>>>> style
>>>>>>> case should be just the thing. I'm also not understanding the
>>>>>>> depth
>>>>>>> problem unless your panels were not built with "transit" style
>>>>>>> chassis in which case your out of luck. Period. Three panels
>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>> fit into a popup Gator case with the wiring harness ( if your
>>>>>>> clever with mounting screws) but that doesn't solve your four
>>>>>>> panel
>>>>>>> problem. Keep searching for a Zero. . you'll find one sooner or
>>>>>>> later. . . much later. LOL
>>>>>>> kind regards
>>>>>>> john duval
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -------------- Original message --------------
>>>>>>> From: "riluttante" <riluttante@>
>>>>>>> http://home.att.net/~djaux/Image28.gif
>>>>>>> That's the only picture I know of too.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I spent a lot of time looking at Zero Halliburton specs and
>>>>>>> talking
>>>>>>> to Rex at STS about
>>>>>>> having my four-panel system mounted inside one of these cases.
>>>>>>> My idea was to put two panels in each half (like on the six-
>>>>>>> panel
>>>>>>> picture, which has three
>>>>>>> panels per half), but very few, if any, of these cases have
>>>>>>> halves
>>>>>>> (shells) of equal depth.
>>>>>>> My requirements were to fit the four panels in a case no larger
>>>>>>> than the IATA standards for
>>>>>>> airplane carry-on baggage. I expect to travel with my system
>>>>>>> regularly, and there's no way
>>>>>>> I'm checking it in. We couldn't find a case to fit four panels
>>>>>>> without being unnecessarily
>>>>>>> large though.
>>>>>>> I'd be curious to see what your friend comes up with. I still
>>>>>>> find
>>>>>>> these Zero Halliburton
>>>>>>> cases a very elegant solution.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thomas
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --- In SergeModular@yahoogroups.com, JB <ringmodulator@> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is this what you're after?
>>>>>>>> http://home.att.net/~djaux/Image28.gif
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 2007/1/25, Rick <echo7even@>:
>>>>>>>>> trying to help a friend figure this out.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> any pics would be helpful
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> thanks
>>>>>>>>> -r
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Keep on Patchin'!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Keep on Patchin'!
>>>>>
>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Keep on Patchin'!
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Bill Sequeira <bill@...>
>>> Date: January 29, 2007 6:39:25 PM PST
>>> To: SergeModular@yahoogroups.com
>>> Subject: Re: [SergeModular] Re: Looking for pics of serge mounted
>>> in Zero case
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you - will try to upload some more pics in a couple of days
>>> showing how the panels fit together and the side foam.
>>>
>>> I agree that fixing the panels to the case would create too much
>>> of a
>>> shock transfer risk.
>>>
>>> On the other hand, portable in the Serge worlds means "portable". I
>>> would never think of it as traveling with a briefcase. :-)
>>>
>>> Even my animoo/tkb combo is substantial once you add psu etc.
>>>
>>> I use a plain old canvas suitcase that is slightly bigger than the
>>> Zero when I need to move it, to prevent any unnecessary scratches.
>>>
>>> But if I was in a traveling band using the Serge, I would invest in
>>> an ATA case custom designed for the Zero - OR, have one custom
>>> designed to rack mount the panels. I love the look of the Zero so I
>>> did not entertain that option.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Bill
>>> __________________________________________
>>> Bill Sequeira, PHD - Principal
>>> Axon Hillock - http://www.axonhillock.com/
>>>
>>> On Jan 29, 2007, at 6:34 AM, riluttante wrote:
>>>
>>>> --- In SergeModular@yahoogroups.com, Bill Sequeira <bill@> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> There is an (older) picture of my system in Kevin Lightner's site
>>>>> under Serge Station
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.synthfool.com/sequeira.html
>>>>>
>>>>> Humble when compared to the Fist of God at its glorious peak.
>>>>
>>>> Looks great
>>>>>
>>>>> I designed the stand so that the system could function as a studio
>>>>> system that could be split into a portable 8-panel system in a
>>>>> Zero
>>>>> case if I wanted to travel with it.
>>>>
>>>> You probably never took the 8-panel system on an airplane though,
>>>> right?
>>>>>
>>>>> Since then the system has grown to a total of 16 panels, but
>>> ended up
>>>>> creating a mini-system out of a mod'ed animal/TKB, so now the
>>>>> stand
>>>>> is back to supporting 14-panels as in the picture.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Zero case system began its life as a 6-panel. The trick (per
>>>>> Rex's design) was to use thick foam to go around and in-between
>>>>> the 3-
>>>>> panels per side, the foam being a bit wider than the actual case
>>> (but
>>>>> not much) in order to create mechanical tension on the panel
>>>>> sides.
>>>>
>>>> Right, that's what he suggested to me too. He'd basically squeeze
>>>> the panels in with foam
>>>> on all sides, and have the power harness run below/beside the
>>> panels.
>>>>
>>>> He didn't want to fix the panels to the case directly using screws
>>>> etc. because shocks to
>>>> the case would mechanically transfer to the circuit boards that
>>>> way, and presumably cause
>>>> more damage than when the panels are simply held in place by blocks
>>>> of foam.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> When I upgraded to 8-panels I did away with the horizontal foam
>>>>> between the modules and added a layer of non-slip rubber between
>>>>> panels to both protect and create pressure to keep the panels in
>>>>> tight.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mechanically it works OK as long as you are not attaching a banana
>>>>> cable to your truck's winch, although it is not quite as stable
>>> as if
>>>>> you were actually rackmounting the panels.
>>>>>
>>>>> You do have to be careful with the distro cards - if you have too
>>>>> many oscillator panels that have two connectors (instead of the
>>>>> average one) you may require more than two distro cards - I was
>>> lucky
>>>>> and my configuration needed exactly two.
>>>>>
>>>>> Can upload more pics if any one is interested.
>>>>
>>>> If you have a chance, I'd love to see some more detailed pics of
>>>> the "travel" system and of
>>>> how the panels were/are mounted inside the case.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>> Thomas
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill
>>>>> __________________________________________
>>>>> Bill Sequeira, PHD - Principal
>>>>> Axon Hillock - http://www.axonhillock.com/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 28, 2007, at 11:19 AM, darkstr1746@ wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm not understanding why you can't do four panels in a case like
>>>>>> the one pictured at the link shown. I had a case like the one
>>>>>> shown. . .hell, that might even be a picture of the system i
>>> had at
>>>>>> one time. It was an elegant solution although six panels was a
>>>>>> little heavy and not all that protable. Four panels in that style
>>>>>> case should be just the thing. I'm also not understanding the
>>> depth
>>>>>> problem unless your panels were not built with "transit" style
>>>>>> chassis in which case your out of luck. Period. Three panels will
>>>>>> fit into a popup Gator case with the wiring harness ( if your
>>>>>> clever with mounting screws) but that doesn't solve your four
>>> panel
>>>>>> problem. Keep searching for a Zero. . you'll find one sooner or
>>>>>> later. . . much later. LOL
>>>>>> kind regards
>>>>>> john duval
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -------------- Original message --------------
>>>>>> From: "riluttante" <riluttante@>
>>>>>> http://home.att.net/~djaux/Image28.gif
>>>>>> That's the only picture I know of too.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I spent a lot of time looking at Zero Halliburton specs and
>>> talking
>>>>>> to Rex at STS about
>>>>>> having my four-panel system mounted inside one of these cases.
>>>>>> My idea was to put two panels in each half (like on the six-panel
>>>>>> picture, which has three
>>>>>> panels per half), but very few, if any, of these cases have
>>>>>> halves
>>>>>> (shells) of equal depth.
>>>>>> My requirements were to fit the four panels in a case no larger
>>>>>> than the IATA standards for
>>>>>> airplane carry-on baggage. I expect to travel with my system
>>>>>> regularly, and there's no way
>>>>>> I'm checking it in. We couldn't find a case to fit four panels
>>>>>> without being unnecessarily
>>>>>> large though.
>>>>>> I'd be curious to see what your friend comes up with. I still
>>>>>> find
>>>>>> these Zero Halliburton
>>>>>> cases a very elegant solution.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thomas
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --- In SergeModular@yahoogroups.com, JB <ringmodulator@> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Is this what you're after?
>>>>>>> http://home.att.net/~djaux/Image28.gif
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 2007/1/25, Rick <echo7even@>:
>>>>>>>> trying to help a friend figure this out.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> any pics would be helpful
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> thanks
>>>>>>>> -r
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Keep on Patchin'!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Keep on Patchin'!
>>>>
>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
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