200 series reissue and full 208c Easel coming from BUSA!

[Selador]

There was a long interview with Eric Fox yesterday with Richard Nicol, where he 'announces' that there were plans to reveal the first five 200-series reissue models at Superbooth, and that there are plans to offer the 208c in a full Easel configuration once supply lines are sorted for the 218 and the case.

[deltaphoenix]

That’s good news about the 208cEasel.

I wonder what impact 200 series is going to have on the clone market. Price is certainly a factor but I also wonder if this opens the door for a legal situation.

[mgscheue]

That was good news, as well as the 208c and Command Module production continuing despite the lockdown, but a bit disappointed that he seems to be losing interest in the 100 series Red Panel modules.

[mgscheue]

I wonder what impact 200 series is going to have on the clone market. Price is certainly a factor but I also wonder if this opens the door for a legal situation.

He did say something along the lines of being uncomfortable that someone might buy a clone, find it sub-standard, and confuse it with a Buchla product.

[slam]

That’s good news about the 208cEasel.

I wonder what impact 200 series is going to have on the clone market. Price is certainly a factor but I also wonder if this opens the door for a legal situation.

My understanding is the 200 series is coming out in eurorack format. Maybe I’m wrong but that was how I took it.

[mgscheue]

That was my impression, too.

[Selador]

My understanding is the 200 series is coming out in eurorack format. Maybe I’m wrong but that was how I took it.

I think the announcement he hinted at early on in the video, "something coming for the full size format" or something like that, is what eventually led to him making the little improvized "announcement" later on, of the five modules. I think that 200 style euro is just a bit closer down the pipeline and of a higher interest for Fox than the 100 series, but might not be the announcement.

But we'll see! Or not. Since Superbooth has been cancelled.

[slam]

My guess for the five modules is 259, 266, 281, 292 and not sure what the fifth would be.

[mritenburg]

My guess for the five modules is 259, 266, 281, 292 and not sure what the fifth would be.

In a previous interview Eric mentioned the 248 as a candidate. Personally I’d like a bug-free 246.

[Selador]

I hope it doesn't include the 281 and 292, since the 'e' versions cover all of their functionality. I hope it's modules which don't have a 1:1 updated versions in the 'e' lineup, like analogue sequencers, the 275 EQ/reverb, the 257 since the 'e' range desperately lacks CV adding/scaling, or the 291 for a more immediate filter.

259 and 266 I am definitely happy with as well.

[mritenburg]

I hope it doesn't include the 281 and 292

I agree with the 292, but there are some advantages to a fully analog 281. The are some self patching techniques on an analog 281 that cannot be achieved on a 281e and a analog 281 can be patched to operate much further outside it’s normal operating ranges in terms of envelope segment time by application of external cv. The 281e can’t be pushed as far outside it’s normal operating range.

[Selador]

I agree with the 292, but there are some advantages to a fully analog 281. The are some self patching techniques on an analog 281 that cannot be achieved on a 281e and a analog 281 can be patched to operate much further outside it’s normal operating ranges in terms of envelope segment time by application of external cv. The 281e can’t be pushed as far outside it’s normal operating range.

Ah, you are right! I forgot about that, and that's another point in favor of the 257-- you need negative voltages, which are completely absent in 'e', to get that kind of extended range

[slam]

AFAIK the 281 and 292 are not available in eurorack format so the existence of the 200e versions is not relevant to this discussion.

[@green]

Personally I’d like a bug-free 246.

the issues with the 245/246r have been resolved for the most part

https://modularsynthesis.com/roman/buchla246/246svs.htm

[mritenburg]

Personally I’d like a bug-free 246.

the issues with the 245/246r have been resolved for the most part

https://modularsynthesis.com/roman/buchla246/246svs.htm

Thanks, yep I’m aware of the mods for the “r” modules. I’m actually interested in supporting BUSA in this endeavor. I want BUSA to succeed and continue as a company. If there is a ton of interest from the community in the 200 series reissue and the first wave of modules are well received, BUSA will be incentivized to expand the module offering. I’d love to have 30U of authentic, full-sized Buchla 200 series modules alongside my 18U of 200e.

[Peake]

I wonder what impact 200 series is going to have on the clone market. Price is certainly a factor but I also wonder if this opens the door for a legal situation.

He did say something along the lines of being uncomfortable that someone might buy a clone, find it sub-standard, and confuse it with a Buchla product.

This is worrisome.

[Reese P. Dubin]

Finding a clone substandard to 200e is sort of funny to me. In my limited exposure to 200e I find well built clones physically superior.

[carynrich]

I've been away from Muffs for a few years (maybe more) and just came back, and was considering getting an Easel. Can someone provide a quick synopsis of what happened for why they aren't available. alternatively, maybe point me in the right direction or a thread (hopefully it isn't crazy long) so I can catch up. thanks.

[aethyr]

this +1

Finding a clone substandard to 200e is sort of funny to me. In my limited exposure to 200e I find well built clones physically superior.

[jimfowler]

"...someone might buy a clone, find it sub-standard, and confuse it with a Buchla product."

i get the impression that the inverse is equally plausible.

[mutierend]

I think the fifth module would be the 207.

We interviewed Eric on episode 4 of the Source of Uncertainty podcast. Not sure yet how different what he said then is from what he said yesterday. Might be worth a listen.

http://sourceofuncertainty.audio/podcas ... -eric-fox/

[levelhead3]

there are some very talented and conscientious folks out there building and modifying clones. that matters more to me than whether a panel has the word "Buchla" on it. a label alone does not make a module better.

and the Redline and 4u 100 series reissues were clones foundationally, were they not?

so it remains to be seen what the official 200 series reissues are actually bringing to the table, beyond the label.

[Minimoog56]

Great interview. Thought he covered BEMI QC failings without throwing those guys under the bus too much. Not that they don't deserve it. Glad to hear how the team is reconstituted up in Minnesota with production going through the HQ. Can't wait to find out which 200 series modules will be first off the line. However, I presume that Berlin Super Booth is canceled. I also appreciate Eric's focus on acquiring and licensing third party users of Buchla IP rather than suing people for it. All appears better for now in Buchla Land.

[01235813]

Awesome story, awesome interview. Exited about the 200 reissue!

[Selador]

This got a bit heated for a bit, and I think a lot of this comes from the load of different types of confusion and disarray since 2013 or so.

Regarding clones, I think it was made very clear that Eric's position is that he wishes to work with people in order to bring a consistent line of production, under QC and the Buchla name, in order to make the modules available. It's consistency and standards that it appears he wants upheld.
Not a battle, and that was the approach he took with Red Label, and probably what he is looking to do with the 200 reissues.

I do think no one here could say in honesty that they think the clones were in good hands with who they were with before Shawn stepped up to provide a service. The fact that the past four years since they were orphaned has been filled with a number of thankless and wonderful builders who have worked to debug and improve some of the most careless of flaws with the original 'r' boards speaks to that. And even a few who made massive steps and contributions to 200 designs, like dougcl.

I think the goal is to do it right holistically from the ground up, from everything that has been learned, in collaboration with anyone who worked on them as much as they want to be a part of it.

But correct me if I am wrong of if I misheard this, but that is what I took from it.