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Re: Digitech JamMan???
At 10:37 AM 5/8/2005, Travis Hartnett wrote:
>The idea that there's more people with mics looking for a looper than
>instrumentalists who need MIDI sync is symptomatic of the depth of
>market research utilised by the typical looper manufacturer.
Overall, I'd agree. I'm just trying to get inside Digitech's head and
figure out where they're coming from. One other thing to consider is that
they've been quite successful with their Vocalist line of effects. In
fact, I think they just brought out another stompbox model to go up
against
the new one from TC Helicon.
So, they know vocalists and their market. Or, at least, they know they've
got a dedicated user base of vocalists/acoustic-instrumentalists that use
their products. They probably know next-to-nothing about MIDI
instrumentalists, especially in regard to stompboxes (rack-mount, they've
got some pretty decent MIDI spec built in on a few of 'em). They're
probably just sticking with their comfort zone.
Digitech are also infamous for reusing parts of their technology in other
devices. Their whole RP-series stomp lineup is merely the same chip with
more functionality brought out on every successive model. If the Jamman
does well, quite possibly they'll follow up with a Jamman+. Maybe that
model will spec in MIDI.
Like you, I'd much rather see MIDI in there too. But, assuming you take
out the hardcore EDP and Repeater users here in the LD group, how many of
those left are happily using hardware looping devices that don't support
MIDI? Probably a lot. I'd guess that, unfortunately, those of us who
rely
heavily on MIDI sync are probably outnumbered by those who could care
less,
even in our own forum.
Thus, I can't really blame Digitech for trying to go after a "bird in the
hand" so to speak -- even if they didn't do enough research on the market
before going for product release. For all we know, the possibility to
leverage the Vocalist userbase may have been the pitch Product Management
had to make in order to even get the darn thing built in the first place.
I dunno. Like I said, I may not like it, but it doesn't come *completely*
out of left field for me.
--m.
_____
"Now Simulcast on Crazy People's Fillings"