Libre Wave

Libre means free, as in freedom or liberty. Freedom means having control of the activities you do in your life. When those activities involve the use of a computer program then you must be in control of that program.

A program is described as free software or libre when it respects your freedom. This puts you in control of the program and prevents the developer of the program controlling you. A program that doesn't respect its user's freedom is known as proprietary software.

If you want to be in control of your computing and you value your digital liberty then using libre software whenever you can is vital. For this reason all of the software I make available at Libre Wave is libre software.

It's important not to confuse freeware (software that costs nothing) with "free software".

Creating a sample library is a lot of work. It takes considerable time, expense, and skill. When done properly the end result is both a functional tool and a work of art.

Most free software sample libraries have limited features and sound quality compared to proprietary alternatives. As a composer and free software advocate I've struggled to find professional grade virtual instruments and effects that support my ethical views.

Those that do exist are usually cut down versions of larger libraries or rely on public domain sample content. They rarely have the quality or consistency of purpose recorded samples.

I build my libraries primarily for my own use, as such my criteria for each project is quite specific and I aim to achieve a high standard. I don't cut corners, I write my own code, and I like to be as hands-on as possible with the recording and editing.

I can't do all of this alone however. I collaborate with the best musicians, recording engineers, and graphic designers for each project. Everyone involved is dedicated to their contribution and together we create something professional, beautiful, and a joy to work with.

While playability is paramount when I'm producing a mockup I know others prefer to craft their performance in the MIDI editor. So I try to accommodate different workflows when designing my instruments.