Hey, MuTools. (Why isn't MuLab more popular?)

[PaulG]

Hey, MuTools.

I tried to PM - I know you have that turned off.

Don't laugh - I've been a (paid) user since V9, but life got busy and I wanted to start learning MuLab.

So I created myself an online doc to progress between the cracks. (I emailed you on it - check spsm if you didn't get it.)

I think it came out pretty well, so I put my team on "making you the most kick...(you know) site possible to put MuLab on everyone's radar..." - we do boutique level marketing - and I think you'll like it.

I wouldn't have posted here (sorry) but I can't know if the email didn't go to spam, and I can't PM, as I mentioned.

(This program is way too under the radar - you've got way too many beginners at music production who need this.)

- Paul G
(Long-time KVR'r)

P.S. If anyone's done anything they think is representative of some A+ work with MuLab, I'd love to know about it - and see how we can feature you.

[PaulG]

Oh, too - and this isn't a flex, and we're not soliciting for busineess - we don't need to. But if you're looking to see the quality and you don't have time for emails yet - https://www.digitalhighstatus.com/ - that's the team I run. (So you can see the level of what we want to do for your software.)

[MuTools]

Hi Paul, i received both your mails, thanks.
Will do my best to reply soon but i'll need a bit of time.

[Grizzellda]

Maybeeee....

Could it be that he likely has a very limited, if any, actual advertising budget?

Perhaps he will post and talk about it!

I feel that a certain amount of advertising is important (have been watching this movie lately called "The Founder"...and it is all about Ray Krok, and the McDonald brothers, and basically all about how "MickeeDees" got going, alright.) You know, a "Fillet of fish" or a Mac.

Well, I think "MickeeDees" prolly did some advertising! And has made some money, cool!!!

I just think MuLab is cool, I have been posting about it lately, I am not a "shill"...It is very much a quality piece of software.

[PaulG]

But things like the website ARE advertising, and the "message" could be stronger. So it's not good - just as a marketing hint - it's not good to advertise before your "assets" are as good as they can be. (No one wants to see an ad for a Corvette that turns out to be a Camaro.)

(The problem is that MuLab IS a Corvette, and I want to make sure the world sees it accurately as such. . )

We've aready got some things in the works - maybe he'll let us show you earily.

[Benedict]

From the outside - non judgy - MuLab feels a bit odd. I like the idea, and that it exists but...

I have tried it a few times in the past and while it has a charm, it also feels a little um obtuse and well, clunky.

Now that does not mean that it feels that way once one knows it but decisions are often emotive and fast. Especially when one is very settled in a DAW already (Reason) - even if wondering about a change as one does now and then.

I like a clear, open Linear workflow, whereas MuLab feels, like FL etc to be primarily Pattern/loop based. I also did not dig the Mixer. It works as such but again I really like what Reason does or secondarily Bitwig. Words in boxes don't compete with the actual devices to me. That said most DAWs still run that Excel grid thing.

I also have things that I don't feel like I ever clarified. maybe coz they just aint' there eg Seeing many MIDI Tracks Notes in the same Piano Roll so I can work on the bass line whilst setting the piano etc. That to me is a must. And it must be relatively easy and not all kinds of Excel greebly.

I hope that helps.

[sl23]

I think looking from the outside of any complex software can feel a bit odd.

Back when I got my first PC in 2005, I tried Reason, Ableton and Muzys. They were all odd. As time went on, I tried Ableton again, disliked it. Then I tried FLStudio, couldn't even get started so gave up after half hour! Really got into Muzys, which was free on computer music mag and waited for luna to become MuLab, and have found it to be the easiest to learn and get things done.

I have had certain issues, so tried Reaper, which is great, but requires mass configuration to make sense and look good, which I tried but didn't understand and couldn't be arsed to learn, so again gave up.

I always liked Reason for its closed approach and the rack system. But that also wasn't easy to get into. To this day I would like to try Reason, but I have no need to.

MuLab is rock solid and though development is a little slow compared to other daws, at least you can talk to the dev and requests are listened to and weighed up. I bet no other daw dev does that?

MuLab has limits, but if Jo could get some help with development, which I understand is something daunting after the Muzys fiasco, then MuLab could become so much more.

One tip for MuLab newbies: Right click everything!

[oldcastle]

Marketing. MuLab is not popular simply because it lacks marketing. Why? Because MuLab is a one-man band. That’s it. There is no “company” in the sense of multiple employees and departments — it’s just Jo.

I’m not getting into features or technical discussions, because MuLab is a fully featured DAW. If you can’t make music with MuLab, that’s on you. I have no doubt that Jo wants MuLab to be a commercial success, but marketing is time-consuming. So he has to prioritize between development and promotion.

Why doesn’t Jo hire a marketing person? I don’t know — maybe financial constraints or other reasons. We just need to trust Jo on this.

As a community, we can help by doing what communities do best: spreading the word, supporting new users, and creating content. That can be guides, tutorials, a video series (like https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php), articles for portals and magazines, or community sites (like https://bitwiggers.com), etc.

IMHO, I don’t see any sudden revolution here (unless Jo has a surprise for us), but rather a gradual, continuous effort.

[Benedict]

I think looking from the outside of any complex software can feel a bit odd.

Back when I got my first PC in 2005, I tried Reason, Ableton and Muzys. They were all odd. As time went on, I tried Ableton again, disliked it. Then I tried FLStudio, couldn't even get started so gave up after half hour! Really got into Muzys, which was free on computer music mag and waited for luna to become MuLab, and have found it to be the easiest to learn and get things done.

I have had certain issues, so tried Reaper, which is great, but requires mass configuration to make sense and look good, which I tried but didn't understand and couldn't be arsed to learn, so again gave up.

I always liked Reason for its closed approach and the rack system. But that also wasn't easy to get into. To this day I would like to try Reason, but I have no need to.

MuLab is rock solid and though development is a little slow compared to other daws, at least you can talk to the dev and requests are listened to and weighed up. I bet no other daw dev does that?

MuLab has limits, but if Jo could get some help with development, which I understand is something daunting after the Muzys fiasco, then MuLab could become so much more.

One tip for MuLab newbies: Right click everything!

Agreed on all points. I went through horrid periods before Reason where I might make a brittle peace with a DAW but it was never very long-lived (except for Opcode Vision, which I did love - curse you Gibson).

Reaper is technically so capable but impressively impenetrable. Many seem to even prefer it that way as if it's proof of thier Produceryness that they use such an un-musical tool. Each to their own. I think MuLab's sense of playfulness hurts with that crowd - as it has too with Reason.

Too many also feel that if they don't get shiny new sparklies every two weeks, the Dev is letting them down. Reason's slower cycle traditionally led to more solid software and vastly better usability. BUT people are off where they get more "features" splatter, damn the torpedoes.

If you want to know anything about Reason, ask me as I have been there for about 20 years now. There is little I don't know about or how to do in that workspace. Sometimes you have to adjust to the flow - as is the case anywhere. When in Rome, do Romans etc.

Lack of marketing with bearded tattooists skateboarding on a train whilst sipping lattes, Beetz over their beanie... But, like Reaper I think the Dev decided not to go mass-(down)market. Which is probably good - at least so long as he/they can manage on the lesser income.

[sl23]

Thanks for the offer, but as much as I like Reason, looking from the outside, I doubt I will bother. MuLab is really all I need. It misses on a couple of points, but I've been down that road and it's a dead end. But it is still an amazing program.

[bibz1st]

I think theres something to be said for keeping small as long as its still financially viable for Jo, look whats happened to NI.

[Michael L]

I once had a long talk with the iZotope product manager for their sound design synth Iris about why they were not updating it. He said the only way to increase the user base is for influencer-performers to use Iris in their shows and livestreams to generate word of mouth, endorsements and buzz among their followers. But they were not able to do that.

I notice synths with good websites (Amaranth Cycle, Fathom) do poorly if they don't have 'name' users, while those with awful websites (Sylenth, Reaper) but name users do well.

I think the best ads are livestreams that show the workflow for developing a musical idea, or better a whole song. It reveals the underlying logic of the software design, and can shorten the learning curve a lot. Mulab helps users focus on ideas with its quiet and consistent design.

[Benedict]

A synth like AA's "Cycle" fails because while it may be amazing, it is mind-boggling. Let's face it, most fameful synths do indeed have lots of chatter and are not even the bestest BUT they make it easy for the toe-dippers. Predator did really well because it shipped with 345,467 billion PROful soundz. Preset count beats actual quality more often than not. Vital tried that as an open business plan. Didn't seem to work as the mindset became, "cool free Serum". I bet most never made a sound more complex than a strangled fart. Before being off to whatever synth others are chattering about with (more silly) promises of insta-profulness. Toe-dippers are the only way to hope for a mass market.

"Professional" is always a small space. I bet Husqvarna knows they will sell 12 of their 300Hp V12 Chainsaws for every 10,000 of their USB Twig-Clippers.

No wuckers about not dipping further into Reason. It is best to be fully married to your tools as you do better. I wasn't trying to convert you, just help if wanted.

[pekbro]

I think Jo should strive to become officially supported by some of the more well known plugin developers. IMO some folks would take MuLab more seriously.

Can’t really say I ever encountered a major plugin dev who ever even heard of MuLab.

I encourage them to contact him when they have problems reported by users, since he is apt to actually work with them to find a solution. Big name DAWs don’t do that too much seemingly.

[bibz1st]

Urs heckman is a major plugin dev and is fully aware of Jo and Mulab, there may be others too.