You only need a common bus if you're going to spread your VCOs and
ADSRs across cases. In a 6U or even 9U system it would be perfectly
feasable to keep these modules in one case on a single bus, to avoid
having to tie the buses together.

The cost of the 3U and 6U cases is mostly comprised of the power
supply, that's why the prices aren't that different. The actual 3U or
6U case and bus boards are sort of "thrown in" with the power
supply. Respects to Timothy, but neither is more "economical" than the
other, it all depends on how many power supplies you want or need, and
how you want to distribute the load among them. I use two 3U cases
and a 6U case - it provides more flexibility in the configuration, and
the power-hungry modules can be allocated to the smaller cases to
reduce the load on each individual power supply.

It would be fun and probably satisfying to make your own case, but I
don't think there's be any economic advantage to it.

Joe

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com , "Tim Stinchcombe <timothy@t...>"
<timothy@t...> wrote:

> Hi Neil,
>
> > how would i go about building an extra 3u case ontop of this to

put

> > the extra modules in and build into.
> > do i just need a blank case and then put the buss board thats
> > available as an accessory in and join them together
> > anyone in the UK know where to get cases from
>
> Coincidently I have just been wondering whether I could make up the
> cases cheaper than buying them ready-made from EMIS. Conclusion - I
> doubt it. Firstly with only about £20 difference between the G3 and
> G6 cases, unless you need a small case, the G3 is not very economic.
> Also, if you join the 'Doepfer Owners Club' that Andy Horrell of
> EMIS 'runs', you get about 10% off all prices - if you get a thirst
> for more modules (very likely to happen...!) you recoup the 'joining
> fee' very quickly. So, the DOC price for a G6 is £175. You would

need

> 1 PSU and 2 bus boards to put in it. These are £44 and £23 resp,
> total £90. This doesn't include any panels yet, in particular the
> back panel with the power receptacle and switch. Doepfer do actually
> sell these as 'spares', at 35 euros, say £25. This leaves £60 for

the

> side, top and bottom panels, all the rails and threadstrips etc.

Even

> assuming you could find someone to sell them at half this £60

figure,

> the hassle in a) trying to find a supplier, and b) having to screw

it

> all together (one would probably need to order all the screws
> separately as well....), for my money, just isn't worth the other 30
> quid!!
>
> But don't let me put you off too much - it _is_ possible to put your
> own cases together, and the Doepfer stuff is a 'standard' size (but
> there are several 'standards'!), so if you want to build a custom
> rack or just happen to come across something that will do, then go
> for it.
>
> Haven't got anything other than Doepfer stuff, so can't comment on
> others, but don't forget that the A-108 filter is also a Moog ladder
> type (which I do have, and sounds good!).
>
> Regards,
> Tim