MOTM

The reason we went to MOTM in the first place is the quality, isn't it?  
Sure, we like the layout,
and the selection of modules, but isn'tthe stability of the modules one 
of the major reasons we're
not 'saving money' by going for a (I won't name names) cheaper but 
inferior company?  I'm sure
all of you with years of experience have dealt with scratchy pots 
before.  They're loads of fun,
aren't they?  Especially when they're so bad you have to replace them.  
Yes, there's nothing I'd
look forward to more than having to tear one of my modules out of my 
rack, and hack it apart
so I can replace a pot that's gone foul.  Sure, there are probably 
'in-between' solutions, better
than cheap Alpha carbon pots, but not as nice as the high-end of the 
bourns and spectrol pots
we're used to.  But I like the idea that I can leave my knobs in their 
current position, and leave
my rack for a year, come back to it, fire it up, and have it be 
*roughly* the same as it was when
I left... and if I need to turn a pot, the initial movement isn't going 
to sound staticky, or send random
insane control voltages everywhere.  *Maybe* you can make do with 
cheaper jacks, but for one
thing, they're not as nice to work with (IMO) on the component side.  
And yes, I've got projects
from many years ago (not all of which were done by me) using cheaper 
jacks.  Some of these are
fine, but some aren't.  It's more of a gamble when you're using contacts 
of unknown quality, with
unknown impurities in the metal.  Maybe your jacks will stay fine for 
many years if you live in
Arizona, but here in CT, where I'm a few hundred feet from the ocean, 
I've got to deal with
relatively high humidity coupled with a noticably higher amount of SALT 
everywhere.  Pots get
scratchy here, and jacks get crappy.  I think the whole price increase 
thing is a non-issue.
If money is your only concern, what the hell are you doing building an 
analog modular synth?
(Sometimes my friends and family ask me this, as I'm not exactly 
wealthy, and I'm making *no*
money with my debatable musical talent, but we've all got to have 
hobbies.)  I look forward to
the day when I can pass my MOTM synth on to my kids, or grandkids, and 
show them how
we used to make music.  "You know, even analog electronics can be reliable."

If you've got a problem with Paul's *core* design decisions, then get 
out.  He doesn't control
the economy any more than any of us do.  Go bitch to his suppliers.

(Note, this wasn't intended as a response to any particular person's 
complaints, as most of
them have been relatively sane and reasonable, regardless of if I agree 
completely.  I just want
a response pre-made to the people who will inevitably bitch and moan, or 
are at least thinking
about it)

-Geoff, who should be heading off to work now.

konkuro wrote:

> >Spectrol pots, the Switchcraft jacks, the NKK switches AND the Tyco
> knobs have all increased *25%* !!<
>
> This may be blasphemy, but...
>
> The knobs I can understand keeping, but do you have to stick to
> Spectrol and Switchcraft? There surely are cheaper alternatives that
> will work just as well and last just as long.
>
> You could offer the masses the cheaper alternatives, whereas people
> who insist on Switchcraft jacks and sealed pots could pay the extra
> bucks.
>
> Just a thought...
>
> johnm