Re: [Harp-L] re:volume control

[nonidesign@xxxxxxx]

They're a lot cheaper than an original Switchcraft in-line vol control....if you can even find one.
If you buy one of Gary's units you can use it on any/all mics you want. It is a sturdy unit and compact. 
I have one that I use for a biscuit mic (a feedback monster, by the way) and it is great. 

I hate anything hanging off my belt like cel phone, keys, etc. I have a volume control unit that clips onto my belt and I never use for that reason ( and also because I like having the volume control by the mic). The belt clip unit cost $50.00. Gary's in-line vol control was around the same price and I am very happy with it.


-------------- Original message from Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>: -------------- 


> Cletus wrote: 
> 
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re:volume control product offering 
> > 
> > too expensive in my opinion 
> > 
> > if it were half the price i'd probably order several, and i don't 
> > imagine i'm alone in that appraisal 
> > 
> > cletus 
> 
> I make the control, so I'll tell you why it costs what it does. If 
> there were a market for 100,000 units or more, I could probably have it 
> made in Taiwan very cheaply. This would require however a large upfront 
> investment - say, $50,000 or more, which would have to be amortized 
> across the units sold. But the market isn't that big. In fact, it is 
> downright tiny. So these units have to be built by hand, by me. They 
> are very labor intensive. 
> 
> 1) There is precision machining (tolerances have to be maintained 
> within .001 for a good, strong press fit between the end caps and the 
> barrel.) Again, due to low volume, it doesn't pay to do this with CNC 
> machines, which wold make sense if they were to be made in the 1000's. 
> CNC set-up costs need to be amortized across large numbers of units. So 
> - they are done by hand. Not cheap. 
> 
> 2) Search all you want, you'll find there is no such thing as the 
> female version of the 2501MP panel mount connector. You can't just 
> screw a ring on a 2501MP - it won't "float" above the threads. So I 
> have to machine each 2501MP for this purpose. You'll also note you 
> can't buy the retaining rings separately - I have to buy ungodly 
> quantities at a time to get them at all. 
> 
> 3) That is a 3/4" barrel. The pot has to be inserted and maneuvered so 
> that the shaft comes up through the hole. The shaft on those pots is 
> too long to fit inside the barrel, so I have to cut every shaft down. I 
> could build them with bigger barrels, and in fact I have- but they're 
> UGLY, and they won't allow a stick mic like a Shure 533 to be placed 
> in a mic holder. 
> 
> 4) Every pot has to have 3 wires cut, stripped at each end and tinned. 
> Then they must be soldered to the pot, shrink wrap cut and installed, 
> shrunk, and the other ends soldered to the connectors. 
> 
> 5) The connectors have to be press fit into the ends, secured with nuts 
> and loctite. Then the ends have to be pressed into the barrel, again 
> secured with loctite. 
> 
> I could go on, but hopefully you get the idea. I am very proud of the 
> product, which I think is functional, aesthetically pleasing and of 
> very high quality. Of course, each one has to be tested, marketed, 
> packaged and shipped. And distributors need a piece of the pie. If it 
> is too expensive for you I understand - and respect your opinion. I 
> just wanted to explain why a product like this doesn't follow the same 
> laws of economics as something mass produced in a factory. 
> 
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