The Future of MuLab?

[tommyzai]

I'm a registered user, fan, and user-reviewer of this amazing, underrated DAW. Over the years, I have tried to spread the word. One of the common concerns potential users ask me goes something like this . . .

"It looks like a cool DAW, but it's a small company. What if the developer stops developing it or kicks-the-bucket? With the big dog DAWs (Logic, Live. FL Studio, PT, etc.) there is a conglomerate overseeing the software's future. In the unlikely event their software is d/c'd, it would be picked up by another company and continued as they have a big market share."

I do not have a response. Of course I hope and pray Jo et al rock-on beyond my lengthy years, but what if? I realize this is an awkward post, and I apologize. Yet, some potential users and current users have a valid concern.

Jo, please reassure us that you are immortal or have a plan in place!

[Michael L]

Hmm....

I will share my User View.

I do not like software made by conglomerates. It is too market-driven, cluttered with features they add to compete with the other big software, with corporate-driven policies that include abandoning products (e.g. Apple, Steinberg, iZotope, NI, etc).

Software made by experienced individuals is usually more efficient, integrated, aesthetic, and most of all has "soul" that is an expression of its creator. Many, many plugins are made by one or two people.

Software design does influence your creative process, and MuLab feels so different to use than Logic, Live, etc.

Yet, many people make software decisions (and DAWs market themselves) based on popularity rather than individual artistic criteria. It's sad that many people do not listen to how they feel when they use software, and if it inspires them.

We can't predict the future of a company, or of ourselves. We can only be faithful to where our own creative process is right now, and follow it to make our own future.

[tommyzai]

Well said, Michael!!!

[humanboeing]

If you browse the M9 related threads you will find a post from Jo, where he says that a huge chunk of Mulab was rewritten with regard to future updates, so I don't think he will give up that easily

We need to spread the word as there is no marketing department, everytime someone is looking for a workstation I mention Mulab, looking for a modular sound engine? I point them Mux.

Monetary support is as important, but that goes without saying.

I think there is one thing marketing wise that may bring more people: gui (more skinning options). Let's be honest, people nowadays crave modern design. I have to admit, I discovered Mulab in 2016 I believe, but didn't find the gui appealing (forgive me, I was significantly more stupid back then). We, the users, could then build fancy looking skins, and the better ones could be shipped within the factory package. Though don't get me wrong, I like the minimalistic looks of Mulab, but people are going to be people.

In case Mulab would be no longer developed a way to sustain it is to release the source code to the public.

Also to Michael's comment: for me using big company products most of the time feels like labour, using Mulab on the other hand feels more like playing a video game, if that makes any sense. It's just fun.

[sl23]

Hopefully there will be a day that Jo is able to find a source of expansion which will allow continuation of this great software. I refuse to use the big DAW's for reasons mentioned above. They are way overpriced for what you get and none of what they have, I need. Even Reaper in all it's glory is bloated and confusing to use. MuLab should be an inspiration to all of them on how to design a program that is easy to use!

Wrt GUI skinning, I still prefer the look of Muzys! You can do whatever you wanted with that skinning system. It's a shame it was abandoned in MuLab. Though Jo had good reason to do so Though the colouring system is good and allows some great themes. Maybe we could have some ability to set pictures as Backgrounds for things like Racks, Rack Desk, Composer, Browser, etc, rather than a full blown skinning that has a picture for everything?

Probably there are more important things though... I for one am grateful for the existence of MuLab!

[MuTools]

Thanks for this interesting thread. I think you touch a relevant point Tommy. First of all i want to make 100% clear that i'm still eagerly motivated and passionate about music tech in general and MuLab's development specifically. MuLab 9 is the result of a giant code development which not only results in what M9.0 brings but should also deliver many more innovative things in the future, in MuLab 9.x, MuLab 10, MuLab 11, MuLab 12, ... Personally i think MuLab 9 is the best i ever made. It took me +- 15 years to reincarnate Muzys, but now with the Live Matrix and Note Actions MuLab 9 finally surpasses that.

That said it's true that there can always happen things in life and it indeed is important that in case something would happen to me which would prevent me from continuing R&D that there is an SOS path for MuLab's code. I will take this aspect serious and work out an SOS path so that my family / closest friends / notary know what to do in any relevant case. For example that the MuLab code is sold via a bidding platform. Then interested users could organize a fund raising for buying the MuLab code and choose how to continue it. That's just a first idea. Feel free to brainstorm on this.

Hope this sufficiently answers the question.

Thanks to all of you for supporting this adventure

Love & Peace & Rock'n Roll

Stop Putin's Insane War

[MuTools]

We need to spread the word as there is no marketing department, everytime someone is looking for a workstation I mention Mulab, looking for a modular sound engine? I point them Mux.

Thanks!

Monetary support is as important, but that goes without saying.

Hopefully MuLab 9 will trigger sufficient sales as that's indeed vital for continuing MuLab's development.

[MuTools]

Wrt GUI skinning, I still prefer the look of Muzys! You can do whatever you wanted with that skinning system. It's a shame it was abandoned in MuLab. Though Jo had good reason to do so

It was too much work to maintain/extend it and almost no one was using it.
Taking the one dev limits into account sometimes things need to downscale / simplify.

Maybe we could have some ability to set pictures as Backgrounds for things like Racks, Rack Desk, Composer, Browser, etc, rather than a full blown skinning that has a picture for everything?

The prob with pictures is that they're not really scalable. And they are not very flexible design wise, i mean once rendered they're very fixed, and someone without the source files cannot easily alter the picture. And they take quite a lot of space. I think vector graphics is the right way to continue. Like the built-in knob system.

Anyway, zooming out of the details, i agree with you guys that the gui aspect must get sufficient attention. I hope that you see the evolution in MuLab's gui over the years. At the same time i agree with you the gui should improve further and would benefit from more (discreet) fanciness. The front panel system must also be improved & extended.

[sl23]

Yeah I kind of got that no one used that skinning system and completely understand why it was dropped, still a shame though.
I never really used it in Muzys, mainly as at that time, I knew little about how to use it. Same with MuLab's LooksPresets.

I have since recreated a Muzys skin to look darker and much plainer, and this made me wish the MuLab Looks system was still in place. That said, you've done a brilliant job with the colouring system, though one criticism would be the names can sometimes lead me to wonder what exactly I'm changing.

Wrt pictures as backgrounds, I meant in a similar way as the LooksPreset system. So you specify a picture, but it has to be a purpose made one of a certain dimension. That way, it is easier to implement. But, there are other more important things at present...

Thank you for your continued dedication, I can still remember LunaCM and hoping then for a better, more complete DAW. M9 Is a massively superior beast and shows your talent as a programmer to be as good as the best there is.

One small request... Could you make the text for the 'Mulab' and 'Project' buttons bigger or bolder please. Thanks.

[xalama qo]

I've been watching MuLab development over the past couple of years and really like the way it's going. I'm hoping to be able to show my support by buying a license soon.
Just want to comment that as much as the GUI creates an impression, the way the drop-down menus look is also very influential in terms of perceiving the software as somewhat thrown together vs solid and polished. I've always found the menus to be a bit messy looking, and although it's easy to get used to it and overlook it, I think some tidying up would just look more "professional"... more in line with MuLab's actual serious music tool abilities.

[sl23]

I agree about the menus, it's not too bad, but could do with improving.
One thing I think really needs improving is the preferences window. Reading through that list is difficult trying to find things at times. When something needs changing and you just can't find it, even searching sometimes doesn't work, due to the wording of some items.

I did go through it years ago and suggested some rewording which you took on board, Jo, would you consider I redo that and list the new wording here? Then everyone can chip in to come to some agreement.

[MuTools]

I did go through it years ago and suggested some rewording which you took on board, Jo, would you consider I redo that and list the new wording here? Then everyone can chip in to come to some agreement.

Sounds fine with me. I'd suggest to start with the most important 10 suggestions first, just to avoid an overload for you, others, me. Please post it in the M9 thread: viewtopic.php?t=573827
Thanks.

[xalama qo]

Great stuff

[sl23]

Sounds fine with me. I'd suggest to start with the most important 10 suggestions first, just to avoid an overload for you, others, me. Please post it in the M9 thread: viewtopic.php?t=573827
Thanks.

Not really sure what would be considered most important tbh. But I could start at the top and post ten at a time?

[MuTools]

Not really sure what would be considered most important tbh.

= The ones you think are worded worst atm.