#185

all power and respect to you, Émilie :sparkling_heart: personally, i share some of your uncomfortable sense of being in an industry where everyone knows your history (in this specific way). i know you’ll find a healthy way forward in whatever you decide to do next.

2 Likes
#186

I can’t imagine anything being more important than the process feeling right. Especially where the designs that made followers out of all of us are so unique and personal. Especially where OG clouds is such an artistic application. I’m glad you wouldn’t let yourself be led around by pressure. It will happen when it happens, and that’s a big part of what will make it awesome.

1 Like
#187

Please remember that even if you stop today, your contributions to the modular scene are immeasurable. You don’t owe anybody anything at this point. You’ve given so many of us so much joy from your products. I really hope you carry that with you during difficult times. Thanks for being you and best of luck in your next phase of life

4 Likes
#189

I think it deserves mentioning that although this is a public forum, readable without a login, that doesn’t mean that you are at liberty to post content from here to elsewhere. A few hours ago someone posted screenshots of some of Emilie’s comments, above, out-of- context and almost certainly without permission, in the Eurorack group on Facebook. The result was a hundred comments also immediately, mostly supportive and appreciative and understanding, but also the usual smattering of entitled “oh dude, now I’m never going to get my Clouds 2 module, what a bummer!” comments, not to mention a few of the typically misinformed “it’s open source so anyone can do what they fucking like with it” comments.

Anyway, I suspect that if Emilie had wanted to post on Facebook, she would have done so, and cross-posting out-of-context screenshots is not helpful. As Jacques Derrida was reputed to have said (except in French): “Every interview I have ever done with a journalist has been a catastrophe of misunderstanding.” The same applies to cross-posting screenshots to large Facebook groups, I dare say.

20 Likes
#190

I truly appreciate that you take the time to share your thoughts and give us insight. I wish people would stop re-posting elsewhere out of context. It either turns into bizarre claims that a Clouds successor is nearing release or that MI is somehow done. Both of which feed into the community being overly focused on gear and forgetting that many manufacturers are just one or two people, real people, with lives that can be impacted by us just like we can be impacted by them. We shouldn’t be making things more difficult or stressful for the people behind it all. I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself and focusing on other things and I hope the rest of us can learn to relax. I love modular, but the community can be a bit much sometimes. And thanks for clarifying the mood. I think a lot of us are projecting and turning it into more of a downer than it needs to be :slightly_smiling_face:

It’s really interesting to learn more about the process that goes into developing, manufacturing, and releasing a module (and the subsequent support). I don’t think enough of the end users realize just how involved and time consuming it is. It’s not like Apple or Samsung constantly churning out new phones and always having another on its way.

Would it ever make sense to undo discontinuing the original Clouds? Not sure if this would help people to back off instead of focusing on the successor so much, but maybe it would help fill the gap. Based on your post, I’m guessing it’s not that easy, but with all the growth in Eurorack since it was discontinued I’m sure there are a lot of new users (and old) who would prefer to support MI and have the real deal instead of all the ugly, cramped clones out there. That’s probably still stressful though and I certainly wouldn’t want that for you. This is just me disliking the clones taking advantage of the situation and wanting people to stop chomping at the bit for “Clouds 2.” (For the record, I think it would be cool to do something jewelry themed like “Gems” or “Crystals.” Makes me think of creating a wash of glittery sound from a small grain :grin:)

I think you’re right about moving on to something where you’re not so well known. I’ve had to start over both socially and career wise multiple times in my life due to moving or other situations and I’ve found some real advantages with people getting to know me as the person I am at that time rather than who I was. I really struggled with it at first, but now I enjoy it and can’t stand to stay in one place or doing one thing for too long. It’s enabled a lot of growth. I hope you find something that feels right and wish you all the best.

3 Likes
#191

@pichenettes

I’m curious to know to what extent you consider usage of open-source code to be “crass”? Fully assembled models that physically resemble the originals? Mini/micro/nano versions? DIY PCBs of the above? Code ported to other systems?

From a point of legality the people making these have done nothing wrong. You said yourself that you would prefer to support those people who bought your original versions. The evolution of cloning/derivatives went in an unexpected direction, but perhaps not totally unthinkable if you consider the current “heat” in all things Eurorack.

One possible solution to restrict undesired propagation of your ideas would be to keep the software open, to allow software hacking, but to close or limit the info of hardware. E.g. if anything, provide a schematic only or even just port assignments on the MCU. People may still clone/derive things, but it would significantly increase the effort on their parts, rather than pulling the .brd from Git and sending it to fab.

Perhaps a bit selfishly, I really hope that you continue to produce amazing musical tools. But you should definitely only do it if it continues to inspire you and brings happiness into your life.

6 Likes
#192

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139207301_2833728526902911_6644237327512571179_o1080×1080 130 KB

:heart_eyes:

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#193

wooow!

#194

I love cats too, but they are no substitute for clouds.

1 Like
#195

I think in this case the cat is only there to approve that clouds is hidden under the towel? :grinning:

#196

The cat is here to focus the attention and be sure that we won’t take notice the clouds heir hidden at the right. But I’m not a cat lover (yes I know that I’ll be banished from the forum with that sentence).

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#197

But I’m not a cat lover

Maybe it’s time to ask yourself some important questions: is modular really for you then?

:wink:

3 Likes
#198

Wow, I was thinking it would never come and was eyeing Arbhar…maybe I’ll wait a little longer.

#199

Arbhar is still a great module. I use it alongside Clouds as they’re really quite different in their approach to grain-based synthesis. I’m as excited as anyone to see what a Clouds successor will bring to the table. No expectations other than it sounding great and having a lovely UI. :slight_smile:

#200

I read before (forgive me if i misremember), that Emilie’s approach to clouds II was more of a live granularization focused one. I’d hazard the guess that those two modules will overlap as much as any two filters or vcos.

1 Like
#201

Interesting, do you remember where you read that?

#202

I think it was a longish time ago on MuffWiggler? But really please don’t quote me on that, in hindsight I probably shouldn’t have said anything because I don’t want to spread rumours and create wrong expectations :slight_smile:

#203

Cumulus comes to mind…

#204

My approach is Arbhar and Clouds II. Heck, I’ve got three Clouds 1’s and a Nebulae V2 and an Arbhar now, and have no plans of getting rid of any of them, and I’ll be first on the block to sign up for a Clouds II-- some people say you can’t have enough VCAs, my thinking is, you can’t have enough granular modules. (though I did have a Morphagene and sold that one off-- didn’t really like the real-time workflow).

What I’ve got now will certainly tide me over (Tides? got one of those, too), until such a time that new options are made available, it’s not like I’m sitting on my thumbs waiting with baited breath for Clouds 2 to become available-- it’s clear to me that P’s sensibilities on the MI modules are worth trusting, and at the same time, perfection is itself imperfection as someone said, so my preference is not to expect what the module will do, but assuming it appears eventually, I only assume that it will be fun to explore what it actually does, and whatever that is it will fuel my modular discovery process.

#205

Merci beaucoup, Emilie! No worries, I am new to modular and just got my first Mutable Instrument modules late last year: Plaits, Shades, Kinks, Links, Marbles and Rings. Been really enjoying them sooo much that they are favorites in my setups and still learning to use them. So I am patient and do look forward to new developments in the Clouds 2 arena. I much rather wait for your Clouds 2 module than to buy a knock off open source version anyday!