Man, you’re like the Pokemon champ of bug hunting. You’re really catching them all.
It gets me thinking, this kind of remote testing might just be the way to go for Elektron. Make it a closed but official beta. Send out a batch of hundred machines or so to the regular user, not only endorsed musicians or other pros Elektron have a relationship with, but the ordinary user that just bangs on the machine in ways their test labs never predicted. Mix it up with pro users down to your average amateur.
If they don’t want the logistics, keep it local. There’s enough people around their HQ to warrant a beta crowd, though I think the logistics of shipping these things around would be worth it.
Let’s just say the Digitakt wasn’t out yet. We’re all in beta mode. We have these machines, cause we’re beta testers.
There’d be no hassle, no endless threads on release policy or communication strategies, no debates on whether to hold off purchase or return the unit. Just solid, fun beta testing, where a crash is a treat rather than a nuisance, cause you’re helping out.
Man, it’s the exact same situation - but just before launch, instead of after.
Doesn’t that sound beautiful?