Does the samples business is going well?

[SampleScience]

I mean, with so many quality freebies available, isn't hard to sell sounds?

Just to give you an example; I have 11 fully loaded 700 megabytes cdrs with quality samples on it that I can legally use in my music. All legally downloaded on the internet on sample cd developper's websites, free sample sites, musician's page, through mailing list & "sample of the week (or month)" websites.

I even have the whole freebie content (including full tr-909 & 808 drum kits) that e-lab used to give when you registered on their site.

All my samples needs are fills: pianos, pads, drum loops, acoustic drum kits, ambiences, soundfonts, vintage synths, drum box, rhodes, acoustic bass, etc... I have it all!

Aren't samples devellopers shooting themselves in the foot by giving away so many free stuffs or it is really increasing their sales & "popularity"?

[core]

From my own perspective (ACID libraries through Sony) it's not going so well...
But that has probably more to do with the combination of broadband and pirating than with the freebies available on the web.
Freebies are a good thing in my opinion. It allows potential buyers to really sample your work and if they are cool with just having a few samples that's probably not a missed sale anyway. (plus it never hurts to give :-)

[SampleScience]

(plus it never hurts to give

Got to agree to that

[The Chase]

Pretty much the only way to prosper is to offer content above what is avaliable freely (pretty obvious rule).

However, such a margin is rapidly shrinking as more and more samples are being given away for free. What's more, plenty of sample selling companies are opening up all over the place. The competition is already pretty feirce, and in the future will be an even harder economy to "make it" in.

If you are willing to get into the business, starting your own generally wouldnt be as sucessful as approaching an existent company. Either way it wouldnt pay the bills.

The upside of this is to the consumers. Prepare for lower prices and wider variety in the future.

[sonicfire]

mhh i sold smoething like 18 copys of my spacehawk... now since one week there´s nothing.....i wouldn´t say that business goes well

[The Chase]

mhh i sold smoething like 18 copys of my spacehawk... now since one week there´s nothing.....i wouldn´t say that business goes well

How much have you advertised? That is, outside of KvR?

[tee boy]

Imo, the sample industry will just have to adapt to this. The fact is, theres so much great freeware that there is little need to buy 'bread n butter' sounds anymore. So CD's full of uninspiring loops and vinyl drum hits is no longer going to cut the commerical mustard.

I believe that sample libraries will have to sell themselves on the innovative production of their content (far more than they do now). I mean, libraries like 'Distorted Reality' will never be replaced, as these sounds are so unique and usable. People should start thinking of sample CD's as albums of sound - you dont stop buying CD's just because some artist with a similar style gives his music away, do you? Every true artist will bring something new to the table, and that means that there will always be a market.

Basically, sample providers need to pull their socks up and make truely unique sounds that people will want in their collection. That probably goes without saying, but it happens rarely. 99.9% of soundware is pretty disappointing, so its hardly surprising that everyone uses freeware.

Personally, I wouldnt even attempt to release an artistic sample product unless I felt that the sounds were truely unlike anything else out there.

[Kriminal]

I mean, with so many quality freebies available, isn't hard to sell sounds?

Yes, very. Better to sell thru an establish company, or get them to sell them for you as a package add on etc.

[zvon]

Personally, I wouldnt even attempt to release an artistic sample product unless I felt that the sounds were truely unlike anything else out there.

My opinion exactly!

[tee boy]

Indeed. But what I dont get is that sample providers so rarely do this. Lets face it, every artist has their own sound, right? I couldnt make a track that sounded the same as you or anyone else. Likewise, no one else could make music that sounds like mine! When you open up the sequencer or sit at the piano, and let your mind go wild, it will be purely you're own sound.

So why is it that soundware providers keep knocking out the same tired old crap? Are they scared that 'breaking the mold' might not equal as many sales? I have no idea, but I guarentee that with the microphone and a PC, anyone can make sounds and samples that are truely unique.

Ofcourse, whether they will appeal to others is not so certain! I guess thats where your creativity needs so direction

[zircon]

It depends on the type of sample. There is always a demand for certain types of samples. Synth samples are the hardest to sell at any given point unless they're absolutely beautifully designed (eg. Spectrasonics stuff). Otherwise, most people just say, "Hey, I have synths, I'll just make the sounds by myself."

On the other hand, things like symphonic orchestras, cinematic drums, full choirs, operatic soloists.. that kind of thing you can't just find using free gear. For quality samples in those categories you almost always have to buy them.

[zvon]

So why is it that soundware providers keep knocking out the same tired old crap? Are they scared that 'breaking the mold' might not equal as many sales?

I don't know what the exact numbers would be, but a lot of people just want (at least some of the time) to sound like someone else. Just look at some the threads that regularly show up on KVR, threads like "Is there a ... emulator" or "How do I sound like...". How many times was James Brown sampled?

Also, some creative artists prefer to use more basic samples/sounds and personalize them with processing.

Ofcourse, whether they will appeal to others is not so certain! I guess thats where your creativity needs so direction

The more specialized or different a sound is, the less likely it is to be used, at least as far as the number of people using it.

[tee boy]

Zvon,

To my knowledge, the soundware industry does not publish market figures. But I would imagine that from their own books, you are correct.

I used to wonder wtf was with products like 'Wired' and 'House Essentials'. These are pretty poor samples, packaged up in a nice way. I couldnt work out who would think such a product was worth buying. But then I considered the market segment that these products are targetted at - the music tech newbie! This must be the largest growing group in the entire market, and probably the most likely to shell out for soundware.

So yeah, it does make sense that they would release such titles. But I still believe that the future is in high quality, unique soundware - the kind of stuff you simply cant produce (or reproduce) on your own. This could range from highly stylistic artists libraries, to high end instrumental recreations.

[Dorian Gray]

Sonicfire you sold 18 copies of Space Hawk because it is too expensive at the time of year you released it.

Plus well who are you ? I think price goes on reputation as well. Its why Distorted Reality2 was like $300.

Sell it on for $30, then I'll order, cos I bought DVDs from Doru for $30.

DG.

[sonicfire]

Sonicfire you sold 18 copies of Space Hawk because it is too expensive at the time of year you released it.

Plus well who are you ? I think price goes on reputation as well. Its why Distorted Reality2 was like $300.

Sell it on for $30, then I'll order, cos I bought DVDs from Doru for $30.

DG.

i´m thinking about a price reduction, yes... but
why should i self 3GB / 250 handcrafted loops for 30USD? no way, sorry..... atmosphere is 400 USD and you tell me 69,95 is too much