Here's a post from Lars and LZX that is relevant to this thread. I'll copy and paste the text from this initial post here, but for all of the followup discussion on it you can visit the forum:
http://community.lzxindustries.net/t/lz ... eyond/1649
"LZX 3rd Generation: 2020 and beyond
Howdy!
I’ve been meaning to make this post in the wake of our Halloween announcement, in which I explain our direction moving forward into 2020 with current, past and future development. Please feel free to ask any questions in this thread.
LZX is entering a third era of development. In each generation we have experimented a lot: Visionary, Expedition and Orion series are all documentations of journeys through a lot of analogue processing territory and instrumentation concepts. This generation is less about experiments and more about encapsulating our work in a way that is designed for continuous production and focused on the community’s needs. The best LZX yet.
Instruments are getting bigger and EuroRackable with Automata series! Any of them can be perfect entry points or system cores, or an expanding modular system all their own. New EuroRack Modules are getting simpler and more affordable, through a rebirth of our Visionary series.
We’re not leaving any work behind! Where products have been discontinued, it is because direct functional replacements are planned or revisions to existing modules are planned.
The projects we’ve outlined to take us into 2020 and beyond are a direct result of listening to you all, and trying to take all voices into account.
In general, we’re narrowing down our product list. We can’t keep up with demand with our cashflow spit across so many production projects. That does not mean we don’t want to offer our full catalog or an expansive catalog, just that we need to focus on matching demand for the core products for a while and continue to stabilize our production flow.
We’re trying not to jump too far ahead. This is the direction, but we’d like to take it in phases. We’ll be listening to you actively at each phase.
So here’s the shape of things! Two new series we’re going to focus on: one for modules, one for instruments. Automata series is where most of our more advanced analogue work will evolve, as full instruments and voice modules. Visionary Series Mk2 will be core EuroRack modules with DIY options: basic and classic. Both series will be short lists, we plan to cover a lot of territory in a few products.
LZX Automata Series (Gen3)
Chromagnon, XY Video Instrument, March 20th 2020.
RGB Video Instrument.*
Texture Video Instrument.*
LZX Visionary Series II (Gen3)
DC Distro, 4HP EuroRack Module, Q1 2020
Sync Distro, 8HP EuroRack Module, Q1 2020 (converts to and from RCA/14 pin sync, active buffered mults to solve interfacing issues with various systems or standards)
Dual Video Waveform Generator, EuroRack Module, Q3 2020.
Triple Fader/Key Generator Mk2, EuroRack Module, Q3 2020.
Video Blending Matrix Mk2, EuroRack Module, Q3 2020.
This list may expand by 2-3 more and include some kind of utility encoder/syncgen for complete DIY systems.
All Mk2 Visionary modules are planned for DIY and and production assembled variants.
There will also be a Sampler/Video Mixer Instrument. It’s unclear whether it will be an Automata series or Orion series device (probably the Orion capstone.)
DISCONTINUED
Vidiot (replaced by Chromagnon)
Polar Fringe (replaced by Chromagnon)
Visual Cortex (replaced by Chromagnon, and other future Automata instruments)
Navigator (replaced by Chromagnon)
Shapechanger (replaced by Chromagnon, and other future Automata instruments)
Cyclops (replaced by Chromagnon)
Marble Index (replaced by future Automata RGB instrument)
Prismatic Ray (replaced by Diver, Visionary Mk2 Dual Osc and Chromagnon)
Color Chords (replaced by future Automata RGB instrument, Visionary Mk2 Blending Matrix)
War of the Ants (replaced by future Automata Texture instrument)
Cadet series (we’ll keep selling until the end of the year, but these will be replaced entirely by diy variants of Visionary Mk2.)
Liquid TV (no direct replacement planned)
ACTIVE/RETAINER STATUS (we’ll keep making these)
All Orion modules
Topogram
Curtain
Mapper
Castle series PCBs
Arch
Bridge
Passage
Doorway
Staircase
Sensory Translator
Pendulum
Hopefully this overall road map will give everyone some context and answers. Looking forward to the discussion.
) form so it's not like we'll be breaking any new ground or finding any sort of audience. Takes a lot of pressure off!
