Modular Synth Panels

(long-winded babble - please excuse, if you've things to do...)

Larry,

Yes -you are absolutely correct in this assessment - and I will
further attempt to exemplify, at least what I think these 2 camps
are - just to hopefully spur on some meaningful dialogue - since I'm
really not into looking for another job at this point...just kidding,
sorta?!?!

(disclaimer: I'm an idiot - please bear with me - AND this whole
thing is more based around 'styles' than 'circuits', for the sake of
this discussion)

"Camp one: large format like MOTM, Oakley, Synthesizers.com.
Modcan" -LH

Now aren't all these guys, except maybe Modcan, pretty much doing the
Moog thing? Modcans doing the Moog thing, but with the old banana's -
don't totally understand this other than from a purely economic
stance - which does have its own merits. Actually Modcan seems to
have a pretty "creative" basis which I'm liking...but they really
need to offer kits/conversions to us mod-obessed bastards.

And Tony/Oakley is just doing circuits so he is really kinda, "in
concert" with MOTM, from what I see. Ken is "not getting into this
mess", which I think he is wise for - at this point.

"Camp two: frac rack format like Blacet, Paia, some Wiard,
D*epfer, Analog Sys."...etc...

what I see with this camp, which I'm finding is more "diverse" shall
we say than the other, is that there is no allegiance in it as far as
STYLE is concerned, as oppose to camp one's 'stylistic' preferences.
And this is a good thing I think in one way - and in another, sorta
keeps things "perhaps a bit too open". Kinda interesting tidbit -
wouldn't you agree? Work with me here...

Maybe this is just the coolest about it all after all - huh?

I really don't know, cause I'll never HAVE everything that exists now
and be able to A/B all the pros and cons, although I did have the
luxury of doing this back when the 'predecessors' (damn them) were
still in existence.

What I found then, is that there were fairly "scientific" or "real-
world" reasons why some succeeded, and others never caught on (the
great premise to a starting a "cult" for the underdogs) and I think
we should all heed the historical significances of this previously
experienced course.

I just have a strong ( and perhaps hell-bent!) desire to see this go
into new, uncharted territory - and not just a rehash of the past
Maybe its happening already. But I'm really gonna be bummed if
someone does a 2004 "Switched On...whatever". I hope you're with me
here still.

Once again these are just my insignificant babblings and I do NOT
mean to minimize the efforts of ANYONE who is working towards this
DIY synth thing. My main purpose for even discussing these things in
the first place is that I see a lot of, shall we say, talk - about
things that don't have a whole lot to do with the end-purpose of
creating actual music. And I think it would be really a great thing
for us all to sorta, kinda: link up the tech stuff, with the creative
stuff. I swear that both mentalities benefit hugely from this - right?
Maybe I'm just being redundant....

It doesn't matter one small bit if you're a great "player" or
whatever, just that hopefully you have some desire to communicate
with 'sound' at some point. I mean, Its well within all our grasps
now to record a decent 'tune' at home and without the "Big Labels"
dictating diddley-squat. Lots are doing this now and i thing there's
some great stuff out there - but its just still too underground for
me now - It's gotta be it bigger, and I think it can be, with the
right 'gradient' approach - If even just so the Big labels will fall
away - once they realize that there is such a thing as MUSIC
happening all around - and they fail on how to 'grasp' it.

Back to reality:

LH-
"So, looks like guys like me and companies like Schaeffer are going to
have plenty of format conversion work..."

As long as you're into being 'busy', and have some auto-internet
response thing set up for the questions you may be 'fielding' now,
about such things as these silly ponderances which I have, and more
importantly: "get me a freakin Wadsworth -Ultra Voltage Controlled
Whoody Widget PANEL, now! I suspect many others do this better than
I..!?!?


AGAIN - I'll shut-up now - Thanks again!
LH - "Oh sure. Like we believe that. <snicker> About as likely as me
doing the same. :)"

There is a spot in heaven for us all! - but I'm worried that we'll
have to solder patchcords there, forever...in all 68 trillion
colors....

Cheerio,

Rog


_________

I had hoped that in late January I would be taking orders for
panels to be delivered in March. However, I just got an e-mail from
my painter. He is having surgery January 13th and will be unable to
paint our metal until March. So, right now, the schedule looks like
this:

Order metal February 1 (I was going to do that this week)
Metal to painter by March 1.
New designs to Dave Bradley by March 1.
New designs to printer in late March.
Painting complete late March.
One week to quality inspect metal and deliver to screen printer
Screen printing complete in late April.
Quality inspection and packing in late April / early May.
Shipping by mid May. Drilling orders a week or so later.

This is about 6 or 7 weeks later than what I had hoped for. But,
that is the best we will be able to do.

Now, last time we did panels, I estimated the metal needs and had
metal in hand being painted before anyone placed an order. The
reason was to reduce the time between order time and delivery time.
That worked out pretty well except that I ran short of metal at the
last minute even though I estimated within 5 pieces on a 400 panel
order. :)

So, I am thinking this time I will go ahead and open up for orders
on January 15 so I can get a feel for how much metal I need to get
cut
and to the painter by March 1. As long as everyone understands that
the delivery is mid May when placing their order. I just see no
reason to delay ordering until March since the delivery date will not
chance.

All feedback welcome.
Larry


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