Post by kpr on Jun 1, 2010 19:16:08 GMT
Hey Fusionists,
my sample & sound development company is 15 years old now! But this is not all, my Fusion work started back in 2005, so there are even two anniversary celebrations at this moment!
Julia posted it in our company forum at kvr here www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=287839 , so there is also a chance to get a cool deal.
Everything started two years earlier, when I was hired by the german company Masterbits. They wanted me to produce a sample CD with rap vocals, and I simply did it. I wanted to get my feet into this business, had enough contacts in my personal network and thought that this might be a good start. The result was "Rapsody" and as far as I know Masterbits made a lot of money with it. They paid me with a one-off amount, not too much but ok, especially considering that I was a rookie in this business at this moment. Not all all, I was working as sales person in traditional musical instruments store since the early 80s and later in pro's equipment selling DX7, D50 and M1 etc. and did a lot of synth programming. But making sample libraries is really different and I had to learn a lot, arrange sample recording sessions in studios, hiring musicians to play the specific instruments and all this. And editing all the samples with hardware samplers like Akai S1000. Within the following two years I produced 5 sample libraries, so you can imagine that I had a lot to do. Then I got a offer from the german Waldorf distributor to make sample libraries for their product catalog, and the contract was really good. More money, more freedom in creating products. So I decided to establish even a own sample development company and the idea for Back In Time Records was born.
It was a huge step ahead, but also more responsibility for everything. Again more work, to be specific. But this job is great, still today, so I never had any trouble getting my work done. Luckily my wife is a self-employed and artist too, so she had not much against that what I did from early morning until late night. I got more contacts to instrument manufacturers too and I was asked to contribute my samples for their new instruments. As I am a synth programmer too I also did a lot of factory voicing, which means: Presets. Usually the time for the making is limited as a sound programmer is pretty much the last one who works for a new toy before it is going into the mass production. So I had to hurry up all the time and developed a personal speed-up-system to get it done. At this point we are entering the Fusion matters.
Alesis hired me early 2001 to make Presets for the Andromeda and it worked quite good. I also took the chance for a headquarter visit because California is one of my personal favorite places and this got our relationship tighter too. Making Presets for the Ion followed a little later and then I got the request for the Fusion factory voicing. I did many Presets including the General MIDI bank, and even so many, that I decided to sell them through my own company as third party product. The start was the "Fusion Presets by kpr", where I decided to give this instrument my personal fingerprint and it was the first time that I added the now typical "... by kpr" to the product name. I never had the plan for much more, but there was clear demand. And as I have my sample development company with a huge, a very huge, archive with produced samples and even still unreleased sample recording session materials, I could select exactly this what was on demand by Fusion owners worldwide. Now there are more than 20 Fusion sound products available and I even shared my experiences and know how with the "My Fusion Secrets" book.
I also got in contact with many sounddesign fellows like Dave Kerzner from Sonic Reality, Michele Pacciuli from Korg as well as legendary industry pioneer persons like John Bowen, John Chowning and also composers like Hans Zimmer, Paul Haslinger, and many more etc. etc. and sample developer colleagues like Steve (yeah, this really nice one from Hollow Sun!!) and we all are sharing the same passion, believe me. There is a friendly competition sometimes, the good one where it helps to make the own jobs even better. What a great life!
So, that's the story in short. I still love everything I do, especially when it comes to the Fusion. It is a matter of fact that this keyboard is also my very favorite master keyboard, a center piece in my own project studio, and I have even two of them: a 8HD and a 6HD, and the 6HD is used mainly by my wife who is also a songwriter and musician. When I had a hard day, and in 2010 many days are hard, I play piano for a hour or so, and I use the Fusion for this. I love this thing, it is my friend, no joke. It makes me feel good playing on the Fusion and this is the very best ever I can get from a keyboard.
Let's see what the future is offering. It is a white and unwritten paper and we are the ones who are filling it with words, paintings, music. Thanks to you all for buying my products, this makes it possible that I can do my work and I appreciate your loyalty. I really hope that those sounds and samples help you to sound better, and that you have great moments and feelings while playing the Fusion.
Cheers
Klaus
my sample & sound development company is 15 years old now! But this is not all, my Fusion work started back in 2005, so there are even two anniversary celebrations at this moment!
Julia posted it in our company forum at kvr here www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=287839 , so there is also a chance to get a cool deal.
Everything started two years earlier, when I was hired by the german company Masterbits. They wanted me to produce a sample CD with rap vocals, and I simply did it. I wanted to get my feet into this business, had enough contacts in my personal network and thought that this might be a good start. The result was "Rapsody" and as far as I know Masterbits made a lot of money with it. They paid me with a one-off amount, not too much but ok, especially considering that I was a rookie in this business at this moment. Not all all, I was working as sales person in traditional musical instruments store since the early 80s and later in pro's equipment selling DX7, D50 and M1 etc. and did a lot of synth programming. But making sample libraries is really different and I had to learn a lot, arrange sample recording sessions in studios, hiring musicians to play the specific instruments and all this. And editing all the samples with hardware samplers like Akai S1000. Within the following two years I produced 5 sample libraries, so you can imagine that I had a lot to do. Then I got a offer from the german Waldorf distributor to make sample libraries for their product catalog, and the contract was really good. More money, more freedom in creating products. So I decided to establish even a own sample development company and the idea for Back In Time Records was born.
It was a huge step ahead, but also more responsibility for everything. Again more work, to be specific. But this job is great, still today, so I never had any trouble getting my work done. Luckily my wife is a self-employed and artist too, so she had not much against that what I did from early morning until late night. I got more contacts to instrument manufacturers too and I was asked to contribute my samples for their new instruments. As I am a synth programmer too I also did a lot of factory voicing, which means: Presets. Usually the time for the making is limited as a sound programmer is pretty much the last one who works for a new toy before it is going into the mass production. So I had to hurry up all the time and developed a personal speed-up-system to get it done. At this point we are entering the Fusion matters.
Alesis hired me early 2001 to make Presets for the Andromeda and it worked quite good. I also took the chance for a headquarter visit because California is one of my personal favorite places and this got our relationship tighter too. Making Presets for the Ion followed a little later and then I got the request for the Fusion factory voicing. I did many Presets including the General MIDI bank, and even so many, that I decided to sell them through my own company as third party product. The start was the "Fusion Presets by kpr", where I decided to give this instrument my personal fingerprint and it was the first time that I added the now typical "... by kpr" to the product name. I never had the plan for much more, but there was clear demand. And as I have my sample development company with a huge, a very huge, archive with produced samples and even still unreleased sample recording session materials, I could select exactly this what was on demand by Fusion owners worldwide. Now there are more than 20 Fusion sound products available and I even shared my experiences and know how with the "My Fusion Secrets" book.
I also got in contact with many sounddesign fellows like Dave Kerzner from Sonic Reality, Michele Pacciuli from Korg as well as legendary industry pioneer persons like John Bowen, John Chowning and also composers like Hans Zimmer, Paul Haslinger, and many more etc. etc. and sample developer colleagues like Steve (yeah, this really nice one from Hollow Sun!!) and we all are sharing the same passion, believe me. There is a friendly competition sometimes, the good one where it helps to make the own jobs even better. What a great life!
So, that's the story in short. I still love everything I do, especially when it comes to the Fusion. It is a matter of fact that this keyboard is also my very favorite master keyboard, a center piece in my own project studio, and I have even two of them: a 8HD and a 6HD, and the 6HD is used mainly by my wife who is also a songwriter and musician. When I had a hard day, and in 2010 many days are hard, I play piano for a hour or so, and I use the Fusion for this. I love this thing, it is my friend, no joke. It makes me feel good playing on the Fusion and this is the very best ever I can get from a keyboard.
Let's see what the future is offering. It is a white and unwritten paper and we are the ones who are filling it with words, paintings, music. Thanks to you all for buying my products, this makes it possible that I can do my work and I appreciate your loyalty. I really hope that those sounds and samples help you to sound better, and that you have great moments and feelings while playing the Fusion.
Cheers
Klaus
