The truth about running a sample library company

[@WESTWOODINSTRUMENTS]

If you have questions, ask us anything below and we’ll do a follow up!

[@aquietgarden]

I sure do. I own all your pianos and synths. What's the next thing, the big thing, and when's it coming? I'd love a Westwood take on the Rhodes. Also something for pads. But ultimately, what you create, I love. Let's go!

[@adrianbankswestwood]

The Electric Home Piano is our (Westwood) take on a Rhodes!

[@ABE2000]

I have a question to ask, is it possible that they can make the Ensembles for Orchestral Series for the first time?

[@itsemmettcooke]

Great video :)

[@DavidCicero]

This was brilliant, and thanks. Westwood is becoming a competitor to Spitfire and other sample libraries out there. Not afraid to be different and experimental. Not trying to be perfect and the same as the rest. 👌❤️

[@PraiseTracks]

"Brain Switching", oh yes, it is a somewhat surreal experience ;^) Thank you for sharing with us. I believe these kind of talks help us to get to the heart of what makes you instruments tick and why they are so unique. As you mention, you must bring your own voice to the instruments you produce and you have done just that with Westwood. I am looking forward to the "BIG" thing coming soon ;^) Joyfully!

[@WESTWOODINSTRUMENTS]

Not too long now!

[@AndromedaX8]

Thank you Rob, that was super interesting! I really love the philosophy behind Westwood Instruments. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! Oh, and Joanna's House is such an awesome piece! :)

[@WESTWOODINSTRUMENTS]

Thank you! Appreciate it!

[@Zaleskee]

Rob, you are a true inspiration!, keep up the great work!

[@NigelDThompson]

Thank you for your honesty Rob and an insight into what it takes to produce the library's we can so easily take for granted. I really love what you are doing and wish you much success going forward.

[@natetabormusic]

I found the Brass Untamed through Pianobook, free version, and was totally blown away. Really great work. Most certainly will buy anything from Westwood. I have to say, as a specialty viola maker and luthier for over 30 years, the viola cannot be tamed, but really great work on trying. Westwood is a name that will keep going, on and on and on. Many thanks for such incredible work, and cheers from Spain.

[@DMIXMusic]

Super cool to see where you guys started from. I am a huge fan of your instruments, and will probably eventually own all of them. Out of any other developer, these instruments feel like they were just made for me and my aesthetic. Only one question - Voices Untamed when? ;)

[@friedrichgattermann]

Thank you for this very interesting insights. I’m very looking forward to your future projects 🙏🏻

[@DanielNorwoodMusic]

10:22 I’m glad he mentioned the aesthetics, because I’ve always thought that this was something Westwood does very well. Not just the UI, but also the website and the ads, and even this video. The fonts, the color schemes, the imagery all catch your attention, and match what the instruments sound like. That’s important. It all looks like a film I’d want to see, or an album that I would buy. There are some other sound library companies I won’t name that really haven’t figured that out.

[@owenathanael]

This is so great! Thank you for making this!

[@1973danielreis]

I got Alt Piano and Strings Untamed. Really wonderful!

[@sunnyschramm9650]

really interesting - and dude...the cliffhanger 😃 #BIG

[@WESTWOODINSTRUMENTS]

A year ago today we started recording it . . .

[@NanoAugur]

Fascinating video, thanks for making this. I did notice that one of the questions shows up twice in text - the User Interface one at 6:22 doesn't match the answer.

[@RasmusHolbergSeidelinAndersen]

Maybe there's a case for an improv library consisting of different performances that suits an array of "moods", like suspense (which you already mentioned), flirtatious, hurt, romance etc. I'm new to sample libraries, so this might have been done before.

[@MartinHeidenreichMusic]

Wonderful insight, thank you! I love your instruments, the untamed series is absolutely unique and really gave such a personal touch to any piece i ever used it in. Absolutely curious about that next big thing...the video ended with something sounding like a choir...Voices untamed?

[@WESTWOODINSTRUMENTS]

You'll find out sooner than most :)

[@AndyGrayedout]

Love your stuff man !:)

[@richardvossgatter1564]

Great to hear your story Rob. I have a question around musician royalties. How do you structure that? What is the percentage that the musician gets? Would love to know that.

[@matija7569]

What do you use for coding? How much round robins and velocity points each note have?

[@Maplefoxx-vl2ew]

I feel like if i started my own sample library company (which i will some day) i already have plans. i'm still gonna just consider it a side project cuz i'm already doing game dev, music composition and sound design and also pixel art. One thing i will say about Kontakt current state is a lot of my friends still using Kontakt 6 cuz they are scared to update to 7 cuz of all the bugs.. Native Access will tell you the bugs for the current update, if you look there are still issues with Kontakt 7. Like myself, i still only use Kontakt player because of this. I am using Kontakt 7 but not the current updated version. Native needs to get their butt in gear fixing these bugs, cuz too many ppl are not updating. So if you make a new library on the current version of Kontakt a lot of ppl are not going to be able to use it cuz of them refusing to update. I know this is a big thing going on right now, and also Native Access vs Native Access 2.. did you know most ppl don't evven know about Native Access 2 still? like Native must have sent out one email about it and that's it. cuz tons of ppl stil using Access 1 as well. And i know some companies new libraries will not show up in Access 1. ps.. make a solo Viola library that sounds really dark and warm... no one likes the tone of that Bohemian Viola that cost over 300$ that Virharmonics made it's too sharp of a tone. the old one from Best Service sounds much better, Emotional Viola.. but it's an old library... there is definetely a need for a new solo Viola Library in the market right now. Sorry for the long paragraph but i think this information is something devs and Native both need to hear. lots of ppl are not updating.

[@steph1918]

Rob, there are lots of players in the sample library development scene. How do you deal/cope with competition?

[@johnhawkinshawkins1284]

Having spent $40,000 on samples and libraries and associated music software, over the past 20 years, as a happy hobby, and made a little money now and then, I have now given up. I like Suno and Udio and use that exclusively. I have had more success since that without the added expense.

[@WESTWOODINSTRUMENTS]

Hi @johnhawkinshawkins1284 - we're glad to hear you've found some libraries that suit your needs well! Happy music making!

[@dancarter5595]

I'd prefer these libraries in UVI format. Can't stand Kontakt.