[sdiy] Banana vs. 1/4" question

[harrybissell]

Hah... is THAT why you think guitar cords are big ???  ;^P

They are big (first and foremost) so that they are TOUGH enough to
walk on, run over with equipment dollies... and stand the impact of having
cymbals knocked over (on edge) by drummers.

Then... they need to be non-microphonic (and low capacitance helps here) and
fairly low loss (big wire helps here) and well shielded...

And to paraphrase the (USA) "Hair Club for Men"...

And I'm not just the President... I'm also a member

H^) harry (guitarist)

PS the cymbal thing really happened... MORE than once.

jhaible wrote:

> Interesting articles, but a little biased against 1/4" I'd say.
>
> 1/4" does *not* mean you have to use thick, heavy, expensive, black
> guitar chords.
>
> There are lightweight, thin, colour-coded, and very unexpensive
> 1/4" cables made by Hosa and others. With these, you have all the
> advantages of bananas (except the stacking), and all the advantages of
> minijacks (except a slightly larger front panel hole, but with much
> increased stability and better contact).
>
> There *are* pro's and cons for everything, but some of the cons
> attributed to 1/4" are only valid if you really use the above mentioned
> black low capacitance guitar cords. (Guitar cords often have a large
> diameter, as large as the connector allows, to keep capacitance
> low. No need for that in a synth patchcord.)
>
> JH.
>
> > Those interested in this topic may enjoy Mike Firman's Modularity 103
> > article on the subject:
> >
> > http://www.creativesynth.com/columns/003_Modularity/Modularity_103.html
> >
> > and my, intended to be humorous, reply in Modularity 104. I hope no one is
> > offended by the dirty limerick.
> >
> > http://www.creativesynth.com/columns/003_Modularity/Modularity_104.html
> >
> > Please note that at that point I was very much in favor of the 3.5mm
> > connector and opposed to the "banana Nazis" as I saw it then.
> >
> > Since then I have realized that there are no perfect solutions to problems
> > as complex and undefineable as musical instrument design. EVERY practical
> > approach has advantages and disadvantages.
> >
> > It is precisely because there can be no perfect solution, that the design
> of
> > electronic music instruments will remain fascinating forever. The variety
> > will be endless, the debate over who prefers what and why will go on
> > forever, everybody will be right and wrong at the same time, and all
> parties
> > will be enriched by the disagreement.
> >
> > So, I am now officialy FOR every music synthesizer and noise maker of any
> > type and design. The more imaginative, colorful and strange the better I
> > like it. However, those who prefer their modules with minimalist black
> > faceplates and black knobs are perfectly wonderful people too.
> >
> > I salute them BECAUSE they like something different than I do. Be like
> > yourself, only more so...
> >
> > Also, I am sure Darwin would love more articles for the Modularity column.
> > Can't think of a better group to write about modulars than those here.
> >
> >
> >
> >