Omnisphere - How's it working for you?

[ggalen]

Mazz,Thanks for the encouragement. Sounds like we are in agreement. Those of us with real musical ability just have to find the people who value it, and need it.I started my career as a software engineer in 1985 with a masters level degree in computer science and cognitive psychology. It was wide open: computers were new, and LOTS of software needed to be written, in all fields.Since then, programming tools made things easier and easier, and it went from being something "computer scientists" do, to being something that teenagers can do.But back then, as soon as there was a great need for talented programmers, software companies found a market making tools that would allow less-talented programmers to do things that previously only gifted programmers could do. Witness Visual Basic in 1992 or so.This happened in the graphic design field as well. New versions of Photoshop and Fireworks allow you to get effects with the click of a button that only gifted digital artists could figure out how to do 10 years ago.Same thing with web design and programming.The money is only there when workers are relatively scarce. Once every kid can do it, it no longer pays much.I see something a bit similar happening in DAWs, plugin effects chains, and virtual instruments: software companies are helping the less gifted achieve a sonic result.This will only continue.You have to sell something that cannot be automated.

[ggalen]

Vicki,From what I've read and heard from you on Taxi, you certainly seem like a composer to me. That would seem to be your heart. I bet you'd be bored if you weren't creating something from within yourself.I can relate.I gave my career history because I've been financially affected by "computer automation tools" already. So I think about this a lot.

[ggalen]

FT,Interesting story. And good points!

[mazz]

There becomes a point where "inexpensive" equates with "cheap", as in "cheaply made". I firmly believe that there will always be a market for quality and my goal is to make "Mazz Music" or whatever I call it, the equivalent of Mercedes or Ferrari in the music world. The people that want "cheap" I'd rather not work with anyway because they'll nickel and dime you to death. The people that recognize quality will find a way to pay for it. Besides, then you have bragging rights: "my TV show/Film/Game has a score by Mazz" cue audience: "ooooooohhhhh..........aaaaahhhhhh" Lets all rise out of the mediocre "off the shelf" "one size fits all" mentality and create a brand that is indisputable in it's quality. One finger Omnisphere factory patch music won't get us there. Mazz

[hummingbird]

I'll just be devil's advocate for a moment and say, if it's possible to get forwards, deals & placements by just mangling a couple of presets so it sounds like you've done something creative - let's see ya do it My point being - I constantly hear about the 'dumbing down" and "homogenization" and how we're "selling out " when we write "commercially viable" music - and I say, if it's so easy... why aren't more of us dumbing down & selling out so we can feed our kids? Is it really that we are that principled? Or is it that, whatever way you cut it, competition in the industry is fierce and the 'one shot' wonders might land a deal or two, but they will never be at the level of our friends like Matto, Mazz, Dave, etc... who compose and get paid for it. And when I listen to their music I hear nothing homogenized or dumbed down. I hear amazing talent using tools with skill and knowledge. I hold to them as my example of the idea that it IS possible to be yourself & express yourself creatively while still being commercially viable and successful as a songwriter/composer/producer.In fact, I would say, that is the challenge.