Hi,
today I was wondering about a service, by chat or e-mail, for the guys/girls
who want to learn more about Sound Design with their favourite synths or sound effects.
The service could be like this:
kind of "Ask Luigi": How does FM works for this sound?, How can I make that sound X with synth Y? Teach me how to make pads or leads like Mr Z ? Etc...
Answers will have a price, but the customer will pay only if satisfied, this means AFTER the answer has been read.
Users could also ask for series of questions, or even a chat to have a walkthru by me on a synthesis method, or synth plugin (any make!, Not necessarely NUSofting ones)like a short course, custom made for you.
Before my answers I set the price, E.G. 5 USD, but as I said the customer will pay ONLY if he feels that he learned something. (PayPal payments)
We have a free service here at KVR the Sound Design forum, my idea is to make the same service by chat or e-mail, not as free, but with sure answers and extensive care for the user.
Note: I hope you can trust that my expertise in Synthesis and Sound Design is far better than my english!
How about that??
Comments?
UPDATE
What about "pay per tutorial lesson" ? Like this:
The tutorial would be a short article freely downloadable, E.G. "Making pads with synth X and Y"
The tutorial would be used for a 2 hours on-line chat lesson (4 users, they pay about 10 USD each).
During the lesson I will explain the tutorial with guided examples and answer to users questions.
Also individual lessons avaible on request.
Sound Design, personal lessons, tutorial, idea
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- DASH Guy
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
Last edited by liqih on Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:18 pm, edited 7 times in total.
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- KVRAF
- 10260 posts since 19 Feb, 2004 from Paris
Mad Professor Luigi 
Good Idea (imho)
LtZ
Good Idea (imho)
LtZ
http://www.lelotusbleu.fr Synth Presets
77 Exclusive Soundbanks for 23 synths, 8 Sound Designers, Hours of audio Demos. The Sound you miss might be there
77 Exclusive Soundbanks for 23 synths, 8 Sound Designers, Hours of audio Demos. The Sound you miss might be there
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- KVRAF
- 3002 posts since 24 Nov, 2003 from Heidelberg&Hamburg
Well first I would hope my italian was a quarter as good as your english.
Second, just what I personally would maybe ask - I own quite a lot, if not all, of your earlier synths (2003-2004). As I, like surely others, am one of the guys who never had any expensive hardware at home, there are many things I just don't know. So if, for example, I had a question concerning how for example to do an own Eve-preset for some keyboard sound and having no clue how this or that (adsr settings, what do I know) could be done, I would surely like such "services". Or how to design own presets in EMM Knagalis, or sound-designing using, what do I know, field recordings of my own plus 1-2 synths...
Concerning "how does fm synthesis work" and other things, there might already be a lot of stuff around? Just a guess.
So besides your "e-mail me for money" idea there would always be, as an alternative, another way to ask people like you plan, and after, say 200 questions you could write a sound-design book, and publish it as pdf. You could cover synthesis methods with practical background in it, say "how to use XYZ synthesis with synth ABC best", or do a section where you explain great and maybe special and difficult ways to use your vstis
.
If your ideas would be a great addition to your synths, for example, they would affect sales, and people could maybe get such a pdf for a slightly reduced price if they buy, what do I know, modelonia.
Little example for this way: the man who does the manual for Reaper published a "ReaMix" book, in which he explains how to make a good mix, how that would work in Reaper (not too hard to use that for another host), and what not. He sold it, and for example I bought it and am happy with it.
*
The "only pay if you are happy" approach you speak about is something I find a truly great idea. I have to admit that in these times of pirate parties and "stealing software is cool so I can buy this stylish new mac" (well these are sentences I heard, actually, and not just one or two times in Hamburg and Berlin^^) you might think about asking for a small fee, and if people are happy, they could decide what to pay additionally, or well, the sum you yourself think is great. There is the superb ddmf-way, he sells outstandingly great EQs and other plugins for a "you decide" price. Doesn't make him rich, maybe, but how could something be more fair and great
. So, what do I know - there would be a 2$ minimum, and if people like the answer, they should pay 5$ or Euro or so.
So all in all I think you have a great idea here, and I wish you all the best. Could be a success, and at least you should try how such a good idea will work.
Second, just what I personally would maybe ask - I own quite a lot, if not all, of your earlier synths (2003-2004). As I, like surely others, am one of the guys who never had any expensive hardware at home, there are many things I just don't know. So if, for example, I had a question concerning how for example to do an own Eve-preset for some keyboard sound and having no clue how this or that (adsr settings, what do I know) could be done, I would surely like such "services". Or how to design own presets in EMM Knagalis, or sound-designing using, what do I know, field recordings of my own plus 1-2 synths...
Concerning "how does fm synthesis work" and other things, there might already be a lot of stuff around? Just a guess.
So besides your "e-mail me for money" idea there would always be, as an alternative, another way to ask people like you plan, and after, say 200 questions you could write a sound-design book, and publish it as pdf. You could cover synthesis methods with practical background in it, say "how to use XYZ synthesis with synth ABC best", or do a section where you explain great and maybe special and difficult ways to use your vstis
.If your ideas would be a great addition to your synths, for example, they would affect sales, and people could maybe get such a pdf for a slightly reduced price if they buy, what do I know, modelonia.
Little example for this way: the man who does the manual for Reaper published a "ReaMix" book, in which he explains how to make a good mix, how that would work in Reaper (not too hard to use that for another host), and what not. He sold it, and for example I bought it and am happy with it.
*
The "only pay if you are happy" approach you speak about is something I find a truly great idea. I have to admit that in these times of pirate parties and "stealing software is cool so I can buy this stylish new mac" (well these are sentences I heard, actually, and not just one or two times in Hamburg and Berlin^^) you might think about asking for a small fee, and if people are happy, they could decide what to pay additionally, or well, the sum you yourself think is great. There is the superb ddmf-way, he sells outstandingly great EQs and other plugins for a "you decide" price. Doesn't make him rich, maybe, but how could something be more fair and great
. So, what do I know - there would be a 2$ minimum, and if people like the answer, they should pay 5$ or Euro or so.So all in all I think you have a great idea here, and I wish you all the best
. Could be a success, and at least you should try how such a good idea will work.-
- DASH Guy
- Topic Starter
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
Thanks, glad you like the "only pay if you are happy" idea, it's about keeping on the friendly relation I had so far with my customers. Which, as you say, doesn't make me rich but makes feel "worthy", at least, <grin>
you wrote "Concerning "how does fm synthesis work" and other things, there might already be a lot of stuff around? Just a guess.
So besides your "e-mail me for money" idea there would always be, as an alternative, another way to ask people like you plan, and after, say 200 questions you could write a sound-design book, and publish it as pdf."
Yes and no, what I'm thinking of is the direct comunication opportunity: "Hey I didn't get this please explain", you know, something that you can't ask to a book or a pdf. There's the value IMHO. Meaning that I would sell my time, just like when I make plugins.
Make sense?
you wrote "Concerning "how does fm synthesis work" and other things, there might already be a lot of stuff around? Just a guess.
So besides your "e-mail me for money" idea there would always be, as an alternative, another way to ask people like you plan, and after, say 200 questions you could write a sound-design book, and publish it as pdf."
Yes and no, what I'm thinking of is the direct comunication opportunity: "Hey I didn't get this please explain", you know, something that you can't ask to a book or a pdf. There's the value IMHO. Meaning that I would sell my time, just like when I make plugins.
Make sense?
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- KVRAF
- 5710 posts since 24 May, 2004 from []1
How will you find time to redo Abstract Guitar if you're always chatting with users? 
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- KVRist
- 248 posts since 23 Mar, 2004
good idea...
you should build up something like a faq. so useres should pay xx and get access to all previous asked questions and answers?
the advantage for you: recycling
the andvantage for users: cheap info
what do you thing..
bodan
you should build up something like a faq. so useres should pay xx and get access to all previous asked questions and answers?
the advantage for you: recycling
the andvantage for users: cheap info
what do you thing..
bodan
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- KVRist
- 143 posts since 21 May, 2009 from Germany
Eh, a donation Button would do the trickliqih wrote:Hi,
Answers will have a price, but the customer will pay only if satisfied, this means AFTER the answer has been read.
Before my answers I set the price, E.G. 5 USD, but as I said the customer will pay ONLY if he feels that he learned something. (PayPal payments)
How about that??
Comments?
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- DASH Guy
- Topic Starter
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
forgot to say: Thanks!, <grin>Lotuzia wrote:Mad Professor Luigi
Good Idea (imho)
LtZ
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- DASH Guy
- Topic Starter
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
Yes I like that, Thanks againKlemperer wrote: You could cover synthesis methods with practical background in it, say "how to use XYZ synthesis with synth ABC best", or do a section where you explain great and maybe special and difficult ways to use your vstis
If your ideas would be a great addition to your synths, for example, they would affect sales, and people could maybe get such a pdf for a slightly reduced price if they buy, what do I know, modelonia.
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- DASH Guy
- Topic Starter
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
sounds good, but I see problems of fairness, the latest users would get more info for free,bodan wrote:good idea...
you should build up something like a faq. so useres should pay xx and get access to all previous asked questions and answers?
the advantage for you: recycling
the andvantage for users: cheap info
what do you thing..
bodan
anyway I would keep an archive and use it somehow later.
Well I would do what brings me most income, hard times for small developers you know, <grin>Musical Gym wrote:How will you find time to redo Abstract Guitar if you're always chatting with users?
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 8 Jun, 2009
sounds like a nice idea, have you thought about making long, comprehensive tutorials on several synthesis methods, or themes, drums, pads and so on...and offering individual downloads for the same $5 bucks and a subscription for people who want access to all of them?
it seems to me that your time would be better spent going deeper into explaining stuff than going over something again and again for every single person...but i have no idea if this would work, i'm just thinking in terms of "do the work once and sell it several times", and you could have the "ask luigi a question" section on top of that...and charge for that too.
you could make every tutorial about 20 minutes long, and in a couple of years you could have a really good knowledge base for people trying to get into sound design...from beginner level to more advanced/specific stuff.
it seems to me that your time would be better spent going deeper into explaining stuff than going over something again and again for every single person...but i have no idea if this would work, i'm just thinking in terms of "do the work once and sell it several times", and you could have the "ask luigi a question" section on top of that...and charge for that too.
you could make every tutorial about 20 minutes long, and in a couple of years you could have a really good knowledge base for people trying to get into sound design...from beginner level to more advanced/specific stuff.
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- DASH Guy
- Topic Starter
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
Thanks for the ideas, but I think that there are already good tutorials and books on the subject,pareidolian wrote:sounds like a nice idea, have you thought about making long, comprehensive tutorials on several synthesis methods, or themes, drums, pads and so on...and offering individual downloads for the same $5 bucks and a subscription for people who want access to all of them?
it seems to me that your time would be better spent going deeper into explaining stuff than going over something again and again for every single person...but i have no idea if this would work, i'm just thinking in terms of "do the work once and sell it several times", and you could have the "ask luigi a question" section on top of that...and charge for that too.
you could make every tutorial about 20 minutes long, and in a couple of years you could have a really good knowledge base for people trying to get into sound design...from beginner level to more advanced/specific stuff.
so I don't think that my tutorials could have much success, and how can you sell them in a protected way? , Yeah maybe with access to video downloads.
Anwyay as I said it seems to me that what's missing is a support for those who need CUSTOM answers, not generic How To's.
We have a free service here at KVR the Sound Design forum, my idea is to make the same, not as free, but with sure answers and extensive care for the user.
Last edited by liqih on Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 806 posts since 1 Sep, 2008 from US
There are good tutorial and books on sound design, but I'm not of video tutorials that are anywhere close to comprehensive. And generally the material between beginner introduction and hard math is rather lacking (AFAIK, for English anyway).
Just to chime another opinion in: I could use a service like your described, but it would really be long and detail answer that interests me, which to my guess the ratio between your time spent and amount I'm willing to shell out is not going to make you happy... Yes I'm a cheap bastard who google all the time
Oh but if you do go ahead with your service: Collect a comprehensive set of question/answers on a topic and resell a pdf of it, you're so getting my money!
Just to chime another opinion in: I could use a service like your described, but it would really be long and detail answer that interests me, which to my guess the ratio between your time spent and amount I'm willing to shell out is not going to make you happy... Yes I'm a cheap bastard who google all the time
Oh but if you do go ahead with your service: Collect a comprehensive set of question/answers on a topic and resell a pdf of it, you're so getting my money!
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- KVRian
- 1281 posts since 9 Mar, 2008 from netherlands
An online teaching course is a great idea.. I would be interested in certain topics if there was some kind of interaction (chat/video conferencing) possible for asking questions related to the lesson. Maybe it would be an idea to introduce/teach a certain topic at a certain time with people being able to tune into each lesson. I think 5 bucks is more than fair but as you say it aint gonna make you rich and if you do it on an individual basis could cost a lot of time. I'm sure you could get a few people togeter at the same time thus improving your cash flow. Just an idea:) Good luck. K
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- DASH Guy
- Topic Starter
- 8160 posts since 20 Sep, 2001
great input you both! Could be one to have a small class by on-line chat, where everyone could ask questions while we tweak the same synth. Yes "interaction" is the key word, by that can grow a question/answers PDF, but this would be after some time.
So, one topic, 4 pupils on chat, 5 bucks each, 45 minutes lesson ?
So, one topic, 4 pupils on chat, 5 bucks each, 45 minutes lesson ?