Thank you for sharing that!
Another update from the Reliq Team (via the Discord):
Kyriakos-Reliq — 03/01/2024 12:12 PM
Hey @everyone, We hope February brought you joy and fulfilment! Our monthly update is arriving a bit later this month, but we bring thrilling news your way. Excitingly, production is kicking off this month! After navigating a journey filled with twists and turns, we’re delighted to announce that assembly and shipping will be handled in the Netherlands. This marks a significant milestone for us, as we’ve strived to be an integral part of every stage – from design and assembly to testing, packaging, and shipping. Our hands-on approach ensures that Reliq reaches you just as we envisioned. In the past month, we successfully completed EMC tests, encountering minor issues that we promptly addressed. Simultaneously, our focus extended to designing production testing equipment, a crucial step in maintaining consistent high-quality standards for every Reliq. On the software front , notable progress includes:
- Song Mode development, allowing storage of Reliq’s state per song block or use of specific clips and routings.
- Bug fixes and optimizations across various firmware components.
- Refined GUI elements throughout Reliq.
- USB Host implementation: Reliq can now function as a host, connecting and powering MIDI-capable devices or audio accessories.
- Advancements in collaboration with Midronome on Reliq’s Audio Unit and VST3 plugins, currently undergoing testing.
While last month was an incredible journey, we’re even more thrilled about the major milestones this month holds. All parts for manufacturing test units have been ordered, and we anticipate having them by March 18th. This month, we’ll have the first manufacturing test units of Reliq in our hands and proceed with production.
As we approach the delivery dates, we want to be transparent about the potential for delays. The complexity of factors in the final stages of the process may affect our delivery forecast, especially with testing time potentially surpassing our initial estimates. While this is regrettable, we are committed to upholding rigorous testing practices to ensure the quality of Reliq. We extend our apologies in advance for any possible delays. In the coming months, we’ll increase the frequency of production updates to keep everyone well-informed about the progress and address any delays that may arise.
Thank you sincerely for your unwavering support, ideas, and patience throughout these months. We’re edging closer to the moment when Reliq will grace your studios, and we can’t wait to witness the incredible creations you’ll bring to life with it.
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March update from the Reliq team on Discord:
Kyriakos-Reliq — April 01 at 2:12 PM
Hey @everyone,
We hope you’ve had a fantastic holiday season filled with creativity and joy!
First and foremost, we want to extend our sincerest apologies for the delay in updates. The past month has been quite the rollercoaster for us, with unexpected twists and turns.
Our primary goal for March was to finalise the production test units. Unfortunately, we encountered some setbacks with our wood supplier, causing delays in completing all units. However, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve successfully assembled the first test unit! Taking a moment to reflect on the journey, from the initial prototype, back in 2020, to the present, fills us with excitement for what Reliq is becoming.
One significant challenge we faced this month was related to Reliq’s display panel. Just as we were finalising the production order, we learned that the current model was nearing its end of life status. This presented a significant hurdle for us, given the central role of the display panel in Reliq’s design. After intensive discussions with the manufacturer, our sourcing partners, and manufacturing team, we managed to secure a replacement panel from the same manufacturer. The new panel matches the quality and appearance of the original but also offers double the brightness. However, adapting to the new panel requires modifications to PCB designs and molds. Though these modifications are not technically challenging, they can be time-consuming and cause significant delays.
Upon receiving the samples, we immediately initiated the necessary design adjustments. We’ve informed our suppliers and factories, jumpstarting the process for the final PCB and mold revisions. Additionally, we’ve engaged in extensive discussions to revisit the production timeline, aiming to minimise further delays without compromising on quality or introducing unnecessary risks. After several weeks, we’ve received confirmation from our suppliers that the first Reliq units are now slated for assembly this July.
We sincerely apologise for this delay and we understand the disappointment it may cause, especially when anticipation runs high. Please know that we remain dedicated to delivering Reliq as the instrument we always envisioned. This extra time will be utilised to refine software stability, introduce new features, and establish a rigorous production testing and quality assurance procedure.
We’re immensely grateful for your understanding, support, and patience throughout this journey. Your unwavering belief in Reliq motivates us to push forward and deliver Reliq as the instrument we were always missing in our setups.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey with us!
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For those of you following along, here’s the Reliq April update:
Kyriakos-Reliq — Today at 12:07 PM
Hey @everyone,
We hope you’re all feeling as inspired as we are this spring!
We’ve had an exciting month here at Reliq, and we are thrilled to share some of this month’s development updates.
While eagerly awaiting the arrival of parts in The Netherlands for the assembly of the first batch of Reliq in July , we have been hard at work optimising every aspect of our production processes.
This month, we have constructed several production test units, fine-tuning assembly and testing procedures to ensure that each unit meets our design standards and exceeds expectations. Given the thoroughness required in this process, we’re delighted to report that we haven’t encountered any significant obstacles thus far.
Addressing the display panel adjustment that affected our timeline last month, we have received all modified mold parts for the new, brighter display and have successfully tested them without any issues. Additionally, modifications to the PCBs for the new screen are complete, and we are awaiting the arrival of the revised PCBs for final inspection and testing.
In preparation for production, we’re also focused on designing essential test hardware, including testing jigs and factory calibration hardware and software. These tools will ensure streamlined final functional testing post-assembly, guaranteeing reliability and performance.
On the software front , we’re accelerating development, prioritising testing, bug fixes, and fine-tuning of UI/UX elements. Some noteworthy software advancements this month include:
- Significantly decreased boot time for Reliq
- Reworked usb-host and usb-midi drivers to resolve compatibility issues
- Streamlined firmware/software update mechanism for one-button press updates
- Enhanced stability and speed of updates, accounting for extreme edge cases
We’re particularly excited to announce the beta release of U-SYNC by Midronome . We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Simon from Midronome over the past few months to develop a one-cable audio sync solution between DAWs and hardware. U-SYNC boasts precision 50 times greater than traditional audio syncing methods and already supports over 8 DAWs in its beta form! We highly encourage those with access to a Midronome to try out the beta. Rest assured, U-SYNC will be integrated into Reliq upon release.
Lastly, we’ve received inquiries about the status of the manual. We apologise for the delay; we had anticipated its release by now. Minor adjustments and improvements in the UI/UX interface have caused this delay, but please know that we’re diligently working on the manual and plan to publish a comprehensive version alongside a series of demo and tutorial videos before shipping begins.
We’re incredibly grateful for your unwavering support and patience. When we embarked on the journey with Reliq years ago, we never imagined reaching this milestone without your overwhelming encouragement!
Thank you for being part of the Reliq journey!
As always, please don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the questions channel or share your ideas in the feature-suggestions channel.
June update
June update from the Reliq team:
Kyriakos-Reliq — Today at 11:43 AM
Hey @everyone, We hope that you all had an amazing month! It has been a crazy ride at Reliq this May. As we eagerly await the arrival of all components for assembly, we have been fine-tuning Reliq’s software, hunting down and fixing issues, and monitoring the sourcing and component distribution pipelines to avoid delays, resolve potential problems, and optimise the production processes.
Although we’ve faced a few hiccups with component delivery dates, we’ve managed to address these issues for now. We receive daily updates regarding sourcing, but we know that nothing is final until all parts are delivered. While there’s always a chance of further delays, we’re doing everything we can to keep things on track, and we’re incredibly excited as we get closer to the assembly date. We can’t wait to share Reliq with all of you!
This month, we’ve also focused on developing Reliq’s packaging to ensure a pleasant unboxing experience and to make sure that Reliq can travel safely to any part of the world.
Another major focus has been designing the testing and calibration hardware and software . Our goal was to create a testing environment that ensures no Reliq with any issues, minor or major, leaves our hands. It’s been a long road to achieve a testing environment that is both thorough and pleasant for our assemblers and testers, but we’re finally happy with the results of Reliq’s testing suite.
This month, we also had the pleasure of spending more time with the production test units of Reliq in studios, thoroughly testing both the software and hardware . The new, brighter screen has been a fantastic addition, and despite the challenges it created in past months, it was definitely worth the effort. We experimented with various workflows and configurations while making music with Reliq, and we are thrilled with all the possibilities it brings to studios. Seeing more of Reliq in action has made us even more excited about what it has grown to be.
As we move into the final stages of preparation, we want to express our deep gratitude for your patience and support once more. Bringing Reliq to life has been a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, and we couldn’t have done it without you. We always envisioned delivering an instrument that will open new possibilities in music making and we’re confident that the wait will be worth it.
Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with us. We’ll keep you updated with our progress as we get closer to the assembly date.
feature-suggestions channel.
July update
July update from the Reliq team via their Discrod:
Kyriakos-Reliq — 07/02/2024 11:27 AM
Hi @everyone,
We hope that the summer finds you in a great and creative mood! It’s been an exciting and intense month here at Reliq, filled with progress and unexpected challenges. While awaiting the arrival of all parts for assembly, we’ve been adding finishing touches, optimizing software, fine-tuning the assembly procedure, and working on the manual and demo videos. In parallel, we closely monitored the component supply chain daily to ensure everything stayed on track and to address any potential issues promptly.
On the supply chain front, we’ve faced several challenges this month, including untracked order numbers and last-minute changes in the estimated delivery dates of components. We’ve managed to resolve most of these issues quickly. As of last week, we have more than 90% of Reliq’s parts in storage, ready for assembly . However, we are still working through challenges with three specific parts:
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BPM Encoder: We received a last-minute change in the estimated delivery date from June 6th to September 8th. This posed a significant challenge as it would delay our assembly and logistics plans for several months. After extensive discussions with the manufacturer and supplier, we have secured a revised delivery date of August 10th . We continue to work with the supplier to optimize the supply chain for this part.
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Wooden Enclosure: During production pre-checks, we discovered an issue with the tolerances of the wooden enclosure. This could potentially affect final assembly and introduce cosmetic and robustness issues. We considered several options to resolve this issue without introducing further delays but decided to remake the part with a modified procedure to avoid any risks. This was a tough decision, but we believe it’s crucial to maintain the quality we envisioned from the start.
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Electronic Component for the Analog Matrix-Mixer Circuit: Our supplier notified us of a market shortage, delaying the estimated delivery date by over six months. This was a delay we couldn’t afford. After exploring several options, we secured a commitment from the manufacturer to ship this part from their stock for the first production round, with a delivery date in late August . While not ideal, it’s a significant improvement.
In light of these delays, we had to adjust our timeline to minimize the impact. Due to the missing parts, we had to postpone the final assembly and secure a new spot with our factory for the circuit assembly. After extensive discussions with our suppliers and factories, we have confirmation that Reliq’s final assembly will start in early September . We understand that this is particularly underwhelming and that recurring delays are disappointing. We sincerely apologize for this. We are doing everything possible to avoid such delays and foresee potential issues, but we want to do this without taking any significant risks that could affect the quality of Reliq. We still want to build Reliq to become the instrument we always imagined without major sacrifices in quality for speed.
We like to think that these challenges also have a silver lining. The delay allows us more time to refine Reliq’s software, ensuring it is robust from day one. Additionally, we are fine-tuning our shipping infrastructure to prevent any potential issues. We can also dedicate more time to completing the manual and companion videos, providing an enjoyable learning experience.
We cannot thank you enough for your input, patience, understanding, and incredible support over the past several months
Your unwavering support has been the backbone of this journey. We truly couldn’t have made it this far without you, and we could not be more grateful.
We will continue to keep you posted on any updates. As always, feel free to ask any questions in the questions channel
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Any more info on this? Very interesting!
August Production Update
Hey everyone,
We hope you had a restful and inspiring August and that September finds you recharged and full of creative energy!
August was an intense yet exciting month here at Reliq. As temperatures soared, so did our efforts to keep everything on track and make further progress toward sending Reliq out into the world. We’ve been working hard to ensure every part of the process goes smoothly, and now, we’re one step closer!
Throughout the month, we closely monitored the supply chain to make sure all components arrived on time. We received the matrix-mixer and BPM encoder components in late August as expected. The last part, the wooden casing, was scheduled to ship in early September, but last-minute quality concerns came up with our manufacturer last Thursday. It was a tense moment for us, but fortunately, we quickly resolved the issues, and we’re happy to report that the wood parts are being shipped today! We apologise for the slight delay in this update, as we wanted to get everything sorted before reaching out.
We also received production samples of some boards in mid-August for inspection. During testing, we identified a few issues related to part handling and soldering procedures, which required quick attention. After identifying the root cause, we were able to adjust the assembly process. Although we’re confident the issue has been resolved, to ensure everything is perfect, we’ve scheduled another round of quick prototyping at the PCB factory and will run final verification tests next week.
With all components either in hand or on their way, we’ve scheduled PCB assembly to begin on September 26th. In the meantime, we’ll continue with quality checks on individual parts and finalise our assembly and testing procedures.
Despite a busy month with packaging tests, production, and supply chain tasks, we’ve managed to stay on track with our continuous sprint of testing, bug fixes, and optimisation. Some highlights from August include:
- Windows implementation for the Reliq desktop app
- Optimising and refining the matrix and mixer pages for improved performance and usability
- Visual clarity improvements on the matrix and mixer pages
- Development of factory auto-calibration for the mixer, ensuring all input and output VCAs are ready to go out of the box
- U-SYNC for Windows: while there’s still a lot of work ahead and some tricky issues to solve, we’re moving forward step by step.
We acknowledge that the draft manual is still not available, and we really appreciate your patience on this front. While progress continues, finding time to complete the first draft in August was a challenge. However, we are still on track to release the manual before Reliq ships . In the meantime, we continued experimenting with short tutorial videos during testing sessions. This month, we created [a video on the matrix page and its grouping functionality]
, and more tutorials covering other features and pages are in the works as we continue progressing on the manual.
Our cautious optimism has grown even stronger this month, as most things are progressing according to plan despite a few minor hiccups. Our confidence in the production process is growing, but we remain vigilant, knowing the job isn’t done until the first batch of Reliqs is fully assembled and tested.
We know you’re eagerly awaiting a shipping date—and so are we! But we want to ensure everything is perfect before locking it in. Rest assured, we’re working hard to announce it as soon as possible.
Once again, we want to express our deep gratitude for your incredible support, feedback, and patience. Watching Reliq evolve from a concept into a real instrument is truly a dream come true, and none of this would be possible without you.
We can’t wait to announce the shipping date and get Reliq into your hands.
Thank you so much for your continued support!
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Big update from the Reliq team, including a draft manual now available:
Kyriakos-Reliq
—
Today at 7:58 AM
Hey @everyone,
We hope this autumn has found you in a great mood and filled with creative energy. It’s been a remarkable month for us, full of both big and small milestones. We know the anticipation has been building, and we’re feeling it too! The excitement is increasing here at Reliq as we get closer and closer to shipping the first units, and we’ve been looking forward to this update. 
Over the past few weeks, we’ve hit an important turning point: all mechanical parts have been finalised and delivered to our assembly line in the Netherlands! This was a huge moment for us, and we immediately began the inspection process. Thankfully, everything passed without any major issues, bringing us one step closer to the finish line.
As for the boards we mentioned in our last update, we ran another round of prototype testing after resolving the soldering issues, and we’re happy to report that everything passed! With that green light, and while we were performing this final safety test, PCB assembly began in late September. The first batch of assembled PCBs is expected to be shipped by October 18th, with the second batch following by the end of the month.
Once the PCBs arrive, final assembly will kick into full gear. While we’re more optimistic than ever, we’re still holding off on providing an exact delivery date. We know that nothing is over until we make sure every unit undergoes rigorous testing, and no Reliq will leave our hands with even minor issues. That said, we expect that the first of you will receive shipping information confirmation emails in November! 
On the software side, our focus on bug fixes, stability improvements, and refining the user experience continues:
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Edit Mode has been implemented! This allows for editing and modifying any aspect of a project without affecting running clips or parameters.
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We’ve made visual clarity improvements to the Sequencer page and the matrix sequencer track.
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The Reliq factory testing suite has been improved with further automation and additional safety checks to ensure that no Reliq leaves us with even minor issues.
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We’ve addressed a compatibility issue that arose with the Reliq Software Companion after the release of macOS 15.0.
Despite our focus on production and software, we found time to tackle a few other exciting things!
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We’ve received the Reliq T-shirts and hoodies, and we’re very happy with the quality and design. If you’d like to change your size preference, it’s possible to update this in the shipping information confirmation email.
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This month, we also finally had time to refine the Reliq manual, and we’re thrilled to share the first draft with you! While some sections are still incomplete (these are marked with “Notes”), you can view the manual as both a web version and a downloadable PDF at [https://manual.reliq-instruments.com/] We’re really looking forward to hearing your feedback, so please feel free to share any thoughts or suggestions in the questions channel. Your input will help us ensure the final version is as clear and comprehensive as possible. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be updating the manual regularly to fill in any missing sections and incorporate your feedback.
We know the wait has been long and, at times, frustrating. The questions and feedback we’ve received since our last update have been incredibly valuable, and we’re deeply grateful for your patience and support. We’re so close now, and while we aren’t ready to provide a definitive shipping date just yet, we can confidently say we’re in the final stages. The finish line is in sight, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure the first units arrive in your hands soon.
We can’t thank you enough for your continued support and patience. We’re getting so close, and we can’t wait to share that final stretch with you!
Thank you so much for being part of this journey!
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Any updates on this fella?
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Just to be clear, I’m a backer of this project and not involved with the development team.
Things seem to be on track to ship at the end of this month! I’m in the first batch and they’ve already asked me for my shipping info so I’m hoping to get shipment notification at the end of January / beginning of February.
Below is the Dec 23 update from the Reliq team:
Kyriakos-Reliq
Hey @everyone,
As the holiday season settles in, we wanted to take a moment to wish you all a joyful and inspiring time with your loved ones. It’s been another fantastic few weeks here at Reliq, and we’re excited to share some updates as we get closer to shipping the very first units!
While we wait for the final PCB assemblies for the Breakout Module to arrive, we’ve been hard at work optimising all aspects of production: fine-tuning software, streamlining assembly processes, and ensuring everything is running smoothly so that every Reliq is flawless when it leaves us.
This month, we also focused on improving and optimising our logistics infrastructure. While doing so, we identified an issue with our payment processor where the checkout page could load indefinitely when a verified VAT ID in Europe is entered. We’ve already flagged this with them and expect a resolution soon. Of course, this does not affect anyone’s order priority in any way. If you’re affected, we’ll keep you updated and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
In terms of shipping updates, all shipping confirmation emails for contributions up to and including ID #410 have now been sent. If you haven’t received yours or run into any issues, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at robot@reliq-instruments.com, and we’ll make sure everything is sorted out.
As the year comes to a close and we approach the final stages of this journey, we’re excited to confirm that the first Reliqs are on track to start shipping in late January. This is a huge milestone for all of us—one we’ve been dreaming about for years—and we can’t wait for the moment to finally send Reliq your way. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without your incredible support, and for that, we are forever grateful!
Thank you so much for your patience, enthusiasm, and belief in us throughout this time. We can’t wait to see all the amazing ways you’ll bring Reliq to life in your music.
From all of us at Reliq, we wish you a joyful holiday season and an inspiring start to 2025! 
Thank you for being part of this journey with us!
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Has anyone here backed the Reliq Matrix Mixer got their shipping confirmation emails and payed their fees for shipping?
I would be interessted to know, how much you payed for shipping and to where shipping will go.
Yes, I got my notification and pre-payed my shipping/import. I’m in the US and it was $89.
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I didn’t back this none but I will be very interested in early reviews and may pick on up later.
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Sorry for being so impolite. I payed € 229,71 for VAT (€ 191,71) + shipping (€ 38,00) from Netherlands to Hamburg, Germany.
When I browse stuff on Thomann or Schneidersladen it’s aways a shock to see how much VAT adds!
…But I do understand the social and public services that VAT presumably funds, many of which I wish we had in the US. Higher taxes on non-essential items here in the US would also be good for cooling my GAS! 
Happy to report my Reliq is on it’s way to me! Now I just have to be patient as FedEx slowly transports it across the Atlantic…
So, as usually happens with Crowdsourced gear, it took longer than the developers originally anticipated. But I have to say their communication has been consistently excellent and it was clear they were making real progress even as they had to deal with issues like parts being discontinued, etc.
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Please post your thoughts when it turns up- I almost backed this one but decided to wait…its been a long wait!
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Mine just arrived yesterday morning…
…but have not got round to setting it up yet - I am laking space… 
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Oh I was convinced it was vaporware. Glad to be wrong
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… is it the ultimate Sequencer etc. Brain of a Studio?
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I would hope so, it was expensive enough and it was promoted as a Egg-laying jack of all trades 
.
Actually I have not been able to test it yet. In absence of space I had ordered an VESA-Mounting-System which arrived today, but I have not got around mointing it and I don’t even know if that is possible. On discord you get different information on this mater.
But my first imression is, that it is solidly built an encoders and buttons/switches feel very good.
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