MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
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Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By envisionelec Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:03 am
RebelShiekh wrote:hey ive been following ever since u started havent ever posted though, this is freaking doooope, i mean before you go and sell this to akai, please sell us who really grind hard some first, and for a good price, hope i didnt offend you with that. Anyways more videos please, and thanks fam


No offense taken.

As I've said several times through this thread, the displays will be sold through a dealer that is already in the MPC parts business. The price will be affordable, but not China cheap.

I can't discuss exact sales numbers here, however, 10,000 pcs is a bit of a stretch. If I want to keep my shirt, I have to figure that only 20% of all units built need replacement displays today. The number will grow for a while then drop off dramatically as the machines fall into severe disrepair and the cheaper components become obsolete.
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Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By Tapuno Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:44 am
BUT you yourself did say that your screen has a brighter output than stock, along with a slightly higher resolution. So, you could market them as upgraded screens to catch a wider market.

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By envisionelec Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:58 pm
Tapuno wrote:BUT you yourself did say that your screen has a brighter output than stock, along with a slightly higher resolution. So, you could market them as upgraded screens to catch a wider market.


I actually explained that the display has better contrast than the original and that it can be read in sunlight. It is neither brighter nor higher resolution. Sorry for any confusion.

I'm sure that folks will buy for upgrades and future replacement needs. I'm just conservative with sales predictions, for the most part. I am normally a contract manufacturer where the needs and quantities are known.

As a supplier, I will merely build and sell to the dealer. I have no part in how it is marketed, except to set MAP (minimum advertised price) and distribution until the dealer decides to expand or transfer his agreement to another party. For example, the supplier may decide to sell functioning, returned displays at a lower cost, but he cannot sell damaged displays to an eBay'er per our agreement.

If I was doing this as a hobby, then yeah - I'd sell them on eBay or through my website. But this is different.

I just happen to be quite open about the process because I was a curious kid trying to learn about how products were designed, manufactured and distributed. Sure, I was a big dork - but being a resourceful dork pays well. ;)

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By jellyjim Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:44 pm
envisionelec wrote:I just happen to be quite open about the process because I was a curious kid trying to learn about how products were designed, manufactured and distributed. Sure, I was a big dork - but being a resourceful dork pays well. ;)


Yes! That's why I'm asking. I'm trying to find out the same things! I'm prototyping some electronic musical instruments at the moment but I just don't know enough on the business side. Market size and pricing are two of my biggest concerns. I'll probably go the DIY route and just see who bites. If interest is significant then perhaps I can think about larger runs. I've been very inspired by the MeeBlip project.
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Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By nogginj Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:47 am
I just happen to be quite open about the process because I was a curious kid trying to learn about how products were designed, manufactured and distributed.


This is really cool and major props to you.

And smart move letting somebody else sell them, you'd suddenly have a lot internet friends looking for a discount ;].

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By envisionelec Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:37 am
jellyjim wrote:Yes! That's why I'm asking. I'm trying to find out the same things! I'm prototyping some electronic musical instruments at the moment but I just don't know enough on the business side. Market size and pricing are two of my biggest concerns. I'll probably go the DIY route and just see who bites. If interest is significant then perhaps I can think about larger runs. I've been very inspired by the MeeBlip project.


While your question might be suited for a different thread - or forum - I'll answer where I can.

I started out the same way; designing niche products for audio guys. I sold a few hundred self-designed "things" and learned a lot of lessons.

Delegate almost everything. If your strong suit is design, but not business management - then hire a business manager. If you like to build things - STOP building things. You'll quickly tire of building your products if you become even slightly successful. Subcontract the assembly. The worst thing you can do is regret your decision to go into business and hating every minute of it is the fastest way to go under. I have been there.

Cash is king; it makes things happen profitably. Without it, you'll spend hundreds of futile man-hours trying to make it (whatever "it" is...) do the job when buying the right gear or hiring the right people in the first place is all you needed. Cash comes from all types of sources. I don't have a magic wand, but I'm also not afraid to ask/beg/barter in the most professional way possible. ;)

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By envisionelec Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:14 pm
We have good news and a new challenge. During our initial design review, we had a typo in the display width which made our new displays only 240 pixels wide. As you all (probably) know, the MPC display is actually 248 pixels wide. Our display interface works beautifully, as can be seen in the picture below, but you can see that the right 8-pixels are missing.

At this point, we can either sell the IP for the interface and let someone else build the custom LCDs (ours were COTS), or forge ahead with the project and invest tens of thousands of dollars into a custom display.

We have given ourselves 2 weeks to come up with the solution and will report back with our findings. It will be 6 weeks+ for custom tooled displays to come in for review and possibly another 3-4 weeks for the assembled units to begin shipping. We're just a bit past our initial due date of late March - now heading into late April or May...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/ ... 132200.jpg

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By concepts Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:30 pm
is it possible to center the image input so that it cuts of both sides equally?? or maybe just cut off the left side instead of the right because the more important information is on the right side?

im only suggesting this because im assuming if we went with the custom built lcd, the price would significantly go up.

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By envisionelec Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:32 pm
concepts wrote:is it possible to center the image input so that it cuts of both sides equally?? or maybe just cut off the left side instead of the right because the more important information is on the right side?

im only suggesting this because im assuming if we went with the custom built lcd, the price would significantly go up.


We did think of that - but we just don't like making it "half way".

So, we decided to go with a 256x64 LCD and justify the data towards the center of the screen. It is readily available and will keep the cost low.
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Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By peterpiper Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:59 pm
envisionelec wrote:
concepts wrote:is it possible to center the image input so that it cuts of both sides equally?? or maybe just cut off the left side instead of the right because the more important information is on the right side?

im only suggesting this because im assuming if we went with the custom built lcd, the price would significantly go up.


We did think of that - but we just don't like making it "half way".

So, we decided to go with a 256x64 LCD and justify the data towards the center of the screen. It is readily available and will keep the cost low.



Good choice!

peace

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By concepts Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:00 am
envisionelec wrote:
concepts wrote:is it possible to center the image input so that it cuts of both sides equally?? or maybe just cut off the left side instead of the right because the more important information is on the right side?

im only suggesting this because im assuming if we went with the custom built lcd, the price would significantly go up.


We did think of that - but we just don't like making it "half way".

So, we decided to go with a 256x64 LCD and justify the data towards the center of the screen. It is readily available and will keep the cost low.


you might want to run a test with one centered and one with two pixels cut off on the right side. the mpc uses a shadow theme and so i think you can get away with it on that side.

Re: MPC2000 and MPC2000XL LCD Screens

By envisionelec Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:16 am
concepts wrote:
envisionelec wrote:
concepts wrote:is it possible to center the image input so that it cuts of both sides equally?? or maybe just cut off the left side instead of the right because the more important information is on the right side?

im only suggesting this because im assuming if we went with the custom built lcd, the price would significantly go up.


We did think of that - but we just don't like making it "half way".

So, we decided to go with a 256x64 LCD and justify the data towards the center of the screen. It is readily available and will keep the cost low.


you might want to run a test with one centered and one with two pixels cut off on the right side. the mpc uses a shadow theme and so i think you can get away with it on that side.


With 256, we have 8 more than necessary. We'll just center 'er up, dropping 4 off each side and two each off the bottom and top. You'll never know the difference!
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