DA 385 Planter questions

Greetings all,
I have been looking at the DA 385 planter recently, and am curious if someone can educate me on the "Air Planter" system.  I have read all the Pro's and Con's about these planters compared to others (on this site, and other sites).  I do not want to start a pissing contest between which planter is best.  I just want to know how they work, mechanically.  I have a simple plate planter (AC 50 or 70 planter units on a custom tool bar), and do not understand  what the air does, even when it still has plates, etc. 

Thanks for your help in advance. 
John

The air keeps the seed in the plates. The plates are the same as the AC air champ units. IG

Best openers on the market to this day. Staggered front disc openers, and closing discs on the gauge wheels following the seed tube. IG

There are different sized plates . Corn has about 5 sizes I think.   IG

While a Deere 7000 is known for pretty nice spacing in corn, they are the absolute WORST soybean planter that was ever built. If a 385 planter is missing the rubber flap at the bottom of the seed tube, that will affect seed space in corn.

DrAllis wrote: While a Deere 7000 is known for pretty nice spacing in corn, they are the absolute WORST soybean planter that was ever built. If a 385 planter is missing the rubber flap at the bottom of the seed tube, that will affect seed space in corn.

Drop in Kinze brush meters picket fence stand on bean then also.

The air on the Deutz planter does what the vacuum does on a deere, but much simpler, and on the opposite side of the seed plate. In my Deutz 385 I use a seed plate called small/medium corn, and it works for 90 percent of everything that I do. I like my 385 Deutz. Darrel

The 385 has the best depth control, seed covering ability, and seed soil contact - period. The finger pick is more accurate in corn - with the electric blowers , however if one wants to take a good seed system and make it as good anything except the current precision units, install an air system from a White planter that is adjustable as to pressure, install a set of short seed pads, add a tickler brush and presto - it don't get no better - again, period. The trifecta is to find some of the aluminum bottoms that used the old 78 series pad
and seal much better. However the plastic works, just not as long life as to pads. The short pads lets one run a tad more air to prevent skips and the tickler will knock off the doubles in the extra space.
The cotton plate will picket fence beans as well with the extra pressure it can be sped up with no skips and the fewer pockets give better drop cycles. Always use a small amount of talc or graphite as well to prevent pad wear. Never use a liquid seed treatment in the box.
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Shoup has some 385 DA parts. I have had 2 of them, and I got parts from Shoup. I never had a problem with them dropping well, but I replaced the pads every year. I know a lot of folks like Kinze, but the only thing I like about the money pits is the was they transport. I have had two, one new, one used. Will not have another one. They leave too many skips, and have too many doubles. When I bought the new one, I bought a new 8531 White at the same time. AL WAS a better stand with the White, and double crop beans behind the Kinze were a joke. The White would do twice the job of planting in the straw.
And yes, both had row cleaners, nt coulters, seed firmers, star closing wheels and drag chains, and heavy duty dp springs.
This is just my experience in my type ground. I know some folks would have nothing else.
Another Kinze problem around here is in dry hard ground, they have to have a LOT of weights added to make them go in the ground. The White 8500 planter was never even ran in the fourth (out of 4) dp setting.
Just my preference, but that is why they make several brands, so everyone can find what they like. LOL.

And IG is exactly right about the seed grading. It is very crappy, and seems to get worse every year.