by Neotrope » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:11 am
synthman1 wrote:Hello Everyone!
I do question some of the design implementation decisions and wonder if there should is a more practical approach to the interface implementation design and layout that would have passed along some cost savings to potential users and consumers though. $4000 is a lot of coin for a synth. Dano
Dano,
keep in mind that most of us buying this (have already bought) are looking for something DIFFERENT than what you can get with a Nord Wave, Prophet 08, Korg M3, etc. Or from a software-only plug-in. Many of us own vintage gear, many of us are not "rich" but successful, and many of us have a variety of things to make noise, but are always interested in somebody else's "vision" of how to make noise from electrical equipment, both noise and music, art and soul, etc. What John has brought to market is *his* vision of how to do that, based on his storied past in the industry, and trying to do something in a new way. Much like a custom suit, it costs more to build 100 of something, than mass produce it like Alesis can do with their own chip foundry (that's why the Andromeda doesn't cost $7K, which it would normally).
For most of us, the feedback to multiple screens on board, the multiple player options (mod wheels, ribbon -and- joystick, all perform different functions in context to the sound and playing style), and the "feedback" of different modules replicate the feedback visually of traditional modular synths where you could "see" a patch cable running from a LFO to a filter or whatever. Most of us decry the concept of a single window, 50 sub menus, as that has been commonplace for nearly two decades. Having multiple "scribble strips" for the user interface is part of its selling points, and NOT a minus for its design or for usability.
We're looking for something that makes sound, but makes that process more fun, intuitive and different than what we already have, or have used before; something to inspire us to create art, not simply admire it. The Solaris will never be competing with Dave Smith's Prophet 08, and it's not competing with any ROMplers (ie., Korg M3, Roland G, Yamaha Motif).
Certainly it's not intended to keep people out of the club based on price, but for this kind of product is simply has inherent costs to deliver the developers vision -- to remove things to make it half the selling price, would make it less than what it is and be too simliar to what's already out there.
Just as there is a market for the Lexus over the matching Toyota model (Camry vs. ES350), or Coby beef over the supermarket special steaks, or a $5 pen vs. the 10 for $1 at Staples, it's not about class or income or how much is in the bank. For this product, it's about what John wanted to create, what he saw in his mind, how he wanted to have a real world interface to his sound engine, and by making such an interface he was able to enhance his original Solaris software engine into further territory directly because of all the interface choices on the keyboard.
All input is valuable and John reads it all, as do many of us, but please understand that the VALUE to the people buying this has to do with what it does that all the rest of the gear out there does not!
Peace and well wishes.
[quote="synthman1"]Hello Everyone!
I do question some of the design implementation decisions and wonder if there should is a more practical approach to the interface implementation design and layout that would have passed along some cost savings to potential users and consumers though. $4000 is a lot of coin for a synth. Dano[/quote]
Dano,
keep in mind that most of us buying this (have already bought) are looking for something DIFFERENT than what you can get with a Nord Wave, Prophet 08, Korg M3, etc. Or from a software-only plug-in. Many of us own vintage gear, many of us are not "rich" but successful, and many of us have a variety of things to make noise, but are always interested in somebody else's "vision" of how to make noise from electrical equipment, both noise and music, art and soul, etc. What John has brought to market is *his* vision of how to do that, based on his storied past in the industry, and trying to do something in a new way. Much like a custom suit, it costs more to build 100 of something, than mass produce it like Alesis can do with their own chip foundry (that's why the Andromeda doesn't cost $7K, which it would normally).
For most of us, the feedback to multiple screens on board, the multiple player options (mod wheels, ribbon -and- joystick, all perform different functions in context to the sound and playing style), and the "feedback" of different modules replicate the feedback visually of traditional modular synths where you could "see" a patch cable running from a LFO to a filter or whatever. Most of us decry the concept of a single window, 50 sub menus, as that has been commonplace for nearly two decades. Having multiple "scribble strips" for the user interface is part of its selling points, and NOT a minus for its design or for usability.
We're looking for something that makes sound, but makes that process more fun, intuitive and different than what we already have, or have used before; something to inspire us to create art, not simply admire it. The Solaris will never be competing with Dave Smith's Prophet 08, and it's not competing with any ROMplers (ie., Korg M3, Roland G, Yamaha Motif).
Certainly it's not intended to keep people out of the club based on price, but for this kind of product is simply has inherent costs to deliver the developers vision -- to remove things to make it half the selling price, would make it less than what it is and be too simliar to what's already out there.
Just as there is a market for the Lexus over the matching Toyota model (Camry vs. ES350), or Coby beef over the supermarket special steaks, or a $5 pen vs. the 10 for $1 at Staples, it's not about class or income or how much is in the bank. For this product, it's about what John wanted to create, what he saw in his mind, how he wanted to have a real world interface to his sound engine, and by making such an interface he was able to enhance his original Solaris software engine into further territory directly because of all the interface choices on the keyboard.
All input is valuable and John reads it all, as do many of us, but please understand that the VALUE to the people buying this has to do with what it does that all the rest of the gear out there does not!
Peace and well wishes.