MOTM

I wrote this up on another site, thought it might be of interest here:

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I had pretty much decided to put together a Euro modular, but digging  
up pics and demos of my old MOTM synth made me a bit misty. I decided  
to make an apples-to-apples comparison of a similar MOTM and Euro  
modular. The system I designed had three oscillators, one with less  
features, two voltage-controlled LFOs, one SSM-based VCF, at least two  
envelopes and two VCAs.

The MOTM system ended up with two 300 oscillators, one 310 mini- 
Oscillator, a 390 dual LFO, a 440 VCF, a 190 dual VCA and two 800  
envelopes. This is very similar to the system I used to have. I priced  
out an assembled system, and estimated what a DIY system woud cost  
(using the same high-end components that SynthTech uses).

The Euro system had two Plan B model 15 VCOs, a Doepfer 110 standard  
VCO, two Doepfer 147 VC LFOs, a Doepfer 105 SSM filter, a 130 dual VCA  
and a 143-2 quad envelope.

I also put together a Frac system for comparison, using mostly MOTM  
components: two 1300 oscillators, one 1190 dual VCA and two 1800  
envelopes. I added Blacet modules: two mini LFOs and a Final Filter. I  
couldn't find a "mini" VCO to compare, so I threw in a MiniWave for  
the heck of it.

Here's what I came up with.

Cost:
MOTM Assembled: $2,532
MOTM DIY: $2,202
Frac: $1,883
Euro: $1,507

As expected, the Doepfer modules help in the cost category, coming in  
40% below assembled MOTM and 32% below DIY modules. One of the  
advantages of the Euro format is that you can combine low-cost Doepfer  
modules for less-critical components like LFO and Envelopes with  
higher-quality filters and oscillators. Frac comes in 25% less than  
assembled modules and 14% below DIY.

A more-fair comparison would put together the DIY MOTM modules with  
lower-quality pots and unsealed jacks like other modulars use, then  
the cost would be nearly the same. But the result wouldn't be a MOTM  
synth, would it?

Size:
MOTM: 19" x 8.75"
Euro: 20" x 6"

This was a surprise to me, I expected the MOTM to be much larger than  
the Euro system. However, the size of the MOTM format allows multiple  
functions to be combined into one while still leaving room for your  
fat little fingers. I didn't calculate the Frac size but expect it to  
be in the same ballpark.

Working on a full-size modular and a smaller size is a different  
experience as well. But there are other benefits to the MOTM standard  
as well, like all of the jacks on the bottom and knobs on top, that  
make it easier to work with.

Must-Have Modules:
MOTM: MOTM 440
Frac: Blacet MiniWave
Euro: Plan B Model 12, 15

This is very personal, of course. I tried to come up with modules that  
I wouldn't be able to get in other formats. Of course, there are MOTM  
panels for almost any module, including the MiniWave but not the Plan  
B (yet). Euro and Frac modules can be easily adapted for MOTM, but not  
the other way around.

DIY:
MOTM: lots
Frac: some
Euro: not

There's a big DIY community for MOTM format modules, including  
Bridechamber panels, several websites dedicated to converting and  
designing modules, and even minimal kits from Synthtech. There's a  
much smaller amount of this for Frac and almost nothing for Euro  
(though I haven't researched this as much). DIY is a great way to get  
more for less, as the components are not that difficult to put  
together, and you get a system that you literally built yourself.

Conclusion:
It looks like I'm trying to talk myself into a MOTM system again.  
Ironically, my 1/8" cables arrived yesterday. It looks like I might be  
putting them on the for sale board....
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