MOTM

Thanks to D. Brown, here is a good shot of an assembled MOTM-440:

www.synthtech.com/misc/motm440.jpg

Paul S.

Thanks, everyone, for your on- and off-list responses. It looks like 
the 440 has a higher part count, and many of these parts are multi-pin 
ICs. There appears to a temperature-regulation resistor on there as 
well. I was worried that I needed an oscilloscope to set it up or 
something like the 300 osc modules. As I said, I'll probably end up 
with both anyway, so perhaps I should just start with the simpler one 
so I don't get discouraged. I've built a few DIY projects before, 
though, and some of them even work!

Paul, does this kit use vintage/out of production SSM parts? Maybe 
that's another reason to hold off on the project: I wouldn't want to 
smoke one of the last remaining SSM chips.

I can hear the difference between Dotcom and MOTM – if I couldn't, I 
wouldn't even consider MOTM. The price difference seems to be about 
3:2, so the question is either more modules or better modules. But if 
I'm not going to build the best-sounding modular synth out there, why 
do it at all? :)

On Jan 2, 2005, at 9:25 PM, Paul Schreiber wrote:

> Thanks to D. Brown, here is a good shot of an assembled MOTM-440:
>
>  www.synthtech.com/misc/motm440.jpg
>
>  Paul S.
>
>  
>

> Thanks, everyone, for your on- and off-list responses. It looks like 
> the 440 has a higher part count, and many of these parts are multi-pin 
> ICs. There appears to a temperature-regulation resistor on there as 
> well. I was worried that I needed an oscilloscope to set it up or 
> something like

Oh, that part is easy. The most difficult  part about MOTM assemble is 
keeping in mind that there are parts you can wash, and parts you can't 
(and a different solder for each kind.) Just don't mess those up and 
your ok.

As a tip: I insert all my resistors and axial caps before I do the 
first solder. This way when I'm picking parts if I find that one 
doesn't match that probably means there's another one that doesn't 
match elsewhere. It's a lot easier to fix misplaced parts *before* you 
solder them down.

Another tip: presort your resistors. I presort all like resistors out 
into their own piles before assembling. It makes the whole process go a 
*lot* faster, and reduces errors.

> the 300 osc modules. As I said, I'll probably end up with both anyway, 
> so perhaps I should just start with the simpler one so I don't get 
> discouraged. I've built a few DIY projects before, though, and some of 
> them even work!
>
> Paul, does this kit use vintage/out of production SSM parts? Maybe 
> that's another reason to hold off on the project: I wouldn't want to 
> smoke one of the last remaining SSM chips.
>
> I can hear the difference between Dotcom and MOTM – if I couldn't, I 
> wouldn't even consider MOTM. The price difference seems to be about 
> 3:2, so the question is either more modules or better modules. But if 
> I'm not going to build the best-sounding modular synth out there, why 
> do it at all? :)

Another interesting observation: MOTM synths maintain there value 
*very* well. It all depends on the soldering skills of the assembler of 
course, but as a general rule used modules are worth the same as new 
ones. Keep that in mind when you're putting your modules together, take 
your time! Double check your work, and work in phases to reduce error 
(i.e. take a frickin' break!)

Does anyone know of any online soldering resources for beginners? I 
know of this one: http://www.circuittechctr.com/guides/guides.shtml
If someone wants to host it, I'll record a video of assembling a MOTM 
300.

--mikes