600 Backers and the First Stretch Goal Are So Close!
The process of preparing and executing a crowd sourcing campaign on Kickstarter is all consuming…at least for the month prior to the launch and during the 30 days of the actual campaign. Of course, the response and success of my current campaign has been very gratifying. It’s been quite a ride and it’s not over yet. Every day more people step up and back the writing of the book and the production of the demonstration Blu-ray disc. The effort also involves promoting the book to as many audio enthusiasts as possible. I’ve received numerous pitches by professional marketing folks to take my campaign to the masses but I’m convinced that the knowledge I want to share isn’t going to excite the general public.
I post regularly to the AIX Records and my personal FB pages but I’m doubtful that many of that group are backing the project. I know my sister is happy that things are going so well but she’s not going to support the book. This is a project that connects me with those people that want to learn about high-end audio and want to improve the sound of their system without spending a bunch of money. The high-end audio marketplace is crowed, confusing, and contradictory. I hope that facts and engineering can rule over emotions and subjective judgments…but it’s hard when you don’t know who is telling the truth.
Learning that a respected designer and company head would be willing to lie about his products is very disconcerting…I’m still amazed that someone would consciously mislead people just for the sake of improving their business. If you build a great product, deliver a great service, or make a quality recording…isn’t that enough? I’ve been operating by that approach for over 40 years and it’s paid back in spades.
If you haven’t been following the updates send to backers of the KS campaign, here’s the latest news:
• Jonathan Reichbach, the founder of Sonic Studio and the genius behind Amarra and Sound Blade, has agreed to an interview for the Music and Audio Guide.
• Michal Jurewicz, the founder of Mytek Digital and designer of the first MQA qualified DAC, has also agreed to answer a few questions about his products, the design process, and his experience with MQA and Meridian.
• The campaign is nearing the first stretch goal of 200% funding…or $50K. When that happens every backer will receiving the 2016 AIX Records Sampler…with the 71 individual tracks in all possible genres.
• The number of backers is just short of 600…we’re only 8 away as I write this on Wednesday evening. I’m quietly hoping that I can reach or eclipse the number of backers Jim Smith, the author of “Get Better Sound”, got during his KS campaign in 2013. In many ways, he’s been an inspiration to this campaign and me. 682 people backed his as yet unfinished project.
If you’ve been quietly waiting on the sidelines to contribute to this book and Blu-ray project, please consider adding your name to the list of backers. I can assure you that this resource will answer your questions about high-end audio, high-res music, and improving your listening experience. There are 13 days left to go…
High end audio is definitely not mainstream and that is precisely why the success of your KS campaign is so impressive.
Do you need any more proof than that?
Your blog has always provided solid arguments to back your opinions and, today, you are reaping the benefits.
I have learned most, if not all, of what I know about Hi Res Audio from your blog, and what I read elsewhere just cooroborates your writings. Best of all, the AIX recordings are the ultimate proof of walking the talk.
I am really looking forward to reading your book and listening to the recordings.
Kudos for not giving up and thank you again for sharing your knowledge with all of us.
Just think, we get the knowledge and experience without having to write a term paper… the best of both worlds!
Thanks very much to the kind words and support. I’m both amazed and thrilled.
Hi Mark,
I enjoy your daily blog.
The last few days you’ve been talking about how Mytech Digital has been previewing the first ‘MQA qualified’ DAC at RMAF. It might indeed be the first standalone DAC coming to market, however I believe the first non-Meridian company to announce MQA-ready products is the Gibson Music group (which now owns the Pioneer, Onkyo and Philips CE brands). At the IFA exhibition in Berlin (Europe’s equivalent of CES) a few weeks’ ago both Pioneer and Onkyo showcased MQA-ready portable players due out this Fall to rival Astell&Kern and Pono players. FYI…
Keep up the good work and best regards from the UK,
John
I’m guessing you’re probably right…I was taking the information I received from the sales guy at Mytek as fact.
Hi Mark,
As this post is just about the kickstarter, when will you be suspending your blog to get the product out?
or have you already started compiling?
Only reason for asking, is, you have mentioned the interviews you have secured from industry folk, which I am sure will be fraught with timing difficulties.
Have you secured all the resources for the digital and print versions of the book?
Sorry if that sounds negative, I don’t mean to be. Just wanted to ask how the production will move forward over the coming months as I see your shipping date is March 16.
In the meantime, congratulations on achieving 200% of funding and I look forward to finding out how to improve my set up and the words of wisdom you and your industry friends have.
Best regards
Gordon
My plan is to write the book and keep the blog going…although I’m considering taking a break when I go to Europe for a couple of weeks. I’ve been invited to give a couple of master classes at the University of Mainz in Germany. I’m looking forward to it. Maybe just maybe, I’ll suspend the blog for a couple of weeks.
I’m not worried about the interviews…the technology exists to get these done without too much trouble. As for the rest of the resources, it’s pretty much an in house project. I write then chapters, I do the illustrations, I produce the demo disc and files, and then I get someone to print the thing.