Re: PRO-3 Delivery

["Mark Longo" <longo@zk3.dec.com>]

>       How many of you would like to use the connector (is it 11 pin ?) on 
> an XB-2 as the signal send and speed control to a PRO-3 instead of the 1/4
> inch wich forces use of a external speed control ? (A footswith comes 
> with the PRO-3). An adapter is being considered if there is enough demand.

        YES-YES-YES-YES-YES!!!

        The 11-pin cable carries balanced audio (I think), a signal indicating 
that the XB-2's power has been turned on (the Leslie 302 powers on when this 
signal is active allowing you to turn on 302's power switch with the XB-2's 
power 
switch), and most importantly, the Leslie fast/slow signal.  If the PRO-3 
accepts 
the 11-pin cable it would enable the following important XB-2 features, listed 
in 
order of decending importance (to me):

        1.  Use of the XB-2 Leslie speed tab switch/indicator light

        2.  Use of either momentary or standard toggle foot switches 
            plugged into the XB-2 to control Leslie speed AND send MIDI
            controller info to other devices (with XB-2 Leslie speed 
            indicator light feedback).

        3.  Slightly better audio quality (less ambient noise, higher 
            S/N ratio) via balanced audio.  This is debatably unimportant
            since the XB-2 signal is so noisy that balancing it is a little 
            moot.  This may not be true, however, for the XB-3, etc.

        While I'm at it, here are a few other PRO-3 features/additions I'd love 
to see:

        * Effects loop.  This is needed to use an EQ with the XB-2 since the 
XB-2's effects loop should not be used for EQ'ing.  Having recently begun using 
my XB-2 through an EQ with amazing results, I consider use of an EQ with my 
XB-2 
to be compulsory.  Since I can't plug the XB-2 11-pin cable into an EQ 
directly, 
I'll need an effects loop in the PRO-3.  If you invent an outboard 11-pin=>1/4" 
adapter box, I could route signals to EQ/effects post-adapter and pre-PRO-3, 
but 
having an 11-pin male and an effects loop in a PRO-3 back panel would be far 
more 
convenient and reliable.  Al Goff says many of his pro's use EQ's with the XB-2.

        * Rotor speed adjust.  It would be highly desirable to add an internal 
pot for adjusting the rotor's fast speed.

        * Cut-off options.  I do respect your choice of 700Hz for the hi/lo 
cutoff point, and not having yet heard a PRO-3 I have no basis for even 
mentioning this, yet I can't help but wonder if an internal jumper option for 
800Hz wouldn't be useful.

        I would cheerfully pay extra for any of the above mentioned options.  
Actually I was figuring I'd wind up paying someone to make these changes 
after-market anyway, but factory installed is preferable!

        Thanks for listening John!!

        Mark

=======================================================================
  Mark Longo                                    Digital Equipment Corp. 
  longo@zk3.dec.com                             Nashua, NH
  88 8200 030