Doepfer

A most civilized response to the mob.  Now about that Frequency 
Shifter modification...  Okay, I'll shut up.

Regards,
Kevin

--- In Doepfer_a100@y..., bakis Sirros <synth_freak_2000@y...> wrote:
> 
> --- Dieter Doepfer <hardware@d...> wrote:
> > From: "Dieter Doepfer" <hardware@d...>
> > To: "bakis Sirros" <synth_freak_2000@y...>
> > Subject: AW: RE: [Doepfer_a100] info from
> > doepfer!about the ribboncontrollerandsensor ke...
> > Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:17:42 +0200
> > 
> > Dear Bakis,
> > 
> > thanks for the copy of the message below. Normally I
> > observe about 90% of the
> > messages of the group when I'm in the company (i.e.
> > when I'm not in holidays or
> > vistiting fairs or similar).
> > 
> > Some group members complain that I do not join the
> > group and take part in the
> > discussions. This has different reasons:
> > 
> > 1. I understand the forum as a customer group
> > completely independent of Doepfer.
> > I'm not sure if this remains the same when I appear
> > as a member in the group
> > (especially for new members).
> > 2. I do not want to take a stand to the products of
> > competitors (many items
> > concern competitors too). I think it is bad style to
> > criticize competitors.
> > 3. Last but not least I do not have sufficient time
> > to give my view to all
> > messages. Most of the messages would require this
> > from me as a part of the
> > group.
> > 
> > 
> > Sometimes I feel sorry not to be a member -
> > especially when technically wrong
> > statements are given by a member (not only
> > concerning Doepfer products but even
> > general wrong basic information).
> > 
> > But everybody is open to contact me directly and I
> > think so far I replied each
> > email - even if it may take some time as I'm very
> > busy (remember my sideline: I
> > have to manage a company).
> > 
> > Concerning the module suggestions there is a general
> > problem: It takes at least
> > 3 months to develop a new module or another device
> > (basic considerations, pcb
> > layout, prototype building and testing, software
> > design for some products, front
> > panel or case/housing design, redesigns if there
> > occur problems, writing
> > preliminary and final infos, taking pictures,
> > writing user manuals and service
> > manuals and many more). For more complex products
> > like the touch sensor keyboard
> > the required time is much longer. Of course for very
> > simple designs (e.g. CV
> > source A-176 or voltage inverter A-175 or mixer
> > A-138) the development time was
> > much less.
> > This means that we are able to publish not more than
> > about 4 modules/devices per
> > year. And for these ~4 devices we have to pay
> > attention not to generate a "flop"
> > as we have to pay the salaries for our employees
> > every month. We made the
> > experience that the sales are much less for more
> > "exotic" and more expensive
> > modules or devices (e.g. we sell much less
> > Theremins/Shepards/Vocoders/Subharmonics that
> > VCFs/ADSRs/LFOs/VCOs).
> > 
> > But I think that the group's suggestions for the
> > proceeding for new exotic
> > modules (like Nintendo or space mouse controllers)
> > is a good starting point. We
> > could try to collect advance orders and then
> > calculate the price based on the
> > number of advance orders. As soon as the price is
> > defined the customers may
> > decide if they accept the price. When too many
> > orderers jump off the price will
> > have to be re-calculated because of the new
> > conditions. It is a bit complicated
> > but it may work. I think we will try this for the
> > Nintendo and space mouse
> > module. For the space mouse module I would advise
> > against as the transmission
> > rate from the space mouse is too small from our
> > point of view. But it seems that
> > some customers would accept this. Another question
> > is if we should manufacture a
> > product we do no stand by (as for the space mouse
> > controller). I'm not sure if
> > we should offer a product with drawbacks known in
> > advance even if some customers
> > ask for this product.
> > 
> > And one last statement: When we know that there is a
> > module already available
> > from one of our competitors we (normally) do not
> > develop a similar product. Of
> > course there are exceptions: If a competitor
> > publishes a module after we
> > finished a similar product we normally will offer
> > our module too as we already
> > invested the development costs. But generally we
> > think that the small community
> > of analog modular systems manufacturer should not
> > make their live harder as it
> > is already. We have good relationship with some
> > other manufacturers (e.g. Bob
> > Williams of Analogue Systems, or the common Super
> > Booth at the Frankfurt show
> > together with Technosaurus, Analogue Solutions,
> > Vermona, Sherman, Moog and
> > others). As an example we will not develop a new
> > high end VCO as there are some
> > solutions already available from our competitors (or
> > even friends).
> > 
> > You may publish this statement in the forum if
> > desired.
> > 
> > Best wishes
> > Dieter Doepfer
> > Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH
> > http://www.doepfer.de
> > email: hardware@d...