Analogue-sequencer

Hi folks,

I'm looking at a couple of different possible approaches to the production case for Cirklon, but one thing I've never been too sure about is the popularity of rackmount or desktop use for P3.
I'm going to create a poll here to find out - please take a few seconds to let me know.

As with P3, I want to have a case that can be rackmounted without losing a U of rack space to the I/O.
But the recessed rear connectors on P3 made the case somewhat more complex (read: expensive) to produce.
If you're a rackmount user, please answer the poll on how important you consider not having connectors eat into your rack space.

For desktop users, I'm interested in your opinion on the angle of the P3 control panel. 
Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

Hi Colin

Good idea to seek feedback. I've voted in all the polls.

Regarding the case config vote desktop/rack, I voted rack, but if there was
a "both" option I'd have chosen that.

The flexibility of the P3 in this regard is excellent, I initially used it
desktop for a few years, now use it rackmount. Setups seldom stay the same
forever.

Only thing I'd ask for is a front panel on/off switch. :)

> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com 
> >[mailto:analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> >colinfraser_com
> >Sent: 08 February 2010 01:13
> >To: analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [analogue-sequencer] Case question
> >
> >Hi folks,
> >
> >I'm looking at a couple of different possible approaches to 
> >the production case for Cirklon, but one thing I've never 
> >been too sure about is the popularity of rackmount or 
> >desktop use for P3.
> >I'm going to create a poll here to find out - please take a 
> >few seconds to let me know.
> >
> >As with P3, I want to have a case that can be rackmounted 
> >without losing a U of rack space to the I/O.
> >But the recessed rear connectors on P3 made the case 
> >somewhat more complex (read: expensive) to produce.
> >If you're a rackmount user, please answer the poll on how 
> >important you consider not having connectors eat into your 
> >rack space.
> >
> >For desktop users, I'm interested in your opinion on the 
> >angle of the P3 control panel. 
> >Thanks in advance.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >Colin Fraser
> >Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
> >http://www.sequentix.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >

>>Only thing I'd ask for is a front panel on/off switch. :)<<

only if it's under some sort of little flappy guard thing....

I've just finished migrating one of my P3s onto a 3U panel (see other post) & pictures will follow when I've fitted the new knobs that arrived today. two things occur to me about this experience that may be germane to the design of the new beast:

unexpectedly, having the front panel controls a tad more intimately arranged makes the user experience better for me. as usual, ymmv. but I find that with the controls closer together, one's sense of touch is more involved than before, when I had to keep looking at the thing to find the right knob or whatever. I also like these aluminium knobs better than the rubbery plastic ones it came with, & will be replacing knobs all over my rig with them... they are available from some bloke in hong-kong via ebay, in huge quantities, & resemble the knobs seen on prophet-5 synths & other SCI stuff. like I say, pics to follow.

the other thing- I moved the data & tempo controls round to the side of the display/function keypad. this means fewer accidents when adjusting the controls of something adjacent in the rack, or else (if you're desktop-ing) they're just harder to bump by accident. I have also removed the larger part of the stem of the tempo control & left it knobless. it can still be operated easily but it less likely to be bumped in the heat of the moment.
I'd vote for either a "soft" tempo control or else a multi-turn pot.

duncan.

> I'd vote for either a "soft" tempo control or else a multi-turn pot.

There was a dedicated tempo knob on the first prototype Cirklon, but I
reassigned it to be a second sculpt pot over to the right.
No-one who saw that prototype seemed to think a dedicated tempo knob was the
best use of the space.

The current version has a soft tempo control as the default assignment for
the DATA encoder in play mode.
I haven't made tempo available in pattern edit, but since you you can switch
between pattern edit and play modes directly, it isn't a problem.
Being an encoder makes an accidental touch much less problematic than with a
pot that immediately jumps to the 'live' position.
But it's up to the right of the display anyway, where you're not very likely
to be waving your hand around.

Putting the power switch on the front panel would be a fairly major
mechanical problem.
The front panel UI board, which holds everything on the front except the LCD
display, occupies all the available space on the 3U panel.
The power switch is on a board that needs to be perpendicular to the panel,
so there isn't really anywhere it could go.
I had also been looking at how I might fit the SD-card slot on the front
panel, but that has the same problem - the space needed for a perpendicular
board with mounting brackets.
My current thinking is that the SD-card slot is not likely to see much use
anyway.
There's half a gig of flash pattern storage on the mainboard.

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

duncan wrote:

> the other thing- I moved the data & tempo controls round to the side of the display/function keypad. this means fewer accidents when adjusting the controls of something adjacent in the rack, or else (if you're desktop-ing) they're just harder to bump by accident. I have also removed the larger part of the stem of the tempo control & left it knobless. it can still be operated easily but it less likely to be bumped in the heat of the moment.
> I'd vote for either a "soft" tempo control or else a multi-turn pot.

I tend to lock the tempo for each bank so it always plays at the tempo I 
choose and I can't accidentally knock it... could be worth doing?

-- 
Paul
---
http://www.myspace.com/smokyfrog
http://www.youtube.com/WilyEPeyote

The on/off switch is no biggie. I only mentioned it because Paul would have
griped about it in the SOS review. ;)

Now it will be listed as a feature. :D

> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com 
> >[mailto:analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Colin Fraser
> >Sent: 08 February 2010 13:32
> >To: analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: RE: [analogue-sequencer] Re: Case question
> >
> > 
> >> I'd vote for either a "soft" tempo control or else a 
> >multi-turn pot.
> >
> >There was a dedicated tempo knob on the first prototype 
> >Cirklon, but I reassigned it to be a second sculpt pot over 
> >to the right.
> >No-one who saw that prototype seemed to think a dedicated 
> >tempo knob was the best use of the space.
> >
> >The current version has a soft tempo control as the default 
> >assignment for the DATA encoder in play mode.
> >I haven't made tempo available in pattern edit, but since 
> >you you can switch between pattern edit and play modes 
> >directly, it isn't a problem.
> >Being an encoder makes an accidental touch much less 
> >problematic than with a pot that immediately jumps to the 
> >'live' position.
> >But it's up to the right of the display anyway, where you're 
> >not very likely to be waving your hand around.
> >
> >Putting the power switch on the front panel would be a 
> >fairly major mechanical problem.
> >The front panel UI board, which holds everything on the 
> >front except the LCD display, occupies all the available 
> >space on the 3U panel.
> >The power switch is on a board that needs to be 
> >perpendicular to the panel, so there isn't really anywhere 
> >it could go.
> >I had also been looking at how I might fit the SD-card slot 
> >on the front panel, but that has the same problem - the 
> >space needed for a perpendicular board with mounting brackets.
> >My current thinking is that the SD-card slot is not likely 
> >to see much use anyway.
> >There's half a gig of flash pattern storage on the mainboard.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >Colin Fraser
> >Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
> >http://www.sequentix.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >

Hi my built P3 is around 10 -15 DEGREE in the file "photo" boops ed gold it's a 3U Best regard

--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, "colinfraser_com" <colin@...> wrote:

>
> Hi folks,
> 
> I'm looking at a couple of different possible approaches to the production case for Cirklon, but one thing I've never been too sure about is the popularity of rackmount or desktop use for P3.
> I'm going to create a poll here to find out - please take a few seconds to let me know.
> 
> As with P3, I want to have a case that can be rackmounted without losing a U of rack space to the I/O.
> But the recessed rear connectors on P3 made the case somewhat more complex (read: expensive) to produce.
> If you're a rackmount user, please answer the poll on how important you consider not having connectors eat into your rack space.
> 
> For desktop users, I'm interested in your opinion on the angle of the P3 control panel. 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Best regards,
> Colin Fraser
> Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
> http://www.sequentix.com
>