Analogue-sequencer

Folks,

I'm looking for some opinions on the various case options for P3 so I 
can simplify life by standardising on a single case design.
I'm planning to have cases machined and engraved or screen-printed 
from scratch by a specialist manufacturer, rather than using the 
Hammond cases.
There are two types of Hammond case that have been used so far, and 
opinion seems to be split between them. I want to find out what it is 
about each case that people like so I can come up with a single case 
design with the widest appeal.
You can see the various case types here:
http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/gallery.htm
The differences between the two main case types are:
 - panel shape wrt display/keypad/tempo & data locations
 - colour (black vs off-white)
 - shape of buttons (square with text vs circular with panel markings)
 - wooden end cheeks ;-)

So, if you've got a particular preference for one case type over the 
other, which aspects of the design were most significant in your 
choice ?

Cheers,
Colin f

hi Colin,

> So, if you've got a particular preference for one case type over  
> the other, which aspects of the design were most significant in 
> your choice ?

my new one (which is almost done...:)) is basically the same as my 
first one, which is like the one on the frontpage of this group in 
layout. i folded this case out of a sheet of aluminium; the main 
difference is that the case i've made now is less deep than the first 
one, which has a lot of space to spare, and that it has wooden side-
ends. oh and it's got the markings engraved in it's shiny brushed 
aluminium frontpanel. i've moved the tempo-pot to above the display 
on this one, but i had this panel finished before you put the tempo-
lock thing in the system. like Paul i prefer keeping the display and 
the function softkeys together. one thing i have noticed though is 
that i block my line of sight to the display with my hand/arm 
occassionally when i'm using the right-most pots of the upper row.
Buttonwise i'm sticking with the original design; i'm ordering the 
keycaps & knobs tonight, although i'm not going for the four colours 
per-row; just black & white. but as i haven't been able to find those 
specific keycaps anywhere else but maplin's, it may be a good idea to 
add panel markings. a track/part marking could also be useful..

On Mon, 03 May 2004 10:04:52 -0000, "colinfraser_com"
<colin@colinfraser.com> wrote:

>You can see the various case types here:
>http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/gallery.htm
>The differences between the two main case types are:
> - panel shape wrt display/keypad/tempo & data locations
> - colour (black vs off-white)
> - shape of buttons (square with text vs circular with panel markings)
> - wooden end cheeks ;-)
>
>So, if you've got a particular preference for one case type over the 
>other, which aspects of the design were most significant in your 
>choice ?

I prefer the design you built for me over any that separate F1-F3 from
the display and the Function key from the mode buttons (I tend to
operate those one-handed which you couldn't do if the position changed
significantly). 

Ideally I'd like a P3 that could be optionally rack-mounted but which
had wooden endcheeks when used table-top style. And a little smaller
would be cool too with maybe "normal" text labels rather than the
Space 1999 versions. Possibly it'd be cool to include Track/Part
labels on the case too?
I think Keith's and Roel's both look excellent if that's any
guideline.

Paul
---
Paul Nagle / Soft Room Music
Email: paul@softroom.co.uk www.softroom.co.uk
                           www.BogusFocus.com

Hi Colin,

I myself would never like a rack mounted sequencer, but there are others who
love them...  The option to change between the two would be good, but then
would too many compromised have to be made with sizing?

I went for the hammond (with wooden cheaks) for my p3.  Because i wanted it
desktop (i find it easier to opperate down on a sequencer, rather than on a
vertical surface)  I also dont always work in the same place, so portability
is important to me.  Hence desktop and small.

Having not actually used the p3 yet (i just finished off the CAD for the
engraving last night) i cant comment too much on its ergonomics, but i think
the movement of the tempo and data dials to the right in the latter run of
Steve Thomas engraved hammonds has got to be a good idea for right handed
users.

Probably having the function buttons actually under the display would cut
out one extra brain cycle when opperating them, but possibly this would be
negated by having the screen / buttons in a compromised position.  A legend
under the screen (f1. f2. f3) i hope will be a good compromise.

I probably would have gone for a black case, if it had have been simple, but
it really wasnt that important to me.  A brushed aluminium (to match my
modular) would have been ideal...

Ive used those alpha pots and the 'soft touch' dials on a few things now, so
it was nice to have them matching.  As for the buttons, i think personally
that the round ones are classier then the square.  Im not massivly into the
retro bbc b-type / cr-8000 etc style look, so...  Considering that the
switches etc. are quite a large percentage of the bom total price, i guess
price could be a consideration?

Anyway, i feel like im ranting... But then you did ask.  Ans, as i said
before, theyre opinions of someone who hasnt yet had hands on experiance,
so...

Cheers, Julian


----- Original Message -----
From: "colinfraser_com" <colin@colinfraser.com>
To: <analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 11:04 AM
Subject: [analogue-sequencer] P3 Cases


> Folks,
>
> I'm looking for some opinions on the various case options for P3 so I
> can simplify life by standardising on a single case design.
> I'm planning to have cases machined and engraved or screen-printed
> from scratch by a specialist manufacturer, rather than using the
> Hammond cases.
> There are two types of Hammond case that have been used so far, and
> opinion seems to be split between them. I want to find out what it is
> about each case that people like so I can come up with a single case
> design with the widest appeal.
> You can see the various case types here:
> http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/gallery.htm
> The differences between the two main case types are:
> - panel shape wrt display/keypad/tempo & data locations
> - colour (black vs off-white)
> - shape of buttons (square with text vs circular with panel markings)
> - wooden end cheeks ;-)
>
> So, if you've got a particular preference for one case type over the
> other, which aspects of the design were most significant in your
> choice ?
>
> Cheers,
> Colin f
>
>
>
>
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Hi list,

I'm new here since a couple of days. I recently ordered a prebuilt P3 from
Colin. I have checked the pics of other P3 users, and although some of them
are really beautiful (Paul Maddox/Cikira, the completely red one, eg), none
of them are really to my liking. I especially don't like the font (someone
called it "Space 1999"?) on the original P3.

For the record: if there was no other choice, I would happily go for any of
those; I think at the moment the P3 is the best sequencer around -
especially for the money. But since it's possible - with certain
restrictions - to get your own design, I asked Colin for an EMS style
layout.

I have seen some EMS style DIY stuff on Colins page, and I thought it just
looked marvelous. Colin is looking into it, and - again with certain
restrictions - he might be able to built it. Cool!

Another option Colin mentioned was old Moog modular style. Well, if the
EMS-style can't be done, I'd go for the Moog style!

Just my € 0,02...

:-)

Gert
www.waveworld.tv

>>I especially don't like the font (someone
called it "Space 1999"?) on the original P3.


Hi there,

If your talking the font on the square buttons...

As i remember it (could be wrong though), the square buttons have a paper
insert.  In which case a printer, a metal rule, and a scapel would solve any
worries at all.

Cheers, Julian

Julian wrote:
>>> I especially don't like the font (someone
> called it "Space 1999"?) on the original P3.
> 
> 
> Hi there,
> 
> If your talking the font on the square buttons...
> 
> As i remember it (could be wrong though), the square buttons have a
> paper insert.  In which case a printer, a metal rule, and a scapel
> would solve any worries at all.
> 

Thanx for the tip, Julian.

:-)

Gert
www.waveworld.tv

On Mon, 3 May 2004, Paul Nagle wrote:

> I prefer the design you built for me over any that separate F1-F3 from
> the display and the Function key from the mode buttons (I tend to
> operate those one-handed which you couldn't do if the position changed
> significantly).

i highly agree. i'm a user-interface designer by day, and the idea of
separating things that belong together puts me into mild seizures. :) i'm
definitely a proponent of the sloped hammond cases for the reason above,
and for the fact that it seems to be about 19" rack width, which is the
size of other kinds of tabletop devices. the sloped front is great for
tabletop use too... i loved how my nord modular was slanted up a little
bit, but i dislike how my alesis ion is flat. sloped is good. the
tempo/data pots do seem like they're in an odd place though. it's hard for
me to say though, having not used my p3 yet...

speaking of which... it was the freaking DIODE. it's dead. when i fix that
i expect the whole thing will come to life.

bleep.
out.

---
http://leichenfeld.iuma.com
http://thirdwavecollective.com

one thing to consider... those keyswitches you use can't be found in the
U.S., not by me at any rate... so making a custom case like this would
involve sending US customers a bunch of those keyswitches as well.

bleep.
out.

---
http://leichenfeld.iuma.com
http://thirdwavecollective.com

Hi all
Im new to the list 2 and am waiting for colin to get some cases in
my particular preference would be for the wooden cheeks ends case and round
buttons
but my main want is the sequencer its self
anyway just my 2 penerth
are there any  advantages to 1 case or the other in the use of the sequencer
paul
----- Original Message ----- 

From: "colinfraser_com" <colin@colinfraser.com>
To: <analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 11:04 AM
Subject: [analogue-sequencer] P3 Cases


> Folks,
>
> I'm looking for some opinions on the various case options for P3 so I
> can simplify life by standardising on a single case design.
> I'm planning to have cases machined and engraved or screen-printed
> from scratch by a specialist manufacturer, rather than using the
> Hammond cases.
> There are two types of Hammond case that have been used so far, and
> opinion seems to be split between them. I want to find out what it is
> about each case that people like so I can come up with a single case
> design with the widest appeal.
> You can see the various case types here:
> http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/gallery.htm
> The differences between the two main case types are:
>  - panel shape wrt display/keypad/tempo & data locations
>  - colour (black vs off-white)
>  - shape of buttons (square with text vs circular with panel markings)
>  - wooden end cheeks ;-)
>
> So, if you've got a particular preference for one case type over the
> other, which aspects of the design were most significant in your
> choice ?
>
> Cheers,
> Colin f
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>