*spark d-fuser: £710 ex.VAT, order 1-9 september 2012

[spark]

Finally, everything is in place for the manufacturing run. Check the demo video and site to see if its what you want, and if so: pay and yours will be made.

http://sparklive.net

Cheers,

A-somewhat-battled-scarred-Toby

[subpixel]

Hey Toby,

you finally did it! Way to go!

The controller seems much more complicated than I remember the old plans (it has a screen with menus now and a bunch of network/DMX/etc things), which is I suppose why the price seems quite high.

For those of us who already have a TV-One scaler, is there instructions on how to set it up for use with a TH2Go? You mention firmware in your video, but it isn't clear whether that firmware is only available with your packaged scaler. Also, can you put up a picture of the controller power supply? I'll have to use a converter from a UK, EU or US-pinned plug to my Australian sockets, and just wondering what form factor would be more convenient (maybe US as it is small).

Delivery to Australia by when, do you reckon? I haz the cash now, but it seems you're not taking orders 'til September.

-spxl

[alfaleader]

The mbed that Toby uses can work with a 4,5 - 9V range. His device will propably have a standard power connector (and there's a chance you already have the correct power supply somewhere from an old device)

[BrainStove]

Very well done video presentation Toby, amazing calm down explanation with outstanding clear understandable english speech accent, that even my poor spanglish brain translator could follow your discourse easily with no problems at all.

Good luck mate, I wish you the best and I'll keep a close eye on the progress evolution of your effort and at least you can be sure I'll be promoting your gear among my peers from now on trying to help improving a bit your future sales.

Cheers!!!

[Kyle]

Best of luck with this venture. Have you considered setting up a Kickstarter campaign? I've seen people get insane funding for all kinds of projects.

[videoswitchboard]

Hi Toby,

I'm adding my "well done" to the list-
Having tried (and failed) to take a music instrument prototype to market, i know full well how grueling this process is.
the *spark d-fuser looks ace and i hope it delivers and establishes itself as the next standard (love the controller+module form factor).
Total respect for making the wish of the VJ community come true ahead of the manufacturers' schedule, and thumbs up for involving and crediting some of the finest names on the scene for it.



dav

[spark]

Originally Posted by subpixel

The controller seems much more complicated than I remember the old plans (it has a screen with menus now and a bunch of network/DMX/etc things), which is I suppose why the price seems quite high.

The network/DMX is feature creep -- good feature creep! -- but the screen and menu are essential: you need to be able to select and set the resolution the processor outputs.

For those of us who already have a TV-One scaler, is there instructions on how to set it up for use with a TH2Go? You mention firmware in your video, but it isn't clear whether that firmware is only available with your packaged scaler.

There's a long backstory about the TV-One firmware, and it isn't yet resolved: it will go one of two ways, and I'm waiting on TV-One. The guy who makes the decision is now on holiday, that kind of thing. If you already have a 750, let me know, buy the controller, and we'll see what can be done.

Also, can you put up a picture of the controller power supply? I'll have to use a converter from a UK, EU or US-pinned plug to my Australian sockets, and just wondering what form factor would be more convenient (maybe US as it is small).

The site says the worldwide option will ship with a US plug. Did occur to me it might be better to ship the worldwide package without the power supply so the box is lighter and you don't end up using adapters. Its just a 12v 2.5mm power supply, pretty standard and shouldn't be hard to source locally with whatever power people have.

Delivery to Australia by when, do you reckon? I haz the cash now, but it seems you're not taking orders 'til September.

Yep, there's the one week ordering option. Then six weeks for manufacture. Then courier to Oz from the UK. Acts of god notwithstanding!

[spark]

Originally Posted by alfaleader

The mbed that Toby uses can work with a 4,5 - 9V range. His device will propably have a standard power connector (and there's a chance you already have the correct power supply somewhere from an old device)

Its designed so the power supply is interchangeable with the TV-One's, complete with locking socket. The damn locking socket component has gone out of stock, but even if I can't source any more, it will still be the standard 12v 2.5mm centre +ve jack.

[spark]

Originally Posted by BrainStove

Very well done video presentation Toby, amazing calm down explanation with outstanding clear understandable english speech accent, that even my poor spanglish brain translator could follow your discourse easily with no problems at all.

That video was pretty much a one-take wonder... *but* by the time I had everything lined up filming-wise, it was something like 3-4am. So I'm kinda stunned I'm even vaguely coherent =]

Good luck mate, I wish you the best and I'll keep a close eye on the progress evolution of your effort and at least you can be sure I'll be promoting your gear among my peers from now on trying to help improving a bit your future sales.

Who knows what the future holds. I needed a thing, saw a way to make it happen, and saw it should be possible to get it out to my peers. No guarantees that can make for a sustainable business, or that the kind of things I'd like to see get made are possible for a single person like me. And as a side-note, the effort-reward in this has been stupid.

[spark]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Have you considered setting up a Kickstarter campaign?

From - http://createdigitalmotion.com/2012/...ser-available/
"I’ve financed all the development myself, and am now ready to manufacture. So its less funding the project, and its more putting down your money so yours can get made."

The good thing about Kickstarter is a) the pre-ordering and b) the expectation that there's going to be a good chunk of time between the campaign and delivery of your reward.

Hopefully everybody gets the deal I'm making with the one-off ordering window going straight into the production run, so Kickstarter doesn't give a particular advantage there. Moreover having -- or not -- money wasn't what was holding up the development. Also realise that Kickstarter take a significant chunk of the money.

Definitely against the Kickstarter model, I didn't want to have a minimum quantity for this run -- I want to deliver on the promise, and meet the demand that there is at the moment. Thats not to say that any future manufacturing runs or developments may not use KS, as then the minimum viable quantity for manufacture will be there (the site says a minimum quantity of 100 to do another, there are reasons for that figure).