godzilla wrote:i think that if they can make the TG-451 and sell it for under $1000 they'd sell like hot-cakes.
Well, maybe. A CV-only device like your TG concept restricts the available market, regardless of how good it is.
The inclusion of a MIDI interface would definately broaden the device's appeal, but that would add cost. Would the additional cost be worth the potentially larger market?
Considerations like these must be weighed in every design. It's a delicate balancing act of features & quality vs cost. Make the wrong choices and product sales suffer:
Low cost, but wrong features - no one buys
Right features but high cost - limited buyers
Right features, but poor quality & low cost - limited buyers
And who determines what 'low cost' or 'high cost' means? A TG for $999 may prove to be fine for some, but too much for others. (And don't forget that there's a lot of synths available for under a grand - in fact too many to list here)
I don't envy Moog's position in this. They have to make a profit in order to survive, but they also have to design desirable products that are priced right in order to attract buyers. Being a small company doesn't help either, because it means less margin for error.
That said, I have no doubts that Moog will continue to surprise and delight us with future offerings. I'm personally looking forward to their next release (and I do hope it's a TG-like product. Of course, if it was labeled 'Voyager Oscillator Expander' I wouldn't be upset either!)
Greg
