Opinion: why so many lofi libraries/effects these days?
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 31 posts since 21 Sep, 2022
My dumb question of the week.
Curious as to why there are so many lofi kontakt libraries and pianos on the market, and genuinely want to know what really sets them apart from one another in terms of value? New ones keep coming. From a dev’s pov, what inspires you to make a new lofi library? Is there a unique process? Is it just super easy/convenient to code a warble effect / lowpass / static into a plugin, which might be leading to so many being made? Or something else I don’t know, curious if anyone else thought this as well? Is it a fad? How long do you think it will last?
I guess I’m supposed to be making more beats for people to relax/study to?
(I actually don’t mind lofi as a genre, but this type of instrument seems to dominate the budget-vst category)
Curious as to why there are so many lofi kontakt libraries and pianos on the market, and genuinely want to know what really sets them apart from one another in terms of value? New ones keep coming. From a dev’s pov, what inspires you to make a new lofi library? Is there a unique process? Is it just super easy/convenient to code a warble effect / lowpass / static into a plugin, which might be leading to so many being made? Or something else I don’t know, curious if anyone else thought this as well? Is it a fad? How long do you think it will last?
I guess I’m supposed to be making more beats for people to relax/study to?
(I actually don’t mind lofi as a genre, but this type of instrument seems to dominate the budget-vst category)
With many plugins come many responsibility
- KVRAF
- 4818 posts since 25 Jan, 2014 from The End of The World as We Knowit
Yes.Dumbquestions wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:46 amI guess I’m supposed to be making more beats for people to relax/study to?
Lo-fi ambient beatz for chill Zoom meetings are the next Thing.
s a v e
y o u r
f l o w
y o u r
f l o w
- KVRAF
- 6980 posts since 28 Dec, 2015 from Atlantis Island
Lo-fi sounds for Lo-fi times.
https://sonograyn.bandcamp.com/music Experimental Ambient
https://martinjuenke.bandcamp.com/music Alternative Instrumental
https://martinjuenke.bandcamp.com/music Alternative Instrumental
-
- KVRian
- 503 posts since 15 Jun, 2018
As producing in the box made everything sound too perfect, too pristine, Lo-Fi was the anti-movement.
Also, as sad as it is, music has become even more background noise than it used to. And lo-fi sounds fit into non-disturbing music better.
Also, as sad as it is, music has become even more background noise than it used to. And lo-fi sounds fit into non-disturbing music better.
-
- KVRist
- 198 posts since 23 Oct, 2005 from Australia
Are there really all that many? I can probably only name a couple of synths such as Phonec 2 (an excellent instrument) & Imperfect (a pretty mediocre instrument) that cater specifically to lo fi. Happy to be enlightened if there are many more. There are a handful of tape emulations, wow and flutter etc but I wouldn't say the market is overly saturated (look at how many compressors there are). As for instrument libraries, well lots of people want to sound like Boards of Canada, but they would still be dwarfed by the amount of people who want to sound like whoever is big in the EDM scene right now. That said, lazy devs and sound designers could certainly hide behind a lo fi label for their clicky, poor sounding instruments.
-
- KVRAF
- 3069 posts since 6 Dec, 2002 from Ljubljana/ Slovenia
Native Instruments have plenty of those.
Melted Vibes, f.i.
I don't dislike all of them but I uninstalled this one. Noah's keys is similar but I haven't decided on it yet.
There's so much in Komplete 14...
Melted Vibes, f.i.
I don't dislike all of them but I uninstalled this one. Noah's keys is similar but I haven't decided on it yet.
There's so much in Komplete 14...
-
Echoes in the Attic Echoes in the Attic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=180417
- KVRAF
- 11054 posts since 12 May, 2008
Because lo is the best fi!
I guess high fi doesn’t have a whole lot of variation to it whereas lofi can be all kinds of characterful sounds, so I doubt it’ll go away. Eg guitar distortion - looks how many varieties of distortion pedals there are. Distortion started as driving amps to where they broke up and didn’t do what they were supposed to do!
I guess high fi doesn’t have a whole lot of variation to it whereas lofi can be all kinds of characterful sounds, so I doubt it’ll go away. Eg guitar distortion - looks how many varieties of distortion pedals there are. Distortion started as driving amps to where they broke up and didn’t do what they were supposed to do!
- KVRAF
- 7748 posts since 13 Jan, 2003 from Darkest Kent, UK
I think that's the crux of it, those lofi study YT channels and playlists are incredibly popular, people making some serious cash off them.Dumbquestions wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:46 am I guess I’m supposed to be making more beats for people to relax/study to?
So (being a total cynic...) maybe 'producers' are seeing them as an easy way to make money, not the most taxing of genres (IMOSHO) especially if you have the tools/samples...
- KVRian
- 1120 posts since 21 Jul, 2012
-
gaggle of hermits gaggle of hermits https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=521655
- KVRian
- 962 posts since 18 Jul, 2021
the minute people start asking "isn't there a lot of this about?", it's usually time to call it quits on the fashion.
see also: covers of Time magazine.
see also: covers of Time magazine.
-
- addled muppet weed
- 105855 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
- vvvvvvv
- 2578 posts since 24 Oct, 2000 from skelmersdale, west lancs, uk
Never use lofi sounds.
They all sound like crap to me
They all sound like crap to me
Member 12, Studio One v6.5, VPS Avenger, Kontakt 7, Spitfire, Dune, Arturia, Sonible, Baby Audio, CableGuys, Nektar Panorama P1, Vaporizer 2 to test out