Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/635406
C A S Q U A R T E R L Y W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 37 and that upgrade path considerations have always been a strong factor in how they develop products. Not only does it serve them; it helps the end user by protecting their investments. They don't develop slowly just so you can take your time purchasing. They develop slowly because they want to offer nothing but reliable "potato- cannon-shootable" products. And because of the Nagra user inside all of us in production sound, this is very important. We need a rugged hunk of metal to perform its task with no trouble right out of the box. Lectrosonics is one of many manufacturers serving this tiny market with this level of reliability today. OUR MANUFACTURERS I love our manufacturers. I can't stress that enough. We are so lucky in production sound to have so many "mom- and-pop," middle-class, boutique, accessible, talented, and trustworthy companies serving our craft. Each and every one of them, whether domestic or abroad, seem to have one thing in common: They're all genuinely A Lectrosonics employee fabricating parts. fascinated, passionate, and invested. They say we are the "smallest, yet the most fun" sector of clientele. This is noble because, with their skills and talent, they could potentially make so much more revenue in the consumer market. But they know there is something special about production sound. Remember when people would spend a good amount of money on a pair of shoes? Then a few years later, they'd still be wearing these shoes? Then after some considerable wear-and-tear, they would take them into the shoe shop to be resoled? In the first-world where we lease luxury cars, have 20 pairs of shoes in the closet, upgrade our phones every year, and throw away textiles, it is refreshing to have our professional tools built by people with this type of lasting quality and craftsmanship in mind. I often think about our craft's tools as some of the last groupings of goods that are made with this tremendous pride. Unfortunately, their R&D budgets may not compare. So if they are going to take on a project, it better be worthwhile. A home run every time is impossible, but more home runs than strikeouts are obviously preferred. That must cause many delicate, well-thought-out choices to be made. CHASING THE DRAGON Now let's talk about the choices end-users have to make. I'm going to skip the conversation about competitor brand choices. They are all amazing and only you and your research can determine what brand choices are right for you. Also, it's not like you have to pledge allegiance to just one. You are the end-user. The manufacturer brands are all your oysters. But instead, the important choice is whether to upgrade and when. Even if you are heavily invested in a well-rounded pro- duction sound outfit, upgrading is still daunting. Do you buy cost-effective tools like Sennheiser G3 units? Do you Lectrosonics machinist David Clark with freshly made circuit boards It is refreshing to have our professional tools built by people with the highest quality of craftsmanship in mind. I often think about our craft's tools as some of the last groupings of goods that are made with this tremendous pride.