Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Just a quick update:

a) MOTM-300 VCO kits are about 2/3 done. On track to begin shipments beginning Tuesday, Monday is
holiday (holiday...what's THAT??!?).

b) Starting to kit up a batch of 45 MOTM-890 uMixers. I'm a few pc boards short of all on order
(51 at last count), but usually the pcb shop has 10-15 extras. I hope so, else I have to buy
∗another∗ 50 :( These will start shipping the first week of June.

c) The MOTM-510 pc boards are done, going off to the shop this week. Next, the custom rotary
switch assemblies need to be done (not by me!). These will be ready about the time the pcbs
arrive and I write the manual. Actually, I'm not exactly ∗sure∗ how to even write the "How to
Use" section. I'll have many 'scope shots of what the warping looks like, but this is a module
you have to sit down and "play" to really get a feel for it. The schedule is looking like right
after the 4th of July holiday to begin shipping.

d) I have ordered the hard-to-find, long-lead-time parts for the uSeq. The schedule is to ship
the 1st week of August. July will be extensive beta-testing, as there is no elegant way to upload
new code into the module. The processor is FLASH-based, and I can reprogram them in under 30
seconds. It is in a PLCC socket. IF an update is ∗required∗, then I will reprogram the parts for
free, and pay the postage back to you. Hopefully, this won't be necessary. There is another
smaller uP on the board that scans the front panel switches, and that is not planned to ever need
an update.

e) Right now, the kit backlog is about 300 and the assembled backlog is about 175. This does NOT
include the 500/600 or the 480/450 modules. The '300 and '890 are about 95 of these kits,
followed by '190 and '800. These 4 models are 1/2 of the kit backlog, so that's what
John-the-intern is focusing on. I am soldering about 12 hours/day on the assembled backlog. John
was a bench tech at Akai for 7 years and seems to be working out great.

SO.....here is the generic answer to "what about MY order?" The answer is: if you are waiting for
kits, you will see a shipment ∗sometime∗ before the end of June. I can't ∗specifically∗ say when,
PLEASE don't ask. I ship modules out EVERY day, 6 days a week. Somedays it's only a few blank
panels or rails, other days it's over 20 kits.

If you are waiting for assembled modules: it will be around 8 weeks. 8 weeks is what the backlog
looks like to get down to a reasonable level (<50 modules). 1/2 of the assembled backlog belongs
to 5 people, the rest is 'scattered' over 21 other folks. I build modules in batches of 6 at a
time, in a continuously rotating cycle (just finished '310s, next up are '440s followed by
'410s). I tend to alternate 1 week soldering pc boards, followed by 1 weeks attaching pc boards
to the panels, burn in and ship.

f) this is the last announcement of the June 1st price increase. 7 modules are the same price,
the vast majority of ∗kits∗ went up $10 or $20. Accessories like MOTM-960 and rails are the same.
Due to end-of-school-year activities (and it's my birthday that weekend), the "real" date for the
new prices and a new catalog to be uploaded to the site is more like June 3rd. Any orders
received before then, no matter when shipped, will be sent at the current price. The largest
increases are in the 500/600 assembled modules, because my contracted labor rates from my
assembler go up June 15th. If you haven't pre-ordered, NOW is the time.

OK, back to work. Thanks for waiting for an old (and getting older) bald guy to ship stuff

Paul S.