Hey Guys!
Got an email informing me of this thread, so figured I'd pop in for this one post.
I debated as to whether or not to respond to this thread as I see some lowbrow antagonistic remarks I don't have any interest in bickering about, so instead I'll provide some extended and hopefully enlightening info.
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First, some stats.
The previous libraries looked like this:
- AX1 -
Price: $3
Unpacked File Size: roughly 0.400 MB
Total Unique IR's: 50
Total IR Files: 50
Files and Folders:
OwnHammer_Impulse_Responses
...Axe-Fx (50 files)
- AX2 -
Price: $5
Unpacked File Size: roughly 0.535 MB
Total Unique IR's: 50
Total IR Files: 50
Files and Folders:
OwnHammer_Impulse_Responses
...Axe-Fx-II (50 files)
- WAV - (original version)
Price: $7
Unpacked File Size: roughly 4.96 MB
Total Unique IR's: 50
Total IR Files: 200
Files and Folders:
OwnHammer_Impulse_Responses
...Wav
......44100-Hz_Mono (50 files)
......44100-Hz_Stereo (50 files)
......48000-Hz_Mono (50 files)
......48000-Hz_Stereo (50 files)
- WAV - (newest version)
Price: $10
Unpacked File Size: roughly 53.4 MB
Total Unique IR's: 165
Total IR Files: 1,980
Files and Folders:
OwnHammer_Impulse_Responses
...Axe-Fx (55 files)
......Fat1 (55 files)
......Fat2 (55 files)
...Axe-Fx-II (55 files)
......Fat1 (55 files)
......Fat2 (55 files)
...Wav
......44100-Hz_Mono (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......44100-Hz_Stereo (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......48000-Hz_Mono (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......48000-Hz_Stereo (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......88200-Hz_Mono (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......88200-Hz_Stereo (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......96000-Hz_Mono (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......96000-Hz_Stereo (55 files)
.........Fat1 (55 files)
.........Fat2 (55 files)
......Truncated
.........Axe-Fx (55 files)
............Fat1 (55 files)
............Fat2 (55 files)
.........Axe-Fx-II (55 files)
............Fat1 (55 files)
............Fat2 (55 files)
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Next, some facts and sobering reality.
- All previous AX1 and AX2 libraries are still updated - I've said this before but I'll repeat it here for good measure: when I go back and update all the previous libraries to adhere to the new capture methods and file inclusions (Secret Stash, Fat1, Fat2), all 4 formats (AX1, AX2, WAV, NEB) get these new files free with the caveat that they get what is included in that package type, the WAV version of which has been significantly expanded.
- The AX2 format as a separate item came as a reflex adaptation to the surprise announcement of the Axe-Fx II. Didn't see that one coming, moving in this direction was a middle ground of the path of least resistance and what the transactional framework I am using is capable of. Eliminating these formats and including everything in the WAV package and some things in the NEB package was the final solution to this and about a dozen other issues with selling them separately - none of which are anyone's business or right to know, and not everything is centric around my operation alone, this may or may not become glaringly obvious down the road. As such I have no intentions of reinstating the SYX packages.
- To say that the feature set of the new WAV package is not worth the increase, not only in developmental costs but also in the value of added content, regardless of whether or not all features are immediately (and I say immediately because it seems an inevitability that they will be put to use) required, is a bit silly if you're being realistic.
- When I am developing a library, which is pretty much non-stop and has been as of January 2010 unless I simply cannot physically take the excessive work load without a day or two of a break, between my day job and my OwnHammer activities I work 12-15 hours a day and sleep 2-5 hours a night, including weekends. It's certainly not fun, I'd consider it more fitting of the term survival.
- I have a wife (who works full time and is going back to college for her bachelor's full time), pets, house, a 2.5 year old daughter, and 2 month old son to provide for - most all of which I almost never see because all I do is work. Forget playing guitar or writing music any more, or anything else consisting of passions, hobbies, and/or leisure activities.
- The equipment required to make these libraries, excluding room, environment, and software - hardware only - that I have had to pour every dime I had saved, am able to make, and will make for a good long time (still paying off loans and buying new gear), comes out to roughly $35,000 so far. I am not independently wealthy, I am a middle class American. The resources to fulfill this requirement are generated by nothing other than endless toil and sacrifice.
- Though us vendors make the products quick and easy to use, they are neither to create properly. If they were there would be at least a few dozen commercial IR vendors, not just a few.
- I get payment processing fees and taxes taken out of every sale I make, and there are constant residual fees associated with operating the website. With the old AX1 packages I maybe cleared $1 per library on an individual sale basis.
- I constantly spend time in email and on multiple forums answering questions, addressing issues, etc, and do not get paid for it. With what I do from 8-5 Mon-Fri, I (indirectly, as through my employer) charge anywhere typically from $3,000 to $35,000 a year to EACH customer for support.
- Prices for IR libraries are as low as what they are currently merely due to limbo line, how low can you go competitions between vendors. Any lower than what they are and they'd be freeware, and by all rights they should cost at least 3-5 times what we charge for them, ESPECIALLY considering the crucial importance they have in tone.
- Were it not for the Fractal Audio staff and community and the positive interactions I have had with members of both, at this point in the game I'd only sell Nebula libraries as my own heart lies in the recording aspects of all of this and the fantastic things I can now do with that platform without having to dive down the rabbit hole of VST programming.
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Lastly, some quasi comedic yet valid perspective.
- A combo meal at a fast food drive through on average will cost you about $6.50
- A gallon of gas on average will cost you $3.50
- For that $10, you get to use what you paid for for a couple of hours before you burn it off or return it to your local water supply. You get to keep these IR libraries indefinitely and use them as long as the technology is functional, and without the carbon monoxide and methane emissions.
- You don't get frequency discounts that increase in rate with your total spent on either that lead you ultimately to an end result of permanently free afterwards like you do with purchases from my site.
- Guitar strings, and about a million other temporary things, same deal.
- Someone will pay 10 grand for guitars, Axe-Fx, monitoring, and other required accessories, but somehow feel gypped that they are required to pay $10 for an IR library that cost the vendor 3-5 fold what they're rig costs them, let alone the development time, experience, and continued support put into that product.
- I don't show up to my day job in the professional work force and expect not to be paid for my time and effort, let alone that I actually pay tens of thousands of dollars to be there, I'm sure most other people don't either.
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Time to wrap up.
I've probably said more than what is necessary, but I wanted to address some issues here. I do not have the time or interest in debating semantics, so I don't plan on commenting or posting further on this. Right now I have a lot of cool new libraries to make and updates to do, and I need to be focusing my time and energy on that.
Though I'm sure most don't care or would prefer to remain blissfully ignorant of all of this so it makes it ever so easy to nit pick, complain, and cast judgement, this is what is behind the current pricing schemes.
Regardless of format or application origin, the positive interactions and friendships I have created as a result of this endeavor are a huge source of inspiration to keep chugging along with these libraries. To those of you who have contributed to this element, I do sincerely thank you.
Peace!
- Kevin