Analogue-sequencer

Folks,

The final test PCB set is ordered. I've also requested a quote from 
the PCB makers for the pre-ordered boards, so I will know the final 
price in a few days.

I've updated the web page a bit -
http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/p3.htm

There are a couple of PDF previews of different front panels for the 
sequencer. I think I prefer the shape of Paul's desktop unit, but 
it's not going to fit in a rack. Comments on whether people would 
prefer a rack-mount or desktop unit are welcome !
These panels show the locations of the very late addition of 
dedicated function select keys and LEDs for the step switches and 
upper pots, which are the reason for the delay on the production 
boards. These do make life simpler though...

Cheers,
Colin f

colinfraser_com (03:52 pm 5/26/2003) wrote:

 >The final test PCB set is ordered. I've also requested a quote from
 >the PCB makers for the pre-ordered boards, so I will know the final
 >price in a few days.

WAHOOOOOOOO!


 >I've updated the web page a bit -
 >http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/p3.htm
 >
 >There are a couple of PDF previews of different front panels for the
 >sequencer. I think I prefer the shape of Paul's desktop unit, but
 >it's not going to fit in a rack. Comments on whether people would
 >prefer a rack-mount or desktop unit are welcome !

I'd vote desktop... I'd hate to see the open feeling of the panel layout be 
sacrificed so that it can fit into a rack. Plus, from a tweaking 
perspective,  the desktop rules for me. Any kind of panel space in a rack 
that's at good tweaking height is prime real estate, and there's just not a 
lot to go around.


 >These panels show the locations of the very late addition of
 >dedicated function select keys and LEDs for the step switches and
 >upper pots, which are the reason for the delay on the production
 >boards. These do make life simpler though...

Dude... RIGHT ON!


What a project man!

WAHOOOOOOO!!!!!

Mark

Mark,

> >The final test PCB set is ordered. I've also requested a quote from
> >the PCB makers for the pre-ordered boards, so I will know the final
> >price in a few days.
>
> WAHOOOOOOOO!

seconded :-)

> I'd vote desktop... I'd hate to see the open feeling of the panel
> layout be  sacrificed so that it can fit into a rack. Plus, from a
> tweaking
> perspective,  the desktop rules for me. Any kind of panel space in a
> rack  that's at good tweaking height is prime real estate, and there's
> just not a  lot to go around.

This was my thinking..I dont have much rack space and what I do have is
used in much the same way.
Also the way I have things laid out, it will sit just to the left of my
VS1680, which is just above my JX10 being used as a master keyboard.
The case I've chosen has wooden end cheeks so it should look very nice..

Paul

Hi all,

Well, I'd have to admit to liking the arrangment of the rack panel layout
(and the Square buttons), but wanting to put it into a desktop style
enclosure. Most likely, I'd go for the rackmount panel and simply build my
own wooden box to accommodate it.

One thing I don't particularly like about the desktop panel (no offence to
Paul!) is that the function keys are not below the LCD, and the transport
controls are not near an 'edge' of the layout. Putting the start/stop/record
buttons down at the right 'front' (well, the bottom would be at the front if
it were in a sloping desktop case) of the panel seems to facilitate easier
access to me.

Is there a discount from Schaeffer on quantity orders of the same design? If
so, I'd be happy to be in on a group buy of the rackmount version of the
panel, presuming easy availability of the square button switches.

Frank Vanaman

-----Original Message-----
From: colinfraser_com [mailto:yahoo@colinfraser.com]

There are a couple of PDF previews of different front panels for the
sequencer. I think I prefer the shape of Paul's desktop unit, but
it's not going to fit in a rack. Comments on whether people would
prefer a rack-mount or desktop unit are welcome !

Frank.

> One thing I don't particularly like about the desktop panel (no offence to
> Paul!) is that the function keys are not below the LCD, and the transport
> controls are not near an 'edge' of the layout. Putting the
start/stop/record
> buttons down at the right 'front' (well, the bottom would be at the front
if
> it were in a sloping desktop case) of the panel seems to facilitate easier
> access to me.

I wasn't keen on this either, originally I had the transport and edit
buttons uner the display, but this would've meant making two new PCBs (one
for the trasnport/edit and one for the other 6) it would also have meant
more holes for screws..
So I went for simplicity..
I may still do it the other way.. I'll see how its looking when colins PCBs
arrive.

Paul

On Tue, 27 May 2003 12:46:29 -0400
 "Frank Vanaman" <fvanaman@speakeasy.org> wrote:
>Most likely, I'd go for the rackmount panel and simply
>build my
>own wooden box to accommodate it.

this sounds like a winner to me. i like the idea of having
the best of both worlds...make endcheeks to place over the
rack ears for desktop use...and/or a full on box (depending
on the way you enclose the unit...or don't).

moving on...great news on the imminent boards and the very
affordable price! i haven't made a pre-order yet as i just
made some significant size purchases for my studio, but the
cost being what it is, i might be able to squeeze a little
more blood out of the stone that is my credit limit. :)

take care all,
jon

Of course, I like making wooden ends for synths, so I'm a self-appointed
'wooden end enthusiast/freak':
http://frank.gadgetland.net/beta/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&ar
tid=30
http://frank.gadgetland.net/beta/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&ar
tid=17
:-)

So far, none of the wooden ends have improved the sound of anything! :-)  Oh
well...

Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: Auto-Bot [mailto:info@autonomous-robot.com]

On Tue, 27 May 2003 12:46:29 -0400

>> "Frank Vanaman" <fvanaman@speakeasy.org> wrote:
>>Most likely, I'd go for the rackmount panel and simply
>>build my
>>own wooden box to accommodate it.
>
>this sounds like a winner to me. i like the idea of having
>the best of both worlds...make endcheeks to place over the
>rack ears for desktop use...and/or a full on box (depending
>on the way you enclose the unit...or don't).

Uh oh, caught by word wrap again:


>Of course, I like making wooden ends for synths, so I'm a self-appointed
>'wooden end enthusiast/freak':
>http://frank.gadgetland.net/beta/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&a
r
>tid=30
>http://frank.gadgetland.net/beta/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&a
r
>tid=17
>:-)

Well, then, the easy way: go to http://frank.gadgetland.net/beta
select 'Korg' and then select the '800DV' page
select 'synth' and then select 'wood ends for the RS-09'

The joys of a PHP-Nuke based page.  :-/

Frank

Frank,

I like wooden end-cheeks aswell, hence the desktop case I have chosen ;-
heres a shot of the same case used by Steve Thomas for his TB3030/Midibox

http://monopole.ph.qmw.ac.uk/~thomas/synthdiy/TBbox1_files/image001.jpg

Available from Hammond Manufacturing ;-

http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg16.htm

Paul

> Of course, I like making wooden ends for synths, so I'm a 
> self-appointed
> 'wooden end enthusiast/freak':

I'm partial to a nice bit of wood on either side of my studio gear too
;-)
My partner runs a bespoke door manufacturing business, which is kind of
handy for getting off-cuts of hard woods and access to industrial
wood-working gear, but I haven't had much oportunity to explore that
avenue yet.
I've got a big stack of solid maple skirting board off-cuts waiting for
the day...

I was thinking of getting a quote for a full case for the sequencer. The
Schaeffer panels are great, but you're still left with the problem of
coming up with the rest of the case. The rack mounting unit still needs
to be able to sit on a desktop, so a normal 4U rack mount case is out of
the question. I need something about 2 inches deep at the most.
I imagine something like the constuction of the TR909 would be pretty
economical - sheet steel punched and folded round three sides, with
wooden end cheeks, and a steel back panel. Or possibly just three sides
of the back panel in steel, with a Shaeffer front panel.
I'm interested to see what other case solutions people will come up
with.

Colin f

Colin,

> I was thinking of getting a quote for a full case for the sequencer. The
> Schaeffer panels are great, but you're still left with the problem of
> coming up with the rest of the case. The rack mounting unit still needs
> to be able to sit on a desktop, so a normal 4U rack mount case is out of
> the question. I need something about 2 inches deep at the most.
> I imagine something like the constuction of the TR909 would be pretty
> economical - sheet steel punched and folded round three sides, with
> wooden end cheeks, and a steel back panel. Or possibly just three sides
> of the back panel in steel, with a Shaeffer front panel.

you have just described the Hammond case I'm using... As its Aluminium
Schaeffer can drill/engrave it for me :-)
take alook at the hammond page I mentioned and get the datsheet (PDF) at the
bottom of the page, it gives you the dimensions.. I have to say I'm very
impressed with the look of it.. and it was a good price (from Cholcroft in
the UK, one of Hammonds UK distributers)

> I'm interested to see what other case solutions people will come up
> with.

me too..

Paul

yahoo@colinfraser.com (01:49 pm 5/27/2003) wrote:

 >I'm interested to see what other case solutions people will come up
 >with.

I dunno that I'll have much time to try my hand at design, but know that if 
someone goes out to get a group bid on pre-punched panels with end-cheeks, 
I'm in.

Colin and I have talked about this a bit, but while I'm confident of my 
soldering and kit building skills, I'm NOT confident that I'd get ANYTHING 
built if I had to actually acquire too many pieces on my own. :)

I can shop an Allied or Digikey catalog with the best of 'em, but to 
actually spin 2' in my chair and do it? Oh man... I'm WAYYYYYYYY too lazy 
for that!

:)!

Mark

'allo--

>From: Mark Pulver [mailto:mark@midiwall.com]
>I dunno that I'll have much time to try my hand at design, but know that if
>someone goes out to get a group bid on pre-punched panels with end-cheeks,
>I'm in.

I'd be tempted to agree and more than happy to contribute to the buying
power to make a group purchase more favorable to all.

I can drill round holes in metal all day, but when it comes to making a nice
looking oblong or rectangular hole, well, that's a bit beyond my
metal-working skills!

Frank

> you have just described the Hammond case I'm using... As its 
Aluminium
> Schaeffer can drill/engrave it for me :-)

You mean Schaeffer will engrave the front panel of a ready-made case 
as 'customer material' ?
I had assumed that they only worked with flat panels, and that you 
were going to have a panel made up that you would somehow graft onto 
the Hammond case.
Machining the case directly would be very neat !

Colin f

> I can drill round holes in metal all day, but when it comes to 
making a nice
> looking oblong or rectangular hole, well, that's a bit beyond my
> metal-working skills!

Round holes are an option for the buttons - the final PCB has 
mounting pads for three different types of switch: the original 
sqaure ones I used (with the clear caps to take labels); standard 
12mm tact switches as used in the TB303/TR606 etc (which you can 
certainly get square tops for, and posibly round ones); unimec tact 
switches with 9mm round caps.

You'd still need to cut a rectangular hole for the LCD...
Unless, as I have considered, you use a perspex front panel.
Then you wouldn't need to drill holes for the LCD or LEDs.
And it would look very techno ;-)

A custom made case is still the path of least resistance, tho'.

Colin f

> You mean Schaeffer will engrave the front panel of a ready-made case
as 'customer material' ?

I don't know about whole box shapes, but they can do non flat panels
such as the front panel section on the Bryant boxes. These are extruded
flat panels with two sticking out rails on the reverse side. They can
also engrave blank Synth.com panels too. These are like Moog modular
front panels with the folded sides.

Regards,

Tony Allgood                       Penrith, Cumbria, England

Oakley Sound Systems                   www.oakleysound.co.uk
Modular Synthesisers      www.oakleysound.co.uk/projects.htm

Colin,

> You mean Schaeffer will engrave the front panel of a ready-made case
> as 'customer material' ?

ermm, yes... one proviso, it must be aluminium..

> I had assumed that they only worked with flat panels, and that you
> were going to have a panel made up that you would somehow graft onto
> the Hammond case.
> Machining the case directly would be very neat !

yep, very neat :-)

I'll keep you (the list) upto date with the progress.
I should point out I wont be ordering the case until I've got the PCBs and
display (I just wanna double check the holes before sending it off).

Once complete I'll take some pictures for your webpage if you want.

Paul

--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, Mark Pulver <mark@m...> 
wrote:
> I dunno that I'll have much time to try my hand at design, but know 
that if 
> someone goes out to get a group bid on pre-punched panels with end-
cheeks, 
> I'm in.

Seconded, or is that thirded?

Anyway - Me too :->)

Andy