MOTM

I have been studying the photos for three synths: Stooge Larry,
Darmok and Synth of Doom. If there are any other comprehensive photo
sites of MOTM based larger synths, please let me know! Many questions
are resolved by studying photos but I have two questions at this time.

1.- If you have a centralized power source (like Larry) how do you
maintain a true "star" power distribution topology?

2.- Larry's "Magic Buss" seems to me to be a pretty slick idea and yet
I am not familiar with anyone else using such a system. If you could
go back and redesign your set-ups would you include something along
this line? Is is better to just go with mult modules? (I am
soliciting opinions from anyone with experience with larger modular
synths, NOT trying to establish synth canon or start some wierd war).

(scrapingly servile mode ON)

I thank you all for your help, in advance, and remain humbly your
student, BFG

(scrapingly servile mode OFF) ;-)

For some good info on power supply wiring visit Stooge Moe's website.
www.hotrodmotm.com
I used his info for a guide on how to wire my own power supply.
I have a large external power supply. I have three connectors on the
supply rated at 25 Amps. The three connectors are connected to a
central point within the power supply. (A Star)
I use 12 gage cables to connect my cabinets to the power supply.
Within each cabinets there are several of the 960 and/or 990
distribution boards. They are all connected to a single point, the
connector where the power supply cable comes into the cabinet. (A Star)

I prefer multiples myself to Larry's magic bus, but such a scheme does
cut down on patchcords and makes for a cleaner look.

Hope this helps.

Greg,

I have built for my synth the same magic buss as
Larry; I basically followed his instructions and
pictures on his website - which is excellent!

Like he, I've made both grouped and distributed mults
over 3 rows in my cabinet and I must say I'm very very
happy with that decision! The distributed mults allow
you to feed some common signals (pitch CV, velocity
CV, gate) into the bus on one side of the cabinet, but
you can pick them up basically anywhere on the synth,
thus reducing some of the cabling mess. (There's still
more than enough cables to make a new mess,
though...but that's just part of a modular synth I
guess).

Last but not least, the construction process of the
magic buss itself - design, drilling the (aluminum)
flat rails, sanding, painting and wiring them - was a
lot of fun (and work too) and so the finished setup is
even more satisfying (at least for me...).

Hope this helps,
Regards,

Dino

> 2.- Larry's "Magic Buss" seems to me to be a pretty
> slick idea and yet
> I am not familiar with anyone else using such a
> system. If you could
> go back and redesign your set-ups would you include
> something along
> this line? Is is better to just go with mult
> modules? (I am
> soliciting opinions from anyone with experience with
> larger modular
> synths, NOT trying to establish synth canon or start
> some wierd war).
>
> (scrapingly servile mode ON)
>
> I thank you all for your help, in advance, and
> remain humbly your
> student, BFG
>
> (scrapingly servile mode OFF) ;-)
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> I have been studying the photos for three synths: Stooge Larry,
> Darmok and Synth of Doom. If there are any other comprehensive photo
> sites of MOTM based larger synths, please let me know! Many questions
> are resolved by studying photos but I have two questions at this time.

There are some photos and a sporadic diary about my MOTM-based system at my
website, www.studionebula.com . My system is not as large as those you
mention; maybe about half the size. However, I have just engaged the
services of my cabinet maker to create space for a fourth row of modules...

> 1.- If you have a centralized power source (like Larry) how do you
> maintain a true "star" power distribution topology?

I have two supplies in my cabinets. The smaller one feeds a single
distribution board, the other feeds two boards. I guess that's not a true
"star" topology, but it's kinda close. :-)

> 2.- Larry's "Magic Buss" seems to me to be a pretty slick idea and yet
> I am not familiar with anyone else using such a system. If you could
> go back and redesign your set-ups would you include something along
> this line? Is is better to just go with mult modules

I would certainly consider doing something like his Magic Buss, although so
far I have found that one multiple and the use of Y cables has been enough
for my signal-routing needs. I did integrate an Encore Expressionist and a
homebuilt breakout panel for it into my upper cabinet, which provides some
of the functionality of a multiple. The first four CV and gate outputs both
drive a pair of jacks rather than one. That means that one CV (or gate) can
be routed to four destinations by using two Y cables.

--Adam

> I have been studying the photos for three synths: Stooge Larry,
> Darmok and Synth of Doom. If there are any other comprehensive photo
> sites of MOTM based larger synths, please let me know! Many questions
> are resolved by studying photos but I have two questions at this time.

Here's an older photo of my cabinets before my module collection
overflowed...

http://www.wavemakers-synth.com/motm/bothcabs3.jpg

> 1.- If you have a centralized power source (like Larry) how do you
> maintain a true "star" power distribution topology?

Each cabinet has its own power supply, connected to a barrier strip (black
block with screw terminals) that connect to two internal power PCBs per
cabinet.

> 2.- Larry's "Magic Buss" seems to me to be a pretty slick idea and yet
> I am not familiar with anyone else using such a system. If you could
> go back and redesign your set-ups would you include something along
> this line? Is is better to just go with mult modules? (I am
> soliciting opinions from anyone with experience with larger modular
> synths, NOT trying to establish synth canon or start some wierd war).

If I were building cabinets from scratch I would strongly consider the
"Magic Buss" system. Without it, strategically distributed multiples work
okay.

John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com

Alright, I've uploaded two pictures of my rack, both
during initial setup (with only a few modules in
there), but they show the two Magic busses that I'm
building - I decided to do a standard grouped (black
rails), and a blue one which feeds distributed mults
over the different levels and sides of the cabinet.

I should once again express my gratitude to Larry -
it's all his original idea! I have adapted and
extended his concept.

If anybody is interested I can take some more pictures
- in the meantime most of the busses are wired...

With Best Wishes,

Dino


http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/motm/lst?.dir=/Magic_Buss&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/




--- Greg Amann <greg.amann@...> wrote:

> Must see pictures! Please, oh, please, oh, please.
>
> PLL, BFG
>
>
> Dino Leone wrote:
>
> >Greg,
> >
> >I have built for my synth the same magic buss as
> >Larry; I basically followed his instructions and
> >pictures on his website - which is excellent!
> >
> >Like he, I've made both grouped and distributed
> mults
> >over 3 rows in my cabinet and I must say I'm very
> very
> >happy with that decision! The distributed mults
> allow
> >you to feed some common signals (pitch CV, velocity
> >CV, gate) into the bus on one side of the cabinet,
> but
> >you can pick them up basically anywhere on the
> synth,
> >thus reducing some of the cabling mess. (There's
> still
> >more than enough cables to make a new mess,
> >though...but that's just part of a modular synth I
> >guess).
> >
> >Last but not least, the construction process of the
> >magic buss itself - design, drilling the (aluminum)
> >flat rails, sanding, painting and wiring them - was
> a
> >lot of fun (and work too) and so the finished setup
> is
> >even more satisfying (at least for me...).
> >
> >Hope this helps,
> >Regards,
> >
> >Dino

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