MXXX for creative bundle ?

[drakmaniso]

The other thing to consider is that, with some of the more recent DAWs, you can already do what MXXX does with the base plugins. E.g. Bitwig with its unified modulation, probably also Live with M4L. It's a bit less convenient, but also more open (since you can integrate other VSTs).

MXXX is a wonderful idea and a great piece of software, but I'm afraid Daags might be right about the price tag. I've seen some reactions online that were "surprised" by the cost (e.g. on Audiofanzine).

IMHO the way to go would be to sell an empty MXXX as a separate plugin, that would integrate the other Melda plugins you already own (and only them: most people don't want to have demo stuff mixed with their regular production tools).

[jmg8]

If we have multiple versions of MXXX. It will get very complicated. It is the best plugin on the market. If we make a watered down version it will de-value the plugin. It would be simpler to just have one version. If you don't want to have demo plugins inside it then simply don't load up a preset that contains them. But you would still have access to the ones you own.
As for price, well. I guess I shouldn't be free as it will add a lot more power to peoples existing plugins, but also it should be very cheap.
I agree about bitwig and Ableton, I am an Ableton user myself. But not everyone uses these daws and the modulation, routings and macros in MXXX is way, way more powerful then the ones in the daw.

[drakmaniso]

If you don't want to have demo plugins inside it then simply don't load up a preset that contains them.

It's not that evident to remember which one you owns, given the number of different plugins. Also some users would probably have the same reaction than with the installation of all presets on their systems...

the modulation, routings and macros in MXXX is way, way more powerful then the ones in the daw.

I haven't explored MXXX very deeply. Could you give an example of something that isn't possible to do with Bitwig routing and modulations?

[jmg8]

Well I'm not a bitwig user, but....
I'll name some of the more advanced things MXXX can do and you can see if any are possible in bitwig.

When applying a parameter to a macro in Ableton you can only set the min and max values with a linier transfer curve. In MXXX you can completely shape the transfer curve. For example if you map a reverb dry/wet to the macro, you could have it open up very slowly at first and then speed up rapidly to the end and then cut out completely when the macro is at max value.

There is a pitch modulator. You could detect a signals pitch and then have an eq follow the signal in a musical way.

The sidechain structure on Ableton is very good, but only with stock plugins, when using 3rd party plugins it gets very limited. With MXXX you can have unlimited sidechain signals from any FX to any other including external.

The multiparameters (called macros in Ableton) don't just have rotory style control. There is also switching and banks. The banks feature is amazing, as you can custom name the stages as you turn the dial and have it interpolate the parameters or jump between them.

You can create feedbacks anywhere in the chain.

The LFOs are very flexible. You can draw shapes freehand, or import shapes from audio samples. You can morph the shape from custom shape to step sequencer.

Just to name a few.

You should check out the modulator video series on the Meldaproduction YouTube channel.

[drakmaniso]

Thanks for your answer.

I'm familiar with Melda modulators, and it's true they're among the most versatile I've seen anywhere. But they're also available in the individual plugins, and with the copy and paste feature, it's possible to achieve the same modulations than in MXXX (at the cost of convenience).

Pitch detection is not there yet in Bitwig, but it will most probably come at one point (and you probably already can use an external plugin). The banks are part of the modulators, so you can use them with the separate plugins, obviously with a more effort and duplication.

Sidechain is also very flexible in Bitwig, but I don't think you can achieve feedback inside one track. It's probably possible to achieve by separating the chain into different tracks.

I've heard that M4L is also very powerful, and the future of Bitwig is supposed to expose its modular architecture directly to the user.

My point is not to dismiss MXXX (on the contrary, it's a fantastic tool), but I think it targets a *very* niche user base. Most users looking for a modular architecture will probably go for a much less expensive modular DAW (or maybe Reaktor, if the new blocks are getting traction). Whereas if MXXX was sold by itself, people already using some Melda plugins could grab it as a handy addition. And then when looking for new plugins, they would have an additional incentive to chose something from Melda...

[MeldaProduction]

Ok, so:

1) Sure, you can do lots of what you can do with MXXX with some complicated routing in your host, but the here you can do it in seconds, while there it will take, well, some time, depending on the host. Then there's a loooooot you cannot do anywhere, or it would take weeks ... Think about the active presets themselves. Sure you can create a subharmonic generator in your host, it will take you some time. Here you have it already there, just use it, done. And if you would create it yourself, it would still be muuuuuuch faster than any other way I'm aware of.

2) Licencing - well, it's here again, as I thought it will . So, again, the main problem is actually technical. Anyway I'll get to it asap and we'll see if it will be possible. If so, it will work like this: The plugins you don't own will be unavailable. If you try loading a preset containing such a plugin, it won't be able to load and tell you what you need to buy. There will be some basica price for the MXXX engine itself. Will it work? No idea yet, I need some time .

[murnau]

Great! You can achive it! Just do it!

[drakmaniso]

Again, I was not trying to be critical about MXXX! I just wanted to point out that it has already established competition (and I think you underestimate how easy it is to do this kind of thing in Bitwig; Renoise has more limited capabilities, but is really easy to setup too; I'm not sure about M4L, as I've never used it).

I'm sorry if I offended anyone, that wasn't my intention... Let's get back to music creation...

[dmbaer]

Again, I was not trying to be critical about MXXX! I just wanted to point out that it has already established competition

It's fun and interesting to speculate what effect MXXX will have on the plug-in landscape. We've seen some things a little bit like it, but nothing with anywhere close to the depth, power and flexibility. But ... and I've offered this opinion here before ... I think that Vojtech's brilliant innovation will surely be noticed and copied. Already, Nomad Factory has a start on this with Magma. How long will it take them to decide to add some more utility functionality (e.g. LR to MS, etc.), multi-band capability and maybe feedback channels, and sell the whole thing for under 200 bucks? My guess is that they, or somebody like them, will now see just how far something like that can be taken.

So, I just hope Vojtech has a plan in place for an MXXX LE if/when that happens. MXXX has all the Melda crown jewels in it, and one can easily argue that the price if fair. But I think the average home producer doesn't even care about things like the SpectralDynamics engine or even StereoSpread. On the other hand, package up everyday, bread-and-butter FX like delays and saturation with a flexible routing structure and utility options ala. MXXX and price it accordingly, I suspect the potential market is huge (relatively speaking of course - we're not talking about selling a million Angry Birds apps, after all ).

[ZentralmassivSound]

How 'bout adding Angry Birds as a module in MXXX?

[MeldaProduction]

Hmmm MAngryBirds . I like more MIsThisMusicNiceDetector

[ZentralmassivSound]

Hmmm MAngryBirds . I like more MIsThisMusicNiceDetector

THAT would be very cool, too

Maybe name it MMultiBandAmerica'sGotTalent It's a multiband version because it has four bands for four jury members

[dmbaer]

I haven't explored MXXX very deeply.

In that case, you might be interested in this:

http://soundbytesmag.net/mxxxfrommeldaproductionpart1/