MOTM

I'm going to ship as much as humanly possible this week. Then, I will have
to cut back due to
other things taking over for a while.

The following modules are in short supply, and will run out this week. It
will be 14-18 days until
they get replenished.

'300
'320
'440
'110

If you have pending orders for the other modules, you will receive them. Of
the 4 shown, the re-kitting
order is 300/440/110/320.

Again, some of you *will* see all of your order, but most will get partial
shipment. And somewhere in there the '820
VC Lag will be ready, but that will probably wait until 95% of the backlog
is shipped.

I will get the flat rails quoted as well. Note the are NOT L-shaped: they
are 12U long by 0.500 tall, 10ga steel.
They are designed to be attached to wood support bars (they have
counter-sunk holes for wood screws). This
way, you can both end-butt them for longer cabinets, and lay them next to
each other for a no-gap, 2 row
setup. This make "Mogg-style sloped-front cabinets" a breeze.


Paul S.

1) Reduced emails in my Inbox from 1488 to only 615. Now that's progress!

2) The MOTM-380s are about done, waiting for a few resistors values from Digikey. Manual is done.
So, fully expect to begin shipping next week. I have made up 60 kits. That should cover most
everyone.

3) Spent the last 2 days on mainly tweaking the MOTM-490 Moog filter. I'm beating it to death,
because Moog ladders are inherently noisy and I want a quiet one. I'll keep you posted.

4) JH has finished up the design of the Fixed Filter Bank. Moe is doodling a panel (non-MOTM
traditional). It has 10 sections, all in parallel. It *does not* have individual outs because of
the noise/impedance issues. Do not be swayed by competitive filter banks: this one will *sound*
the best. I hope to post demos in about 10 days. I haven't worked up the cost yet, I need to get
a Bourns pot quote (it uses 10K log pots), but I bet the kit will be like $199-$209. There are
several "tricks" to keep the overall assembly out of the nightmare regions. Stay tuned. It's a
summer thing anyway, just filling the pipeline (and it's keeps me from getting bored to tears).

5) I have a big assembled delivery set for Monday that I am working on, along with the general
assembled backlog, currently 72 modules (I'm finishing up 8 MOTM-101s). Then I'm turning to kits.
This is the order in which I plan to replenish the kit stock:

800
310
101
410
300
440

and so on. Hang in there, I'm going 90MPH. Plus other distractions (daughter turns 16 in 11 days,
prayer takes up time).

Paul S.

a) I finished up the prototype breadboard electrical design of the MIDI-CV converter today. It
has many, many parts: almost 100 resistors, 40 caps and 18 ICs. SMT all the way :)

The good news is that it is looking like under $400 for the cost, probably somewhere around $379.
The emphasis is on stability: it uses over $40 worth of *op amps* alone, not counting a $23 DAC
and a $5 reference.

b) I am running low on every kit. After the '650 goes to the pcb shop, I'll have about 5 days of
pure kitting/packing/shipping.

c) New possible photo of interest (from 'CQ' radio magazine) at
www.synthtech.com/images/newjw.jpg

d) Remember, Nov. 20th is last day to order to get modules before Christmas. Tell
Mom/Dad/wife/etc if you Santa to bring you something. Dec. 1st is 'full disclosure' day for new
modules which you can "order" but delivery will not be until March most likely. This includes the
Fixed Filter Bank.

I *really* helps me if you pre-order so that I can get a feel for parts ordering. I don't want to
underbuy OR overbuy on the expensive parts.

Paul S.

Nice box on top!! ;)


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Schreiber [mailto:synth1@...] 
> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 8:09 PM
> To: MOTM listserv
> Subject: [motm] Quick Update
> 
> 
> a) I finished up the prototype breadboard electrical design 
> of the MIDI-CV converter today. It has many, many parts: 
> almost 100 resistors, 40 caps and 18 ICs. SMT all the way :)
> 
> The good news is that it is looking like under $400 for the 
> cost, probably somewhere around $379. The emphasis is on 
> stability: it uses over $40 worth of *op amps* alone, not 
> counting a $23 DAC and a $5 reference.
> 
> b) I am running low on every kit. After the '650 goes to the 
> pcb shop, I'll have about 5 days of pure kitting/packing/shipping.
> 
> c) New possible photo of interest (from 'CQ' radio magazine) 
> at www.synthtech.com/images/newjw.jpg
> 
> d) Remember, Nov. 20th is last day to order to get modules 
> before Christmas. Tell Mom/Dad/wife/etc if you Santa to bring 
> you something. Dec. 1st is 'full disclosure' day for new 
> modules which you can "order" but delivery will not be until 
> March most likely. This includes the Fixed Filter Bank.
> 
> I *really* helps me if you pre-order so that I can get a feel 
> for parts ordering. I don't want to underbuy OR overbuy on 
> the expensive parts.
> 
> Paul S.
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
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The custom rotary switches are now "approved for shipment" (third time's the
charm, as Granny says). 2 assembled units are shipping out *tomorrow* (no
manual...heh). I will order the final resistor/caps to be bagged, and will now
fix the MOTM-480 pcb messups (1 day of work) so THAT can also get rolling. The
firmware for the MIDI-CV converter is progressing nicely, official beta testing
begins early next week. I will take kit inventory this weekend, see what needs
to be restocked first (guessing '300s), and while the '510 and '480 are "off in
the background", alternate between restocking and assembled module building
(falling a bit behind schedule there....sigh...)

On the upside: late Feb. will be module #5000 shipped, the lucky person gets a
modest award (I think it's sorta cool). If I get to module #6683, I'll think of
something REALLY cool (hmmmm...maybe an autographed Bob Moog something or
other....)

I sort of wish I was at NAMM right now (I'd be having dinner at Tangerine's
about now), but I did the taxes today, and I'd rather have the $$$ and the time
to work on the '480.

Paul S.

a) this week I have to travel a few days. Not much shipping until Fri/Sat.

b) I'm working on assembled units the next 10 days or so. I shipped 44 kits the
last 2 weeks, time to solder.

c) Old Crow has sent Rev 1.0 GX-1 VCF schematic to me, which I will start CAD
next weekend. It does have 4 trimmers, but that's Yamaha for 'ya.

Paul S.

a) wife had knee surgery (old tennis tear) and so I've been somewhat limited on
MOTM work last 3 days, and she won't be up and about until Thursday. So, a few
shipments here and there, more assembled soldering.

b) I *did* release both the MOTM-480 and the MOTM-485 VCFs to the pcb fab shop
today. I also removed 2 trimmers from *each* design. These filters track within
reason with 1% resistors and SSM2220 PNP matched pairs. Since neither design
self-resonates, it's virtually impossible to accurately set 1V/Oct anyway.

c) My parts assembler should be finished with all the parts prep by this coming
weekend for the '510 kits. I look forward to getting these things out in the
field!

d) I am running slightly behind schedule, but I did ship #5200 Friday. I know
many folks are wondering where the freebie modules are (many months on "order").
I am gathering up all these in a separate pile and will start shipping them
(based on panel availability) this week. Long suffering folks like Adam S. will
see relief :)

Thanks to Mike Marsh for the '485 demos. And Robert Rich starts *tomorrow*
full-time on his next CD.

Paul S.

a) price increases do *not* effect the MIDI-CV or uSeq

b) All of the MIDI-CV pc boards are *at production*, will have them ready to 
start stuffing on Feb. 10.

c) if you are waiting on a power supply kit: I will ship these by Friday.

d) I placed the first of 2 panel orders today. I will place the second one over 
the weekend.

Paul S.

a) Paul H. is now able to do limited walking with a cane, and is able to eat 
some solid food (like applesauce). He is expected to be released from the 
hospital April 16th.

b) the long-awaited front panels have shipped from Washington state. So, all 
those '485s, '820s and other back-ordered modules will be able to ship next 
week. Power supplies and VCOs, too!

c) Keep pounding on those '650s :)

Paul S.

Since in the US, it's "Tax Weekend" (income taxes due by Tuesday) and I'm 
off to Wal-Mart (shudder...) to get TurboTax, this will be brief:

a) MOTM-910 pc board prototypes 100% shippable, will move to production in 2 
weeks. The 5 protos are built and tested, will ship later this week. The 
*only* difference is the green solder mask is a different shade of green :)

b) also received prototypes for the 4 of the 5 boards in the MOTM-730 VC 
Pulse Divider. All appear 100% OK, will solder and test next weekend. I 
still need to do the layout for the CPU board (the '730 uses 2 PIC uPs) and 
this will be done by the end of the month. Trying to fit into a 4-layer pcb, 
but like the MOTM-650 will probably roll over to a 6-layer due to component 
density (there are a lot of EMI/RFI parts on the board because of it's 
digital (another shudder....) nature).

c) Per requests, will add some MOTM-850 Pedal Interface pc boards *only* 
into the cart. I have no panels, and since I sold 5 total in *2 years* have 
no plans to revive it.

d) April is still going to be a 'slow' MOTM month, I will do what I can.

Paul S.

> c) Per requests, will add some MOTM-850 Pedal Interface pc boards
*only* 
> into the cart. I have no panels, and since I sold 5 total in *2
years* have 
> no plans to revive it.

Maybe it's just that the 850s are misnamed?  People see "pedal" and
they think "ick" and move on?  

I like my 2 (!) 850s, but I rarely use pedals with them.  I
conceptualize the 850 as a convenient general-purpose CV controller. 
I especially like to connect one of 'em to the 820.  This way I can
pretend I'm one of them super-slow-modulation ambient artists, all
turning the knob real slow like, except I don't actually have to wait
around and turn the knob real slow like.  I also like the gate out a
lot.  I don't really know how I'd manually trigger an envelope
otherwise, aside from the usual way with the 650.

Perhaps one could re-release the 850 as the "MOTM-851 Convenient
General-Purpose CV Controller/Mixer", or if that won't fit, perhaps
"MOTM-852 Kickass Knob."

My modular cabinets are SKB pop-up mixer racks, so when one fell off
the table last year it smashed the cap and pot at the top of one of my
850s.  If I didn't have two of them, I'd have cried.  This reminds me
I have to go write Paul an email asking how to best fix up the broken one.

Maybe my writing of MOTM abuse here will do worse things for the poor
overlooked 850 than the presumption of a pedal in its name ever did. 
Oh well.

#:jfm3

jfm3 " " writes:
>>Maybe it's just that the 850s are misnamed?  People see "pedal" and they
think "ick" and move on?<<

If people see "pedal", they should think, hey, another real-time controller
that can add expression and emotion to my music and make my sounds more
dynamic and musical.  Anybody who would think "ick" would probably think
"ick" to a keyboard, modwheel, breath controller, and to music.
Unfortunately, there probably are plenty of those here.

-Elhardt
"If you give younger people trash from the time they're 11 or 12 you can
exploit them."  - Musician Wynton Marsalis on rap and hip-hop

On 2008-07-19 22:18 -0400, Kenneth Elhardt wrote:
> jfm3 " " writes:
> >> Maybe it's just that the 850s are misnamed?  People see
> >> "pedal" and they think "ick" and move on?
> 
> If people see "pedal", they should think, hey, another real-time
> controller that can add expression and emotion to my music and
> make my sounds more dynamic and musical.  Anybody who would
> think "ick" would probably think "ick" to a keyboard, modwheel,
> breath controller, and to music.  Unfortunately, there probably
> are plenty of those here.

http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/nt/

Il est en forme, l'Elhardt. :-)

-- 
Andr\ufffd Majorel <URL:http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/>
Do not use this account for regular correspondence.
See the URL above for contact information.

a) rails are due in tomorrow. So, next week I will be able to ship out all 
the rails on order. Note that these have wider "end openings" (0.250 versus 
0.200) to accommodate metric mounting screws for cases (the *module* screws 
are still 8-32). I am stressing out over these, I hope that they are OK and 
I will be able to use this supplier in the future (the cost of shipping is 
about what all the rails cost).

b) I have finished all my "real job' paperwork/activity and should start on 
Aug 30th. I apologize for not being able to do much on MOTM the last 2 
weeks, I have *really* stressed out over this (long!!) process. Starting 
today I am back full-time on MOTM until the real job begins. It has been *18 
years* since I have been in an "sea of cubes" environment although in my 
division is more like a pond of cubes (there are only 4 of us). Still, the 
get up-drive 21mi-lunch-drive home routine will take getting used to.

Will this impact MOTM? Sure it will. I have been working out of my home 8 of 
the last 12 years. How much will it impact it? Hard to say, as overall my 
business is way down anyway. After all the current stuff has shipped, I 
suspect that in reality new order wait times will be the same for 2.0 stuff 
and like 4-6 weeks for assembled. This job has very little travel (maybe 5 
times a year) as opposed to my last job that was 60% travel.

I will still grind out the MOTM goods as long as people want them.

Paul S.

Thanks to everyone who visited (and subsequently slashdotted) the Garage 
SAle. It's still going on until June 6. The P5 is still available, as is the 
MuLogix 32 (I found ALL the documentation set). I will be adding more stuff 
May28-June 1 as this is when I start to dismantle my office/workspace and 
physically move into my new house.

a) I am shipping a few orders tomorrow, but will not be able to ship again 
until next Thursday the 26th.

b) I will not be able to ship/have email from May 29 to June 3. If you need 
to contact me please call my cell at 972 841 8853.

c) the website is not "moving" it's in Flordia running on a Commodore 64 it 
appears :(

d) The goal is to be "back to normal" (cough) by June 20th. A lot depends on 
travel for day job (a LOT last 6 weeks), how the house moving goes (it's 
shaping up to be a nightmare, my wife is somewhere between pack-rat and 
appearing on the 'Hoarders' program. Me: "Why do we have 16 place settings 
of china that we have never used in 28 years."? Her: "Why do you have 4 
DVMs, 3 scopes and a broken HP-25 calculator?")

Paul S.