MOTM

Whew, what a frantic last 5 days :) I'm really going to missing running
around like a madman every December from now on (snicker).

2007 was a transition year in many ways. I started a new full-time job in
early February, one that involves working in military aircraft hangers with
armed guards peering at me. Quite the change from the boring FAE desk job
the previous 4 years. My son entered high school and was on the football
team. I was the kid that the football players tried to stuff into the upper
locker. Quite an adjustment.

First, let's run the numbers:

The total number of MOTM modules (not Frac, not 2.0 stuff) shipped in 2007
was 275. This compares to 2005 shipments of 1003 and 2006 of 1057. However,
if you look at the period from Dec 10, 2006 to Dec 24, 2007, the number
shipped is 583. I tend to ship a LOT in December. For comparison, the high
point was 2001 when I shipped 1193. Of course, for 5 months of 2001, I was
*unemployed* so I had a bit more ....errr...incentiv e. And, business was
good :)

The TOTAL number of MOTM modules shipped after tomorrow will be *exactly*
8000! I didn't plan that, it just sort of happened that way.

Next, let's look at orders and the backlog.

There have been 754 orders placed with the shopping cart, and about 18 more
via other means. Roughly 770 orders placed since Feb. 2006. This is *all*
orders but Frac (which is via Analog Haven). There are 49 orders that I have
partially shipped, and 101 orders that I have yet to ship. This means that
since Feb. 2006, I have shipped 620 orders. About 30 a month. So, even
though the backlog is still WAY too high, I haven't been goofing off too
badly. But the backlog is still too big.

So, what is in the backlog? Mostly, there are 3 modules that are the
majority: the '650, the '510 and the 'VCOs.

Now, let's discuss the schedule for 2008: reducing the backlog and shipping
NEW STUFF.

For the backlog:

a) the VCOs are waiting for Analog Devices to ship me more MAT02s from
Singapore. These will arrive ~Jan 10th. I have all the other parts needed.
b) the 510s have (now) all parts in stock
c) the '650s require another SMT board run. I don't expect this to happen
until late February.

Essentially, all the backlog 'needs' is my time. However, the months of Jan
and Feb are my *busiest* real-work months because that is when defense
budgets are funded. To be realistic, I expect I can ship 45 completed orders
by March 1st (plus the MOTM 2.0 orders that trickle in). This still leaves a
large backlog. So, the $64,000 question.... when will the backlog get to
something like < 20 orders remaining?

Well, I'm going to say that my goal is May1st. That should provide enough
time (and allow Vishay to deliver log pots) to get things under control. I
think I can still hit 30 orders shipped/month starting March 1st. But not
before then.

For NEW STUFF:

New stuff is being worked on "in the background" all of the time. In fact, I
expect delivery of another little audio development board on Thursday. We
have successfully interfaced USB on the Cloud Generator Expander to a PC.

So, I can still work little-by-little on the new MOTM modules without
impacting the backlog. I spend a LOT of time in airports and sitting in
airplanes. The mind wanders :)

The next relevant question: when is the MOTM-520 Cloud Generator and the
companion MOTM-521 Expansion module *actually* going to *ship*? Again, being
realistic... ..by Aug 1st. In order to SHIP on that day, the stuffed pc
boards have to be in my hands by the end of June. That is what I am shooting
for. It is hard to plan one's "spare time" 6 months away. But that's what
I'm saying today :)

If there is one 'message' I want to convey, it is that I understand everyone
is anxious about getting new stuff, but I have to ship the old stuff FIRST.
The old stuff is what *funds* the new stuff. It seems I am in a "slowness
race" with Buchla at the present time. If I read/hear negative MOTM
publicity, it tends to center on my "slow delivery times". Well, there is a
solution, albeit not a very popular one. Rid myself of the kitting burden,
move to assembled SMT and engineer the modules from the start for fast
assembly and checkout.

I'm already getting the "will it sound different" questions. Sigh......maybe
it will to *you*. Maybe.....it will sound *even better* :) Certainly, there
is just so much one can do with discrete analog parts. Can you imagine a
MIDI-CV converter NOT using a uP and DACs?

One last point (I've been up 20 hours packing orders...yawn) is to remember
the new paint will start 'showing up' this year, starting with the '521 (the
first 50 '520s have the old paint). I didn't decide to change it, OSHA did.

To end on a positive note: the MOTM 2.0 business (CEM/pcbs/etc) has done
VERY WELL in 2007....keep it up :)

Monday the 24th is my last shipping day until Jan. 15th. If Santa could give
me a magic wand to ship everything to everybody, that's the best present. I
*am* shipping 47 modules tomorrow, so Santa is *trying hard*. Merry
Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I still have the best customers in
the world, and I pledge to keep plugging away in 2008.

Paul Schreiber
Synthesis Technology