What is the maximum number of grid modules you can connect together on a single USB connection?

Depends on the connection of course!

Joking aside, for musical hardware hosts there is usually a power limit the device is willing to supply.
But when using a computer going up to 8 modules on a single cable, should not be a problem.

10 😜

But more seriously, are we talk’n USB 1.1 or 3.0 amperage. I suppose I could do some math.

I also swear I read ‘up to 12’ somewhere. Lol

it's 2.0 spec but the amperage is still determined by the device supplying it

Which device would you use as the host?

I’m just piggy-backing on to @user ‘s question. Personally, I’m covered either way.

if you supply external power, is there a practical limit? (i have a potential use case for 12+ modules, and i don't want to get into the weeds of designing this in detail if the number of modules is likely to be a showstopper...)

does supplying external power just mean plugging in a power-only USB-C to any of the modules, or something more specific?

X and Y distances add a small amount of delay to communication

so if you have 12 modules in a line you will have 11*x delay in that case

but power should not be a concern as long as you provide additional power

i think largest X+Y distance for anything latency sensitive would be 5ish

should not be a real problem then!

do all modules have the same cross-communication latency in that regard? like VSN1 vs BU16?

It's a "feature" of the protocol itself - so yes - all modules have this. Similarly to how a TS/unbalanced audio cable will introduce noise over long distances or how MIDI is limited in resolution - it's all part of the technology used in making Grid modular.

I wish I could quickly give you a number for this delay, but it really is a small amount.

sorry, i was unclear. 🙂 i didn't mean if the latency exists for all modules, but rather if it's equal with all modules. like is crossing over multiple modules of type X always the same latency as crossing over multiple modules of type Y?

"if it gets tight, can i optimize by making sure the exit module isn't one with a longer latency?"-kinda thing

Oh, it should be equal yes.

thank you!