Elektron Musical Instruments

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Automatic Panic
<thesoundzoneinfo@y...> wrote:
> 
> i wouldn't pay double the price for what they first
> came out as selling the sidstation for. 

...you need to take in account that we include much more in the price
today. For example for a US order you now get:

* UPS Express shipping
* Power supply (switching light one)
* Import taxes payed

This, plus that the dollar is just worth about 60% of what it once was
counted in Swedish currency SEK. Plus that the production of these
units were much more expensive as well, as it is a one off production
with several components hard to track down.

All together, I think the people who think we are overpricing the SID
today would be quite surprised to see our margin compared to what is
usual to other synths. We could never sell the SidStation in stores
today at reasonable prices!

But we love doing them, we love the sound and want to spread it. When
we found the 100 new chips we just couldn't ignore them, knowing there
could be 100 more SidStations. And of course we do have a margin, and
selling them do help us getting other new stuff out on the market.

But if you think one gets in the music machine business these days to
get rich you're wrong. This is a tough small world, and I don't think
there are many other who expanded the last few years (not taking in
account computer accessory makers such as M-Audio). Making a new synth
for us is like making a new computer, including a new OS (at least
parts), new set of applications, new hardware (very highly specified),
new marketing, new users manual, press releases, photo sessions, trade
fairs, keeping the servers running plus updating existing users and
products. You can find much more efficient ways to making money.

But we're here because we love to see our music making babies
multiply, and listen to the great amount of amazing music in brilliant
musicians hands! And also the feeling that maybe one or a few of our
stuff will be appreciated and used for a long time.

Daniel (Elektron)