Xpantastic!

Hmm? Turning Xpander/M12 on and off several times daily in order to save the life-time 
of the VFD displays may not be a good idea. By the way, how long is the envisaged life-
time of these displays?

I'm considering this because I know that electronics may be kept turned constanly ON in 
many professional studios, because it is a fact that chips and other components most 
often fail when being switched on or off. I don't recommend, but you can prove this by 
switching your gear on and of repeatedly very many times, heh, heh.

In the Guinness World Record Book there was mentioned that the oldest light bulb was in 
a Firestation in Boston. If I remember correctly, it had been working without problems 
since 1860s! The reason was that it had never been switched off. 

I wish the manufactures would more carefully recommend what is best for their synth. I 
have only seen recommendations that you should avoid quickly turning the electronics on 
and off, and, that you should remove the power in case the synthesizer is not being used 
for a long period of time. Apple recommends Macs being switched off if not used for two 
days or more, but I suspect that old analog instruments don't like being switched off so 
often - unless they get otherwise too hot, which is bad too, ofcourse. This is a delicate 
problem, but what is really best for an old Xpander or Matrix-12, I don't know. In any 
case, I keep on switching them on and of on a daily basis, because I'm afraid letting them 
on, if there are no-one in the house.

Any other thoughts?