Hi Group, and thanks for your many suggestions about how I might use banana cords to
interface with a Serge system.

Well, I've ordered but not yet received a pretty larger Doepfer system, and based on the
advice received here, am prepared to drill out the plastic in the middle of the 3.5mm
mini-plugs just a bit so as to to allow them to receive 4 mm banana plugs. (instead of
patch bays or adapter cables, etc.)

I understand now that I have to disconnect ground from ever "banana adapted" socket or
else I would ground out the signal coming in on the banana.

However, I can't understand why trying to use banana jacks in normaled sockets would
not create a similar problem. I dunno, but need to know soon - since I don't intend to
touch a normaled socket until I do.

THE ONE THING I CAN'T FIGURE OUT IS:

James (or was it Korhan ) wrote:

> > if carefully done the tip part of the jack could still be used and make
> > contact with the banana and EVEN THE NORMALIZING PRESERVED.

I admit to being no expert and certainly capable of asking questions without being able to
understand the (correct) answer, but I don't really get it and I certainly want to make sure
before I stick a a banana pug in a drilled out/enalarged NORMALED socket.

Do I need to:

(1) just leave the normaled mini-phone sockets ALONE and only drill out the sockets that
aren't

(2) somehow disable the normaling and waste a patch cord or 4 now and then (& If so,
how )

(3) treat normaled sockets just like the rest

It's this 3rd option I don't understand, and is why I write.

I looked at a schematic of a switched jack and it looked like "normally" the normaled
connection between 2 contacts is broken by the insertion of a mini-plug (The insertion
separates 2 contacts that would "normally" be connected)

Here's the part that worries me – while the normalled connection is broken, one contact is
touching the tip of the mini-phone jack and the other contact is isolated and touching the
sleeve (or whatever you call it) of the mini-plug.

So. since the banana plug has no sleeve, the two contacts would NOT be isolated and the
connection between the 2 contacts would NOT be broken when a banana plug is inserted.

Also, seems like the same banana plug would be connected to both contacts and – So,
what would happen to the signal carried by the banana cable It seems like this might
result in stacking inputs (1. the normalled input that wasn't disconnected with the plug
was inserted and 2. the signal coming from the plug itself.)

Well, the "question" turned out longer than I expected. Sorry, but I'd appreciate any
advice. I hope I'm wrong and can somehow use normalled inputs with banana plugs, but I
dunno... Whattaya think

Thank
Billy

P.S. Please let me know if any of you have any ideas or can foresee any potential
problems, etc. Thanks again!

-- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com , amnesia <amnesia@...> wrote:

>
> Hi all
>
> Yes that was my Euro Serge system, Ken Stone started out with banana
> plugs then worked out to drill the plastic jacks...so now my system has
>
> Banana Jacked euro modules
> drilled modules
> and 2 mults that are half banana and half not tampered with
>
> see here
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/cray5656/2266122863/
>
> so any of the doepfers that gave the lack jacks are now bananas via drilling
>
> Ken Stone is a smart cookie
>
> Ross
>
>
>
>
>
>
> James Husted wrote:
> >
> >
> > On May 29, 2008, at 8:12 AM, Korhan Erel wrote:
> >
> > > You can take care of the grounding problem by connecting the audio
> > > outputs of both modulars to the same mixer, can't you
> > >
> >
> > In most cases this will work fine unless the mixer has isolated
> > grounds (very rare). The only thing needed really is only on ground
> > line between both units. A medium gauge wire from module mounting
> > screws would do it in most cases.
> >
> > I've erased my emails so don't know who posted it but someone
> > mentioned the method of drilling out and enlarging the holes in the
> > current plastic jacks and still using them - brilliant idea! if
> > carefully done the tip part of the jack could still be used and make
> > contact with the banana and even the normalizing preserved. It would
> > be time consuming for sure and disassembly and re-assembly of the
> > jacks contacts needed but it would look great and still support the pcb.
> >
> > -James
> >
> >
>