Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

previous by date index next by date
previous in topic topic list next in topic

Subject: RE: [motm] [RANT] MOTM value?

From: "Aardvark" <aardvark-mi@...>
Date: 2009-02-12

When I first researched my modular I went with MOTM simply becausehands downs there was no equal in quality! I’m really grateful for allthe hard work Paul has put into his “little hobby” to make it thebest it could be!

 

In my case my reason for not purchases any modules lately haslittle do  with the economy.  As an early customer I’ve quitesimply achieved my goal. Actually my MOTM exceeds my original goal by about 20modules (funny how that works!)! The new modules for my uses are more “specialty”then my current needs. That’s not to say I haven’t drooled overthem! I’m now focusing on other areas of my rig. Will I buy some of thenew modules such as the 730 or 600? Maybe but I just don’t have a needfor them right now. On the other hand being a self confessed filter junkie  IDO have a use for the 450 Fixed Filter bank!!!

 

Al

 

 

From:motm@yahoogroups.com [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of PaulSchreiber
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:19 PM
To: motm@yahoogroups.com; Girts R
Subject: [motm] [RANT] MOTM value?

 


> Sure, everyone needs a MOTM 730... but the days when MOTM was cheapest
> modular synth is over :) 21%VAT; 3,5% import tax; shipping overseas...
> not for everyone.
>

a) You will find that the VAT declared value for MOTM modules is quite a bit
less than 'retail'.

b) I can't help the postage costs, but shipping 1 MOTM-730 to the EU is
about $30. That's an issue?

I've never really considered MOTM 'inexpensive' at all. Rather,
∗innovative∗. Does anyone else
even have anything close to this? Nope, everyone else has $3 of CMOS
counters behind a panel
to count in powers of 2. Big deal, the MOTM-120 has that and more.

I am just now at the ∗break even∗ point for the '730. And I can break even
just sitting here looking out
the window.

It is VERY expensive to tool up a new module, over $4,000. And truthfully,
right now I'm starting to wonder
what to do looking forward. 95% of all new orders are MOTM 2.0 stuff. There
are over 15 modular
providers at last count. I still feel that myself & my fellow MOTMdesigners
have yet to be out-designed in
any facet. But the bad economic times, the drop in the Euro/Pound and other
factors is making me second-guess
all the 100s of hours (and yes, it really is 100s of hours) of design time
put into each module versus return
on investment. Those of you that have a '730, just look at how those 5 pc
boards interconnect, the tightness of
the CPU card (4 layers, 3 ground planes, 3 power planes) and you can see
where the time was spent. Before this
version, I spent time & $$$ on 2 other versions so that the HW & SWcould be
tested over and over again as not to
have any issues down the road.

I've got the MOTM-520/521 still to finish up. A lot of the R&D is done, and
so are many of the part purchases (over $7,500, BTW).
But will it also be a 'break even' sort of deal? And that $7,500 is ∗just∗
for the '520, not for the '521. Quick math shows
that I need to sell about 25 to break even.

And to date, I have sold less than 25 MOTM-730s. Maybe I will sell 50-60
'520s right away. But then I thought I would get at least 40 orders for
MOTM-730s right away.

So, maybe the issue is even "deeper", that I'm trying to sellsomething that
has little interest ∗now∗ (because it did have lots of interest before).

If so, then what exactly IS of interest?

Paul S.
/excuse rant, daughter's tuition due tomorrow....sigh.....