#102

That’s for the courts (or at least a lawyer). Patents can be narrow. They can also be broad. It’s all too damn complex if you ask me. I would never try to make sense out of it in a specific situation without the assistance of an IP lawyer.

#103

granted, it just seemed like a contradiction to their own logic. but then perhaps the patent covers enough to be applied to the modularaddict version (i tried reading the patent but gave up…)

1 Like
#104

They are acting as if they’ve never heard of their cables failing. :thinking:

#105

I’m surprised how negative the facebook and MW threads have become towards TipTop. People seem to assume that TipTop have been ripping them off all these years, without any evidence of the cost behind the R&D and manufacture of the stackcable (besides that 2 stackcables can perform the same role as 1 8-channel passive mult for a lower cost). Nothing in eurorack is “cheap,” which I think people understand because these are all small operations…

1 Like
#106

If their cables are so superior to Modular Addict’s, as they claim, they should differentiate themselves with that. Make a YouTube video showing in what ways their product is clearly superior (durability, build quality, audio quality, etc.) - that is a constructive thing to do, and would only earn them good points and bolster their reputation with the community.

On the other hand, choosing the litigation route, towards which they seem to be headed, is going to piss off a bunch of people - especially since there’s so much prior art for stacking cables, as others have pointed out.

In fact, this could very well blow up in their face - if the court rules that their patent does not cover any possible form of stacking 3.5mm cables, then the door will be wide open for everyone to make their own stacking cables. I sincerely hope that things turn out this way, and I thank ModularAddict for giving a few kicks to the anthill - it seems like everyone was holding off on making stacking cables, in fear of the TTA patent, when - again - stacking cables have been around for over half a century, and there’s no reason why a single company should have the monopoly for 3.5mm versions.

EDIT: by the way, here’s a link to the patent if anyone’s interested:

https://www.google.com/patents/US8033860

This MW thread is also interesting - for example, one learns that Arturia is paying money to TTA (they bundle stacking cables with their *brute synthesizers):

https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=138602

1 Like
#107

I was looking to order patch cables and found this deal on reverb this morning. Haven’t ever used them but just ordered some.

#108

How are these working out for people? Worth buying?

#109

I’m coming to the conclusion that for a small rack, different sizes aren’t really all that helpful to me, so I’m about to get a bunch of ~50cm, and I’m thinking it would be cool if they were all a uniform color.

I’m leaning towards the modular addict stacking cables, but now I’m left with the most difficult decision of all:

WHICH COLOR?!

#110

I mainly ordered them as backups or extras. Despite the fact that I have a lot of cables, I do find myself running out of them, especially for large complicated setups for live performances. So, these were my safety net, and I am yet to really work with a lot of them.

Having said that, I have messed a bit when they first arrived, and my feelings were mixed about the physical size of the barrel mold. Stacking just two of them feels precarious: they are slim and tall, and it feels like it would be easy to push and bend them when they are stacked. I would not want to stack three high for sure. But that is rarely a necessity: I am used to chaining stackables so rarely more than two up.

#111

I also spent a lot of time selecting colors and lengths, only to find out AFTER I placed the order that they did not have about half of my order with the specific color/length specs… (was bummed because the site did not indicate out of stock for these items…).

#112

That’s a bummer. :frowning:

#113

Granted, it was fairly shortly after they released them, so they might have underestimated the demand, but still, it threw my idea of color uniformity right out of the window.

#114

I actually did uniform patch cables! I just did black. I love the minimalism of it and it really makes the orange and white lights of modules/Monome/Arc stand out. Very overcast feel.

3 Likes
#115

Where are all of these cables made? Like if I wanted to make…50 cables of custom lengths with colors I select myself and any connector I want, where would that happen?

1 Like
#116

Commercially available patch cables are typically manufactured in China, but I suppose there might be exceptions.

It’s not too hard to solder custom cables one at a time, but handmade cables tend to be a bit bulkier.

#117

picked up a set of KORG patch cables, worst I ever bought :nauseated_face: output level differs several decibels between cables… made my cheap and basic doepfer cables feel like hifi !

#118

Where does one buy short (3" maybe) banana cables for less than US $5 each?

#119

Just got a set of 1.5’ and 3’ Hosa cables in the mail from one of those year-end sales. Various Hosa cables largely dominate my current cable supply, with no complaints thus far.

2 Likes
#120

Also using Hosa cables with no complaints. Love their hopscotch cables.

2 Likes
#121

I still haven’t bought any hopscotch cables. Maybe I should pick some up next time I order something?

2 Likes