....... But why is no manufacturer doing this already? Only thing that comes to my mind is TC with the Nova Drive.
Actually nearly all of TC's devices are analog audio pathways with digital recall of the settings. I know for sure that nearly all of their Sansamp stuff is designed that way. There are a number of manufacturers doing this, most times they just don't put it out there in the sales texts. I've been away from all of this world (music) for about a year due to some health stuff, so I'll have to clear cobwebs and research a bit to provide examples.
However this notion begs the question "who cares what big manufacturers are doing?" As I've displayed within this thread there are DIY solutions for this idea. So, "why no biggies doing this?" .... perhaps it's like the modular synth system I love so much .... there's a very narrow market pie slice of interest in that field, hell even the "founders" of what most people envision when they think of a modular synth .... Moog ... even
they don't offer modular gear, that's how thin of a pie slice of mainstream big-giant-electric-moneybucks this type of gear owns. It's a niche genre, no doubt. I mean just look at how few replies this particular thread has generated. It's just something that is still owned by the DIYer or boutique custom audio electronics builder.
Big companies depend heavily on good economies. When there is a downturn big companies either retreat into what they know sells well (mainstream crap) or if they are very bold they'll venture far from the beaten well known paths and offer innovation to attract money rather than proven status quo junk. There are very few brave big companies these days, most stay well embedded in the more heavily traveled roads. Trailblazers are normally relegated to the small builder .... less to lose in those situations. Kinda like what I do, if I create something that I think is worthy, I'll stick it on the web and see if it sells. I have that freedom, big companies are hobbled heavily by beancounters and design commitees. I'd guess the days of developing something that was initially scribbled on the proverbial "napkin" during a conversation ended long ago, y'know like in the 70s ... back when TV was all black and white and cars had to be started with a hand crank. Er .... wait.
Anyhow, that kind of design freedom rarely .. if ever ... exists among large companies. You must look to the small custom audio electronics experts (or yourself) to exploit the kits and conversions available today.
And I say, all the better!
