> this applies to both versions: why not separate each of the mini

"channel-strips" into

> individual modules, each with an input at the front, but the output as a

ribbon cable,

> connected to the next module at the end of the chain you'd need a 4TE

module with the

> output jacks, or possibly a second version with 6,5mm jacks
>
> would four channels be that much more expensive in such a form

Yes a bit. The price of the electronics would remain the same. But the price
of several small front panels is much higher than one large single front
panel because the sanding, anodizing and silk screen is calculated per piece
and nearly independent from the size of the panel. I expect that you will
have to add about Euro 10 additional charges for each sub-unit compared to
the version with one large panel.

> the advantages of an open number of channels are obvious enough, and a low

cost/low

> space mini-a109 could prove handy in many a situation.

I agree that your idea has a lot of advantages: the number of sub-units can
be chosen by the customer (not fixed to 4 any other quantity) and additional
expansions (e.g. filter type converter for other slopes than lowpass, e.g.
high, band, notch, allpass with several dB/oct) can be added much easier and
at the user's conception.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer