I will immediately get a preenfm3 once it is available in eurorack format. Well, if it ever happens, that is. I don't even care about having CV input sources, the midi functionality is great and i could just have a CV to MIDI converter for stuff like that. All I want is the eurorack format (the formfactor).
I don't know if VanDaalElectronics has this planned (like with the preenfm2), in case there is some information on that, I would like to know.
I thought I could just retrofit it myself. My first thought was that I could just make a custom front panel with inputs and outputs on the side or something like that. I would reroute all the inputs to the side and to (mini) jacks and trs midi jacks. Well that is a lot of cables. At least 28 if I counted correctly. So I thought I could just print a pcb myself, which i would mount on top of the section of the preenfm3 pcb with all of the connection points for all the jacks and midi and usb, with double male pin headers (or whatever they are called). This pcb that I would print then has some ribbon cable attachment points, which I would then connect to another custom made eurorack module that just consists of the jacks for midi, usb and audio. The only other thing I would have to worry about is handling the DC power conversion, but I would handle that on the same custom pcb.
The thing is, I would need the exact measurements of the preenfm3 pcb, so that the pins headers line up. Afaik, David doesn't publish the files for the pcb of the preenfm3 (which is totally understandable).
Is my idea viable?
I am not very well versed in DIY stuff yet, so please tell me if this is a stupid idea.
[Check the attachment for a sketch of what I mean. I misspelled "multiple" as "multuple" hahaha]
For those outside the forum that can't see attachments, here is the image:
https://ibb.co/pjfC0wt