If you recall from
this post a new SunSyn is on the way.
Mr. Array spotted the following from Jurgen on
gearslutz. BTW, I'm not seeing the price on the
Sunsyn page, but according to
VICMOD in the comments of the last post it was around 5000 Euros which currently comes to about $7000 US. Update via Mr. Array on the price: "5000 Euro price includes VAT, so it's closer to $6000 USD"
"Very simple:
1. a very essential part ( the vcas used - there are 20 on each voice card
plus 20 on the main board -180 per SunSyn) is obsolete and not produced any
further. There is no direct replacement, so I would have to redesign the
whole circuitry. The sunsyn voice board layout which I made 10 years ago was
the worst thing I ever did...it's dense like a persian carpet. sometimes I
say to myself it's a wonder that it works;)
2. The processors that were used are ****ing old and too small in power and
many more little issues. a COMPLETE redesign is necessary. Also a complete
new OS programming.
3. The whole market for these bolide synths is fairly overestimated...it's a
big rush now because none has one to sell. But if I go down and make it, it
will take me years though and once it's finished, the market is elsewhere.
4. It's a damned ****ing job to BUILD sunsyns. Every build is a repair
because this monster is just way too complex and there are millions of
possible errors. And these errors OCCUR according to murphys law. It took me
(and I'm fast, trust me) about 2 days to build one SunSyn from scratch if I
count all the time of failure search, modifications, repairings and more. I
have had only 1 guy in 10 years that was able to make them (almost) alone
without my help.
I forgot to say...SunSyns don't grow on trees;)
5. discussions about OS bugs. There were times when many people were yelling
at me about SunSyn bugs and noises, tuning instabilities, VCO mod offsets
and more....and I have to say, yes, they were right up to a certain point.
But I'm not masochistic, too and it didn't make fun, honestly. I would do it
better now...but that would require to make a redesign.
6. it's not that easy to really make money on such a thing...I could tell
you some stories if we were sitting in a bar and having a drink;)
7. My life time is just too precious to make another one. Why should I do
this? I have made it once, and it would not be better if I did it another
time. There are easier ways to make your living than to build and sell
sunsyns. It's made with blood, sweat and tears...
8. SunSyn was always a bit backward oriented...it's an analog poly synth
with some features and a great sound. But it's like refurbishing oldtimers.
I want to go forward with new ideas, admittedly.
Guess why the Wave hadn't been produced any more? same issues...time, money,
human resources, market. To expensive, too sensitive, too much risk. It took
me years, but I think I've learned my lessons and almost went bankrupt.
Hope this was an honest and exhausting explanation:-))
JM
PS....and I didn't say I would never make another synth...but not likely a
SunSyn;)"
