MOTM

The noisiest module in my setup is the lamination buzz of one of my 
power supply transformers.  Drives me nuts so I just have to turn my 
synth up louder.  I run my supplies lightly loaded, with one power 
supply per cabinet.  My cabinets are 24U.  Each cabinet has one power 
supply in the center and a MOTM-960 distribution board on each side so 
I can use the shorter power cables. Each power supply is loaded 
somewhere between 40% and 60% of maximum rated current.  I did have 
turn-on issues with a couple of the power supplies where they would 
crowbar with the capacitive loading and so I sequence each of the 
MOTM-960 distribution boards so I am only powering on half the modules 
at a time.

Filters and amps are all quiet.  I detect no noise related to my UEG 
and that power supply is at 40% load.  I do have just a bit of hum in 
my spring reverb since I can't get quite enough distance between the 
transformer and my reverb tank - makes it sound authentic!

Everything in my synth setup runs off of one AC outlet.  I do have a 
ground isolation box that I use when routing audio to my studio gear. 
It is needed with some gear, and other gear is OK without it.

I'd suggest (if easy) pulling a number of power cables, and connecting 
them back in small groups to see when your noise returns.  I know I 
had to do this with my studio gear.  Turns out the noise generator was 
one of my AC protection power strips.  I also found that if I run the 
backlight of my computer LCD screen at less than 100% it puts a 
horrible buzz in my audio.  That took a long time to find.

Dave


--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, michael stein <michael_david_stein@...> 
wrote:
>
> Dave wrote: "I'm running five power supplies so I did try to keep 
the filters and 
> vcos on a single supply without any other modules that could 
> generate noise or current variations (as in blinking leds)."
>    
>   I would like a little more info on this. I have noisey amps and 
filters. Another problem I have that someone may know how to 
troubleshoot is that my Encore UEG's create little tick noises as they 
advance from stage to stage. I have 2 and they both do it.  This could 
be from the noisey amps but I think I remember it happening without 
the amps in the signal flow, any ideas?
>   Thanks,
>   -michael-
>    
>    
>    
>    
>    
>   
> 
> 
> djbrow54 <davebr@...> wrote:
>   My layout reminds me of the Smithsonian. I had a great 
organization 
> and then I outgrew my structure and have expanded into two overflow 
> buildings.
> 
> I started with oscillators grouped together on the left in the 
> middle cabinet and filters on the right in the middle cabinet. The 
> lower cabinet was for my control and modulation sources so keyboard, 
> envelope generators, lfos, etc. The top right cabinet I reserved 
> for +5 modules (since that's where the triple supply is) and my more 
> complex modules so ribbon, MIDI-CV, Miniwave, TimeMachine, etc. I 
> also put my VCAs so they'd be close to my filters.
> 
> Then the order ended. I had my analog interfaces on the left to be 
> close to the reel-reel which is now on the right. My overflow 
> cabinet has filters, lfos, controllers, preamps, and mixers. I did 
> put both of my programmable controllers in one case on a dedicated 
> power supply.
> 
> I found with my cabinets that the physical aspect of the module had 
> a lot to do with placement. My spring reverb needed to be on a side 
> so the reverb tank was as far away from the power supply as 
> possible. My deeper modules needed to be in specific locations to 
> avoid the power supply and power distribution boards. The short 
> modules needed to be in front of the power supply. +5 modules need 
> to be in the cabinet with the triple power supply.
> 
> In retrospect, the only thing that made patching easier was to group 
> the modules that tend to have dedicated interconnects. The envelope 
> generators all need triggers and gates. The filters and vcos all 
> need 1v/oct CVs so I put multiples in the centers of these module 
> groupings.
> 
> I tended to move modules around to try and keep a logical order but 
> eventually decided this was too much work for too little gain. I 
> did replace all the screws with 5/16" and plastic washers to not 
> mark up the panel faces.
> 
> I'm running five power supplies so I did try to keep the filters and 
> vcos on a single supply without any other modules that could 
> generate noise or current variations (as in blinking leds).
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
> --- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "wjhall11" wrote:
> >
> > All - we want to develop a page on our site to present 
> philosophies 
> of
> > synth layout. We want to present your expert thoughts on the 
> subject
> > (and thus also benefit from them ). So - for instance - when 
> you
> > put your modules into your synth cases, what do you group together 
> and
> > why? Do you put your Oscillators at the top, filters below? Why? 
> > What have you found to be most intuitive / ergonomic? Can you 
> point
> > us to publications on the subject that have influenced you? Thank 
> you
> > all. Bill and Will
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>        
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