MOTM

Well ok  - since I'm the only guy on this list now, I'll just post 
stuff, then I'll read it a few hours later - to see whats new :)

I received a large parts order yesterday of LEDs.  I finally had to 
get some RGBs, blues, oranges, and aquas, etc...As I'm doing the 
Tellun Corp mod for the MOTM-800s (3 of them). amoung some other 
secret projects - 

I've found that the aqua leds make great 'envelope' indicators as 
they really change color depending on current applied.  They go from 
a sorta blue to green and look great for this application!   just an 
FYI for all ya little light fanatics out there.  I know there are a 
few!!!

Also, I'm putting in an RGB for the random out on the S/H motm 
module - it changes color, obviously dependent upon the random 
voltage present - another neat little light show.

These RGBs are also great for getting any particualr color then 
just 'locking it in' at that value.  Really nice purples, etc...

Well, I know there are some quite against the LED thing at all - but 
I just cannot noodle around with a big old modular without 
some "visual entertainment" also !!  and actually they do provide a 
functional aspect too - its not ALL for the bells and whistles 
thing...really - 

Lastly - and I hope not to start this thread up again but: awhile 
back the heated 'blue led' debate seems to rest upon the fact that 
they're too bright and tend to blind you!  This is not good.  While I 
cannot find a blue LED that does NOT have a clear lense - I've found 
that dipping it in acetone or some such evil chemical (I thingk I 
used MEK), can give you a frosted effect which tones down the 
piercing nature of these little buggers.  and then just series 
resistance the thing to tone down the brightness if need be - for 
whatever its worth... 

I'll be reading this in a few hours just to see whats been posted - 
laughs.

Best to all,

Rog

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Roger Rossen <mididood@...>
> Well ok  - since I'm the only guy on this list now, I'll just post stuff,
then I'll read it a few hours later - to see whats new :)

I'm here Roger !!.  I just busy trying to sort out cables, and cabinet
orders.  Also, I have spent the last 3 weeks building modules and doing
conversions for my "own" synth.  I got way too far behind while supplying
parts and my own synth was not getting built.  I completely filled up a 24U
wide row in my cabinet with new stuff I built.  I've been a building fool
here recently

> I received a large parts order yesterday of LEDs.  I finally had to get
some RGBs, blues, oranges, and aquas, etc...

Sick sick.  Roger, you have a sick mind. :) <snicker>

> Lastly - and I hope not to start this thread up again but: awhile back the
heated 'blue led' debate seems to rest upon the fact that they're too bright
and tend to blind you!  This is not good.  While I cannot find a blue LED
that does NOT have a clear lense - I've found that dipping it in acetone or
some such evil chemical (I thingk I used MEK), can give you a frosted effect
which tones down the piercing nature of these little buggers.

Cool idea.  I have not used any yet.  But, I was thinking about getting some
of the T1 size for indications for the voltage control select of the PROM in
my miniwave.  I wonder if buffing them with very fine sand paper might do
the same.  I've got some emery cloth I use for cleaning copper joints when
sweat soldering plumbing.

Since you are into visuals, here is something to think about.  I want to
creat a lighting system for use with my MOTM so that I have enough light to
use the synth in an othewise completely dark environment.  I am seriously
considering custom made fixtures that attach to my cabinets with cold
cathode tubes.  I got a couple of them to play with.  The blue ones are
extremely cool.  Anyone else mess with these much for lighting?

Larry

>Lastly - and I hope not to start this thread up again but: awhile
>back the heated 'blue led' debate seems to rest upon the fact that
>they're too bright and tend to blind you!  This is not good.  While I
>cannot find a blue LED that does NOT have a clear lense - I've found
>that dipping it in acetone or some such evil chemical (I thingk I
>used MEK), can give you a frosted effect which tones down the
>piercing nature of these little buggers.  and then just series
>resistance the thing to tone down the brightness if need be - for
>whatever its worth...

I seem to remember someone telling me that a company was going to 
make lower intensity blue leds. Don't know if there have been any 
developed.

Simon
Canberra
AUSTRALIA

I've been using some cold cathode tubes to light my synth for awhile, 
and they're about a foot long. They're also thin enough to fit 
between the rows of modules, so I didn't need to do much work to fit 
them into my system. I got mine from Hobbytron, and they were very 
reasonable, especially if you get them unassembled. They are bright 
enough for lighting purposes, and the white is enough to read music 
by, for those who are into that sort of thing ;)
~Terry




--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "J. Larry Hendry" <jlarryh@i...> wrote:
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Roger Rossen <mididood@a...>
> > Well ok  - since I'm the only guy on this list now, I'll just 
post stuff,
> then I'll read it a few hours later - to see whats new :)
> 
> I'm here Roger !!.  I just busy trying to sort out cables, and 
cabinet
> orders.  Also, I have spent the last 3 weeks building modules and 
doing
> conversions for my "own" synth.  I got way too far behind while 
supplying
> parts and my own synth was not getting built.  I completely filled 
up a 24U
> wide row in my cabinet with new stuff I built.  I've been a 
building fool
> here recently
> 
> > I received a large parts order yesterday of LEDs.  I finally had 
to get
> some RGBs, blues, oranges, and aquas, etc...
> 
> Sick sick.  Roger, you have a sick mind. :) <snicker>
> 
> > Lastly - and I hope not to start this thread up again but: awhile 
back the
> heated 'blue led' debate seems to rest upon the fact that they're 
too bright
> and tend to blind you!  This is not good.  While I cannot find a 
blue LED
> that does NOT have a clear lense - I've found that dipping it in 
acetone or
> some such evil chemical (I thingk I used MEK), can give you a 
frosted effect
> which tones down the piercing nature of these little buggers.
> 
> Cool idea.  I have not used any yet.  But, I was thinking about 
getting some
> of the T1 size for indications for the voltage control select of 
the PROM in
> my miniwave.  I wonder if buffing them with very fine sand paper 
might do
> the same.  I've got some emery cloth I use for cleaning copper 
joints when
> sweat soldering plumbing.
> 
> Since you are into visuals, here is something to think about.  I 
want to
> creat a lighting system for use with my MOTM so that I have enough 
light to
> use the synth in an othewise completely dark environment.  I am 
seriously
> considering custom made fixtures that attach to my cabinets with 
cold
> cathode tubes.  I got a couple of them to play with.  The blue ones 
are

> extremely cool.  Anyone else mess with these much for lighting?
> 
> Larry

> I seem to remember someone telling me that a company was going to
> make lower intensity blue leds. Don't know if there have been any
> developed.

Lumex makes blue LEDs in both "High Brightness Ultra Super Blue" and
"Standard Brightness Super Blue". The rated brightness relative to other
colors varies depending on the case type, etc. (Why do I pick Lumex? Because
I happen to have one of their data books on hand.)

Two thoughts, thought: first, observing the several devices in my studio
that have blue LEDs, the LEDs with diffuse lenses are not unpleasant to look
at, while the ones with clear lenses are annoyingly bright.

Second, the brightness of an LED varies with the current passed through it.
So if you put a particular blue LED in a module and find that it is too
bright for your eyes, why not just reduce the current? No acetone or
sandpaper required. :-)

--Adam

excerpting original message - comments inline...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: J. Larry Hendry [mailto:jlarryh@...] 
> Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 10:22 AM
> To: motm@yahoogroups.com; Roger Rossen
> Subject: Re: [motm] Lights,action, .....
> 
> 
> Since you are into visuals, here is something to think about. 
>  I want to creat a lighting system for use with my MOTM so 
> that I have enough light to use the synth in an othewise 
> completely dark environment.  I am seriously considering 
> custom made fixtures that attach to my cabinets with cold 
> cathode tubes.  I got a couple of them to play with.  The 
> blue ones are extremely cool.  Anyone else mess with these 
> much for lighting?
> 
> Larry
> 


Cold cathode tubes use an inverter to generate the voltages needed.  I
would not want to have that sort of electrical noise near my system.
They do look way cool but noise is not a good trade-off...  Same deal
with using a switching supply for power.

I use low voltage lighting.  I started with the $30 bars you get from
Home Despot but these are junk - they overheat after a while and the
glue used to hold them together fails.

Someone turned me on to these lights:
http://www.pegasusassociates.com/UCXenonst.jsp

These are used for kitchen under counter lighting and for display cases.
The lights are cheap enough and you can use your choice of wattage and
there is even a spot adapter available.  The transformers and dimmers
are overly expensive (actually not when you consider all the ratings
they have to comply with) but an enterprising MOTM-er can come up with
some alternative source of 0-12 VDC - even stepped if they wanted to use
a center tapped transformer and a diode...

The cable with sockets every 3" is $7.10 per foot.  The bulbs (10,000
hour rating) go from $2.80 to $5.95 each.

The Xenon filling gives a nice light - cooler than Incandescent but
warmer than Halogen - nice stuff...


Dave

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

From: Dave Halliday <dh@...>
Cold cathode tubes use an inverter to generate the voltages needed.  I would
not want to have that sort of electrical noise near my system.  They do look
way cool but noise is not a good trade-off...  Same deal with using a
switching supply for power.

--LH--
I wondered if the inverter would create any appreciable noise if it is
powered from an isolated source like a decent size 12VDC wall wart.  I
certrainly would not use up capacity on my linear synth power supply for
that.  The design I was contemplating would contain all the inverter widing
inside copper pipe.  I have a couple I bought to play with.  I'll have to do
some experimenting to see if I can detect any induced noise.

Do you have any particular experience with them causing noise in audio gear?
Thanks for the tip on the low voltage wiring.  I will check that out as I
consider options.

Thanks
Larry

>From: Dave Halliday <dh@...>
>Cold cathode tubes use an inverter to generate the voltages needed.  I would
>not want to have that sort of electrical noise near my system.  They do look
>way cool but noise is not a good trade-off...  Same deal with using a
>switching supply for power.
>
>--LH--
>I wondered if the inverter would create any appreciable noise if it is
>powered from an isolated source like a decent size 12VDC wall wart.  I
>certrainly would not use up capacity on my linear synth power supply for
>that.  The design I was contemplating would contain all the inverter widing
>inside copper pipe.  I have a couple I bought to play with.  I'll have to do
>some experimenting to see if I can detect any induced noise.

It's worse than a switching PS. At least the output of that is DC. The
output of the inverter is pulsed DC at a high frequency. It should radiate
RFI (with a boatload of harmonics) all over the place.

Putting it inside a pipe is a start but the wires leading up to the lamp
and the lamp itself will all radiate.

>Do you have any particular experience with them causing noise in audio gear?

This specifically, no. Put it near an amplifier with some gain like a preamp.

Who knows, you might get lucky. But it sounds like a bad idea to me.
-- 

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"