MOTM

To John Barlow and others that have been following a concept that John and
I have been kicking around for a horizontal multiple panel to go in the
case style MOTM:

I have been giving this matter much thought and consideration and have come
up with a plan and the material to make the plan work.

The plan is to have a horizontal multiple as wide as the case to go
directly below each row of MOTM modules. Well of course, the whole thing
is user definable, so one below each row, or every other row, or whatever
makes you smile. However, the idea is for the multiples to be distributed
(or could be grouped) along this horizontal rail so that you could have
multiples close to each MOTM module instead of all together on one standard
1U MOTM panel. These jacks on this horizontal row could also be used to
provide jumps from one side of the panel to another lessening the mess of
longer cords that might be needed for a system 21 to 26 units wide as being
planned by John and Dave. My own case plans are currently looking like 23
units wide. These multiples might not do away for your need to have
standard 1U MOTM multiples, but they would certainly add to your
flexibility.

The objective is to accomplish this task so that it is very functional and
looks good too. And of course, something not too damn expensive would be
cool too. As I thought about this horizontal row, I came to four
conclusions:

1 - It should take up the least amount of real estate possible
(and stay with standard MOTM spacing).
2 - One row of jacks across each row of a large system is plenty.
Two rows would be excessive and expensive. If you have only
one row of jacks and take little real estate, it makes it easy to
justify one horizontal multiple under each row in the case.
3 - It needs to be sturdy and worthy to reside with MOTM gear.
4 - It needs to look good.

I found at the hardware store some aluminum channel called "trim channel
for 3/4" plywood." This stuff is not quite 1/8" thick, but it is very
sturdy
because of the two bends along the entire length. It comes 4 foot and
8 foot long. The 4 foot piece was $3. Imagine a square U shape if you
were looking at the end. Across the outside of the face they are 7/8
inches wide. That is 1/2 a rack space (just by luck). So, in 11 unit
spaces (tall) in your MOTM case, you can have 2 rows of modules and two
horizontal multiples (one under each row of modules). If you are using
rack rails (like John) you could bolt one of your rack rails directly to
the side of this channel, adding to the strength of both.

The front format drilling would be a duplication of MOTM spacing. There
would be two 1/4 jacks per 1U space. So, John's 21 unit wide case would
have 42 jacks on his multiple. The grouping or distribution of groups
would be what suited his system best. However, you can see how a multiple
would be in easy reach of any module. So, if you can imagine how this
might look, it would look like each MOTM modules 1/4 jack row along the
bottom of the panel had one more row of jacks directly below with identical
spacing.

I hope I have painted a good visual picture. Obviously, this will not be a
real picture until I get my case. However, I will try to make photos of
the rail available next time I get a row developed.

Speaking of paint.... The only thing that I cannot do that would make
these "MOTM perfect" is that lovely paint finish. Maybe I can:

1 - get the paint specs from Paul and have a local painter paint it
2 - send these to Paul's painter if he would agree to such a small run
3 - talk nice to Paul and see if he can get his painter to paint them.
HAHA

Crazy Larry (and his magic bus)

The MOTM panel paint is *very common* for industrial paint shops.

It's Sherwin-Williams "Polane". This is a sprayed polyurathane. The same
paint is applied for the 'smooth' side (backs) and the 'fine textured' side
(fronts).
Different nozzles are used.

So, if you say "I need black SW Polane in a fine texture" that should be
sufficient.

Paul S.
(the paint is pronounced "pole-lane")

Thanks Paul.

----------

> From: Paul Schreiber <synth1@...>
> To: motm@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [motm] Horizontal format multiple / Larry's magic bus
> Date: Sunday, September 19, 1999 11:21 PM
>
> From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...>
>
> The MOTM panel paint is *very common* for industrial paint shops.
>
> It's Sherwin-Williams "Polane". This is a sprayed polyurathane. The same
> paint is applied for the 'smooth' side (backs) and the 'fine textured'

side

> (fronts).
> Different nozzles are used.
>
> So, if you say "I need black SW Polane in a fine texture" that should be
> sufficient.
>
> Paul S.
> (the paint is pronounced "pole-lane")

Hi Larry,

This sounds great. I agree with all your points, and while I had been
thinking of a two jack row strip, I think you are right in that it's just too
expensive and with one row (and say 7 different multiples), the jack one
needed would never be more than about 3&1/2" away. I'll have to look for the
"U" channel that you mention.

Keep us posted!
JB

Larry's message (heavily edited) below:

In a message dated 9/19/99 8:59:26 PM, jlarryh@... writes:

>To John Barlow and others that have been following a concept that John
>and
>I have been kicking around for a horizontal multiple panel to go in the
>case style MOTM:

>The objective is to accomplish this task so that it is very functional
>and
>looks good too. And of course, something not too damn expensive would
>be
>cool too. As I thought about this horizontal row, I came to four
>conclusions:

>1 - It should take up the least amount of real estate possible
> (and stay with standard MOTM spacing).
>2 - One row of jacks across each row of a large system is plenty.
> Two rows would be excessive and expensive. If you have only
> one row of jacks and take little real estate, it makes it easy to
> justify one horizontal multiple under each row in the case.
>3 - It needs to be sturdy and worthy to reside with MOTM gear.
>4 - It needs to look good.

>I found at the hardware store some aluminum channel called "trim channel
>for 3/4" plywood." This stuff is not quite 1/8" thick, but it is very
>sturdy
>because of the two bends along the entire length. It comes 4 foot and
>8 foot long. The 4 foot piece was $3. Imagine a square U shape if you
>were looking at the end. Across the outside of the face they are 7/8
>inches wide. That is 1/2 a rack space (just by luck). So, in 11 unit
>spaces (tall) in your MOTM case, you can have 2 rows of modules and two
>horizontal multiples (one under each row of modules). If you are using
>rack rails (like John) you could bolt one of your rack rails directly to
>the side of this channel, adding to the strength of both.

>The front format drilling would be a duplication of MOTM spacing. There
>would be two 1/4 jacks per 1U space. So, John's 21 unit wide case would
>have 42 jacks on his multiple. The grouping or distribution of groups
>would be what suited his system best. However, you can see how a multiple
>would be in easy reach of any module. So, if you can imagine how this
>might look, it would look like each MOTM modules 1/4 jack row along the
>bottom of the panel had one more row of jacks directly below with identical
>spacing.

>I hope I have painted a good visual picture. Obviously, this will not
>be a
>real picture until I get my case. However, I will try to make photos of
>the rail available next time I get a row developed.

> From: JWBarlow@...
>
> This sounds great. I agree with all your points, and while I had been
> thinking of a two jack row strip, I think you are right in that it's just

too

> expensive and with one row (and say 7 different multiples), the jack one
> needed would never be more than about 3&1/2" away. I'll have to look for

the

> "U" channel that you mention.

Well John, it just ended up being a decisions based simply on the numbers
and common sense. While a two row rack strip could be considered for a 19"
rack system, it would be absurd for a system as wide as the "Moog-style"
wooden cases we have been discussing. Some might argue that even with one
row, the number of jacks is still excessive. I cannot really see that many
multiples being needed. However, this project is more about having those
multiples in a handy location, which does suggest that one might end up
with a few more than he really needs.

The number really starts to sound more reasonable if you compare it to a
MOTM system two rows high and 22 or so module-units wide. A single 1U
multiple panel with standard MOTM spacing would yield 20 jacks (5 multiples
of 4 each for example) If you had one of those in each row you would have
40 jacks. If you compared that to a MOTM system two rows high with ONE of
the horizontal multiples I suggested between the MOTM rows you see that the
number of jacks is similar (44 compared to 40). However, the horizontal
multiple in this example actually contacts the physical edge of every
single MOTM module in the system.

Other thoughts and ideas?

Larry H

In a message dated 9/20/99 11:36:46 PM, jlarryh@... writes:

>Some might argue that even with one
>row, the number of jacks is still excessive. I cannot really see that
>many
>multiples being needed. However, this project is more about having those
>multiples in a handy location, which does suggest that one might end up
>with a few more than he really needs.

I find I often need to patch a single CV to 5 or more inputs (especially
keyboard or keyboard pressure, and gate and trigger outputs), so I would urge
you not to underestimate the need for multiples. I would suggest that it's
better to have unused multiples than to have too few.

That's why I agree with you comments below.

Keep up the thinkin!
JB

>The number really starts to sound more reasonable if you compare it to
>a
>MOTM system two rows high and 22 or so module-units wide. A single 1U
>multiple panel with standard MOTM spacing would yield 20 jacks (5 multiples
>of 4 each for example) If you had one of those in each row you would have
>40 jacks. If you compared that to a MOTM system two rows high with ONE
>of
>the horizontal multiples I suggested between the MOTM rows you see that
>the
>number of jacks is similar (44 compared to 40). However, the horizontal
>multiple in this example actually contacts the physical edge of every
>single MOTM module in the system.

> From: JWBarlow@...
> I find I often need to patch a single CV to 5 or more inputs (especially
> keyboard or keyboard pressure, and gate and trigger outputs), so I would

urge

> you not to underestimate the need for multiples. I would suggest that

it's

> better to have unused multiples than to have too few.

I appreciate these kind of comments John. All the "thinnin" in the world
still leaves me without the benefit of much modular experience. So,
hearing from you guys that have some is always something I enjoy.

I still have some investigation to do about the paint finish and such
(thanks for the info Paul) and need to jig up my drill so I can get 40 plus
holes all in a perfectly straight line with the correct spacing. However,
once I get over those humps, I am ready to start construction of the metal
parts of my wood case. This will essentially involve the drilling of my
1/2 rack space horizontal multiple, and the attachment of rack rails to the
channel. Once I get that done, I will be taking my wood plans to a friend
at work who does cabinet work on the side. Yes, I could do all the wood
work. But, if I have him make the cabinets, they will be better quality
and he will benefit too. Besides, I have 14 other unfinished projects that
demand my time. I am leaning toward bolting the steel rails and aluminum
together, but I am still thinking about pop rivets too.

I have decided on the number of cabinets and size in case anyone has even
the slightest interest. If not, use the delete key liberally when you see
my posts, cuss me for using so much bandwidth, and move on.

My modular will be divided into 4 cabinets. There will be two base
cabinets that will be 5 units high of standard 19" rack stuff. These
cabinets will sit side-by-side so that the other cabinets will stack on
top. Besides the standard 5 unit rails, these cabinets will have 1/2 space
strips running vertical at each side (same stuff as used for the horizontal
multiples). The strips can be used for multiples, or to make front
accessible the ever common rear jack on 19" rack gear. I chose 5 space so
that I could have up to 10 spaces of standard rack gear. If I only have 5,
I can use Paul's rack rails to put 10 units of MOTM stuff in one of the
cabinets. These two cabinets, side by side will be exactly the same width
as my other wide MOTM cabinets. I decided to build them as 2 standard 19
inch units as I will probably have some gear in them that may go to gigs
that will not included the MOTM modular (digital effects, EQ, vocoder, ??)

The next cabinet up will be the two MOTM row slant front (moogish) main
cabinet. It will be 24 1/2 units wide and 10 1/2 or 11 rack units tall. I
have two things yet to decide about this cabinet:
1 - 101/2 or 11 units tall ?? OR read, "Do I want a horizontal multiple
under EACH row of modules, or just one in between?"
2 - where do I want my 1/2 wide space. This 1/2 wide space will be the now
famous "U" channel, and I need the 1/2 space to make all my measurements
come out like I want them. I will use it for additional multiples, or
other modifications, switches, and other stuff with no other real place to
call home. This might be a real good spot to tie multiples from row to row
up and down. So, where ever I put them, they will be in the same place in
each MOTM module row. I have two location options selected 1- dead center
with 12 units on either side, 2-far right, with all 24 units to the left.
The dead center has the advantage of very handy, but the disadvantage of
messing up a module arrangement that might naturally have a two-unit MOTM
module riding that gap. The far right has the advantage of out of the way
for many up/down transversing cables but could cause patches to be slightly
longer and is somewhat out of the way. It is also not as handy to the left
bottom 19" case. I am, however, stuck on the 24 1/2 unit wide. So, this
cabinet will have room for 24 two-wide MOTM modules (48 units).

The final (nothing is really final) cabinet will be the typical Moogish top
cabinet. Not as deep (matching the depth of the top of the slant back
cabinet. It will be exactly the same in width dimensions as the two row
cabinet beneath. However, it will only be 5 1/2 units tall. That equals
one row of MOTM 24 units wide and one horizontal 1/2 space multiple.

If I ever outgrow the cabinets above, one more top cabinet could be added
for 24 more units wide without being too absurdly tall. However, I am
willing to bet I can get by with 72 MOTM units (single units) of width.
However, that depends on how long Paul keeps cranking out new stuff to buy.
HAHA.

OK, I have probably bored at least 98% of you to tears, so I will shut up
on this subject. Anyone wanting any specific information or progress
reports, please e-mail me privately.

Larry (stooge-ish) (rhymes with Moog-ish) Hendry