MOTM

----> "Sorry, I could not resist thinking that a 3 or 4
dollar cost escalation would ever be a consideration for anyone spending
this kind of money on a synth."


With regard to adding fancy LEDs to modules, I don't know about *cost*, but
here's another factor I haven't seen mentioned yet in this discussion.

When I first talked to Paul while buying my initial MOTM purchase, I asked
him why it was that his feature-laden, high quality modules consumed minute
amounts of power (on the order of 20 ma each) while other units (i.e.,
PAIA's modules) demanded 150-350 ma per module-a HUGE difference

Paul's simple response was, "Because I don't put LEDs all over the place."

I scratched my head because at that time I was really enamored with blue
LEDs; my plan was that I would build a huge modular and replace all of the
cheap red LEDs with blue ones. Sure the red ones are pennies while the blue
ones were $5 a piece, but *I wanted flashing lights, dammit!* The wife wants
to know where our retirement fund is going, and at least if I can show here
a big Christmas-tree of modular gear, she will understand.

But after talking with Paul that day, I spoke with my engineering guru who
said, "Yeah, he's absolutely right. LEDs suck up a lot of juice, and if you
aren't careful, can cause noise that will often be audible in a device like
this, since they are usually used to indicate some 'switching state' of some
part of the module's function." 

So my love affair with LEDs ended pretty quickly. I'd rather have 30
high-quality modules running off my MOTM power supply than to have a power
supply for every two or three modules just to drive lights, which is what
you have to do with PAIA-type stuff.

Now I only mention this because there may be other factors--as well as
hidden costs (such as buying more power supplies sooner)--to fancying up the
indicators on these modules. Sure, $5 is nothing to have a cool tri-color
tell-tale, but are these more extravagant indicators using more juice, or
requiring more extensive filtering circuitry so that they don't leak noise
into the audio?

Inquiring minds want to know!

>From: "Tkacs, Ken" <Ken.Tkacs@...>

>So my love affair with LEDs ended pretty quickly. I'd rather have 30
>high-quality modules running off my MOTM power supply than to have a power
>supply for every two or three modules just to drive lights, which is what
>you have to do with PAIA-type stuff.


absolutely - whenever i feel the need for a sexy LED fix i just power up my
Notron Sequencer, switch the lights off and viola... (not that the notron is
ever "off" really)
BY THE WAY
all this talk of external modulation of the phaser - will this mean i can
modulate from audio as well..?
and when are we (in childish "i want presents" mode - well i do...) likely
to see an envelope follower..?
MEANWHILE
i recently bought a job lot of absolute crap dead cheap - because there was
an interesting looking vocoder in there. so the following items are up for
grabs to my fellow 5U brethren - just a CD of something interesting in
return would be appreciated - i would say first come first served, but
that's up to the onelist server really, anyway:

* homemade formant test rig,  30 pin conector on 8" (wooden) card c/w 24"
ribbon cable connected  to 30 pin socket jig
* oberheim matrix 6 factory patches volume 3 cassette

and if anyone knows of a UK source of 156 pitch stripboard - i'd love to
know, cos i can't find it anywhere...
cheers
paulb

>From: "J. Larry Hendry" <jlarryh@...>
>
>> From: Paul & Alleyne <vulture.squadron@...>
>> MEANWHILE
>> i recently bought a job lot of absolute crap dead cheap - because there
>was
>> an interesting looking vocoder in there.
>
>So (still in need gear for presents mode), tell us about the interesting
>vocoder.
>LH

well if you're all settled - then i'll begin:
it looks like it's from a modular kit and from the looks of the circuitry -
mid eighties..? (not being an expert or anything, but the build looks that
kind of age)
it's put into a very shoddy 1u rack mount with the most appalling power
supply i've ever seen, i think it runs at +/-12v but i'm not sure
the front has the legend "JB Elektronics 10 Band Vocoder" - i assume this is
just a homebrew moniker (slap me if i'm wrong like)
connections - carrier in, signal in, out, and a little patch matrix with
voltage in & voltage out for each of the ten bands - very very
interesting...
controls are carrier gain, signal gain, high pass, ouput gain
and no i've not had chance to test it yet - but i'm looking forward to the
possibility of building a 23 connector MOTM panel for it...
that's it really
goodnight
paulb

> From: Paul & Alleyne <vulture.squadron@...>
> MEANWHILE
> i recently bought a job lot of absolute crap dead cheap - because there
was
> an interesting looking vocoder in there.

So (still in need gear for presents mode), tell us about the interesting
vocoder.
LH

In a message dated 12/1/99 4:00:36 PM, vulture.squadron@... writes:

>the front has the legend "JB Elektronics 10 Band Vocoder" 


Damn! I was wondering where I put that thing -- it's even got my style of 
spelling. Just send it on over.

JB