MOTM

At 10:21 PM 8/17/2012, Paul Schreiber wrote:

>>I like the idea of buying stuffed boards, sans pots, jacks, and panels.
>
>But what is the point?

The point, which you've totally missed, is that in recognition of the 
fact that you don't want to have 2 sets of documentation and 2 sets 
of boards to keep track of, we're asking, "hey, can you deliver 
stuffed euro boards sans pots, jacks, and panels to save us from 
having to go through the hassle and hazard of desoldering pots, 
jacks, and switches, and paying for panels and jacks we don't need?"


>Look, I COMPLETELY understand there is a group of people that think the
>soldering/building is just as (if not MORE) fun and enjoyable as using the
>modular.

I think I've gotten my fill of it, and I'm sure I'm not alone.  And 
if anyone hasn't, there are Bridechamber, Oakley, and others 
providing 5U thru-hole DIY pcbs.  Believe me, I'd RATHER have an 
fully assembled 5U MOTM-355 Morphing Dual LFO.  HOWEVER, knowing that 
you have your hands full developing and shipping modules for the Euro 
market, I'm asking, what's the MINIMUM you can do that will make most 
of your old 5U customers happier than they are now?

We WANT to buy your new modules.  In a perfect world, you'd deliver 
them in 5U assembled.  The current reality requires buying an 
assembled euro module, then disassembling it, making a custom panel, 
and wiring it up.  Is there a workable middle ground?


>Certainly, one can argue the MOTM lineup needs a 'refresh' as we say in
>consumer electronics. The MOTM-800 can be a VC'd ADSR with looping (based on
>the Frac version) and this can be entirely DIY thru-hole.

I'd rather have a fully assembled MOTM-805 that's SMT with a built-in 
THAT2180 VCA.  ;)  But knowing the market realities that you've laid 
out, I don't expect that to happen.  :(


>Just to address "added cost" of having my assembler insert & solder the
>mechanical parts versus you doing it (to "save money"): they change me 5
>cents a pin. So to place and solder a 3-position NKK toggle switch cost me
>15 cents. The pots have 5 pins (3 for the pot + 2 mounting pins) so that is
>a quarter. Jacks would have 3 pins so that is 15 cents. For a typical module
>with 6 pots, 1 switch and 6 jacks that is only costing me $2.55. It's mice
>nuts. Think about the TIME to make those same wire connections (at each
>end!) for all these parts. That is 66 individual solder operations (panel
>pots are just 3). If you can do 1 per minute let's call it an hour. I value
>my time more than $2.55/hr and you should too :) But then again, I *GET*
>that the POINT of DIY is to do that work.

Now, can you *GET* that I and others don't care about the DIY 
aspect?  In fact, I want to reduce the amount of DIY that's currently 
required to adapt one of your euro modules to 5U!

The crucial question: would there be significant setup cost to run 
off 40-50 euro pcbs sans pots, jacks, and switches, and would that 
make testing the boards too difficult?  If not, great, as it would 
save us the time and hazard of desoldering the pots, jacks, and switches.


>The problem is: I cannot afford 'zero
>dollars/hr' time for me. I was willing to do that 8-10 years ago, but not now.

And I'm not expecting that.  I'm trying to find a way for you to sell 
50 more of everything you make with a minimal amount of extra effort 
on your part.  PLEASE try to understand what I'm asking rather than 
dismissing it as a case of DIYitus.

At the very least, on future E-series pcbs, could you add mounting 
holes at the corners and an unstuffed header pin field that has all 
the pot and switch lines on it (like there are for the jacks), and 
work out a deal with Scott or someone else to sell them boards minus 
panels?  PLEASE?  If you can deliver partially unstuffed pcbs, all 
the better.  Let somebody else design the front panel, and pot/switch 
and jack boards that can plug into the main board with a ribbon cable 
like Oakley modules.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like a 
little bit of effort on your part to support the 5U market for your 
modules would be worth your while.

Jeffrey