EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

This is a big subject, and not one that I can really go into detail in a 
forum like this. But I will say that this kind of business is NOT interesting 
to Spectrasonics.
It always sounds great on paper, but in reality...very few people would spend 
the hours and hours of time to audition thousands of samples to hassle with 
buying them one at a time. (Imagine trying to audition the 11,000 vocal 
samples on Vocal Planet alone! Our new Virtual Instrument Stylus has 40,000 
samples!)

But hey...that's just our opinion. Lots of companies are trying this 
approach, so there are and will be lots of options like this if that's what 
you really want. I can see how it fills a certain need, but it isn't for us. 
(Doesn't "download" really have the same meaning on the Internet as "free" 
for most people?) As evidenced by this forum in the last weeks, free sounds 
that you can download generate a lot of interest, but do you ever hear the 
same reaction about pay downloads? I sure haven't. That's why no one has been 
successful at making it a good business yet.

Our soundware collections are far more useful as a product and have always 
been an extremely good value for the quality and selection of what you are 
getting. 

As far as the future, I would much rather spend my time making exciting 
instruments that everyone can use (regardless of their host platform), that 
are loaded with our own ideas, unique features and huge quantities of 
incredible sounds that combine together to be a super inspiring creative tool 
to make better music for all users. (Did that sound like a plug? ...OK, I'm 
guilty!)

I guess because of my background as a designer with Roland, I just can't get 
as excited about selling files one a time...you know?

-EP
Spectrasonics



In a message dated 2/15/02 3:33:36 PM, fernstudio@... writes:

>It would be great if perhaps Emagic set up some sort of partnership 
>with a soundware developer.  Now I'm not a big fan of Steinberg but 
>many times they have good marketing sense.  I think that this is one 
>of those times.  There are many people who will not buy full CD-Roms. 
>Especially if all they need is one sound from it, they won't spend 
>$200-300 or more on a CD Rom.
>
>It would be great if Emagic got together with Spectrasonics or Ilio 
>(my favourite sample manufacturers) and did something similar where, 
>if we need a high quality guitar sample or an oboe, we could simply 
>buy it online and download it.  Heck, I would be willing to translate 
>and convert their existing samples for them for free (hint, 
>hint... :)).
>
>I know that I've been there where it's a Friday night, I've got a 
>deadline, I need a sample and am stuck because, even if I could order 
>at that time, it would take a few days to get to me.  Being able to 
>order online and download within minutes is perfect.
>
>Sampleheads has a similar scheme where you can download in 
>Samplecell, Gigasampler, or Soundfont format within minutes.  I did 
>that when I needed some funk guitar loops in a hurry.  However, they 
>have a very limited sound selection and the quality is not as good as 
>Spectrasonics and Ilio's offerings.
>
>Incidentally, I know that Spectrasonics is changing its focus 
>slightly with their new instruments (hopefully they'll still continue 
>to pump out high quality sample CD's).  However, I'm a little on the 
>fence with that.  If I have a good sample CD today, I'll still be 
>able to use it 5 years from now and 10 years from now.  However, if I 
>buy one of the new instruments from Spectrasonics, there are no 
>guarantees that I'll be able to use with "WinXP 2010" if their 
>software is not updated.  Don't get me wrong, these instruments look 
>like they're going to be great, it is just a concern that I have.  
>
>I mean, I bought Bass Legends and Hans Zimmer Volume 1 quite a few 
>years ago now.  Even though I don't own the Roland S-760 that I first 
>loaded them on, I'm still able to use them today on my E-5000 Ultra, 
>XV-5080 or exs-24 (after converting it with Translator).  When these 
>new instruments are released though, they may prove to be 
>irresistable.  Very much looking forward to the Atmosphere and 
>Trilogy instruments.
>
>Oh well, these are just my thoughts.  Care to take me up on my offer 
>Eric?  Mr. Hiskey? :-)