An apology
2007-12-06 by (i think you can figure that out)
I want to take responsibility for something I recently mishandled. A gentleman sent me two Model 15's for repair, one with a problem which was easy to fix, one which was oscillating well beyond it's normal range (52K), which I didn't catch in final test. This was my first mistake. I test all units functionally on my system before they go out. In part of the VCO test, I sweep the frequency to verify it goes from sub to super audio. What I didn't do until I found this problem is read those limits on a frequency counter at final test. Our normal operating range is 5 to 20K cycles, which in real terms usually ranges anywhere from to 20 to 22K on the high end. Regardless, both of these are well beyond the audio range. I didn't realize how much however. Because of this unit I received back, I've now installed my frequency counter to my system and do verify the limits are within spec. This was an error, but not the problem. We're all human and unintentional mistakes happen. The problem I want to take responsibility for is mistakenly telling this gentleman his units had shipped back to him when in fact they hadn't. I got two repair return orders confused. I should have been more careful with this before i let out false information. I decided to replace the unit which was oscillating to 52K as I was a bit weary that it was healthy even after finding that specific problem. Initially having to wait for new PCBs to arrive to fill this, his VCO feel through the cracks the week of the Analoglive show. I got the boards in, but dropped the ball. In short, I forgot. I've had my share of bad comments on the internet. I dare say that for whatever reason there was a time when on certain lists it was fashionable to do so. Matrixsynth and Analog Heaven come to mind. In many cases I've been no more guilty than many of my competitors about announcing products before they are available, not filling custom orders on time, doing rework that some feel is unacceptable, not doing a lot of things I should have in the time I should have done them. It seems to me however these instances get broadcast on the internet more than some of the other manufacturers who are as equally deluged with their workload, and equally accountable for the same types of issues,. Along with this, there also has been a lot of false information thrown out about my operation, my products, my business ethics, even some which touch upon much more personal issues. So be it. That's the way it is and each of you are all free to form any opinion you wish about me or my products. The only thing I can do is keep on doing the best that I can, which I have. Whether or not that's sufficient is another story. In this instance with the two VCOs however, I bungled something I shouldn't have and I take full responsibility for this and any comments people wish to make. They are justified. I don't feel it's appropriate to name this individual publicly, he's more than welcome to do so if he feels it's just to do so.