The banana vs phone debate

[Feifer]

Hey everyone. Just got here, and did the search for this but didn't find anything, and since this subforum has some foot traffic, and I'm using Ray Wilson's stuff I though I'd post it here.

I'm just starting off in modular synth and I'm having a little buyers remorse about my 1/4" phone jacks. I've only made a VCO and a VCF so far, so it's not too late to switch over. I just wanted to hear what other people were using and the pros and cons you considered before I really get married to a particular format.

Here is my dilemma:
I'm already on the phone path (as stated), and it would be nice to test plug into my amp to any point in the patch. Easier to ground multiple modules. On the con side, the cables are big and heavy, make the whole panel larger.

As for bananas, smaller, simpler, and it would be really nice to be able to stack one on top of the other. Con on this is that I'm changing horses mid-river. No shielding (although I'm told this isn't a big deal).

There is also 1/8" phone jacks, if anyone wants to weigh in on that can of worms. Anyways, please give me some opinions. What is everyone using, do you like it, and why?

Thanks

[elmegil]

Why do I suddenly want to channel Raffi?

Sadly I don't think I have a good justification; I like 1/4" jacks, but I've always had a jones for for Wendy Carlos' wall-o-moog, so I don't think it's particularly based in any reality about the jacks.

Some say they're more robust....

[PHOBoS]

hmm I use 1/4" jacks for my modular synth, banana's for some digital stuff or circuit bend instruments and
sometimes 1/8"jacks aswell. For me the 1/4" jacks and patch cables are cheapest to get so that's the
main reason, because you need a lot of them Else banana's would probably be my first choice
with all the pros you mentioned and they also come in nice colors. I never realy liked 1/8" jacks, too
small and they always feel like they can break easily but you can get some quality ones. The only reason I use
them sometimes is because of size (that and I got a whole bag of them years ago for cheap)

that and:

[ashleym]

I am a banana man. Over this side of the pond we can get ready made stacking cables 500mm long from Rapid for about 80p, cheaper than you can make them up for. Cables are very easy to make up or repair. You can stuff bare wire in with a matchstick if you really need to!!

Colours, strength and stackability as mentioned are all positives too. You can save on panel writing by having an in/out, control/audio colour coding. You can also get higher socket density and this adds up across a whole system.

You do need the odd earth point and breakout jack socket for the final output or external triggers (MIDI or CV-gate etc).