Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 7, 2011.
Finally, the last step in getting all the Chip Maestros made has been completed: I've chosen a vendor and have sent them all the files needed to produce the board, assemble it, and make a suitable MIDI cable and case for it! When the completed carts are sent to me, all I have to do is test them, put them in a Chip Maestro box and ship em out! I'll post another update with an ETA as soon as they get back to me with it.
We're almost there!
Hey there backers!
Exciting times here at the Chip Maestro development lab! I'm starting to get replies from PCB Manufacturers, and they all look very promising! I'm currently ironing out minor details which can cause hiccups during major production, but the customer service reps at these facilities are all very helpful. I'll try my best, within the budget, to choose the manufacturer that will offer the quickest turnaround time. Since I'm not doing the entire assembly myself this time, I opted to only attach the MIDI cable and box the Chip Maestro myself, with the rest of the labor being done at the factory.
In other news, the development forum has gone up! Judging from the amount of emails I receive, it's going to be pretty quiet, but feel free to sign up and chat with other backers: www.chipmaestro.com
Hey guys,
I've been really busy making sure my dev kit backers can collaborate while juggling the never ending maze of getting a product mass produced. Exciting times! The website I parked, www.chipmaestro.com, will be where I host the forums once I finish migrating the program I set up to handle forums, I had to learn how to run a server and set up a forum myself from scratch :(. I'll also be using that site, once it's live, to post Chip Maestro news after the first Batch ships, ending the Kickstarter. Keep an eye on these updates for more news as I keep reaching milestones!
Finally, after some tough R&D, endless hours of testing, and about 15 minutes of box stuffing, the 15 remaining Development Kits of the Chip Maestro are ready to ship! I will be emailing backers tonight asking if they have any updates to shipping info, and sending out the kits Saturday afternoon. Dev Kit backers, please make sure that you either get back to me, unless your address hasn't changed.
I'll post more details about how I'm going to create the remaining 225 Chip Maestros, but rest assured, they will be assembled in a factory, not by hand, so they'll ship out much sooner! That being said, I still want to give the Dev Kit backers some time to come up with awesome new features, so I'll spend the time that they hack their Chip Maestros shopping around for the best PCB fabrication and assembly deals (again).
I have finally finished picking through all the bugs in the Chip Maestro code! The code will be emailed to all dev-kit backers soon after this post goes up, so keep an eye on your inbox. As previously mentioned, all dev kit backers will also receive the programmers necessary to upload code to the Chip Maestro, so get ready to hack great new features for it! Additionally, if you backed for a regular Chip Maestro, you'll also be able to create your own code for it, but you'll have to source your own programmers.
I am also currently learning about one aspect of producing a device in quantity I failed to address: yields. Not every blank board will come out of the factory perfect, so it is important that I standardize my own process of assembling dev kit boards in order to ensure that any variables that go into assembly are minimized. To this end I ordered another batch of boards and parts, and built a soldering oven to solder the surface mount parts for me. I'm also refining the MIDI signal being passed to the microcontroller to make it more robust in environments with potential interference.
Every time I make a change to the device, I test each board for many hours to ensure that it will withstand the rigors of being thrown into a gig bag, hauled to an event, and quickly slammed into an NES because the stage manager gave you 3 minutes to set up (actual test case). While the software is being picked over by the devs, I will make sure that the hardware will withstand the test of time. After I finish adding my MIDI signal improvements, I will ship out the dev boards to dev kit backers. This is the time the development forums will go live. I've been playing with various forum frameworks for a while, but I haven't had the time to tailor one and upload it somewhere for hosting. I will devote all of my time to the forums once these boards are out the door. If someone would like to give me a hand with this so it's up early, that would be great!
Thank you again for your backing and patience so far! I can't wait to see the Chip Maestro being used on stage everywhere!
Edit: If your shipping address has changed, please send an email to jarek@soniktech.com, and I'll update my spreadsheets. Thanks!
Funding period
May 8, 2011 -
Jun 7, 2011
(30 days)
10 backers
Backdoor access to all my build logs! I'll also give you my personal contact info, so you can shoot me ideas, comments, criticism, or just ask how I'm doing. Every backer, regardless of amount, receives this info.
24 backers
Ticket to pre-order a Chip Maestro (please read description for info on pre-order tickets)! Get it before it goes on sale to the general public!
200 backers All gone!
Paid pre-order of a limited-run Chip Maestro cartridge! These backers will receive a cartridge from the first batch as soon as they're assembled, hot out of the oven! Backers at this level and above also get their initials (up to 3 letters) silkscreened onto the back of every cartridge that goes into production! Own one of the first of hundreds of Chip Maestros to make their way into the hands of musicians worldwide! Shipping for this reward is included for domestic and Canada, 8$ worldwide.
18 backers Limited (7 of 25 left)
Chip Maestro cartridge development kit! Backers at this level will receive a special Chip Maestro cartridge with the programming headers attached, and USB programmers to write their own code for the chips on the board! This package is for adventurous types who want an even greater degree of customization with this already flexible synth. If you would like to get a head-start developing for the Chip Maestro, email me after you place your pledge and I will send out a kit as soon as possible.
4 backers Limited (1 of 5 left)
One of 5 Gold Chip Maestro Cartridges! There will be a limited run of 6 golden colored Chip Maestros! The only other Gold Chip Maestro will be given to highest level backer!
1 backer All gone!
My highest level backer will get the full VIP package! I will personally deliver your brand new Golden Chip Maestro cartridge, an NES to play it on, and a MIDI keyboard, then set it up in your home/studio! East Coast backers only please; if you would like to set up some other arrangement, please contact me in advance.
