Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Back from NAMM (had fun, but tiring) and have started thinking about what to
do for 5U MOTM furture plans. This is independent from shipping current
backlog, I'm speaking of 5U plans in general.

These are not in order of execution. I'm not committing to any time per se.
Comments welcome, that's why I'm posting. If you agree or disagree, let me
know.

MOTM-650 replacement
==================

The current MOTM-650 is not going to be offered, except under special
conditions. I don't have jacks for it until the end of March (then, I'll
have 800 extra...oh boy....). I might have parts to make 2 or 3 more than
currently ordered, but not really going to focus there. Rather, I spent most
of today looking at current ICs/processors/displays/etc and have decided
that I can 'start over' and still offer a 4ch MIDI-CV with some reduction in
the firmware ∗features∗ and not increase the price. It will still be 2U
wide, but be slightly different in appearance.

a) the LCD is going to a 2 x 12 versus current 2 x 8 (cheaper, oddly enough)
b) instead of the 4-button interface, the up/down buttons are replaced with
a rotary encoder
c) CLK IN goes away

As far as major features, that is not decided (I am ∗really∗ interested in
hearing from users what features/modes are not used/rarely used). So far:

a) no tuning tables, but there is a volts/Hz mode (so, there are 2 tuning
tables I suppose).
b) simplify the # of options for things like voltage range on AUX
c) CCs will all be implemented as expected
d) not yet sure if keeping arpeggiator #2.

We are looking hard at having firmware updates via SD card. The SD card
socket is in the rear (pcb mounted) to you would power down, stick in the
card, power up and hit a button. Uses standard FAT file system, so no more
PC/Mac issues. In order to do this "properly", we have to get the FAT system
in the CPU to < 8K (which is the boot-block protected area). We should know
this in a few weeks.

I am not doing all this work soley for the MOTM-650 replacement, I want to
offer it in other formats as well.

Offering current Euro modules in 'true' 5U
============================

In terms of time-to-market and to spur sales, I will be seriouly looking
into having the 4 Euro modules (E340 Cloud, E350 Morphing Terrarium, E560
Deflector Shield and E580 Resampling Mini-Delay) redesigned and re-layed out
for 2U wide 5U MOTM/.com MU (dual power connectors, heck toss in Modcan B as
well). This is not a "repanel" but a true, dedicated set of new panels and
pc boards. I would put all 4 designs up on a pc fab panel (so the SMT
machine stuffs 1 of each per pass). The current '520 panels would be
scrapped, and the 521 CGX Expander is a memory. This is a decision that
immediately will "cost" me $7000 (what I paid 5 years ago for the panels +
parts). But the reality is my time is limited more now than ever (and is
about to get even tighter due to day job pressures) and I can do this work
for 4 modules in the same time it would take to do ∗just∗ the FPGA-based
'520 (not even looking at the '521).

Yes, the '520 Cloud had more bells and whistles BUT the Euro Cloud has
gotten me many rave reviews by the users. And, it will be $100 or so cheaper
than the '520.

In this manner, I can have 4 new and 1 re-designed modules in 5U this year.
There will be NO LONG WAITS as the modules take < 12 minutes to make,
program and ca (what is amazing to an old fart like me that used to watch
Data I/O 29Bs take 32 MINUTES to program a 64K EPROM, is that these new
FLASH CPUS program 128K in under 4 seconds.). The SMT machine can happily,
in 1 4-hour run, make 100 of ∗each∗ module's pc board. The jacks will be
vertical mounted and wave soldered in 1 pass. All I do is screw 2 boards
into the panel, pop in 1 short ribbon cable and I'm done.

And, as a last thought.....

MOTM-101 Replacement
==================

I could take some of the parts left from the '520 and make a 1U wide
noise/Cascaded S&H module. The '101 is tedious to make, a low seller and has
hard-to-get parts. The new '102 has zero-droop S&H, "correct" clocking edges
and maybe even a quantizer thrown in for fun.

Well, this is what I'm thinking about. Thoughts? Comments?

Paul S.