@brandonwalowitz Hey Brandon. Why don't you count them for yourself. ;)
Please feel free to access our initial launch library right now for FREE. Just enter code 'MAKEFILMMUSIC' to get the first month free when signing up to full membership (and don't worry, you can cancel anytime). Spoiler alert: there are currently about 100 search results, organised in 16 albums...it'll be double that in 10 weeks' time :)
With my composer hat on, this is sad and disheartening on a number of levels. But with my Product Hunter/business person hat it is of course an inevitable and cool step toward the uncertain future.
I think this is a good balance of convenience and control, and I know from experience that it will appeal to a vast audience of new filmmakers so I look forward to seeing how you guys (and Jukedeck and the others who will come) will establish a new and interesting business model.
I just wish it didn't come at the expense of composers.
@mostlymarius Hey Marius. We hear you on the concerns for composers! We're on your page....Let me just say that we are rewarding our composers properly (unlike other music libraries who don't even pay upfront fees, or only advances, and then only share some royalty income, aka "writer's share"). As we use real working composers who are registered with PROs (performing rights organisations) we are legally bound to respect their work, both in terms of copyright and in terms of royalty income. That's the difference between a real production company and those that are only offering royalty free music! :)
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@marcus_filmstro that's reassuring, Marcus, thank you for respecting your composers—it's appreciated!
This is a very promising product. It is no substitute for hiring a real live composer but you don't always need that. I do think the commercial use cost is a bit excessive on top of the $20 membership fee.
@lynnfredricks Hi Lynn. Thanks for the comment. The idea with the $19.99 monthly membership is to give amateur filmmakers a simple solution for all of their soundtrack / music needs. The membership covers: Youtube, Vimeo, Corporate in-house videos, personal website, corporate website, Wedding videos, Vimeo VOD and short films.
For the Pro's, who go on to buy commercial licenses, we re-imburse the initial membership fees and then set up corporate accounts so that it's "one or the other", rather than an additional cost. 'Hope that makes sense! :)
As a filmmaker and videoeditor I'm really amazed and excited by this product! So many times I'm editing and I have some music/score in my mind and I can't find or don't have the time to find and place the right tracks. This looks like an amazing solution, even when (as I would do) you will find tracks or hire a composer anyway. As a "music intermediate" this could be a game changer. Congrats on the launch, I'm really curious to see where this will go.
@stephenmarklevi Stephen...we are very excited that you're going to take a look! Anybody involved with Cameo (beautiful) and Vimeo (our f**king heroes!) has our respect. Just FYI: We only launched 9 weeks ago and still have 150+ functionality additions and loads more music coming over the next weeks and months....
We also have an MVP tablet controller (coming soon) so that you can move all 3 sliders at once...it's going to be 'awesome' as you would say in NY!
Best wishes from Brighton, England.
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@marcus_filmstro@stephenmarklevi It works. Of course there are needed features/ functions. But you can compose the emotion to any frame.
@brandonwalowitz@marcus_filmstro I just gave it a shot on my unfinished short film. Wow. It is pretty fucking cool. And it works really really well. The UI is a bit tricky when I make a mistake or want to change points, but for the most part, I am really really impressed! Now, my composer and I have worked together to get the exact sound, style, arrangement I want, as well as being able to time cuts to picture (so that we end on a full note). So I don't think it'll replace my composer anytime soon. However, if I could choose my arrangements and have dozens and dozens of different melodies that work in each pack for each instrument, swapping in and out pieces, that would be very cool. I'd be skeptical about replacing my composer for this for future projects, because I like having intimate control and having a sound and melody that is unique only to my film.
In the process of my film I've asked my composer for the following. Try another melody. Add more distortion to the guitars. Add X instrument. Change the balance of instruments between the L & R speakers. Use a similar guitar to X song. Add more reverb to the drums. Cut exactly at frame 04:19:22 on a full measure. Increase the volume of the drums. Add more treble to the drums. Add a drum fill. The list goes on and on.
What type of filmmaker do you imagine using your product?
In addition to more music, what type of features do you have planned in the future? Or without getting too specific, what is your focus going forward?
Thanks!
Stephen
@stephenmarklevi Thanks for all that feedback Stephen...we are really pleased with your comments! If you haven't already gained full access, please feel free to use code 'MAKEFILMMUSIC' to unlock the library beyond the demo themes.
Re. your points: Yeah, 'undo steps' will be added asap...along with other refinements to work-flow and editing (for example a quick way to delete automations in the graph editor). In terms of future focus and specific updates, we'd love to tell you more. In essence FilmstroPro will continue to evolve so that it gets closer and closer to delivering the kinds of scenarios you describe (particularly in regard to ending on musical measures and having even more control on individual instruments!). However, we're keen for all of this to become available without changing the overall simplicity of the UI and App (much like Cameo's power and simplicity). We'd be delighted to keep a dialogue going...feel free to contact us direct at info@filmstro.com and myself, or one of the founders, can answer more of your questions etc.
Cheers!
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