On 2/8/03 11:19 AM, "ps_minor < pscottm@... >" < pscottm@... >
wrote:

> --- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com , "James Husted"
> <james@e...> wrote:
>
>>
>> I agree with this 100%. The idea of having the section of the
> a155 not being
>> used is troublesome.
>
>
> well, i see your point but unless i'm mistaken, looking at my
> a155, only 4 sockets will be disabled by connecting to an a154,
> (start, stop, clock, and reset). what's the big deal
>
> imho, the amount of space wasted by adding a 154 to a 155 is
> negligible, 2 sq inches (approx 14 sq cm) of face plate area..
> was curious so i measured. to me, the new gains of adding an
> a154 far outweigh this loss.

I'm thinking more of electronics not being used. The electronics that
convert these inputs are not necessary if an external counter module is
used. These cost money. I think the A155 without the added unused
electronics that make up it's clock/reset circuitry and pcb would be cheaper
to make. Jacks and switches and the labor to mount them all cost more than
they do for just raw parts. Holes alone cost money. I used to design
metalwork for a pro audio company and every punch cost money, especially at
low quantities. The cost of the jacks a switches alone must be a couple of
dollars. Just look at the cost of a A180 or A181 and they have no
electronics.

>
> i think the a100 as a whole is a marvel of features-per-sq-inch
> as it is, so this loss of 4 sockets on one module (only when
> combined w an expander module) is not a problem.
>
> however, if this issue caused loss of potential HP space i may
> think differently.
>
> the way i see it, shortening the a155 to do away w the unused
> control section will not give you any HP space. the glide ouputs
> and s&h outputs are positioned right below the would-be 'dead'
> control section.

As far as space is concerned, remove these 4 jacks. Move the scale, glide
and range blocks down, move the trigger outputs above the glide pots, turn
the jacks for the glide/scale blocks into a single row and you have
shortened the unit by the width of the last row of jacks and start stop etc.
switches. But this is not the point anyway, I said to leave this unit alone
and still sell it as is. I suggest to make a *new* pot bank modules with
different layouts, 4 rows of pots (a 4x8 and a 2x16 version ) three rows, 16
. And a trigger module with 4 or more rows of toggle switches in a *much*
narrower module (so you can do 32 beat patterns). Things like this. I've
heard talk of the A154, but nothing of other versions of the A155.

-James

--
James Husted
The ErsatZ Planet Graphics & Sound
james@...
www.ersatzplanet.com