Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

I've been away the past week, and having unsubscribed, missed the last week
of discussion on this list. Now that I can finally view the new_stuff page
(thanks to everyone who fixed it), I have to say I am shocked.

THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE VC PULSE DIVIDER!!!

Based on everything that has been said so far, I was certainly expecting to
find it listed. It has been "in the works" longer than any of the other
500/600 modules, and had been unofficially announced long before the 500
series was even mentioned.

Well over a year ago, Synthesis Technology had announced a number of
upcoming modules: pan fade VCA, envelope follower, VC pulse divider, and
triple pre-amp. These were pushed back by the introduction of the micro
series.

Now, it seems these modules have been pushed back even further by the 450
filter bank, and the 500/600 series.

Yet, wasn't the VC Pulse Divider part of the 500?? Wasn't being able to
produce digital modules more efficiently part of having a common "form
factor"?? Of all the digital modules, it has the simplest code. While it
needs to be very precise, it's function is clear and uncomplicated.

In a way, Synthesis Technology seems a bit reactionary in its marketing
decisions. People who didn't own MOTM saying "it's too big and expensive"
were answered by the micro series. Others saying "it's not weird enough"
can now look forward to the 500 series. Let's hope this brings in more
customers.

While I am quite sure that existing MOTM owners will want to buy the 500
modules, and I know I am, this trend seems to ignore why the majority of
them chose MOTM in the first place: MOTM does what a modular is supposed
to do better than any other modular. That MOTM has "the best customer base
anyone could possible hope" is far from surprising. If you offer a product
based on quality, you get quality-minded customers.

Richard had a good point when he said "we as musicians will tend to select
the kinds of modules that get us closer to the sounds we like". I couldn't
agree more. While I think Paul imagines less of a demand for "esoteric"
modules than there actually is, no matter what, people are going to buy
more modules that they already know how to use.

For example, everyone knows how to use a VCO. So when MOTM released a
micro VCO, they knew exactly what they could do with it. Although I have
made other suggestions in the past, as much as these micro modules have
delayed the production of full-sized modules; many of them, like the Moog
filter or the dual VCA, are very practical, accessible modules. Imho,
these are modules MOTM should have produced even if there weren't a micro
series. They are useful to anyone regardless of how much space or money
they have.

Along those same lines, I ask where is the SEM filter?? Come on now, it's
not like it's some oddball insect of uncertainty. It's a VCF. Everybody
knows how to use a VCF!!

The same goes for the envelope follower or triple pre-amp. These are not
difficult modules to understand. Personally, I have zero interest in an
MOTM pre-amp, but if a pre-amp is announced, then pre-amp should be
released.

Well, at least they got mentioned on the new_stuff page.

While not as common as a pre-amp or VCF, a VC Pulse Divider is just as easy
to understand. It's function is simple, and it's uses are many. Does
anyone else want one?? Let's see a show of hands!!

Yes, VC Pulse Dividers are rare. Afaik, only Serge makes one, and its
accuracy is to be questioned. It's an analogue module, most likely based
on an LM3900 a few other inexpensive parts. When asked if it can be used
reliably to divide sequencer clocks, Rex Probe told me "it's not intended
for that". I view this as an opportunity for Synthesis Technology to
demonstrate their superior dedication to quality.

If the decision has been made that the VC Pulse Divider is not worth
releasing after all, then perhaps such an announcement should be made so
that we, MOTM's dedicated customers, can plan accordingly.

If that sounds out of line, believe me when I tell you, I've heard the
exact same thing from at least a dozen other people. Perhaps they just
have better sense not to say it on a mailing list. Regardless, it's just
not right to keep pushing back modules that were announced over a year ago,
at the expense of releasing "new" modules.

So November 20th was the deadline to "fork over large buckets of cash" to
get modules by the end of the year. So I tossed in a bucket, knowing that
some of the modules I ordered may not be in production for several months.
I don't have a problem with that -- I know how cash flow works and I'm
willing to be a team player.

Still, am I being impatient?? Possibly. However, I just want to know.
Will apes will rule the earth by the time I can get a MOTM VC pulse
divider?? Just tell it to me straight. I can handle it.