>I'd send a deposit if you go the pre taped route. Though, I
>wouldn't mind if you went to SMT boards if that made it easier (for
>you), or cheaper and faster delivery for us.
>
>I remember a time when you asked about pre-stuffed PCBs -- I
>wouldn't mind pre-assembled boards if that would help you in the
>production side of it.
I agree with anything that saves Paul's time. If he wanted a
deposit, or even all the money upfront, that would be fine with me
too.
If he offered kits with pre-assembled SMT PCBs and where we still had
to build the front panel, then that would be fine with me as long as
the schematics and theory of operation were included. I would prefer
that to having new modules only available as assembled (like the
Cloud Generator). Also, considering the price and availability of
through-hole vs. surface mount parts, SMT might allow for a better
design.
Otoh, Moe might have a point about "possible audio emasculation from
shrunken down circuit paths". On yet another hand, audio IC's with
insides much more miniature than SMT sound perfectly fine. There are
also possible noise advantages using SMT due to reduced lead
inductance and trace resistance.