Plugins are not Dead
Added 2024-09-16 13:10:58 +0000 UTCIn this video, I react to WeaverBeats' claim that the music production plugin market is "dead" or nearing its end. Personally, I don't agree. I believe new producers will always be drawn to flashy, sci-fi-looking plugins. The real issue seems to be that developers aren't fully aware of the trends happening in music production today, which limits true innovation. However, I think AI and machine learning, like what's seen in Synplant 2, hold the key to the future. I also discuss how trends like subscription models, plugin clones, and modular environments like Bitwig’s Grid might shape the industry going forward.
Key points:
WeaverBeats’ claim: Music production plugins are on the decline due to limited innovation.
My view: New producers will always be drawn to flashy plugins, and AI will open new possibilities.
Developer disconnect: Many developers aren't up to date with producer trends.
Synplant 2: A great example of innovation using machine learning for sound design.
Modular tools: Bitwig’s Grid and Max for Live allow producers to create their own instruments, which may reduce the need for external plugins.
Let me know what you think about the topic (and the format)!
Comments
Weaverbeats really is a drama queen 🤣
Cristiano Alveirinho
2024-09-27 17:14:39 +0000 UTCgood points, i probably visit this topic in the future again. thanks!
Polarity
2024-09-16 18:32:12 +0000 UTCGlad you mentioned Plugdata. As an edge case (or, in fact, a corner case), I’ve been way less interested in plugins since noticing that Plg works as AUv3 as well as CLAP/AU/VST3. There are very few things out there which are really new. And those which are rarely offer the kind of crossplatform support I need in my playflows. Having said this, there are some new plugins that I find interesting. Latest one is GeoShred Studio for Mac. It’s been on iPadOS for some years and it’s now expanding in capabilities (for instance, through communication across devices and an elaborate system for automation). The team behind it has been at the forefront of Physical Modelling from the start. And the CTO heads the MIDI Association subcommittee for MPE. So, there’s a lot going on, there, in terms of both expressiveness and PhysMod. There’s also innovation in MIDI FX, though those tend to be fairly easy to build in Plugdata or The Grid. Eventually, we can integrate those into something really impactful. And AI/ML can help. (Cf. Tremblay’s FluCoMa externals for Pd and Max, for instance.) Part of what’s challenging plugin-makers is… of their own making. There’s been some consolidation, which eventually constrains the supply side of the equation. In media, it has led to a very difficult situation, worldwide. In #MusicTech, it’s too niche of a market to have that negative an impact. Still, some of the incumbents have adopted exactly the wrong strategies for resilience and sustainability. Very specifically, the former Soundwide consortium centred on Native Instruments has failed to capture the moment and NI products released as part of “Komplete 15” demonstrate a lack of insight into the scene. (There’s also a whole story to tell about Beatport and the Plugin Boutique purchase.) As you both explain, subscriptions are indeed an issue in the current situation. They tend to be the first thing people abandon when they go through a tough time. Not only do many people hate subscriptions, plugins make less sense in a subscription model than, say, soundware or postprod services. Then, there’s disruption from other parts of #MusicTech or even outside it. Bandlab probably has a bigger impact on the scene than any plugin dev. Epic’s purchase of Harmonix and integration into Fortnite is an unfolding story. Besides, the impact of GenAI is difficult to assess until we get the kind of tools we need (which do go beyond tools to speed up sound design). Maybe the DAW era is coming to an end and what follows is less “DAWless” than DAWfree. And it goes in different directions. Instead of a single future for #MusicTech, there’s a bunch of things popping up which may or may not rely on plugins. Something to keep in mind is that many people will still use such tools even if they never release a “song”. Some of that is aspirational: “wannabe” music celebrities. It’s also about the fun of the hobby itself. Musicking is a neat activity on which people spend money, even if there’s no financial incentive to do so. Same with all sorts of things people do, from gardening to cycling, moviewatching to podcasting. Personally, I do hope that the plugin scene will change. At this point, it suffers from all sorts of UX/CX/#a11y issues, not to mention a lack of support for musical diversity. Maybe MIDI 2.0 will eventually help? And/or wider adoption of current protocols like MTS-ESP and MPE? A shift away from “vintage” production into forward-listening performance? Less aggro, more nuance?
Alexandre Enkerli
2024-09-16 17:01:06 +0000 UTC
