MOTM

First off, glad to see the list become active for a change :) Instead of me just 
babbling.

a) I don't want anyone to feel that this is some sort of old farts club with a 
secret handshake. And, despite the contrary, I *want* to hear negative feedback, 
because in general

1 - I will agree with you 99% of the time
2 - how do I  know what 'bugs you' if you never tell me?

b) concerning Frac modules - please chant this as a mantra:

1 - this was *not my idea at all*. This is business agreement between MOTM and 
Analogue Haven. They set price/margins/which modules to ship, not me.
2 - to assume that 5U MOTM, with an installed base approaching 8,000 modules 
spread over 600+ users, will be abandoned is, well, nonsense.

c) concerning MOTM pricing: I never claimed to be cheap, I never *wanted* to be 
cheap. That market is widely covered by 7 people. The MOTM market is: 
Serge/Modcan B/maybe Buchla if you like bug music. Technosaurus (remember them) 
was there for 20 months, but the designer had 2 kids within a 14 month period 
and went kaput (well, his WIFE did). But, as the 'novelist' pointed out, MOTM 
is/was never set up as a business. ESPECIALLY for assembled module customers 
(judging from his comments, he would be one). Should I spend more time on the 
website? Certainly. But not now :) In fact, EVERYTHING he said was 99% true, I 
see one thing in there that I disagree with. And what I am finding out, that for 
*this period in time*, potential customers like him DO NOT buy MOTM because of 
the points stated. Which is why I am going to address them beginning Feb. 1st (I 
like to call it MOTM 2.0)

d) concerning selling pc boards: I have *already stated* that I will be sell the 
pcb + bracket + panel for $79 (1U modules) and $89 (2U modules). Not the blank 
boards. I'm going to make these up and sell them with quick and easy shipping. 
Now, about the discontinued models: it will depend on what is left after 
Christmas when all is said and done with Indiana getting out of the kitting and 
shipping everything back to me. I *MAY* have stuff left over, I may not. I *MAY* 
decide to sell it, I may not. If people want to "play the game" of not ordering 
a full kit now in anticipation of the $79/$89 stuff (which won't be until Feb. 
1st) that's a gamble you can decide to take or not.

I agree that I need to spend most of my time designing. I *do* think that I have 
the best PR going (compare MOTM mentions in magazines to say, .com - I have been 
in EM, Mix, Recording, TapeOP and Keyboard 22 times, .com maybe once?). If 
anything, I probably "oversold" MOTM a few years ago. Because for 14 months, I 
was doing MOTM 100% of the time and there was a definite panic factor (BTW: over 
those 14 months, I *lost* $23,455).

I apologized if I seem smug or arrogant sometimes (most EEs are, nature of the 
beast). I can't control a LOT of factors, but overall I think I've done a fair 
job (I'll give myself an 88/100). The goal for MOTM 2.0 is to be more like a 
'real' company, so that the average person considering MOTM will have a solid, 
predictable basis to make a purchasing decision.

Now, will you folks *please* beta test the V1.3 MOTM-650 code so I can release 
it?

Paul S.