Wiardgroup

> I thought, and correct me if I'm wrong, that no *new* development would take place in 
> the Frac format, but that Grant was continuing to ship the existing modules.  I was of 
>the impression that the Frac format limited the user interface and, by extension, the 
>versatility and utility of the individual designs.

What I said was that I was not going to develope the Envelooper and Walkabout oscillator 
for the Frac-Rac format. An FPGA is a two inch square area where you can't put anything 
else. That's a big blank spot on a small faceplate. The 300 series format has lots of knobs 
and jacks, which I need for really cool features. The rear of the box provides a place to 
mount bonus feature connectors.

I also said I was going to use up existing 1200 series parts until gone. That mostly meant 
faceplates for the Josysticks and JAGs. I kept the most popular 1200 series models in 
production.

The electronic parts are becoming precious. I have had to do lifetime buys on most parts. I 
want to use them to make complete instruments. The 1200 series modules where just 
pieces. There is a real sense of satisfaction when I can ship a rack of modules and 
controller. It makes a complete instrument. Something a person can develop virtuosity on.

I never get that feeling anymore with the Frac-Rac stuff. I like what happened, good 
designs came from the constraints of working with such a tiny faceplate. The new filters 
sound better than the OTA based Omni-Filter. Lowpass gates make my favorite sounds 
now (perhaps because they are fresh sounding, clean sounding at least).

Virtuosity is a issue with modular syntheiszers. I asked Del Dettmar from Hawkwind if you 
would be interested in a Wiard. His reply "I'm still trying to get good at the Synthi I bought 
35 years ago". Del has got a point, you have to play a musical instrument over a long 
period of time before you get really good at the particular one you chose.

There are tons of inexpensive euro-rack and frac-rack modules. Since there are lots of 
schematics in the public domain, manufacturers can save the money normally spent on 
fundimental reasearch and development. That extra money creates an opportunity for 
something like Analog Haven to exist. The money not being spent on fundimental 
research and development can be allocated to distribution instead.

That is good news for musicians. It makes modules available quickly and at low cost.

Wiard can't work that way if I want to continue doing innovative fundimental research. I am 
forced to stick to the classic synthesizer business model of making the best possible 
designs without too much penny pinching about the final selling price.

Mass production is simply not suitable for every type of end product. Handcrafting is not 
an greedy plot to steal money from the customer, it is the most practical method of 
making very complex objects on a small scale. The 300 series definately gives you a better 
return on investment and always will.