EAR Group

Vicmod is calling for people “ripped off” by EAR/Plan B to complain to the government:

Peter Grenader is ripping off customers, distributors and now employees!

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4907&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=105

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5291&highlight=

If you are affected by Plan B and Peter Grenader please I urge you to make a formal complaint to http://www.ftc.gov/ Even if you are outside the US ..It takes about 2 minutes to fill out. You wont see your modules again so this is justice!

I don’t have any direct experience with Plan B – but the comments of former employees suggest that the company is completely self-destructing:

I would like to say one very important thing.

There are a number of modules in the shop for repair. Most of those modules have been sitting there since i arrived in February. Rather then making an attempt at fixing them peter instead pulls parts from them, or instructs us to pull parts, which we then use to make *new* modules. I’ve already talked with a fellow synth manufacturer about this and he recommended informing people about this pronto since it is clearly wrong. I decided to wait until i was officially out, and for that i apologize.

That’s about all i would like to say for now. I still have a friend employed at plan b who is waiting for a paycheck tomorrow, peter already stiffed me on mine this week. Thus, i don’t want to say anything else that might effect roger buying peter’s stuff this week and thus fucking over yet another plan b employee. One a week is enough i would hope. (roger if your reading this, please buy peters stuff tomorrow so a least one employee can get paid, luckily i have a family in new york i can go back to, but the other employee is very much dependent on that check.)

If you’ve worked with Plan B, feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on the situation below.

Vicmod, the blog of synthesists Ross Healy and Brett Maddafor, says “DO NOT DEAL WITH PLAN B“, Peter Grenader’s Electro-Acoustic Research:

This information is to protect others.

I wish to advise anyone interested in purchasing modular synth modules to not deal with PLAN B and/or Peter Grenader.

With the time I have spent dealing with modular companies I have never come across a person who abuses his customers and STEALS MONEY from them and/or never replaced faulty stock like Peter has done.

ELBY DESIGN (Once distributor for Plan B)is owed $6k from Peter.

MANY other customers have paid for modules that have never arrived or modules sent for repair that have not been returned.

There are reams more posts from people with complaints about Plan B at the Muff Wiggler forum.

It’s terrible to see so many unhappy customers, when Grenader has some great ideas about modular synths.

Have you dealt with EAR (Plan B)? If so, leave a comment with your thoughts on the experience and the gear you got.

The EAR Group (Electro-Acoustic Research) has announced a new partner – Synthbox, manufacturer of the Space Case acrylic synthesizer chassis.

“Sean Price and Synthbox have developed a unique solution which scores big on ergonomics, versatility and eye-candy,” according to EAR’s Peter Grenader.

Made from rugged 3/4 inch clear acrylic sheeting, the Space Case is fully powered and fills the need for a functional cross-platform Eurorack housing system for modular analog synthesizers.

Read more…

Peter Grenader, Principal Designer for Plan B, sends word about a custom Electro-Acoustic Research (EAR) synth that they created for Ninch Inch Nails.

In May of 2006, Alessandro Cortini, keyboard player for Nine Inch Nails, contacted Electro-Acoustic Research to develop a custom mid-sized performance-based synthesizer. Housed within a 26 x 18 inch Zero Halliburton suitcase, this synth is completely portable and is fitted entirely with Livewire and Plan B modules, many of which were developed exclusively for this instrument.

Details:

Top Utility Strip:

• Multiples

Top Row:

• Plan B Model 15 Complex VCOs (3)
• Plan B Model 13 Dual Timbral Gates (2)
• Plan B Model 12 State Variable Vactrol FIlter (1)
• Livewire Sub Divider (1)
• Plan B (Model no. TBD) custom 4 in/stereo out mixer with VC pan*

Middle Row:

• Livewire Sub Divider (1)
• Livewire Dalek Modulator (1)*
• Livewire Vulcan Modulator (1)*
• Livewire Dual Bissell Generator (1)*
• Livewire Noise/Sample and Hold (1)*
• Livewire Dual Cyclotron (1)
• Livewire Frequensteiner Multimode filters (2)
• Plan B 4 in/ 1 out mixer

Bottom Row:

• Plan B Model 10 Polyphonic Envelope Generator (4)*
• Plan B Model 14 Dual Processor (1)*
• Plan B VCA/Inverter
• Plan B Model 21 Milton Grande (prototype) fitted with internal VC Clock and Envelope Follower (external click-track syncing)*
• Livewire Trigger Divider

Bottom Utility Strip:

• Plan B Dual Manual Trigger Source
• Multiples
• Livewire Headphone preamp w/level control

Right, NIN keyboard player Alessandro Cortini debuts the EAR Performance System, a custom modular synthesizer manufactured by Electro-Acoustic Research (EAR).

Consisting entirely of Plan B and Livewire modules, the instrument will remain part of the band’s live arsenal throughout their current summer tour.

Details and excessive gear porn are at www.ear-group.net.

Electro-Acoustic Research (EAR) has announced a limited quantity release (10 units each) of five synth modules, in Doepfer Eurorack format.

EAR features the work of two established modular synth designers, Mike Brown of Livewire and Peter Grenader of Plan B. EAR has also announced that it will be the exclusive manufacturer of Tony Allgood’s Oakley Sound Systems designs in MOTM and Deopfer formats.

These modules are now available:

Livewire

• Livewire Cyclotron
• Livewire Frequensteiner Filter

Plan B

• Model 12 State Variable Vactrol Filter
• Model 13 Dual Timbral Gates
• Model 17 Event Timer

These units are currently available for sale and immediate delivery. Current module reservations will be held for 24 hours. More information and purchase details are available at the EAR Group site.