MIDIbox SEQ is already out there, being open hardware/firmware:
http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq.html --- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, Michael Hawkins <korgpolyex800@...> wrote:
>
> How about I just design/build/manufacture a new 1RU arpeggiator?
>
>
> Oh hang on, I can do a gazillion things arp-wise on a PC with any number of
> different programs.
>
> Or, how big is the market for this 1RU ARP?
>
> Tiny, I would say. I get ideas like this pitched to me quite regularly. But the
> problem is the amount of time and money required to develop them and then the
> completely unproven market. If there's one thing that developing the HAWK kits
> taught me, it's that it is very hard to make money in the arts!
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: zoinky420 <zoinky420@...>
> To: korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, December 27, 2010 1:13:50 AM
> Subject: [korgpolyex] Re: OT: Akai arpeggiator
>
>
>
>
> --- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, Gordon JC Pearce <gordon@> wrote:
> >
> > Here's someone selling the service manual:
> >
> > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&&item=360298820082
> >
> > Maybe that's got some clues to how it can be adapted.
> >
>
> Well I know a lot of people have checked the service manual for an easy hack,
> and there isn't any. It would have to be a major firmware rewrite project like
> the Hawk. And if acheived, it would have to be marketed differently than the
> Hawk. People who buy the Hawk kits are already owners of Poly800s, whereas the
> people wanting to buy the clockable Akai Arp would mostly not already own the
> unit. And as far as I can tell the Hawk has not driven up costs of the Poly800,
> but if the clock-kit for the Akai arp were sold the same way the Hawk kit is,
> people would suddenly flock to ebay to buy the previously obscure Akai Arp,
> driving up the price, and that's profit that should be going to the kit maker.
> So the thing for the kit designer to do would be to buy up as many cheap Akai
> arps as he can and install the kit into them, selling it as an upgraded unit
> rather than a kit. Considering the price the Oberheim Cyclone goes for on ebay
> (and it apparently crashes frequently), there would be pretty high profit margin
> on the venture.
>