MOTM

I am not thrilled about having the power supply cord coming out of the 
front of my MOTM system.  So I will probably mount the power supply in the 
rear of a cabinet too.  It would be neat if I could turn the system on from 
the front of the cabinet, however.  How about a little 1U module with some 
power switches (lit) that can be put in series with the power switch on the 
power supply.  Then the rear switch can be left thrown on and the front 
panel will control power ON and OFF.  There could be more than one switch 
for powering multiple power supplies for those really big systems.

Silly idea:  it would be cool if the power supply module could be redone 
with the plug coming from the back.  Then there could be several LED's that 
would show current being drawn by various modules.  They would glow dimly 
or brightly depending on current drawn.  Totally useless, but fascinating 
to watch.  Ha!

Fred

> Silly idea:  it would be cool if the power supply module could be redone 
> with the plug coming from the back.  Then there could be several LED's that 
> would show current being drawn by various modules.  They would glow dimly 
> or brightly depending on current drawn.  Totally useless, but fascinating 
> to watch.  Ha!

Oh wow.  I love this idea.  Even better than brightly lit volt- and
ammeters.  The only thing that would outdo this is if the LFO had a
nixie-tube display that counted cycles.

Chris Jeris

Christopher Jeris (05:32 PM 10/20/1999) wrote:

 >Oh wow.  I love this idea.  Even better than brightly lit volt- and
 >ammeters.  The only thing that would outdo this is if the LFO had a
 >nixie-tube display that counted cycles.

Nah...

Find an old (*old*!) front panel from an Altair 8080 and rig a BCD counter 
to show VCO freq in binary.

:)


Mark

>  >Oh wow.  I love this idea.  Even better than brightly lit volt- and
>  >ammeters.  The only thing that would outdo this is if the LFO had a
>  >nixie-tube display that counted cycles.
> 
> Nah...
> 
> Find an old (*old*!) front panel from an Altair 8080 and rig a BCD counter 
> to show VCO freq in binary.

I was thinking more of the old accelerator equipment I saw on a
junior-high-school tour of Fermilab ... all these continuously running
particle counters where the low-order three or four digits were just a
blur.  You know, like you can't reset it, the counter just shows the
number of LFO cycles since you first built the instrument.  :)

I've never seen an Altair.  Wasn't that something like the last "obscure
hobbyist" computer before the age of Apple/Commodore/etc ?  (showing my
youth, I know)

Chris

I supposed when I'm *really bored* designed audio modules, I'll design
the Dave Bradley Memorial LiteBank.

BTW: I went to McDonalds last night (drive thru). THey had this massive
color plasma display embedding in the sign! As you ordered, it popped out a
picture of each item,
with a seperate + running total. Pretty cool. And, the Exxon station has TFT
displays in the gas pumps
and they show "infomercials" as you stand there pumping gas.

Paul S.
Mr Display

Christopher Jeris (05:42 PM 10/20/1999) wrote:

 >I've never seen an Altair.  Wasn't that something like the last "obscure
 >hobbyist" computer before the age of Apple/Commodore/etc ?  (showing my
 >youth, I know)

Yes my son, come closer and I will tell you the tales... :)

The 8800 (I typo'd before as "8080") was done in 1974.

Quickie era info:

   http://exo.com/~wts/wts10005.HTM


Misc Altair info:

   http://exo.com/~wts/mits0001.HTM


The Virtual Altair Museum:

   http://www.ncsc.dni.us/fun/user/tcc/cmuseum/altair.htm

   "Eeets so beeUteefull!"


Mark

Fred,
	See the attached photos of the L. Hendry MOTM power supply switch panel. 
I made this from a standard 2 unit blank I got from Paul.  Both the switch
and meters are lighted.

Larry (I got that cool looking power switch panel already) Hendry


> From: Fred Becker <mach25@...>
> It would be neat if I could turn the system on from 
> the front of the cabinet, however.  How about a little 1U module with
some 
> power switches (lit) that can be put in series with the power switch on
the 
> power supply.

Hey Larry,

Great minds think alike (or sorta alike anyway).  But I still like the 
silly idea about the LED's pulsing with the module currents.  How about it 
Paul, going to make that one of your utility modules?  I heard Doep..... 
makes em.  It can be called the:

Multi-Phasic Power Module  (Just watched Voyager.  Ha!)

Fred

>>Great minds think alike (or sorta alike anyway).  But I still like the
>>silly idea about the LED's pulsing with the module currents.  How about it
>>Paul, going to make that one of your utility modules?  I heard Doep.....
>>makes em.  It can be called the:


>Don't hold your breath.
>
>Paul S.


As I recall, one of the first things Paul told me was "I don't like flashing
LED's"


jmw

Don't hold your breath.

Paul S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Becker <mach25@...>
To: motm@onelist.com <motm@onelist.com>
Date: Thursday, October 21, 1999 3:16 AM

Subject: Re: [motm] Power Supply Mounting


>From: Fred Becker <mach25@...>
>
>Hey Larry,
>
>Great minds think alike (or sorta alike anyway).  But I still like the
>silly idea about the LED's pulsing with the module currents.  How about it
>Paul, going to make that one of your utility modules?  I heard Doep.....
>makes em.  It can be called the:
>
>Multi-Phasic Power Module  (Just watched Voyager.  Ha!)
>
>Fred
>
>>

He mentioned that to me, too, the first time I talked to him.

Before talking to Paul, I was thinking that I would build this huge modular
with all sorts of LEDs all over it (I was going to replace common red ones
with blue because I think they look cool, even though they're $5 a piece and
draw more power). But after Paul explained that the LEDs draw so much
current and can create noise in the power lines, I'm on an "LED=BAD!" kick.

Of course I trust that whenever Paul puts a blinky light on a module that
its purpose is not only just, but that it has been executed correctly.


		-----Original Message-----

		As I recall, one of the first things Paul told me was "I
don't like flashing
		LED's"
		jmw

>
>
>As I recall, one of the first things Paul told me was "I don't like
flashing
>LED's"
>
>

I like them fine: the VCOs don't! Ask any ASM-1 owner about "leaking"
currents
sneaking into VCOs (and VCAs).

I like LEDs when they convey useful information. The '100, the '700 and the
'320
all have them.

Having a modular that looks like the computer in "Voyage To The Bottom of
the Sea"
TV show (for folks 40+) is not the MOTM "look". A Moog modular has *zero*
LEDs (the sequencer
has 24V lamps!). I got them beat!

Paul S.
LEDs in moderation

>I like them fine: the VCOs don't! Ask any ASM-1 owner about "leaking"
>currents sneaking into VCOs (and VCAs).

I stand corrected - I do remember you mentioning the VCO thing.


jmw

J. Larry Hendry (12:52 AM 10/21/1999) wrote:

 >See the attached photos of the L. Hendry MOTM power supply switch panel.
 >I made this from a standard 2 unit blank I got from Paul.  Both the switch
 >and meters are lighted.
 >
 >Larry (I got that cool looking power switch panel already) Hendry

Knife Switches Rule!


Mark

> Great minds think alike (or sorta alike anyway).  But I still like the 
> silly idea about the LED's pulsing with the module currents.
> 
> Fred

Hey! A great analog synth deserves an analog meter.
Just my $.02
Larry

In a message dated 10/21/99 5:46:51 AM, synth1@... writes:

>Having a modular that looks like the computer in "Voyage To The Bottom
>of
>the Sea"
>TV show (for folks 40+) is not the MOTM "look". A Moog modular has *zero*
>LEDs (the sequencer
>has 24V lamps!). I got them beat!

Boy! First he bugs me about banana jacks, then he derides Strats (making me 
wonder if he's actually from Texas), and now Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. 
Do I need to bring up the D word again!!!?

I want my modular setup to look very reminiscent of the Seaview's Control 
Room -- but without all the fireworks!
John "Admiral Nelson" Barlow
But of course your right about that computer. All those bulbs were just job 
security for Kowalski and Patterson.

I suppose the analog power meters are nice, but I never liked them.  I like 
those LED bars better for that.  Pure taste.  That is why modulars are so 
fun.  Everyone can express their desires and customize things.  As for 
LED's leaking current and messing with the signals, or drawing excessive 
current, I learn something every day.  I suppose the obvious fix is to put 
all LED's on a separate power supply, creating a huge cluge.  That, or some 
other clever design to isolate them from critical circuits.  Of course if 
you don't like LED's in the first place there is no reason to.  I'm 
outvoted on that it seems.  My solution:  I plan to drill myriad tiny holes 
and run red Christmas lights through all my modules.  Ha!

I suppose my inspiration for my LED wish is my experience with two Roland 
SPH-323 Phase Shifters.  I have two because each one is mono.  These 
feature LED's by the power switches and two LED's for giving an indication 
of the phase sweep.  It was always fun to watch the lights moving and it 
helped me decide when to play certain phrases.  My Korg MS-20's also have 
LED's for various things.  My Synergy too is dominated by LED's.  So that 
is why I generally like LED's.

Fred

Rumor has it I'm hard to live with, too.

Paul S.
Born: Beaumont, TX
Raised: Spring, TX
Currently In: Ft. Worth, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: JWBarlow@... <JWBarlow@...>
To: motm@onelist.com <motm@onelist.com>
Date: Thursday, October 21, 1999 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: [motm] Power Supply Mounting


>From: JWBarlow@...
>
>
>In a message dated 10/21/99 5:46:51 AM, synth1@... writes:
>
>>Having a modular that looks like the computer in "Voyage To The Bottom
>>of
>>the Sea"
>>TV show (for folks 40+) is not the MOTM "look". A Moog modular has *zero*
>>LEDs (the sequencer
>>has 24V lamps!). I got them beat!
>
>Boy! First he bugs me about banana jacks, then he derides Strats (making me
>wonder if he's actually from Texas), and now Voyage to the Bottom of the
Sea.

>Do I need to bring up the D word again!!!?
>
>I want my modular setup to look very reminiscent of the Seaview's Control
>Room -- but without all the fireworks!
>John "Admiral Nelson" Barlow
>But of course your right about that computer. All those bulbs were just job
>security for Kowalski and Patterson.
>
>>

On Thu, 21 Oct 1999, Paul Schreiber wrote:
> From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...>
> 
> Rumor has it I'm hard to live with, too.
> 
> Paul S.
Dude, here's your problem ---> Born: Beaumont, TX
> Raised: Spring, TX
> Currently In: Ft. Worth, TX

:-)

Raised: Houston, TX
Currently In: Austin, TX (where you can get shot for talking bad about
strats)

Dan Higdon (hdan@...)