First update of 2006 (rambling)
2006-01-03 by Paul Schreiber
Happy New Year to everyone! 2005 was a mixed bag of highs and lows. Let's hope 2006 turns out better for everyone. I just need rain: it's only rained 3 days at my house since May 1st. I've poured over $300 worth of water on the yard and it's still a desert. Some things you just can't control. a) As most of your are aware, I'm going to NAMM in 3 weeks. I haven't been the last 2 years. This year it's to promote the Frac-sized MOTM modules being sold through Analog Haven. I can't provide badges, but if you do manage one please stop by and visit. I'll be there Friday and Sat. and some part of Sunday (probably 10A-2PM). I will have 1 rack of MOTM (with the -650) and the 3 or 4 Frac modules I'll have ready to show (assuming they work by then). Robert Rich will bop in and out to assist and give meaningful demos. b) the downside of going to NAMM is that it takes away from other stuff in Jan. I will ship a bunch of CEM chips this week. I will not have time to redo the website or install the shopping cart. I *will* make up all the VCO kits and ship those before I go. I have 1 assembled system (in a case) to ship before I go. If you think you have waited a long time, this person has you beat. So, no whining :) I also have some repairs to get out, these will also ship before the show. c) Paul H. is back on-line tomorrow, kit-wise. We are still waiting for MOTM-190 panels. I am waiting on wire. I did get in 2000 Spectrol pots 3 weeks early so I don't have to worry about those. (except paying for them). d) Module prices *are* going up, but not in effect until Feb. 1st. So, you have this month to order under the old prices. The increases are *small*. Postage will go up next Monday. I *will* add $1/module for postage to whatever the current order form says. e) Thanks to all for the FPE help. The program is crude but effective. I will order panels this week and see how they look (I've personally never seen one). I know some heads are shaking: why do I 'waste time' on modules like the '102 when there are modules not shipping for 3 years? Sorry, that's just how my brain works. I've spent the last 9 days, 8-10hrs/day on the pcbs for the Frac modules (that was my 'vacation'). When I get tired, I dream of new stuff. Mainly, because I know that new stuff is now the driver, not old stuff. There is just too much competition now compared to when I started (yes, I take full credit for the analog modular popularity increase over the last 5 years). The downside to that reality is that I *have* to do a better job in the shipping department (Paul H. is doing a super job). One upside of the Frac modules in SMT is in 1 8-hour day, I can have *1 year* of modules built. There is very little hand-soldering, and so delivery issues are minimized. When the Stooge CNC machine (needs a pet name) gets going, this will help a great deal. When I started 7 years ago (!), I could 'get away' with a lot more than in today's market. Those days are gone. So, the focus in 2006 is getting my "house in order" as the business books in the late '80s liked to say. I'm tired of having both ends of the spectrum attached to me (great products/lousy and erratic delivery). I can no long "excuse myself" out of it, I just have to get caught up. Simple as that. Certainly, when I first started I had a lot (too much?) of competitive 'drive'. I was accused of shameless self-promotion (guilty). I spent WAY too much time on forums responding to all sorts of bizarre attacks (guilty guilty). Going forward, I see that all of my wildest dreams have been realized (you have to understand some of these dreams I've had since 1974) and there is little to be gained dragging up old arguments. My last goal, passing up Bob Moog in the installed base, will happen shortly. I feel I no longer have to *prove myself* to anyone. I'm no longer losing sleep over other players in the game 'stealing' my customers or outshipping me or whatever (OK, I still wring my hands when people sell off their systems). I pledge to 'do better' for the business side. JH, Old Crow and the rest still have ideas in their heads. It's up to me to take it to the next level. Which I plan to :) Thanks again for your continued support. I *do* have the best customers, the best news group in the best time for analog modulars. Paul S.