MOTM

In a message dated 4/13/2000 6:38:17 PM, ceres@... writes:

> I *do* find the *dual* joystick to be a key feature - I
>got two hands, so why not (since both the designer and I are very much
>into
>Spacerock, there was a bit of discussion over whether he should make a
>model to accommodate users that have, say, four tentacles or five
>pseudopods or ...)?  If you *are* using a keyboard, I can see that it would
>make more sense to have two separate joysticks, one at each end of the
>keyboard.

Hi Doug,

Actually, I was thinking of yet another company! I have to admit the panel 
mounted joysitck on the old Synthi looks quite nice, but it's right there 
above the keys as well. It's not that I think a panel mounted one is useless 
(if only for the reasons you described), just that it might be more useful in 
a mobile box.

>>Thanks Ivan for the pics of the Catstick (what? they couldn't find room
>for a 
>>drink holder on that one?) and EML joysticks -- both look very powerful.
>Any 
>>idea what these did/do cost?


At $250, it doesn't seem that expensive, though I wouldn't pay that much for 
one. I like the idea of controlling VCAs with the stick so you could patch in 
other modules. I just thought they could have put a drink holder on it since 
they put everything else on it -- I was wondering why they didn't put a 
second joystick on it and leave off a few other things.

>I'll add my thanks, also.  They looked very cool, and I'll agree that an
>"official" MOTM joystick controller should include a drink holder (just
>the
>right size for a bottle of Three Stooges beer, of course, which I've seen
>here in California but haven't yet tried) ...


And where in CA does one go to find such an enlightened beverage may I ask?


In a message dated 4/13/2000 7:01:58 PM, alt_mode@... writes:

>There is allegedly a stack of Catsticks as New Old Stock someplace
>that the owner hasn't gotten around to digging out to sell.  Maybe this
>is turning
>into an Analog Legend...


I can see these turning up in the All Electronics catalog for $15 each to be 
used for parts scavenging.

>Regarding joystick placement, I'm strongly in favor of horizontally
>mounting/placement near the synth and/or controller.  The horizontal angle
>of
>orientation does not seem to be a problem.  I have used one that has the
>axis at a
>45 degree angle to the keyboard and I've had no problems feeling which
>way to push
>or pull to get the desired X/Y coordinate.  I think this would be much
>harder on a
>vertically mounted panel.


Yep! These might be nice as sort of a fine tune set and forget control.

JB