5 ms·

We buy what’s available in stock, design with these parts small runs(500-2000 units). And then the run in 3 months is being made with completely different parts

by lnsru 4y ago

We buy what’s available in stock, design with these parts small runs(500-2000 units). And then the run in 3 months is being made with completely different parts that were available. It’s emergency solution. But it’s better than being out of business.

samatman 4y ago
I'm out of my depth here, but I'm under the impression that synthesizers just don't work that way. My source is a housemate of an old friend, whose profession was restoring a certain sort of mixer popular with house DJs, for whatever that's worth. Analog synths, at least, just won't sound right if components get swapped. The TR-808 was discontinued, and replaced with the 909, because a critical component went out of production, and it wasn't possible to deliver the sound without it. It's the difference between a wood shortage for a cabinetmaker and for a luthier. A cabinetmaker can use mahogany where he would use ebony, a luthier is out of business if she can't get certain woods until she can again. This could be totally inapplicable to modern synths? I wouldn't bet on it though.
- mzs 4y ago
  The two parts mentioned were an ARM board and DSP. Those are easily retooled for and not like an opamp or something very particular.
- munificent 4y ago
  > Analog synths, at least, just won't sound right if components get swapped. I think this is true in some cases for particular analog synths. But my impression is that most synths aren't using unobtainium chips like this. I think you generally can redesign the circuit using alternate components and get to a fairly close sound. But that redesign process is iterative and time-consuming. By analogy, imagine there a shortage in "compiler invocations". You have a giant program written in one language, but you can't run a compiler on it. Could you port it to another language without a shortage? Sure, but it's a ton of work, and if you end up in another language that has its own compiler invocation shortage, you're no better off.
  - jdkee 4y ago
    Both Curtis and SSM chips used in synthesizers like the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 in the 1970s have being cloned and are in production. See https://electricdruid.net/analog-renaissance/ https://electricdruid.net/analog-renaissance/
- UncleEntity 4y ago
  >… a luthier is out of business if she can't get certain woods until she can again. I learned the other day there are people who’s job is to troll antique shops and other related places looking for old furniture to turn into tone wood for the luthiers.

by lnsru 4y ago

samatman 4y ago

I'm out of my depth here, but I'm under the impression that synthesizers just don't work that way. My source is a housemate of an old friend, whose profession was restoring a certain sort of mixer popular with house DJs, for whatever that's worth. Analog synths, at least, just won't sound right if components get swapped. The TR-808 was discontinued, and replaced with the 909, because a critical component went out of production, and it wasn't possible to deliver the sound without it. It's the difference between a wood shortage for a cabinetmaker and for a luthier. A cabinetmaker can use mahogany where he would use ebony, a luthier is out of business if she can't get certain woods until she can again. This could be totally inapplicable to modern synths? I wouldn't bet on it though.

mzs 4y ago
The two parts mentioned were an ARM board and DSP. Those are easily retooled for and not like an opamp or something very particular.
munificent 4y ago
> Analog synths, at least, just won't sound right if components get swapped. I think this is true in some cases for particular analog synths. But my impression is that most synths aren't using unobtainium chips like this. I think you generally can redesign the circuit using alternate components and get to a fairly close sound. But that redesign process is iterative and time-consuming. By analogy, imagine there a shortage in "compiler invocations". You have a giant program written in one language, but you can't run a compiler on it. Could you port it to another language without a shortage? Sure, but it's a ton of work, and if you end up in another language that has its own compiler invocation shortage, you're no better off.
- jdkee 4y ago
  Both Curtis and SSM chips used in synthesizers like the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 in the 1970s have being cloned and are in production. See https://electricdruid.net/analog-renaissance/ https://electricdruid.net/analog-renaissance/
UncleEntity 4y ago
>… a luthier is out of business if she can't get certain woods until she can again. I learned the other day there are people who’s job is to troll antique shops and other related places looking for old furniture to turn into tone wood for the luthiers.