The Miko Fiasco

Greetings,

I will probably never ever ever buy an Open Labs product after this Fiasco.

You Launch a huge campaign, take all of these preorders and create all this hype. Then you run into technical difficulties ( which I understand), have customers waiting almost 6 months for there unit. And its beyond you as a company to send out a few emails to your potential customers or a general posting on the website!!!!!

They could of said something, instead we got Boo. I've lost a ton of respect for these guys who supposedly pride themselves because of the hands own personal touch.

They dont ever have to call me concerning my MIKO preorder, I'm the proud new owner of a souped up laptop; Open Labs can jump in a lake!!!!!!

Dallas

I agree that they have had a slow start- I sort-of lost interest myself- but why would you give-up after all this time when they are actually shipping them out now?

Hmmm,

They could be, but I personally dont know of one person thats recieved thiers. Are they actually shipping or is this more smoke and glass

I just got feed up and tired of the dog and pony show?

Dallas

Usually when there is a delay there is a problem that they need to fix. I'd prefer a working product over an early released one with bugs.

I will hopefully purchase a MIKO once they are more established.

orangefunk,

I agree, and if there is a problem then don't launch a pre-sales campaign in January. Have people calling you up giving the necessary info to reserve a unit. And 6 months latter, still no word.

Wait till you got all the kinks worked out and then do your presales campaign. I sold all my keys in February anticipating a March delivery and its almost August!!!!!!!! I was down almost 6 months waiting on a miko.

Dallas

I can understand this frustration. This is a similar situation to the delayed Virus TI release. Access had been taking preorders, but didn't deliver until almost a year later! Plus, they were keeping dead silent! I bought the TI keyboard, from Sweetwater. After a few months of waiting for the TI, I told my rep to switch the order and send me an OASYS, instead. (Access lost my sale and I have no regrets on my choice.)

I figured that I could simply wait an extra year or so, after the TI hit stores- work the bugs out- and then maybe reconsider. With the Miko, I was under the impression that Open Labs would not be able to keep up with buyer demand. I understand preording, in that case, but I'm kind of surprised that it's still not out.

In the OpenLabs forum Victor (OpenLabs CEO) posted on July 9th:

http://65.108.146.15/forum/index.php?showtopic=290

I don't know how many units they have built (and therefore how big the first shipment is), but I would be pretty confident they ARE actually starting to ship.

If I remember correctly, their major delay was due to their motherboard supplier discontinuing the motherboard they were planning on using.

I would agree that it definitely would have been nice for them to send periodic updates out.

Sounds like they are taking cues from Access!

*RIMSHOT*

Open labs is the best and only.. Your laptop will never compare to the Miko no matter how much you try..I know it works like a charm(personaly). Just wait youll see..They dont want to dick around with you and nowhere on their site is there a promisory date.

They had only hand built a few units for test and development. It has been tested allready now. By the tech crew, princes band, and a few private parties I wont mention..Rest assured to the rest of you who keep your order, and keep the faith. You are in for a treat that can't be beat.

No mac unit, no laptop, no uaw, no pc is as strong, compact, and controllable, shoot just plain fun as the Miko/Neko..I promise you.

There are lots of great products out there, by many different companies. All with a unique build and function..I own lots of pieces that have a singular unique charm, but none has affected me as much as an open labs product..Remember" dont hate the player, hate the game". All companies have their hurdles. It is the one's that refuse to quit I admire, and the ones that make pure American Exelence that I buy( japan made too)..And rejoice everyone ::::Miko is realy shiping NOW.... :D

i understand your point; i vastly prefer to buy from companies that communicate often/openly with the user base.

I pre-orderd a Miko and it's going to be worth the wait. The customer service they provide seems to be unmatched. If you drop by the Open Labs forums and have questions, you'll get a response from someone in the company pretty quickly. Neko users all seem very satisfied with product and customer service. I don't plan on jumping ship and when I get mine I'll make sure to let yall know how fun it is!

To this day I don't know ANYONE who owns a Miko or a Neko. I've seen them at the NAMM show, and everyone goes ga-ga over it, but is anyone actually buying it?

On the other hand I did see an Earth Wind and Fire tribute band perform and one of their keyboardists played an Oasys. So at least that guy bought those things.

Dallas, i can understand your anger. Maybe they are right though and THIS time it's worth it to wait a little while longer...

I had to wait over 4 months to get my Waldorf XT and that was a shipping product when i first placed my order!

Open Labs is trying to do something dificult... still, they should have sent emails out and updated their most loyal customers.

I think we should just officially ban the prerelease publicity junk. When your product ships then you can talk about it. If you talk about a product I want I want to get it now, not next year maybe! BTW, Clavia did the same thing with the G2 engine, not anywhere near the same degree but....

I wonder about that too as I have never seen one or talked to anyone with one. I really don't see any point to it in the first place, it's the same thing as a laptop, controller keyboard, and knob box and it suffers from the same flaws.

I'm very much of the belief that a synth should have a hard interface designed for it specifically, not a generic one. Generic is for people that eat corn flakes and drive the Yaris.

Actually, the majority of the responses come from other users, which is typical for a User forum.

As I said above, I think OpenLabs made a tactical error in not better communicating the true status surrounding the miKo release. However that point may be moot given the product is actually starting to ship.

Dallas should have waited..His bad.. The rest of you hold tight they will be on the way..I dont Know at what rate they come off the line, but the line is rolling..They acctualy are at it hard and fast, and the orders are rolling..It took a while but greatness usualy does...Shoot they say God took 6 days and he is omnipotent..

If you would like fly to Las Vegas. I will be at the Riviera on August 4th and 5th at defcon 14($100.00 to enter my show and 14,000 people in attendance)..and you can see a one man band play with one piece off equipment..Only Miko/Neko could do this right. Not an Oasys, not a Triton. Not anything. I use to have to bring 2 pc's, a monitor, a keyboard, a vocal rack, and cords, and a partner. I play alone now with one piece. I use Miko as a Keyboard, a pc, and a vocal rack all at once, while running Windows apps I need for my show. I am even going to start running my own video myself live too. Oasys cant. Nothing can do this. Personaly I can buy100 Oasys's right now and I didnt want one. They blew the Interface options if you ask me. My neko is set for 18 ins 18 outs., and again Oasys cant do this, not even close.. I only need 2 outs from my Miko. Perfect wordclock too. Dont get me wrong Korg is cool, my seven year old son plays one, and he loves it. He likes playing around with synth's just like me. He plays drums and bass too. He owns a specter, and a pearl set..He even is learning to sequence..But again it is official the big boy toys are out and about, and those with a Miko carry Clout....

I think that's the first time I've ever seen someone imply that OASYS is only fit for seven year old kids.

Hmmm ... interesting ... but is there an advantage to playing with one piece of equipment? Aside from the ease factor, it actually seems less interesting and engaging.

Still, would like to see what it's about though. The Miko has me more than curious ... as well as your 'one man band,' a designation I fancy for myself as well.

Do you have any video?

I just said korg, not what product.. I said I passed on it myself..

Oasys is for everybody. My son owns a korg ms2k/b

Oasys is for people who like easy accompaniment. Nothing new here. It is more like hit one note and let it play for you..Thats cool if that is how you write music..I meant Korg blew their output sceme..It tried to do it all and missed the mark, for $8,000.00.

If you want I will take one for free..But for my money I buy instruments that challenge you as a programer and a musician..

Hip hop people like the easy play philosiphy. If I bought my son one I would be Crippleing his mind. I want him to play, not be played..Korg was cool in the day, and then they abandoned great ideas for quick cash thru the hiphop upstart studio wanabes..I call them studio gangsters. Lets impress people even though I cant play..When I buy gear it has to be Me in control. Not fake looping, and play by itself tech.. Thats all that really impress somepeople. I will say how ever the audio quality on an Oasys is great..I like how it sounds..But I dont seek to impress people with one note playing. To me that is the main selling point of the Oasys..Anyone can play it.. My son has real instruments made to improve his tallent, not hinder it..With that piece he would settle on leting it do all the work. I understand why people run to simplicity. I dont blame them..It is how they play..

It is not that I want to be alone..My last group Corruptdata had 2 members me and a friend. I would write a song and he would complain yet never write..He just booked shows. So I am alone because No one I know wants to put in the time to write and produce, just show up and look preety for shows. I got fed up and left. I use Miko, because it realy does replace my live gear nightmare. and as to ease it probably is harder for most who want gear that play for them.. It isnt out of the box simple. You must set it up with your own software and then program it for your use..It is acctualy a Life saver to a band like mine..I could use my Neko live but it is really huge and a pain to carry..Miko is tiny and mighty.If you realy buy one you will see what I mean..

Plus everybody else hides behind their gear..All you see is me and my Miko, like kraftwerk.4 men 4 machines

I play it, sequence it, and sing thru it all real time efx, too..

Most people have to have a laptop. and three tier key racks and such. Miko acctualy makes a strong Impresion on the tech crowd who Know how hard it is to play live with a pc alone....I dont want you to change your show for me though.. If you or others like bringing all their gear that is cool. It is not up to me or anybody else how you play live.. I am just done traveling with a few hundred pounds of gear. Miko is 35 pounds..Thats it..Most people will be stunned by the pure simplicity.. 1 man 1 machine..If I could let it all come out of my head with no gear no mike I would..

I understand your excitement MindPop. I can't wait for my Miko. I ordered mine at the end of Feb. I also know that Open Labs is shipping your Miko out today and you ordered it more than a month later than me. I wish I knew when mine was shipping. But hey it doesn't matter, we'll all be happy soon enough!

I also got a pre order, but to tell you the truth, I'm almost sure I won't go through with it when they're ready to ship.

I think it's a really big mistake when these companies make these huge sale merketing schemes without having the stuff ready to ship. What difference would it make to announce only on this next NAMM for example? they weren't even taking money from the pre orders....I think this is a primary mistake and I don't see a very bright future for open labs after this. i may be wrong, and I hope I am, but that's my gut feeling.

Initial GAS and the "hey this is great let's all get it" phenomenon is too important to be ignored. Now, the novelty is gone and in teh meanwhile your mind had time to realise that it'd have been a mistake. be stuck with a 15" screen and a huge kbd that it's neither a good desktop DAW or a good portable solution....at least this is my feeling.

Also, in the meanwhile new products came out that make the miko seem less appealing. The korg pad thing or the MPD24, novation SL's, motu ultralite, the new macintel laptops etc etc....so in 6 months the miko takes serious risks of going from a good deal to a bunch of outdated hardware.

maybe this is coming out too hard and rude but I think it's time for them to face the facts.

They acctualy shiped mine yesterday right after they billed me that morning.. I orderd a case too(one day air).. I bought from audio midi, but open labs shiped to me direct to save time..Other wise it would hit La, then Las Vegas. I'll post later today after I rip it open and add memory...When will you get yours??Did you call them? Victor is a true friend. And OpenLabs are my bro's .

I hope youl like it... I think most people miss the point.. It is a hybrid pc, not a keyboard in the old sense..It is a pc and a mega controller, and there is no otro out there..If so post here so we can check out the other pc's on the market that have the same features...I am realy into computers, more than anything else(I mean gear). I have like 3 Scope systems, an Korg Oasys(pci $200.00) and I use to use them and plugins only..No out board gear besides a controller.. I use to collect synths in the late eighties, early nieties..Then I went total pc.. It has only been the last 3 years that I went back to out board gear. I dont even use a mixer to this day...Later all, I am off to fry's to buy 3 gigs of ram(I still have 512 I ripped out of my Neko)...Sweet.

I think the MIKO is very interesting ...

and I very well may end up with something like that ... but admittedly, I'm in the early stages of G.A.S. -- not just mindlessly aquiring -- well maybe a little -- but frankly learning the ins and outs of different synths -- so I'm still in expansion rather than streamline mode ... I think it's a very real process that takes time ...

my other "problem" is that I'm not into softsynths at all ... so a MIKO would be a pretty radical change for me ...

Good luck!

And post that video ... I'd love to see it ...