MOTM

Here is the complete response of Roger to the review of his new modules
posted to this list, as he as posted to his list:
Message: 2
   Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 16:23:07 -0000
   From: "roboroger" <rarrick@...>
Subject: New module review

There should be no problem finding the review, the competetion has
captured the moment and reposted it on their forum.  I suppose it
makes others look and feel better.  Makes me feel terrible if anyone
cares.  It's the only thing I've thought about for the last 24 hours.
Someone should tell Margo, she thinks a friend died or something.


Q123 Standards:
I was never contacted about of this issue.  Too bad because it's a
simple resistor value problem on 1 drawing and took only 10 minuites
to find after I read the review.  A batch of boards around here has as
many has 25,000 resistors.  Looks like 4 of the Q123's I shipped have
this wrong resistor in the 'add in' summer which accounts for that
problem.  The prototype and preproduction run worked fine so beta
testing wouldn't have caught this.  Of course I'll be offering a fix
for free including shipping, prompt and polite.  Hopefully you get the
same kind of service from Microsoft, CompUSA, General Motors.  Or
maybe you get endless denials and "sorry sir our system won't
allow..." :)

I'm sorry some feel the freqency and voltage standards shouldn't be on
the same module. If there was a universal format/layout that would
make all happy I would do it. I threw away many customers by even
using the moog panel size, my using +15/-15/+5 power, by using 1/4"
jacks, by selecting the company name, etc.


Q161 Oscillator Mixer, Q162 Filter Mixer:
These are not really new modules at all, but simply new panels for the
Q112/Q113 PCB. I found myself using mixers this way and decided to
offer these modules because it was simple to do and some people were
wanting to reduce patchcords. I hope no one feels like they are
required in their systems. Notch and BP are (ALMOST) mutually
exclusive when used full force but you get to control the value of
each and that is something you have to use a mixer for.


Q127 Fixed Filter Bank:
This filter was inspired by the Moog 914 but uses common opamp filters
instead of big coils. I borrowed Eric Norlander's and plotted the
responses. If I had used coils, this discussion would be about the
$1200 price tag. But now I'm faced with the issue that with all the
knobs off there is feed through (sort of like a no-pass filter :) and
the highs are getting through.  Even though the all-off condition is
not very useful, it's an issue for some and I respect that. I
specifically did this because I got tired of putting low pass filters
on every output for dampening.  Has anyone ever looked at a moog
modular on a scope?  Spikes, overshoots, crosstalk everwhere.
It looks like an electron battlefield.  I believe this is part of that
great moog sound, it's not perfect which is good.  Look at a triangle
wave on a digital synth - almost perfect, like smooth plastic, not
american walnut.  Right now I'm working on a mod to change that
response on the Q127 for any what wish.  Yes, it will be free
including shipping, and a smile :)


Q140 Fixed Filter Aid:
Simply cables coming from the Q127 filter to a panel.  Haven't seen
other modulars offer this and thought it was a good idea.  The signals
are attenuated by 75% because of the way the Q127 filters work, which
means they might be 2.5V PP which is still larger than the moog
systems.  Making them a full 10V PP could become an issue since they
are likely to be mixed anyway.


Q143 Preset Module:
This module was specifically ask for by one of my friendly customers
and it was a simple and clean implementation.  I'm happy and my
customer is happy but doing small specials like this might be
making me a lot of enemies, and I didn't foresee that.  I'll probably
only sell 10 of these a year so it's a financial loss.


Q146 Normalization:
This module is bascially a panel with a bunch of wires.  Requested by
a very small number of my customers for patchcord clutter.  Frankly,
it violates some of the hyper-modularity concepts that I had sought
for this system.  It's not designed to be a multi-cabinet solution.
Again, I might have somehow turned off more customers than I gained
which suprises me.


The design and manufacturing process is blanketed with potholes.
I don't pretent to be great at either.  This is especially true of
low-volume products like analog synthesizers. It's very difficult to
stay in business and it's difficult to work all year and not make very
much money.  But I do handle issues/problems responsibly and ethicly.
As everyone knows who has done business with me, you're welcome to a
refund if not happy with any of my products or service.  As it sits
now, the latest batch of modules will probably be a financial disaster
for more than a year.  This is mainly because I rely on my customers
(happy and unhappy) for promotion, not $10K/mo ads in magazines.  I
probably should have used that time with the kids.  I'm often asked
why I do this, frankly I'm not sure anymore.  My skin is way to thin,
but that's my problem.

Peace,

R



> > stuff he mentioned in his post, and then some.  As a synth it kind
> > of sucks, but as a processor it's really great.  And it has a cool
> > interface!
> >
> > Mike
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
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