2023: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2023)

[ghettosynth]

I always toy with the idea of getting a MN skiff to replace the 4MS pods, but now I have one more reason not to do that.

I have one, I hate it in every way.

[elxsound]

I always toy with the idea of getting a MN skiff to replace the 4MS pods, but now I have one more reason not to do that.

I have one, I hate it in every way.

Any particular reason, like power, depth or the m2.5 screws?

[pekbro]

I have 2 MN skiffs, they are good skiffs, but they really demonstrate how MN likes to cut corners
and cheap out on you while still charging you as much as possible. Inadequate power, tiny screws,
annoying bus board design with too few connectors.

[ghettosynth]

I always toy with the idea of getting a MN skiff to replace the 4MS pods, but now I have one more reason not to do that.

I have one, I hate it in every way.

Any particular reason, like power, depth or the m2.5 screws?

The m2.5 screws, the insufficient unshrouded power connectors that face outward instead of upward, the way that the rails don't provide a lip, the absence of nut-strips as shipped, the coaxial power socket protruding from the side.

I don't like the depth over the bus board, although this is probably not bad considering.

There's really no reason that I'd ever choose this based on features. Don't ask me how I have it, it's a regret.

[ghettosynth]

I have 2 MN skiffs, they are good skiffs, but they really demonstrate how MN likes to cut corners
and cheap out on you while still charging you as much as possible. Inadequate power, tiny screws,
annoying bus board design with too few connectors.

This is MN for me. They are not on the top of my well-engineered list, far from it. Other than Maths, and I hate my current version of Maths, I'm not really getting along with any of my Make Noise modules. I think that they may just have to find a new home.

[PieBerger]

There are some After Late Audio branded ones in black.

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/after- ... 805558-01/

Neato! I knew ALA did them but I didn't know if any UK distributors were selling them! Per 100 off they are more expensive than Befaco and ALM, but if you only have a small case buying 30 off for £14 is a great option.

[WatchTheGuitar]

I have 2 MN skiffs, they are good skiffs, but they really demonstrate how MN likes to cut corners
and cheap out on you while still charging you as much as possible. Inadequate power, tiny screws,
annoying bus board design with too few connectors.

This is MN for me. They are not on the top of my well-engineered list, far from it. Other than Maths, and I hate my current version of Maths, I'm not really getting along with any of my Make Noise modules. I think that they may just have to find a new home.

I only have a Maths. It’s been fine. Maybe I incorrectly assumed that at the price the modules go at and how high up they seem on various wishlists that they were well made.

[vurt]

had much fun last night, messing with time!!!
speeding up and slowing it down, at the same f**king time!!! im a time lord!!

[pekbro]

Make Noise makes good stuff, it just kinda irks me that they continually look for ways to cut their costs, yet never translate any of that to their fans. Much of their ways are woefully outdated yet they make no effort to improve things for the customer, only themselves. Most of the better manufacturers are exactly the opposite. With MN they are charging you for their famous name more than anything.

They are a business for sure, so i can see why they do it, i just dont like it. There are many other devs id rather support over them.

[Shabdahbriah]

I have 2 MN skiffs, they are good skiffs, but they really demonstrate how MN likes to cut corners
and cheap out on you while still charging you as much as possible. Inadequate power, tiny screws,
annoying bus board design with too few connectors.

This is MN for me. They are not on the top of my well-engineered list, far from it. Other than Maths, and I hate my current version of Maths, I'm not really getting along with any of my Make Noise modules. I think that they may just have to find a new home.

I only have a Maths. It’s been fine. Maybe I incorrectly assumed that at the price the modules go at and how high up they seem on various wishlists that they were well made.

I think part of what he is referring to 'quality' wise, is also their move to PCB face-plates (iirc). I have an even dozen of their modules (well, 2x each, with 5 of them) which are all several+ years old, and they are all rock solid, and perform as expected. I'm not aware of their quality control/or production/component standards with the newer stuff that may differ from previous standards.

I certainly don't consider them to be the end-all/be-all by any stretch, but I admire their efforts (and taking risks) in stretching boundaries, and what I have of theirs are things which perform/serve a function/task that I want/require, and they do that to the degree that I am more than pleased, and have no complaints. [2c]

[foosnark]

Part of the reason for PCB faceplates is consistency. They make modules with touch controls (Rene etc.) and you cannot do that on an aluminum faceplate.

And I'm not sure what the objection to PCB faceplates is. I've never had one that was damaged except for a Mystic Circuits Portal that Eli dropped onto a concrete floor when packing it up to ship -- there was the tiniest little nick in the corner that I wouldn't have noticed if I weren't looking for it -- and he sent me a replacement panel once those were ready to ship, along with a free pair of the weird insect eye prism glasses.

But I've had brand new Doepfer modules with f**ked-up corners, and plenty of aluminum-faces modules with rack rash.

[Shabdahbriah]

Part of the reason for PCB faceplates is consistency. They make modules with touch controls (Rene etc.) and you cannot do that on an aluminum faceplate.

And I'm not sure what the objection to PCB faceplates is. [...]

Yeah, I don't have any issues with them either, and many modules I have use the transparency to advantage, like Qu-Bit stuff. I wrote 'think' as I vaguely recall him disapproving of them, though I could be wrong.

On the other end of the spectrum is Radikal Technologies rt-451. It's like 3-4mm thick plate steel! Weighs more than everything in a 126hp rack above it, combined.

[pekbro]

You can do capacitive touch through metal, as well as led lighting. Its just more expensive. I dont mind the face plates tbh, its more than that though. If you dont get it, then you dont get it, and its not a problem for you. For me,
it is.

[elxsound]

I don’t get it, but I don’t have much to compare it to either… so ignorance is bliss?

[vurt]

bliss is a nicely packed pipe.