On Aug 19, 2012, at 9:14 AM, Paul Schreiber <
synth1@...> wrote:
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> BTW: If you think the CG and the MT are not good candidates for this and other modules are more desired and you think they would have a better “success rate”, now is the time to say so.
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> Paul S.
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Aha, something that maybe I can have some input on. Yes, the MT and the CG would be the perfect first candidates.
First the whole kickstarter idea is a pretty good one, although I'm not terribly happy with being held hostage with the "3 successful kickstarters if I'm going to continue with 5U" thing you stated. I'd prefer a 2 out of 3 option. Or maybe 3 out of 5? Lots of kickstarters don't achieve full funding - that's what they're all about, determining market interest. You could create a dozen of them, basically for next to nothing - you're not committed until full funding is achieved - and if only a handful actually stick, well, then you'll know what to do. Lets not forget about the 730 (are there any left? Send them to Scott!) - a bunch was invested in it despite not much up front interest, and when it didn't sell, well, there haven't been any new 5U modules - honest mistakes can be made.
The Morphing Terrarium should be Kickstarter Number One. It's a super monster killer module as is, and with a few improvements could possibly be the module that saves the MOTM 5U boat. Every MOTM system should have one! I have the euro version behind a 5U panel, and use it all the time - it's sound source number one for me. What it needs to make it perfect are dedicated vc control knobs for the morph cv inputs; the phase and glitch switches on the front panel, not jumpers; a better dac to clean up the aliasing at higher frequencies; and the range switch fixed so it's only 2 ranges, audio and LFO instead of the weird 3 ranges that don't really work right as it is currently. Everything else is fine as it is - it doesn't need a lcd, especially if that involves requiring the 6 pin power connector - if you really need a 5v line use a .25$ L7805. I've managed to fit all this neatly on a 2U panel, as has Dave Brown in a slightly different design, so this should be option Numero Uno.
The Cloud Generator should have it's time, finally. It's been in the planning stages for what, 10 years now? And it's also the best "supersaw" module that exists currently - sure, there are a bunch of addon modules that'll turn a regular vco into a supersaw, but this is the real deal, all in one module. And more! Again, it needs the dedicated cv level knobs for the various cv inputs. Otherwise this one is almost perfect as is - I don't have my e340 here currently (you do!) so can't remember if there was something about one of the knobs that has a funny range or something. Again, this one fits behind a 2U panel just fine - I have complementary panels for the e340-e350, so they look great next to each other.
The third kickstarter - I don't know. The uSeq might be nice, but I don't know if it'd achieve full funding. The new improved 101, with correct clock behavior (samples taken at the start of the clock pulse) might be a possibility. The e560-e580 are pretty obvious candidates - the 560, the frequency shifter/phaser would probably be the strongest candidate for kickstarter number 3 (I'm waiting for euro guts to build my own 5U versions so can't really speak to their usefulness yet).
So there you have it - my .02$. And worth every penny!
-Steve