MOTM

This message is targetted mainly to newcomers to the MOTM world.  I'm an 
experienced synth builder, having actually been paid to build audio and 
video synthesizers way back in the late seventies.  I built my own first 
modular about 1980, based mostly on Electronotes designs.  A couple of 
years ago I was browsing the net and discovered the Synth Tech site (I 
think it was from a link on the Electronotes site).  I started looking 
at a lot of stuff besides MOTM:  Blacet, Oakley, Cat Girl Synth, 
Cynthia, Encore, Synthesizers.com, and others.  I decided to build 
another synth, just for fun.  I chose MOTM first for two main reasons:  
the obvious quality, and the kits.  I love designing and building 
stuff.  As it turns out, I soon will have completed a relatively big 
synth (82U of modules) out of MOTM, Blacet, Oakley, CGS, Cynthia, and 
some of my own module designs.  (Some day I may get around to putting 
pictures and descriptions of it all on my website.)  Here's what I have 
learned about module kit difficulty.

MOTM kits are the easiest way to build a really fine module.  With Paul 
Schreiber's detailed instructions, prepared wires, and great panels and 
brackets, assembling a MOTM kit is a breeze, no matter what the MOTM 
difficulty level.  That level is related mostly to the number and 
density of parts.  To me, all MOTM kits are about the same level of 
difficulty.  The bigger ones just take a bit more time.  I recently 
built a 510 Wavewarper in under 4 hours total, without hurrying (much).

The next easiest kits are Blacet.  These don't come with as detailed 
instructions or prepared wires.  (Larry Hendry's nice, detailed Blacet 
assembly instructions are a boon.)  I put all my Blacet modules into 
MOTM panels, either Stooge or Front Panel Express, which is more work 
than a standard Blacet kit.  A nice thing about the Blacet kits is 
getting the board and all the parts together.  The instructions and 
circuit explanations are good, too.  Stooge brackets are your friend!

Cynthia modules (the board-only versions you want for MOTM conversion) 
come as assemble PC boards.  So you only have to wire up a panel.  You 
do have to come up with a panel, though, plus mounting the board to a 
Stooge bracket or something.

Next on the difficulty list are modules built from PC boards obtained 
from Oakley Music Systems or Cat Girl Synth (or Tellun Corp -- e.g. 
Veeblefetzer).  For this type of project you have to buy all of the 
parts yourself, as well as coming up with a panel.  It is a bit of work 
to tally up all the parts needed for several modules and make a bulk 
order to Digikey or Mouser.  Oakley can supply some of the harder to get 
parts, as well as assembled boards, but I like to buy most of my own 
parts for these projects.

The most difficult projects are the completely one-off prototypes.  I 
recently built my own version of a Wiard Wogglebug, based on ideas from 
the Standard Woggle Circuit published by Grant Richter.  This went on a 
MOTM protoboard, using every square inch of space.  I spent two whole 
days just soldering the 12 IC sockets and related components onto the 
board, making it all fit.  Then a third day was spent wiring this to a 
Front Panel Express panel and testing it out.  It was certainly a 
difficult project in terms of sheer assembly effort.  I'd have to say 
that the second most difficult was my crazy project of jamming two Oakey 
Sample & Hold modules plus the MOTM-101 board behind a single 2U panel.  
For that I actually had to cut the MOTM-101 circuit board.

I think that if  I ever expand to another cabinet (yes, Larry, you can 
snicker away), I will stick to MOTM, Blacet, Oakley, CGS, and Cynthia 
kit/DIY modules.  I like them all.  But my main point is that MOTM 
offers one of the easiest ways to build a high-quality synth from kits.  
Have no fear.  You can do it!  All you really have to know is how to solder.

-Richard Brewster