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i hope it tips

Would we get that much more off the purchase of the record? Maybe another way to entice readers...

Well, it is surprising there are only 262 of us who are interested in some real data.

I enjoy reading this web site, and I recently purchased my first TT due in part to what I've read on these pages regarding the benefits of vinyl playback. I enjoy the Jazz releases of the 50's and 60's on Bluenote records, all those great recordings made in the Van Gelder studio in NJ. I have a number of the Van Gelder remasters on cd and I've always found them a little bright and edgy. One of the reasons I wanted to try a TT was to purchase a few of those recordings on vinyl to hear if there is an improvement. I bought a music hall Mmf 2.2 with a MH preamp, nothing fancy. I also purchased a couple of the recently remastered vinyl albums commemorating Bluenote's 75th anniversary. I did not buy titles I already own. The new vinyl reissues are mastered from high Rez digital files, but they sound much better to my ears than the Bluenote cd's I own. I shouldn't say they sound better, I should say they FEEL better to my ears, literally. So much so that I can turn the volume up without causing irritation to my ears, something I can't do with the cd's. This is probably due to the dynamic range compression of the cd masters.

What does this have to do with the Kickstarter campaign? Probably nothing, I just wanted to share my recent experience as a newcomer to vinyl. I think it's a fun sounding project, but I don't see how it will prove anything. How do you account for all the differences in playback systems, rooms, and people's ears? I think what matters most is to find music you enjoy, that has hopefully been well recorded and mastered, regardless of medium. I think it's unfortunate that mastering engineers are dynamically compressing the hell out of cd releases.

Michael: How do u sign up for this trial I'm very interested! Thank u

Im kicking in another $50, i really want this thing to go through.

Michael,

I think if you need to reconfigure the proposal to get it over the line.

Instead of looking for a $10 donation for the opportunity to buy it.. Price the vinyl into the commitment.

If you were to insist on a $40 commitment but with the delivery of a vinyl I'm sure you would easily get 500+ takers.

Don't be disheartened! This is a great idea.

Cheers,

Fish

Is the ten dollars for a copy of the record or to reserve a copy of the record? If it's a reservation then does ten dollars paid come off the final price?

If the project doesn't make it I hope you put it through again with just a simple $30, $40, $50 whatever to get a copy of the record.
It's a good idea and I've been looking forward to testing it out on my system.
Cheers,

Michael,
I want to see this project succeed, but I am surprised I haven't seen this promoted other places. Why isn't this posted on the sister sites? Stereophile and Audiostream? Why not get Steve Guttenberg at CNet or John Darko at his site to post about it? How about Gizmodo? There are some writers there who hate on hi-res audio but fully support vinyl. Use your network and let the world know!

I could bump it from $10 up to $20. Maybe you should have set it there to begin with. I feel your frustration.

I have no issue in upping to $40 or $50. Small potatoes to participate in this kind of fun! So again of 250 at $40 or $50 makes it happen, I think we would mostly still be interested!

The issue may be that it says for $10 you get "absolutely nothing," when in fact (if I understand it right) you get $10 off the purchase price of the LP.

I signed up right away, and yes I understood the terms...not that it mattered for $10 (well, $13, I am Canadian). BUT MAYBE THEY ARE RIGHT? Why not re-do the Kickstarter at $25, $30, $35 delivered? If it goes through, they get a taste of analog vs legitimate Hi Res Audio and compare, and have fun, AND SOME GOOD MUSIC. I'm in regardless, I just don't want to see this fail.

Jay

I have just raise my contribution to $50.

You should do another kickstarter but structure it differently. Incorporate all the feedback that has been provided over the three different postings and figure out the price that we can back the kickstarter at that guarantees a copy of the record without any additional expense. The math cannot be that difficult: if you need $10K to cover production costs and ~$25 per record * 1000 that's a total of $35K, so structure your new kickstarter to get to the $35K. Easy.

Re-tool the Kickstarter and cut the number of albums pressed to 400. Offer a plain white jacket with an avery label. Those who don't support the Kickstarter and wait hoping to buy the album later don't get one... or pay a much higher price for the few remaining. Frankly, my brother said he's not interested in supporting a project with a cover he doesn't care for. Plain white for me too. Still, thanks for the effort put in on this. Would be a great tool.

I would have to say that I agree with many of the sentiments expressed above- long time visitor and would love to back the project- but backing to then go ahead and buy the product also- why not the chance to back 2x- 4x as much and garuntee a copy when they are pressed?

Hell you could offer a signed copy with a free copy of your DVD/s for extra generous backers?

I'm sure there are lots of people in the same position

Best

Mike

If this doesn't make it, I too recommend figuring out total price for 500 (or 1000) copies, and set contribution at the amount needed to fully fund.

You can always set at 500 copies, and if it does well press more like Jerome Sabbagh did with his recent successful campaign.

I think we need to admit (unfortunately) that the interest in something like this is deep, but not broad. In other words, I bet most of the ~250 backers would be willing to go $40 in (or more) to see this item made. Not sure if that would still get you there, but I think you get the gist of the direction most likely needed.

And I agree with some potential cost saving paths like plain white sleeve. Heck, we could do it indie-style with a LP assembly party, with us all gluing 2 pieces of paper on each side of the sleeve. I live in the Trenton/Princeton area and would be willing to help with the assembly.

Still hoping this or the next attempt works.

This is not how kickstarter works - as you can see by the small amount of backers.

You have to have at least three backer options for a successfull campaign:
- An option were you get nothing at all except status updates about the project. Everyone can give any amount, be it $1 or $50.
- An option were you can buy the product the kickstarter is about, in this case the LP. Even if you would ask for $100 for this option you probably would be closer to the $10000 by now.
- An option (or more) for a reward somewhere between $100 and $1000. This could be something unrelated to the LP like an exclusive interview. Or a test pressing. Or the Cover signed by you. There are always people with money to spare. Kickstarter projects without high value options are rarely successfull.

Michael, no one expects you to ship all the packages. As you said yourself Acoustic Sounds wants to make a profit on this, so they can do it. Just make sure the backers pay at least as much as it would cost to order the LP directly from Acoustic Sounds (+10%).

A successfull kickstarter campaign ends with everybody getting their rewards, no one making a profit but no one making a loss either - but in this case with a lot of records still in stock. For example: 1000 records made, 800 shipped to the backers, no profit, no loss. But 200 records are still left and since everything is paid for, selling these is pure profit.

Now that's something I'd want to do. Sit in front of THAT system for an hour while Mikey spins vinyl and talks about the records.

I'll just confirm that I would have paid $30-$40 for this record. If that would have been an option on Kickstarter this would have been funded with no problem.

... but add my name to the list of people who would have preferred to just pay for the LP shipped to my front door!

Plus the holidays are coming. Reworking the Kickstarter could make the project into a mighty nice gift for the vinyl-lovers in our lives

'If you pledge $10.00 you will get absolutely nothing in addition to the satisfaction of knowing you've contributed money to make possible this project. While the Kickstarter template says "or more" please do not pledge more than $10 since you will be paying for the record "on the other side."'

When I first read this I didn't realize I got a copy if I pledged $10. It's a confusing read and I went on with my day when I saw the first sentence.

I've since pledged, but I wonder if anyone else was confused.

I'm not entirely sure, but my gut tells me that in any case it would be a better option to cancel the current fund and reestablish.

Launch it again over analogplanet with a new deadline and marketing.

Ask some of the members on AP to spread the word and Im sure we'll reach the required numbers.

This project has suffered from taking too long from inception to availability and a complex process. I would have suggested getting the quote and offering the kickstarter project to include delivery of the LP before starting the conversation regarding content, graphics, etc. to drive higher participation. I have been particularly busy the last few weeks and not checking the site regularly to see if this project had kicked off yet. In my case, I would have preferred to commit when the project was announced than to have return often to make sure I caught the launch. I like reading the column, but my work schedule precludes checking everyday to catch an event. Most Web sales campaigns aim to get prospects signed up on the first page landing and not depend on people returning to a site to close a deal. I am still interested and although $10 is not a lot, I do not want to put money in a pot that is not going to accomplish anything.

$10 also makes the project sound like there is no confidence that a market exists for the test program. Or there is insufficient value associated with the project. In one of those oddities of marketing, a higher price may get more participation, because of the implied value of the project and confidence enough people will participate. Using a $10 project to test market demand is not a productive approach. For me, I want to know what I am going to get for the money I invest. I have invested in kickstarter previous kickstarter projects, but only the ones that deliver a product when the project is funded. That may be comfortable for me, having worked with many ventures, so take this statement as input data in considering a restart of this project and any future projects.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate.

If you asked for $10 MINIMUM - can you? - would that make a difference?? $10 for those in lower income bracket; $50 or $500 may not seem like a big deal for those who've spent $50,000 plus on a playback system....Additionally music (like films, books, etc) isn't worth much to people anymore, and the implications are various and depressing. How does a Beatles, Hendrix, Sinatra, Stones, Al Green or Nirvana get nurtured in the 21st century? Kickstarter? I've read threads with people complaining that the CD version of the 5 disc Faces box is, at under $40, TOO expensive. I paid roughly the same price for records 15, 30 - 40 years ago!
BTW I have not sent my $10 yet but if it makes a difference (i.e. it just might fly) I will.

I didn't back it initially because I had to register for Kickstarter, and I put that off. But I said I'd support the project, and now I have.

I think the 260+ who have supported the project are willing to pay more than $10. These are likely people who think nothing of paying $35 for a MoFi or AP, or $50 for a double 45 from the same sources. So maybe it should be restructured in pledge price to let those who can and will support the project make it happen. Maybe $33-$35 for 300 pledges? Even though that doesn't include the purchase price of the record, I think the demographic who is likely funding the project will still buy in.

There are many great suggestions here.

If your main concern is recouping your costs this is how you should restructure the Kickstarter.

$1 Gets you updates about the project and our thanks.

$40 Gets you the album shipped to your door (US Only International extra)

$75 Gets you an autographed copy of the vinyl

$125 Gets your name in the credits and a signed copy of the vinyl

$175 Gets you a signed test pressing and your name in the credits

$500 Gets you a personal tour to QRP with Michael to watch the test pressing happen. You also get a signed copy of the test pressing and your name in the credits. (airfare and hotel not included)

Something along those lines. You can also limit the number of products are available in the more expensive options (like the test pressings, autographed copies, personal tour etc)

I would be shocked if the money for the project isn't recouped quickly doing it with this type of structure. This is a pretty common way music Kickstarters are structured.

Good Luck!

I hope it works out!