Welcome to Products of Music, a podcast sharing Inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology.

In this episode:

Host Adam Wakeling speaks with Francisco Cresp, co-founder and CPO at Neural DSP, about his founder journey, how the company approaches product development and inside stories from one of the leading names in digital modeling for guitar and other instruments.

Chapters:

00:00 Preview

01:15 Intro

02:36 Francisco's founder story

09:00 Working with Doug Castro

11:00 Neural DSP's product development

16:03 Chase Bliss sponsor section

16:47 User feedback mechanisms

19:05 John Mayer X development

23:02 Plugin compatibility challenges

26:10 How Neural DSP prioritises

27:42 Why a vocal plugin?

31:30 Quad Cortex for vocals

33:10 Analog versus digital debate

34:48 Tom Morello JCM800 differences

37:40 Love of analog synths

38:52 Synth in the Quad Cortex

39:08 Neural DSP as a target

40:36 Latest research projects

41:21 Gen AI in the Quad Cortex?

42:50 Challenges of capturing fuzz

46:06 Noise floors in capture tech

47:33 Quick-fire questions

51:30 FX captures?

53:52 When PCOM for Petrucci?

55:22 Interface gain at 0?

58:24 Software for Nano Cortex?

59:04 Outro

🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
🎧 Listen on Spotify

🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn
🌐 Follow the host on X

In this episode, host Adam Wakeling speaks with Analog Mike Piera, founder of Analog.man, about his approach to product development, the infamous waitlist for the King of Tone, the state of the guitar and pedal market and what the future looks like for the company.

To learn more, visit: https://www.analogman.com/

Many thanks to this episode's sponsor Chase Bliss.

Check out Chase Bliss effects pedals here: https://www.chasebliss.com?utm_source=productsofmusic

Chapters:

00:00 Preview

01:02 Intro

02:00 Mike's founder story

03:57 Approach to product dev

10:50 Analog Man marketing

12:53 Sponsor section

13:38 Art versus science in design

15:01 Testing rigs

17:10 FX loop challenges

18:50 Pedal gain versus amp gain

20:49 Analog Man Rat pedal?

21:24 King of Tone wait list

24:25 Analog Man without Mike?

25:31 Teaching knowledge

27:06 Thoughts on digital modelers

31:04 What not to add on pedals

34:47 Chase Bliss Brothers AM

36:42 Mike's current concerns

40:32 Challenge of limited supply

42:39 What keeps Mike motivated

44:57 How the customer has changed

50:07 Mike's advice to founders

52:52 Quick-fire questions

56:38 Community questions

01:00:30 Outro

🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
🎧 Listen on Spotify

🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn
🌐 Follow the host on X

In this episode, host Adam Wakeling speaks with Tosin Abasi (CEO and Founder of Abasi Concepts), as well as Ivan Chopik (Founder of Guitar Messenger and COO of Abasi Concepts) about their journeys; the state of the guitar and pedal market; and their approach to product development and innovation.

To learn more about Abasi Concepts, visit: https://abasiconcepts.com/

Many thanks to this episode's sponsor Chase Bliss.

Check out Chase Bliss effects pedals here: https://www.chasebliss.com?utm_source=productsofmusic

Chapters:

00:00 Preview

01:35 Intro

02:41 Abasi Concepts Origin Story

10:16 The First 7/8 Strings

17:00 Chase Bliss Sponsor Section

18:15 Compromises in Guitar Design

20:32 Abasi Concepts Product Development

25:16 Ideation to Production

31:30 Why Tosin Loves Analog Gear

34:40 Digital and the Young Generation

35:26 Where Abasi is Looking Next

38:32 Gibson Neck Heel Issues

39:37 Abasi Concepts Bass Guitars

40:00 Abasi Nylon String Guitars

42:05 Solving Problems for Guitarists

45:30 Leveraging Industry Collaborations

47:36 Guitar Market Concerns

50:00 Abasi Guitar Quality Issues

54:39 Entrepreneurial and Musician Advice

58:54 Quick Fire Questions

01:01:54 Reddit Community Questions

🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
🎧 Listen on Spotify

🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn
🌐 Follow the host on X