Re: [motm] Panel Ideas (long - sorry)
2002-01-31 by J. Larry Hendry
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From: thomas white <djthomaswhite@...> Schaeffer is an option but the quality of those guys verses our precious stooges two garage factory is meager at best. ---- Larry Hendry writes: Actually, I have seen some absolutely beautiful photos of panels from Schaeffer. I think most of JH custom panels come from there, but I will have to let him confirm / deny that. On most of the panels I see photographed at Oakley, there are no tick marks, which seems too "plain" for me. I believe when you start adding those, the cost goes up quite a bit. As far as other panels like the Blacet mixer for example, making that available for general consumption just does not make sense. When we originally made the Oakley mixer, there was no MOTM mixer. Now there is one and will be 2 when the micro-mixer comes out. Still, the Oakley mixer makes such a handy package for 3 separate reversing attenuators. With 3 mixers already in the MOTM format, will another 2U that requires extensive off-board pot mounting to convert from the original format actually sell? Now, I own the Blacet mixer. I wanted a mixer before I ever heard of Oakley and the Blacet mixer looked good. In fact, the Blacet mixer is a very nice mixer with built in controls for bias and LEDs to monitor if you have offset. I have a MOTM protoboard DIY mixer which was mostly modeled after the Blacet mixer, but incorporated the changes I wanted. So, not making the panel really has little to do with the mixer and more to do with marketing the panel. The Blacet Frequency divider is also in my rack. This is a module that I love / hate (sorry John). It is more of a pulse divider than it is an audio tool. Which of course, makes it a cool compliment to the MOTM-120 which is really the other way around. I made several modifications to mine. If I were to build it again, I would make more. The output is pulsed DC and not AC. So, if you want to use it for audio, you should really offset the output back to crossing zero. I would ditch the hex output buffer and put in some op amps for output buffering with a switch that would select them all to either (0-10v DC or +/- 5v AC). Anyhow, it is an interesting module I bought because of the divide by 1.5 and divide by 3 functions. However, I am now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the MOTM VC divider module. As far as panel fronts, Dave and I can make a one-off for any design. The issue is simply cost. The 2U panel I can sell for $23 is closer to $60 when I only make one because the fixed cost are all dumped on one module instead of spread across 20 like the pricing model we use for the ones we will sell many of. And, that does not include us doing the artwork. That other stooge refuses to work for free and actually wants to charge for his time to do layout work for one-offs. Go figure. <snicker> So, if someone has their heart set on a particular panel, e-mail me privately and we can make you one. But, you won't care for the price I am afraid. We make almost nothing on a single panels like this, but simply pass along the significant cost of starting a new design that we are charged from the screening/ printing person. Now, I actually have both my Frequency Divider and Blacet mixer on MOTM style panels in my rack. I did them using Ken Tkacs excellent printed paper splattered lacquer method. I have actually had people touch them and not realize they were not printed metal. I made one mistake that caused the paper to buckle that was caused by having to use holes through the front of the panel for mounting the bracket. Now that I have Stooge brackets, I could re-do it perfectly. I think this is a cheap option for one offs. But, if your wallet is fat, you can have the official Stooge version of almost anything that you want. It might surprise some Stooge panel buyers to know that we have made quite a few panels that you have never seen for that were made for DIY designs. In fact, that was the initial purpose of Stooge panels. On the next run, based on my e-mail, almost all of the new designs will be DIY panels for people who have their own circuits. Eventually, those that are appropriate may work their way into the public domain. Anyhow, here are photos of my Blacet Mixer and Frequency Divider. http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/misc/mix.jpg http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/misc/fd.jpg The photos are not that good as they were taken long before I got my digital camera. Aside from the paper coming lose around the bracket holding screw holes, they look great. With what I learned doing these two, I am certain I will do much better next time. I cannot take credit for the idea or the layout. Ken Tkacs is the guy who taught me how to do this. He has some details about how to do it at his website: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/KenTkacs/mainProjectsModular.htm These were printed on a regular laser printer. Ken tell me he gets similar results on a ink jet. OK, long enough. Larry