analog monster
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eptheca wrote:

6 weeks and 15+ new Max for Live devices later.............

THIS is what's been winding me up about it.  If he was too busy to do it I would understand, but he's had the time to do 21 blog posts this week and there's on average 5 a week so it feels a little bit difficult to justify a delay this long.

I went back through my emails to find the one he sent me, just to make sure I wasn't making it up.  Krubbz, like you I have occasionally wondered whether I imagined I had bought one.  Here it is...

"Hi!
There have been some issues in the production process of the GenMDM units. Specifically, the PCB manufacturer has taken longer than anticipated in the production and shipping of the PCBs. I have only received word very recently that the PCBs will be finished within 3 to 4 days from now, and as a result obviously the GenMDM units will not be shipped until some time later than originally advertised.

A realistic shipping date will be three weeks from now - Thursday, 7th June.

You will receive updates on the process once your order has been hand built, tested and shipped.

I personally thank you for your patience, and I apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment as a result of this delay. "

So ignoring the 17th of May expected shipping day and taking the 7th of June as the deadline were still talking a 4 month delay with no communication.

ForaBrokenEarth
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Nottingham, UK

I'm good friends with John Richards who designed the Mute synth for mute records. All of them are built by hand, and at the fastest pace I've seen john and stu (asmo) work, it would take just over half an hour to build a single unit. The two of them are extremely efficient, well organised and immensely experienced at the production of these kinds of things and it takes them forever, balancing in other necessary commitments, work and the such.

I don't know Seb at all, but I'm willing to bet that there's a variety of factors at play here. I do think there ought be more communication, but I'm still willing to hold off on criticism. We're nowhere near MidiNES territory yet and seb's done a lot for the community.

Last edited by ForaBrokenEarth (Oct 21, 2012 5:44 pm)

eptheca
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ForaBrokenEarth wrote:

.. but I'm still willing to hold off on criticism. We're nowhere near MidiNES territory yet and seb's done a lot for the community.

I'm not criticizing either, and I agree he has done a lot for the community,  I just find it odd that he has time to make dozens of Max patches, and now even

"Eight quack-tastic duck xylophone samples, FREE"
WTF???

and not have time to even send a quick email so say what's going on, very odd.

what's next? grass harp samples? YES!

TSC
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Milwaukee, WI

Ok, I draw the line at duck xylophone samples.

Emailing now.

analog monster
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Please post the response here, no need for us all to contact him as I'm sure its the same situation for all of us.  Glad I voiced my frustration now, feels a little easier knowing people are sharing my pain. 

I have no doubt Seb is no stranger to soldering, I've been following his blog for years.  The carts appear to be 2 32pin eproms and 3 capacitors - should take 20-30 mins.  The controller port/usb part does have surface mount parts which are a real b*tch to do by hand, but it looks to me like he buys complete usb boards and solders this board to his own board with the controller port on it - that tiny black chip seems to have pins that would be impossible to do without industrial machinery.  So I'd assume another 30 minutes max for sticking the 2 controller boards together.     

I hope in the future he makes this open source, or at least to some extent accessible to DIYers.  It would mean anyone with an eprom burner, soldering skills and a source for the boards (either self etching or he sells unpopulated boards) could build one.  He could still make a tidy return on boards.  Could even sell the eproms too - then its just a case of getting the soldering iron out

herr_prof
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You guys are wack.

TSC
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Milwaukee, WI

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it painful. The xylophone duck is almost troll-worthy though.

TSC
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Milwaukee, WI

Oh, and no I am not posting email response. Email him your goddamn self. Seb is tops. He's probably just going through some shit.

Addz
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TSC - if they ever ship out I may need you to pick mine up on N. Arlington Pl.........j/k (sorta)

ForaBrokenEarth
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Nottingham, UK
herr_prof wrote:

You guys are Quack.

analog monster
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Sure, sorry for presuming. Was just trying to save seb some work but i take your point. Could you at least let me know if he replies? Ive attempted to contact him a couple of times through blog comments on genmdm posts, but he didnt ever reply. I shall go the direct email route and hope thats more fruitful.

herr_prof
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Yea sorry for being presumptuous, after reading the whole thread. Im sure seb will make things right, dude has years of scene cred so you guys should trust in him a little while longer.

analog monster
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so as suspected the little board on the controller board isnt constructed by him, its a teensyboard which hes also using for the DIY midi controller on his latest blog post

10k
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nɐ˙ɯoɔ˙ʎǝupʎs

Heads up, he is teaching max for his day job.

analog monster
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Thanks for that, it does help.  No email reply yet though

kitsch
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matt's mind
10k wrote:

Heads up, he is teaching max for his day job.

would.love.to.be.a.student!!!!

thats cool.