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If I were to start a new synth company...


TrancedelicBlues

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...here is what I would hope to do.

 

First, I'd try to make a synth that would do "streaming" a la gigasampler.

 

Maybe it would be compatible with other formats, maybe not. Depends how much it would cost.

 

I would start out by releasing a synth with a DVD-ROM drive and I would make available a library of DVD-ROM streaming sample disks for it at as low a cost as possible.

 

Can this be done? Is it only possible to play streaming samples from a hard disk, or could you do it from a DVD ROM? If this is not possible then i guess I would have to include a hard disk, though that would drive the price up :mad:

 

Of course I would include sample RAM and the capability to load various formats...

 

Really, I'd like to use "Flash ROM" so you could load in different waveform sets every year with lots of corresponding patches... So you could have lots of "presets" and you could change them all from time to time without losing the old ones...

 

I would also like my synth to have the capability to host VA and modeling softsynths... Maybe VST, or if it was cheaper, maybe I would just have a proprietary format to start out with...

 

I'd also like to have a decent feeling keyboard and an onboard sequencer that was not lame, with maybe the option to add audio recording...

 

How many of you would be interested in buying my synth? :eek:

 

Would it help if it was dark purple and had a fancy name like "Wavotron 2900XD" ??

 

:D:D:D

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I think you are missing the two questions that need to be answered before you ask anyone if they'd buy it.

 

How much does it cost to make, parts, labor, promotion, overhead, etc?

 

How much do you want to sell it for?

"For instance" is not proof.

 

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Originally posted by zeronyne:

I think you are missing the two questions that need to be answered before you ask anyone if they'd buy it.

 

How much does it cost to make, parts, labor, promotion, overhead, etc?

 

How much do you want to sell it for?

I don't know if it would be practical to build on a cost basis, but I would be looking to make it competitive with other workstations... right around $2500 MSRP, with a "street price" of maybe $1800...

 

Don't know if it would really be possible or not... maybe if I didn't spend any money on promotion...

 

But then my synth company would probably fold :mad:

 

See you on the bread lines, pal :(

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Got to have the cupholder. Maybe one like my computers have; just push the button out out pops the cupholder! Just can't figure out why it has the little light on it, though...

 

Some say that the 52X cupholders are better than a 24X cupholder, makes the coffee less bitter, or something, but I can't taste any difference.

"shit" happens. Success Takes Focus.
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Originally posted by synthetic:

I want someone to build a cheap Minimoog, with MIDI, made in China, for $400. And a rack version for $300. They would sell like crazy.

That might be actually a brilliant idea. It's just that uncle Bob's designs are copyrighted for a number of years (even after his demise, I think - that's why Arp had to change their filter and Roland had to make the SH3A, because the designs were too similar).

 

Chinamoogs! :)

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That patent seems to have relaxed in recent years. Everyone from Alesis and Studio Electronics to MOTM and Synthesizers.com have a Moog ladder filter. But it doesn't need to be a dead knockoff of the Mini, just a 2 or 3 oscillator monosynth, no presets, basic MIDI, and a screamin price point.
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A cheap knockoff of a mini seems like a great idea, and many of us would certainly buy it. But in reality, true analog synthesizers seem to be desired by very few people, relative to the synth market as a whole. It's just not viable to produce a real analog at a fantastic price point, as far as I'm concerned.
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Originally posted by Sir Jeebus:

It's just not viable to produce a real analog at a fantastic price point, as far as I'm concerned.

Why not? Evolver's real analog, and sells for less than $500...

 

Dave Bryce

DSI

:snax:

 

:keys:==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <==:rawk:

 

Professional Affiliations: Royer LabsMusic Player Network

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Originally posted by Dave Bryce:

Originally posted by Sir Jeebus:

It's just not viable to produce a real analog at a fantastic price point, as far as I'm concerned.

Why not? Evolver's real analog, and sells for less than $500...

 

Dave Bryce

DSI

True, but synthetic is talking about a mini knockoff with a keyboard, and a panel full of controls (I assume) for $300. Obviously this is more costly to produce than the Evolver.
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Originally posted by Sir Jeebus:

synthetic is talking about a mini knockoff with a keyboard, and a panel full of controls (I assume) for $300. Obviously this is more costly to produce than the Evolver.

Obviously... ;)

 

Your post just said "real analog", though - that's what I was responding to...

 

dB

:snax:

 

:keys:==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <==:rawk:

 

Professional Affiliations: Royer LabsMusic Player Network

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