MOTM

To offer a different point of view to all who think MOTM is "too" 
stringently designed.

I built my 40 module home system from the ground up and placed each module 
into my own custom design arrangement here in my dual wood cabinets. Because 
of this I never "Don't Know" or "Have Trouble" finding a knob or where one 
of my own modules is. My whole synth is arranged in the most personally 
ergonomic way for my patching preferences. Each of us have had to build or 
arrange the MOTM this way do to the lack of cabinetry available right? So 
who loses track of their modules in the system they built themselves? I have 
a hard time not knowing exactly what part of my cabinet my modules are in 
because they are in sections like VCO bank, filter bank EG bank VCA bank. 
I'm sorry but if you can't tell the differences maybe you should paint your 
modules different colors or something.  No offense meant only I'm tired o 
hearing people bitching about the colors, spacing and layout of these 
modules. Its the sound that gets recorded right? I have DIY built my own 
modules including the Stooge panels and I know for sure I F'ed up the grid 
when drilling those. I even have one similar to the UEG in spacing with a 
silver panel that "works" great for me and the listeners of my music never 
see a thing HA! Maybe we should all go buy some Prada or Versace' clothes, 
get a haircut and take fashion pictures next to our modulars JK! Well a 
naked model sounds good anyways, I wonder if she'll fit laying all spread 
out on the top of my cabinet like the front of a custom car?

Also, on the new Filter bank, I think it would be fine to comprimise the 
design if we had to, but bottom line is since it is in a 3u panel we "Don't 
have to" and we can add more features like the gain pot mentioned, inverted 
output and the like. I obviously voted on Yahoo for the traditional MOTM 
layout but will buy the module regardless. I just hope all care is taken to 
make the module the best it can be in the bigger 3u. Can we have individula 
outs for the lowpass and highpass responses?

All just my opinions and maybe some agree while some don't. Aren't opinions 
grand? Comments?

Thomas White


>From: "rogerpellegrini" <pellegrini_roger@...>
>To: motm@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [motm] Re: Grids, Layouts, Ergonomics
>Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 15:37:25 -0000
>
>I apologize if this going over old ground, and I understand I may be
>invoking the wrath of the devoted, but in my humble opinion, the
>rigid grid MOTM panel design is a considerable drawback to the
>system.  My opinion is that the Moog design approach (or to differing
>degrees the design of Arp 2500, Cirocco modulars, or Polyfusion
>systems) is superior in that anyone familiar with the modules can
>identify functions easily from a distance, a goal of good human
>interface design.  To my eye, for example, no two Moog modules look
>alike, whereas (nearly) all the MOTM modules do.  Look at the
>dashboards of well-designed cars and you will see differently shaped
>and sized buttons whose functions relate to their appearance and can
>be identified from a distance by a driver whose attention is (mostly)
>elsewhere.  Those dashboards with rows of identical buttons are
>criticized in the automotive press.
>
>To put this in context, I use a medium-sized modular Moog augmented
>with a smattering of modules from MOTM, Synth.com and Blacet.  I've
>also designed a few panels of my own over the last 20 years.
>Recently, faced with the choice of purchasing Mixer, Noise and Sample
>& Hold modules, I chose the Synth.com modules over the MOTM modules,
>simply from an ergonomic standpoint, and despite the superior
>specifications of the MOTM offerings.  I truly do like the MOTM
>modules I currently have, and will purchase more, but there is room
>for improvement in the interface design.
>
>In any case, please consider the advantages of "varying the grid",
>allowing for different knob types, and functional layout choices when
>considering new panel designs.  And thank you in advance for being
>open minded enough to consider other points of view.
>




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Just from my perspective:

I will be the first to admit that the overall "look" of MOTM is boring, but I did NOT want it to
look like a Moog. I think that look is unique, and I for one disagree on .com's choice of that
format. Call it 'sacred ground' or whatever.

Believe me, I looked at front panel graphics/colors/formats/etc for at LEAST 3 months straight.
It's like finding the perfect car: it doesn't exist. The really nice/cool panels cost too much.
For example, I talked to Millennnia Media (http://www.mil-media.com/docs/products/origin.shtml)
about their gorgous anodized panels (1U 19" size). Gee, the "cheap" ones they pay $80ea and the
"relly nice ones" are $140ea. Of course these are $3500 mic pre/compressors, but you get my
drift. Then, actually *finding* somebody to make them is a nightmare. Ask Larry H. about the
HORRORS of dealing with machine shops. As a broad generalization, many of these places are on the
level of a Honest Fred's Plumbing, Honest Sid's Car Repair and Used Car Emporium, etc. MOTM is
tough on these guys because of the small runs. I have *already* been given the boot by a supplier
because they "only accept orders in excess of $50,000".

Trust me, I agonized many sleepless nights over the panel "look and feel". Is it
ugly/boring/nerdy? Again, I am a boring EE nerd. My #1 gear lust is an Audio Precision System II
(http://www.audioprecision.com/products/system_two/index.htm) which is as stupid-looking as
humanly possible, yet contains (literally) the world's best audio circuitry. I *completely
understand* the look of something being important, especially something you spend multiple
thousands of dollars for. There is obvious a "pride of ownership" involved.

It would be nice to be CMS, sell 1 modular a year and have engraved panels :) I elected for a
more DIY-look, boring sort of panel that I could ACTUALLY GET MADE. But, if I ever go to product
in a 19" rack, it's $150 panels, baby!!

<Paul S>

----- Original Message -----

From: Tkacs, Ken <ken.tkacs@...>

hello all,
i have a can of worms, and a can opener :-)

> patchcords, and nice, big knobs. But as for the visual aspect, the extra
> microseconds that the brain has to scan for a clue in the "sea of knobs"
(as
> I dubbed it here three years ago) add up. This is a real simple ergonomic
> concept... Industrial Design 101. (Okay, not all of us have degrees in ID.
> But I do, so please take my word for it.)

thinking about it, the way i identify my modules quickly is by pot & switch
layout so i only ever get confused between the 420, 440 & 830 - oh yes, and
two JLH modules together can throw me
while it may cause all kind of arguments on form factor, the simple placing
of a switch can make the world of difference, if you have the choice

> Why do we have lower case letters in our alphabet? Why not just use all
> caps?

lower case letters are an evolution via the early printing presses of
handwriting
specifically in serifed fonts (ie the ubiquitous times new roman) the serif
is there to aid the flow from one letter to another - without the serif it
is all to easy to 'jump' lines in a text

erm, i got bored...
anyway aren't we all arguing in agreement (though to be honest i've not been
reading the posts that closely)

to quote Henry Ford "any colour so long as it's black"


cheers
paul b

Maybe its just me, but I never quite get this argument. It reminds me of people wanting to write the letters of the notes onto the keyboard. Last time I checked, a violin didn't have frets and a guitar didn't have letters written on it. OK, a violin is a different animal...or is it? It isn't if Paul and the other guys making modulars can be considered a "post-modern" version of instrument craftmenship. 

Point being: Visual interface be damned. For those that can play the piano, ever get slapped on the wrist during a lesson as a child for looking at the keyboard? One doesn't make music with their eyes, one does is it with their hands and ears. 

I dont have as many modules as many of you, but I can stare out of my bedroom where I am typing this and look into my living room at my modules and I know what each knob is from here. On the 4 times I brought the beast out to a gig in the last month, I put the damn thing behind me and successfully altered envelopes, filter settings, and changed waveforms. 

There are things I certainly have to look at, but thats because Im still learning how to play this thing. And yes, flashing lights are cool, but unnecassary except as a reminder for clock speeds. 

just my 2 cents
Rob

PS orders shipping any time soon? last I was read, 390s and 890s would be available mid-April