Panels for the future?

Eurorack
#35

When you mention PCB panels in my profession that referenced Print Circuit Boards.
If you are talking front panels, I’m guessing your usage of PCB means something else??
If so what?

If you are referring to some type of plastic, please keep in mind that Plastic scratches very easy and depending on the electronics used in the modules, especially IC electronics, that plastic is an insulator that can generate a significant ESD charge on it just from air flow especially in the Winter dry air.

This can damage some IC’s which can be damaged with as little as 20 volts. I’ve personally observed plastic panels that have generated over 10,000 volts with just air flow.
Parts can be damaged even without a discharge that you can feel.

For this reason I would highly recommend staying with Metal faceplates.

Personally I would really like to see all your modules offered in both White or light Grey backgrounds and Black backgrounds.

I have been reading many users wanting to see Black panels like myself and it seems that offering both choices would be an excellent selling point. I have even read where some users won’t use Intellijel products if they don’t come out with Black backgrounds.

Myself I am very interested in purchasing the Planar 2 but have been holding off waiting for the Black background.

Black with White, Silver, or especially Gokd lettering looks fantastic.

I hope you will seriously consider and launch Black backgrounds on all your products in the very near future.

Thanks,
James
:smiley:

#36

Please don’t turn all your panels black, I love the clean aesthetic your panels have.

Don’t jump on the black panel bandwagon.

4 Likes
#37

I would prefer all black modules but I made a conscious decision to go with whatever’s cheaper instead of being picky about panel color. So I couldn’t blame Intellijel for making the same decision. That said, if black panels were available…

#38

Without any intention to do so, I’ve ended up with half my modules from Intellijel. I love the look, love the function. I have some black modules too, and don’t mind mixing and matching at all. But I’d vote to keep things as close to the current look as possible - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

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#39

Earlier in the year we managed to find a new panel supplier and the quality plus consistency has greatly improved. We are very happy with this change and it will allow us to maintain our current style in a much better way.

I do like the look of an all black system but I have noticed that these provide far worse legibility when working in low light situations. I also like dark grey or white panel systems too. Frankly there are lot’s of nice color options but the key to looking good is total uniformity of color and texture. This can only be achieved when your system is made by only one brand.

So why do people specifically want black panels? I feel like it is a bit of herd mentality that got out of hand as is often the case in Eurorack. Perhaps in a couple of years everyone will be asking for pure white panels in powdercoat?

Making black panels does not guarantee any kind of uniformity because so many different manufacturers have their own version of “black”, especially with respect to what material is used to make the panel:

-pcb material (matte or shiny)
-powder coated
-metalphoto

There are different shades of black on top of this. You still end up with a system that is a hodge-podge unless it is all from one manufacturer.

@Minatorymodular The panels we currently use are actually far more expensive than pcb or regular metalphoto for that matter.

I love tinkering with design and intellijel has certainly learned a lot (and hopefully evolved) over the years. As our design language continues to mature and we explore different panel production methods it would be fun to try a new direction at some point. Who knows, this year may yield some big surprises and we have been kind of quiet for a while. It is our 10th anniversary after all…

5 Likes
#40

I couldn’t agree more. I like the look of Moog modulars, but black is only one part of their aesthetic - the font, the contrasting metal panel edges, the layout of controls and jacks, etc., all contribute to their visual appeal. WMD said their new black panels are more robust than their old aluminum panels, but I have to wonder, just how robust does a panel need to be? Aluminum is already stronger than PCB, and a lot of people don’t have a problem with PCB (I do though).

I love the aesthetic of a material’s texture, whether it’s the wood grain of an acoustic instrument, or aluminum that’s been brushed/sandblasted/whatever, or just the natural grain of metal. I have some Magpie panels, and the patterns are cool, but I got over it pretty quickly once I saw them up close, and I realized I don’t really like powder coating. (Plus, their (silkscreened?) lettering isn’t sharp, a major disappointment.) It’s too bad they can’t produce the same patterns on their panels using something like Metalphoto.

I’d kill for a system with panels/case like the metal surface of the Korg Minilogue PG though. Or some way to finish my Palette case that way.

2 Likes
#41

I prefer black panels because I come from a metal aesthetic. A visually dark instrument subtly nudges me into the right mindset for dark music. But again, aesthetic concerns are not worth more money to me. I have a silver panel on a module even though a black replacement panel is only $40 extra. Panels don’t make sound. But I’ll always opt for black if there’s no price difference.

It might be herd mentality, or it might be people who always wanted black panels but couldn’t find them anywhere. When manufacturers started making black panels, it’d make sense that people would realize it was now a viable option.

That said, I like the clarity of Intellijel panels. It’s a big draw for me. If a black panel conflicts with that, I wouldn’t ask anyone to go against a core design goal. And manufacturing concerns and price are much more important.

1 Like
#42

i saw a pic of a black pcb metropolis recently and didnt really dig it. im on team dark gray now. it would contrast and fit with the current look better, and still appease people like me who have lots of other dark colored modules

#43

I’m with you, Danjel. Even though I love the way black panels look in my two 7U Black Performance Cases, I also very much love the look of the standard Intellijel natural look aluminum panels.

For my own custom modules I settled on black anodized aluminum with white graphics. I noticed that the lack of gloss in the black greatly increases visibility of the graphics in the dark, although you can’t beat black lettering on natural or white panels for that!

As an aside, can you share with us who your new panel supplier is? Thanks!

Please give us many more years of your outstanding products!

#44

I honestly like the current Intellijel panels, and the Tiptop panels, and the Make Noise panels. I understand this is an important decision, but I’ll very likely keep buying Intellijel modules, no matter which direction you go.

Although, while we’re on the topic of panels, there is one thing I like about the current Intellijel design language — everything is incredibly clear and obvious. It may make the modules appear less interesting than some of the wilder eurorack offerings, but it does mean they’re easier to use, and quicker to work with. That could definitely continue if they’re matte black PCBs though.

1 Like
#45

Invariably, tastes will change with time, and sure, there is some “herd mentality” factor there. However, the whole notion of a modular format with some sort of compatibility standard, is that artists can mix and match components from different manufacturers to create whatever audio system they want or need. Subsequently, if manufacturers refuse to conform to a single aesthetic standard (boy, that ship has sailed), then everyone’s modular systems necessarily become more of a stylistic hodgepodge as they expand. Sure, there are those few that build single manufacturer systems, but they are obviously in the extreme minority, as are those that have the resources to manufacture their own custom panels.

Many don’t mind the clash of panel styles, but a good number of us (myself included) attempt to maintain some sort of visual continuity in order to at least create the sense of a single custom instrument. Because manufacturers have long since abandoned a single uniform panel style, the only hope for those of us chasing visual continuity is that manufacturers offer various panel options.

Offering panel options is clearly more expensive for the manufacturers. These days it seems that manufacturers can please most customers by simply offering a choice of black or white/light gray (2HP, Qu-Bit, Doepfer, EMW, Happy Nerding, Schlappi, Synth Tech). Some offset the expense by offering replacement panels at additional cost (4MS, XAOC). A precious few (ADDAC, Ladik) accept custom orders for almost any panel color, but again requiring an additional fee.

It isn’t about following the herd or jumping on the band wagon (for most of us).

I believe offering panel options is in the best spirit of modular, allowing customers to build a system that not only operates the way they want, but looks the way they want. Manufacturers that limit their panel options necessarily limit their customer base. Offering options doesn’t have to be more expensive for the manufacturer, as most customers don’t mind paying the extra fee for a replacement panel if it is important to them. Offering options does require some extra effort in logistics and bookkeeping, but expanding one’s customer base seems like it would be worth the trade off.

While that is true, the argument seems specious as it also applies just as much to white/gray panels. White Intellijel panels don’t match white NLC panels, either. Honestly, I don’t think most eurorack enthusiasts expect perfect uniformity. The vast majority requesting panel options are really just looking for a modicum of visual continuity in their eurorack systems.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

2 Likes
#46

It does not apply “just as much to white/gray panels.” Aluminum panels are not white, even though some people call them that for the sake of simplicity at the cost of accuracy. Comparing them to white-painted PCB panels is a lot different than comparing black aluminum to black PCB.

I do admit that there are differences in the appearance of aluminum panels (not including the obvious difference of Whimsical Raps) - even comparing my Quadratt to my USB Power 1U or 2HP 1U blanks, there is a slight difference (Quadratt is more like Mutable, USB/blanks are more like Happy Nerding or Transient Modules). However, any color and/or texture differences are very small compared to the sharpness of the edges, a difference which is independent of color. With black panels, the differences in color and/or texture can be more pronounced, since color coatings come into play.

Obviously, none of this invalidates the desire for quasi-uniformity in the form of black panels. But to say the lack of uniformity is the same with aluminum panels is not true.

1 Like
#47

I think because I lumped all white and gray panels together, I may have muddied my own point. I could have expressed myself better. That’s my bad.

I should have said something like:

I believe the non-uniformity among black panels applies just as much to [insert color here] panels. If you try to build a system with any single color panel scheme and you have modules from different manufacturers, then your eurorack system necessarily looks like a hodge-podge to some extent. Black panel systems are not unique in this regard. They don’t result in any less “uniformity” than an all white system. Therefore, I don’t think that Danjel’s assertion that “Making black panels does not guarantee any kind of uniformity” is a valid reason to not offer a black panel option.

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#48

Agree. My pref is black metal like Erica or qubit. Only thing stopping me buying your modules. Planar 2 would be instant buy.

#49

I’m fine with PCB panels, as long as it’s not that horrible, cheap looking, super glossy white PCB stuff like 4MS has taken to using. IDRC whether it’s silk-screened or whatever, but I’d still love a light/medium/dark option when buying modules.

#51

Does anyone have the technical drawings dimensions for the planar 2 faceplate they wouldn’t mind sharing? Making a black faceplate and don’t want to mess it up!

#52

I’m a huge fan of the monochrome / grayscale design on Metropolix (with just the tiny dots of colour on the logo) and in particular how the buttons go from art print to Rockefeller Center tree lighting when you turn it on. I think it’s pretty much perfect. For my money, its Intellijel’s best looking module and I would love to see a similar design language cascaded to the rest of the range either in refreshes or as updated panels. A matching Atlantis would kill.

No real preference on black panels. The OCD side of me gets that a lot of modular users feel compelled to try and achieve a consistent look and feel, but I kind of like having a patchwork of silver, black, white, grey and others. I really dislike PCB panels though. They feel brittle and cheap to me (not sure if that’s founded or not) and I’ve been put off buying modules where they are the only option.

#53

So I’m curious now: Did Intellijel in fact at one point change their panels? I started buying Intellijel modules new in January, I have over a dozen of them, and the panels all look identical. Does that mean I have all “new” panels?

#54

It’s very minor / subtle, but there are the occasional use of color on labels, outs, knobs and buttons on older modules (cf Plonk, Rubicon 2, Rainmaker) and Metropolix seems much starker / looks sleeker / more streamlined (to me at least). There was a panel update for Atlantis at some point, but not sure if others have occurred. Design has been pretty consistent with a possible gradual progress to plainer presentation in recent years I feel?

#55

Yes, if you look at older modules like Azimuth, Dr Octature or Hex VCA you can see what the older panels looked like. They were a bit of a duller silver compared to the newer ones. The module name had a black border, and Intellijel was completely black without the red dots. They also show Intellijel Designs instead of just Intellijel, with designs in a black border alongside the robot logo. Some of the older ones often had blue or black lines to show signal flow or to separate sections. I’m not sure when the panel update was made, but it was at least 6 years ago.

If you go on modulargrid and add something like Rubicon 1, Dixie II, Linix, or Korgasmatron II to your rack, you can click the arrows to go through the various faceplate versions.

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