The stuff not carved from stone

[glokraw]

I'll single out two companies (among so many others) who provide a vast number
and high quality of audio tools, sounds, and gear.
IK Multimedia, and Native Instruments. The options presented
are staggering compared to a decade ago, or just five years ago.

In large companies, or even sole proprietors, sometimes things go wrong,
or their implementation drives people to the edge.
Those are the times it's best to fall back on the
studio half full, ignore the studio half-empty for a season,
and make some serious music, while things beyond our control
get fixed and improved.

We spend our money with high expectations. Amidst the enormous
complexities and myriads of customer's systems, some will always be requiring
extra support. The audio stars, carreer professionals, and hobbyists of the
70's, 80's, 90's, and the past decade, scratched and clawed and practiced
near the thresholds of sanity and bloodshed, and did not have a fraction
of what we so easily take for granted.

IK and NI and so many others can have my e-mail address.
I'll happily keep an account open. They will earn some of my money,
in return for enabling what once were dreams or fantasies,
to take a seat in my home, and flood my feeble mind with possibilities.
What works now, by far transcends that which is problematic.

Moogs and leslies and strats and tubes and cable snakes yada yada yada
were also problematic at times, so be it. Software and firmware result from
untold hours and years of study and experimentation expended by
both geniouses and grinders, pursuing their own dreams and carreers.
Thanks to them, this is the best year ever to be a musician/producer,
and the next one in line looks to be even better.


Cheers

[BBFG#]

Noble words for two companies that have for the last years have shown they're progressively unworthy of their own.

[SoundPorn]

Waves too

[glokraw]

Just weighing the capabilities against the issues.
The capabilities seem to sell well enough to be enabling
new and improved products, with ongoing repair of
problematic products. I'd certainly embrace these companies
implementing simpler registration schemes, but as it stands,
I'm happy with the record button having a significant waiting list
while busy. And having account details available 24/7
is a good thing in my situation. With plenty of competition
existing and new, for everyone to keep improving their products
Cheers

[enCiphered]

What's going on here??!

[glokraw]

just chat...hopefully encouraging making music instead of complaining,
at times when complaining would be easy.

[wagtunes]

Somebody who remembers how miserable it was in the 70s and 80s.

[glokraw]

Somebody who remembers how miserable it was in the 70s and 80s.

I worked too long at a place where it was piped in
the full 12 hour shift I'm might be less a curmudgeon these days,
but since I don't get it force fed anymore, the C guy may still be lurking

[wagtunes]

Somebody who remembers how miserable it was in the 70s and 80s.

I worked too long at a place where it was piped in
the full 12 hour shift I'm might be less a curmudgeon these days,
but since I don't get it force fed anymore, the C guy may still be lurking

Well, I was talking more the technology than the music, but okay.

[glokraw]

There was technology in the 70's and 80's?
And all this time I thought my Twin Reverb was made
in Indiana or somewhere

[samsam]

I was feeling sad before but wonderful companies like IK have made me happy.

Thanks big companies! Thanks IK Multi!

[JoeCat]

Not sure if that last post was sarcastic or not

But I gotta say - I love the indie devs but appreciate what the larger companies too - I've got IK's iLouds and they allow me to track on the coffee table and save the phones a bit (not best for the ears even at low volumes) - and the new iLouds look to be even more awesome.

Meanwhile, I'm tossing my NI Abbey Road drum samples into my Alesis drum module and having a blast practicing on some old-school Ludwigs (which are my "real life" kit).

So sitting here on the couch watching some Rick and Morty AND producing while my cat hangs out next to me - good times.

[glokraw]

I'm amazed by how prolific some of the 'indie' devs are.
Fathom and Air-windows, the linux Guitarix dev, quite a few
solid updates and new ideas put into action.
Maybe even some of the larger companies contract a project
that is all or mostly one person's work? I think a lot of quality software
has beeen left hanging when it's primary coder left the larger business.
Happened at Cakewalk, maybe some of NI staff turned over
leaving favorites like Absynth and FM8 without updates?

One winter, in a severe blizzard, a huge Manx showed up on
our doorstep. It was beautiful, and house-trained, even knew
to walk on the piano and sound the keys! It left a week or so
later, maybe got it's bearings after the snow and wind subsided?
Kids were sad, but it's owners likely elated at the reunion.

So I'm not alone having the gear in play while the telly is warm.
I learn by trying to blend in synths/guitars with the scores
and backround ambience. I imagine playing midi drums during
chase/suspense scenes would be great fun and a challenge.
Cheers

[agharta]

Mind blown, far out man.

[Examigan]

Somebody who remembers how miserable it was in the 70s and 80s.

It's all relative though. Back then, people were used to how the instruments were and their limitations. So at that time, it was just business as usual.