MOTM

Well, I'd say one man's "strange" is another man's normal... I probably use my wiard Noise Ring more than any filter in my rig (tho I'd be surprised if that was a majority practice).  And I'll probably buy a 510 before I add another VCO.  But that's the point of modularity, ain't it: to assemble an instrument uniquely suited to the individual musician? 

I think most of us may not have a good perspective on the synth "business" and economies of scale.  In the grand scheme of things, we are smaller than "niche.  I think I heard that Tony produced a total of 10 Octal Resonators--great module, glad I got one, but I was floored at how small the market was.  To me, Cynthia's order of 200 panels for a $650 module (that competes for market share with 4 other identical modules in different formats) seems like either extreme optimism or a unique "understanding" of her business.

bbob drake

>
>   Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 19:15:39 -0600
>   From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...>
>Subject: Re: Zeroscillator and a thought for Paul
>
>Well, there are several ways to approach building
>'strange' modules:
>
>a) the #1 selling MOTM module is the MOTM-800 EG
>b) the MOTM-510 WaveWarper has sold less than the
>MOTM-420 VCF by 2:1
>
>I call this the 'Buchla Pyramid' effect: the
>stranger your modules, the smaller 
>the customer base. You begin to approch the limit
>of only 1 person in the world 
>wanting what you have :)
>
>I have several 'strange' modules in the works. 2005
>was spent trying to ship all 
>the un-strange ones on order (mostly from June of
>last year, when prices were 
>about to go up and over 700 modules were ordered in
>a span of *10 days*).
>
>The other issue with 'strangeness' is people want
>*different degrees* of it. 
>Again, take the '510. Larry Hendry told me he tried
>to use it for 10min before 
>audio even came out. He never used it again. Robert
>Rich took the prototype and 
>made *entire tracks* on his last CD 'Lithosphere'
>using it.
>
>Paul S.
>
>

A few random thoughts on this topic:

While some may consider "strange" modules like the 500 series to be 
"normal" for them, I doubt anyone considers a "normal" module, like an 
EG to be "strange".  I bet pretty much everyone has EGs in their 
modular.  As Paul said, the 800 EG is the top MOTM seller.  I'm very 
glad Paul chose to make VCOs, VCFs, and "boring" EGs the bread and 
butter of MOTM.  I too have wanted a modular for a long time - since I 
first heard Kitaro as a lad in the early 80's.  And my dream too is 
being made a reality by MOTM.  I think Paul has been either very wise 
or very lucky (I'll assume the former :) in picking his niche within 
this already niche market of analog modular synths.

I am a semi-professional musician (I get paid to play music, but do 
other work too), and MOTM is already priced at the top of my budget for 
such a thing.  I spend several thousand dollars a year on music gear, 
but most of it is meat-and-potatoes stuff like PA equipment, and cables 
and software.  I would love a Zeroscillator, but I highly doubt I will 
ever buy one.  Frankly, I still haven't bought my 300's yet (though I 
have had the money in hand more than once - doh!).  I imagine Paul 
could be a "boutique" module guy and sell custom, built-to-order 
modules for several thousand $ a pop - and I'm sure some people would 
buy them.  Just not me.  :)  So I'm glad MOTM is what it is.

This is interesting:

>   To me, Cynthia's order of 200 panels for a $650 module (that 
> competes for market share with 4 other identical modules in different 
> formats) seems like either extreme optimism or a unique 
> "understanding" of her business.
>
> bbob drake

At first I thought "a unique 'understanding'" was a euphemism for poor 
business judgment.  But then I thought of something else.  I have a 
friend who is really in "the business"; he's an MD for hire for big 
name rock stars and produces records.  He meets all kinds of people on 
various tours, and not surprisingly, some of them are quite wealthy.  
One such person decided to fund his latest recording project.  For the 
rich guy, it was a fun little diversion that would probably end up as a 
tax write off.  Similarly, it is possible that someone in the analog 
modular manufacturing business doesn't really care if they lose money.  
There may be other factors more important to them - and in the end, 
losing money in one business may not hurt their personal finances 
anyway.  I don't know Cynthia or her business, and my point is not 
about her.  My point is that comparing Synthtech to Cyndustries, or any 
other company, may not be valid.

Just my 2 bits.
Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for a successfull 2006 to 
Synthtech and all purveyors of musical goodness.

Larry David

>>
>>   Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 19:15:39 -0600
>>   From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...>
>> Subject: Re: Zeroscillator and a thought for Paul
>>
>> Well, there are several ways to approach building
>> 'strange' modules:
>>
>> a) the #1 selling MOTM module is the MOTM-800 EG
>> b) the MOTM-510 WaveWarper has sold less than the
>> MOTM-420 VCF by 2:1
>>
>> I call this the 'Buchla Pyramid' effect: the
>> stranger your modules, the smaller
>> the customer base. You begin to approch the limit
>> of only 1 person in the world
>> wanting what you have :)
>>
>> I have several 'strange' modules in the works. 2005
>> was spent trying to ship all
>> the un-strange ones on order (mostly from June of
>> last year, when prices were
>> about to go up and over 700 modules were ordered in
>> a span of *10 days*).
>>
>> The other issue with 'strangeness' is people want
>> *different degrees* of it.
>> Again, take the '510. Larry Hendry told me he tried
>> to use it for 10min before
>> audio even came out. He never used it again. Robert
>> Rich took the prototype and
>> made *entire tracks* on his last CD 'Lithosphere'
>> using it.
>>
>> Paul S.
>
>

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005, Larry David wrote:
> This is interesting:
>
>>   To me, Cynthia's order of 200 panels for a $650 module (that
>> competes for market share with 4 other identical modules in different
>> formats) seems like either extreme optimism or a unique
>> "understanding" of her business.

Quite frankly, I thinks she's got serious guts. That's some serious faith, 
and I totally respect the amount of effort she's gone into promoting this 
module. I suspect 200 panels is probably the sum total of the *potential* 
MOTM market, who knows, maybe her goal is to stretch the cost over 
several years.

I can stomach 650 a module for something truly useful, I've had an order 
for the MIDI moodule for over a year. Space is the biggest consideration 
right now. I wish the ZO wasn't four spaces wide and was a little more 
compact, but whatever. I'll probably get one anyway, it's a really 
versatile module...

> about her.  My point is that comparing Synthtech to Cyndustries, or any
> other company, may not be valid.

Well said Larry!

Happy Holdays MOTMers!
--mikes

> My point is that comparing Synthtech to Cyndustries, or any
> other company, may not be valid.

IMHO comparing Synthtech products to Cyndustries products may not be valid
either. The pricetag isn't the main reason I won't be buying a
Zeroscillator.

--Adam

> I think I heard that Tony produced a total of 10 Octal Resonators

I normally used to make boards in batches of 40. The Octal Resonator was 
no different in this respect. It was an expensive 'board' to get made 
since it is actually a three board set. The first ten sets were actually 
pre-ordered, but the rest sort of sat there until I announced my 
closure. Then they flew out the door...

Even so, it only had one run. So that's only 40 of them out there. 
Unlike the ADSR/VCA module of which, like Paul, was one of my biggest 
sellers. I think, the VCO was the biggest seller in all of its four guises.

I have to admit when I saw that Cynthia had 200 panels made I was rather 
shocked. However, panel [and PCB] manufacturing costs can be surprising. 
It could be that 200 panels actually costs the same as 50, since a 
manufacturer will have a price for the job and not the quantity.

Tony

www.oakleysound.com