You want to start a sample library? What?

I knew I was crazy.  Who in their right mind would start up a sample library while being a full time composer, husband, father to 3, airbnb host, caretaker of a large property and studio while being someone who enjoys balance in their life?

But for the last five or more years it’s been a constant nagging in my brain.  “Should I do it?”, “nah” only awhile later…. “Yes, let’s do it!”  In fact, a couple of years ago a fellow composer friend of mine and I were deep into creating a sample library company together until it just didn’t seem like we were making any progress and so we decided to shelve it. It just didn’t feel right to me.

So what got me to come back to the idea and to make this thing happen?  Well this may or may not seem obvious but it was the SOUNDS.  Yes, the samples and sounds themselves.  They were just too good not to share with the world.  Was the market saturated?  Yes!  Would I fail?  Possibly.  Does the world need another cello library?  Not really.  Well what was it then?  It was this: I JUST HAD TO DO IT.

The other main factor was this:  I have something to say with my samples.  I think and know (hey, self confidence isn’t a bad thing!) I am doing something unique and different that composers and music producers will find compelling, creative and idea provoking.  The best sample libraries help composers be the best they can be, it allows them to jump into their own ideas quicker, it gives them seeds for new ideas, it brings them into areas they have never been to before.  It can help and allow them to compose in styles they aren’t as comfortable with.  I had a composer reach out who was excited about Ghost Cello and composing with it because he generally wrote in a more traditional orchestral style.  He saw Ghost Cello as a starting point in his journey of the less traditional and more organic sound design route.

The decision is the hardest right?  The final decision to take action.  I had been creating my own libraries and using them in my music for many years which meant I had great content and ideas about the product itself.  The issue holding me back was all the other things that needed to be done: website, delivery of the content, marketing, logistics, Kontakt engine & programming, staffing up with help, etc.  There is more to creating a sample library than simply making a library.  Was I up for doing marketing?  Was I up for sending out mailing list emails,  putting my face on videos, and doing all the back end work?  Honestly, not really, but again back to the idea that just wouldn’t go away . The small voice that kept saying DO IT.

So back to the decision.  It is the hardest thing.  So I finally decided to take a chance and make Triumph Audio a reality.  The simplest thing was the hardest.  I said “Yes!” to the idea and officially made up my mind that I was going to do it.  I said YES to starting a new business.

I have read some amazing books in the last few years along with listening to some great business podcasts.  I may share some of these tidbits in the future but the one thing I learned from these deep dives was that we need to act on our ideas and creative visions.  So here is my advice to you today friend.  As the wise folks at Nike say: “JUST DO IT”.

Next blog - What happens when you say YES to “Just Do It”.

Kevin Manthei

Founder of Triumph Audio