I would definitely buy one - I might even definAtely buy one :) (This seems
to be the word-du-jour to misspell on the email lists I read - drives me
crazy!)
For whatever marketing research value it has, here's my situation - which I
suspect is similar to others'. I'm one of those "inactive" MOTM users :) -
which means that after my initial order (900, 800, 440, 110) I haven't
ordered any more - yet. I have been saving diligently for the VCOs/MIDI-CV
next, which has been "the big hurdle". Two 300s and a Kenton Pro 2000
(though I've waffled between the Pro 2000, JKJ CV5, and even the PAiA at
different times - always coming back to the Pro 2000). Oh yeah, and another
EG for good measure. In my particular situation, I've "had" to buy a
significant amount of other gear in the year and a half since I made my
first MOTM order (my job as a pastor has expanded to include "worship
pastor" and leading worship in church regularly - probably as close to a
professional musician as I'll ever get :). I had pretty much decided to get
the VCOs first and then wait until I save for the MIDI-CV later - which
could've been several months later if I went for the Kenton (I'm also one of
those guys for whom this is a luxury). The 650 just makes things happen
sooner (and better) for me.
There are three main reasons I would buy the 650 over the Kenton - the
price, the quality, and the size/form-factor. (If I understand correctly
"2U" means a 2U wide MOTM size panel, and not a standard 2U 19" rack panel,
right?) It's a no brainer for me - I prefer the MIDI-CV to be right in the
cabinet and easily patchable to other modules, I expect the design and build
quality to be as good as Kenton or better, and the price is about half -
sign me up!
As for features, I will want to use it live as a monosynth and in the studio
as a mono/poly with computer control of CV parameters - the basic stuff that
probably everyone here does. The ability to chain two or more together,
and/or an expansion module sounds good too, so you can add polyphony
gradually as your system grows. I also like the idea of velocity CV on the
ring of the note CV (assuming that frees up a panel jack for something
else), though without ever using such a system I don't know if this is a
good idea practically speaking. I don't care much for SW LFOs and
portamento/lag. I wouldn't mind them, especially until I get my HW modules,
but I would rather not pay for them in the 650 and put the savings toward
the "real thing" in the HW - the MOTM portamento is one of the big draws for
me, the portamento freak. (Of course since SW is free, you might as well
through them in there for good measure! :) I'll buy a 650 either way. In
the end I trust those with more experience with these things - and Paul
especially, based on his output so far - to come up with a feature set that
will serve my basic needs quite well.
Larry David
> The behind-the-scenes R&D activity continues with the MOTM-650 4-ch MIDI-CV
> converter...
<snip>
> ...
> a) what features do you want to see
> b) would you buy one?
>
> Paul S.