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Subject: Re: [motm] Re: OK...so what WILL you buy assembled?

From: Scott Deyo <contact@...>
Date: 2010-04-26


Votes for:
Digital Additive or Walsh Oscillator or Osc Bank sounds fantastic. 
Morphing Terrarium
Vocoder! (Maybe related to Digital FFB)
Sampler/ Delay/ Looper w/ VC addressing or something for glitching
Vector-style Mixer

Vote against: any more filters

Analog or digital, kit or assembled -- doesn't matter. Sorry I haven't bought much lately, but my own modular and music time is zilch. Still, I hope 5U MOTM stays alive and thrives. 

Your commitment to every detail is inspiring and humbling. I know it's no excuse or comfort, but running a one-person business will always be hell, and like you say, it won't be Amazon.com. But then you've known this a lot longer than me.

I hate drama and don't wish to stir any up, but just as an example, how many hours have you spent in R&D for, say, the Cloud Generator? I know a version is floating out there, being tested for a long while now. I'd expect there is also a whole lot of money put into it, and there is yet to be a product for sale and revenue coming in to you. That's not a bad thing. Some swine put out products that aren't even fully tested!
I think you've dedicated a certain number of years and dollars to a certain format because you think (and I agree) that it's the best format. Your decision to concentrate on Euro is a good business decision, and one that lots of folks are making. Euro is smaller, cheaper, has a vastly larger market, and, really, has lower expectations to meet. 
That being said, please please please stay strong in 5U. I think the MT and CG will sell very very well. The Pulse Divider may not have done as well because it is seen as a utility timing module, and as such seemed like a lot of ching for utility. I doubt it will reflect on the sales of the MT and CG at all. 


Scott Deyo
The Bridechamber
Jealous Edison Record Kompany




On Apr 26, 2010, at 1:01 PM, rogerpellegrini wrote:

Having cooled off from my last message, I'll start by observing that the market for modules today is significantly different from a few years back. There are now MANY formats and manufacturers to choose from, most of whom can ship with minimal lead time. I can't even count the number of "standard" modules (e.g. VCA, Noise, VCF, VCO) there are out there. To make sales a new module has to rise above the din with unique, desirable and useful features.

I applaud design decisions (i.e. alternate power connectors) that streamline 3rd-party alternate format repackaging. This obviously multiplies the size of the market for any new design. It would be best for the customers if MOTM's release of new modules were coordinated with 3rd party repackagers to make delivery (and support) in any of a variety of formats a seamless shopping experience. 

I'd vote FOR:
∗ Cloud Generator + Expander
∗ Morphing Terrarium
∗ Digital Additive Synthesis module: Very simple envelope control of many harmonics. Maybe a "learn" mode to allow analysis of incoming audio and subsequent resynthesis. Voltage control of "chaos" in harmonic levels. Mode where multiple detuned and otherwise slightly randomized copies of the voice are output. Simple interface. Musical results.
∗ Physical Modeling modules: think specific models, like a "pipe" module, or a "Karplus-Strong" module with voltage control of a couple of key parameters.
∗ Digital Fixed Filter Bank: with FFT analysis mode and storage of settings, with presets for acoustic instruments and other effects that could be shared across a user community. Resonant settings.
∗ Other innovative products that don't replicate features already provided in the marketplace

I'd vote AGAINST:
∗ Noise/S&H
∗ More straightforward VCF clones
∗ Sequencers (been done)
∗ Digital Delays (I have all the Eventide pedals, for example)
∗ Envelope generators (these have been done to death)
∗ MOTM-540 Munging Decimator (complex distorting/wavewarp ing modules don't sell all that well anyway, I suspect)
∗ Any CV Digital Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Sampler, Echo (these have been done to death and are best done "in the box" on the computer, anyway)
∗ Traditional Fixed Filter Bank
∗ Envelope Follower/Compressor

Best regards,
Roger