Well just like a fine wine, it's now sadly RIP to Spitfire Audio, makers of one of the worlds best strings, pianos and orchestra sample collections.
Companies House has the company now terminated with all directors gone :
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09857384/filing-historybut what it also shows is a company called "distributed creation ltd" is new owner of it, and this company is a company of interest as it doesn't pay any Tax in the UK :
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11478054/filing-history
(an accounts for a "small company" my a*** since it also owns Splice in the usa, which also doesn't file tax. more on this later).
New Main Company Director listing :
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The blog vi-control has many commentators and users of Spitfire Audio products leaving remarks on the changes and the companies involved. It's quite revealing :
https://vi-control.net/community/threads/spitfire-audio-has-been-acquired-by-splice.162778/
Many commentators will now not use any products from Spitfire Audio for releases, and the same for Splice.
Troubles at Splice:
1. Exploits artists and musicians.
Want to sell your own samples on Splice? here's how to do it : https://support.splice.com/en/articles/8652643-how-do-i-submit-my-own-samples-packs-to-sell-on-splice . but beware of not being paid for your works, and once uploaded they own your samples and not you. How do you signup to it? via a Airtable form which isn't secure : https://airtable.com/shr6HpxzuHpA8tg0v
2. you don't actually own the sounds when purchasing from Splice.
3. There's now lots of content ID strikes on YouTube from artists uploading tracks to Youtube, and then being hit for content ID strikes.
4. Many labels are asking composers/producers and artists NOT to use Splice products in their music, because of copyright and ownership issues.
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The great library's of Spitfire that I loved (and used) :
[I'll add a list of the many instruments I've used on tracks here]
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Alternatives to use now are:
https://www.orchestraltools.com/
VSL : https://www.vsl.co.at/