Apple reportedly buys digital instrument effects firm Camel Audio [u]

Posted:
in General Discussion edited June 2015
Apple has seemingly purchased UK-based digital audio effects maker Camel Audio, best known for the popular Alchemy synth plug-in, suggesting the firm's software may be included in a future version of Logic Pro X.




In early January, Camel Audio appointed known Apple Europe lawyer Heather Joy Morrison as its director and relocated to 100 New Bridge Street in London, which is listed as Apple's official UK address, reports MacRumors. The information was discovered in a recent filing published by UK company registry Companies House.

While Apple has not acknowledged the potential acquisition, a report from digital music blog MusicRadar lends credence to the claims. On Jan. 8, one day after Morrison took over as director, the publication reported that Camel Audio shuttered operations, leaving behind a website containing only a user login page for contacting customer support and miscellaneous legal information.

A note from Camel Audio posted to its webpage on Jan. 8:
We would like to thank you for the support we've received over the years in our efforts to create instruments and effects plug-ins and sound libraries. Camel Audio's plug-ins, Alchemy Mobile IAPs and sound libraries are no longer available for purchase.

We will continue to provide downloads of your previous purchases and email support until July 7, 2015. We recommend you download all of your purchases and back them up so that you can continue to use them (Instructions: How to Download and Backup Your Products).
The shutdown came after an uncharacteristically long dry spell between plug-in software updates.

If Apple did indeed purchase Camel Audio, it is unclear if the company's technology has been integrated into the Logic Pro X digital audio workstation. Apple's DAW most recently received an update in late January, with one highly touted feature being new synth effects.

Update: Apple issued its usual boilerplate statement to The Loop, saying, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." The statement is typically offered when an acquisition rumor is legitimate, suggesting Apple did in fact purchase Camel Audio last month.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    Logic or Garageband !
  • Reply 2 of 17
    Wow really? I own quite a few of their plugins and use them as VST versions in Cubase. I've been using their stuff for over 10 years. I think all their plugins are highly original and add lots of character to my music. So this news isn't good for me since it means they will likely no longer produce the VST versions. I'm a bit disappointed by this news. :(
  • Reply 3 of 17
    Apple is getting some good engineers in this deal.
    The iOS version of Alchemy is great.

    F
  • Reply 4 of 17
    TOTALLY happy if this rumor pans out! always loved the Alchemy synth big time. i was shocked when i heard the news about their sudden closure but i did have a nagging feeling something was going on behind the scenes & further down the pipeline. i was hoping that it may be bought by someone else and that Camel Audio would resurface stronger than ever...and i was even feeling deep down inside that Apple would be the one to pick it up and integrate it into Logic Pro. dude, i really REALLY hope that is the case. not to be too over-zealous: if this rumor of Apple acquiring Camel Audio IS true, then i hope they integrate it into Logic faster than they have been related to their Redmatica acquisition.
    GO GO APPLE
    I LOVE LOGIC and proudly have since Emagic v.2.5
    Bring It!
  • Reply 5 of 17

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

    If Apple did indeed purchase Camel Audio, it is unclear if the company's technology has been integrated into the Logic Pro X digital audio workstation.

     

    Probably so people will have something to do while they're riding in the self-driving ?Car.

     

    Or would that be the ?Car Pro X?

  • Reply 6 of 17

    Damn, I just bought that thing last year and spent a bunch of money. It's good, but not great.

  • Reply 7 of 17

    Oooh good choice. I'm a big fan of Camel Audio.

  • Reply 8 of 17
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,276member

    It's nice to see another sign that Apple still has interest in pro users. 

     

    Hopefully a Mac Pro update will arrive this year. I know they are constrained by Intel's pokey pace of improvement. They're probably waiting for TB 3. 

  • Reply 9 of 17
    I wish Apple would buy whichever company it is that currently owns the Pearl Guitar iOS app. I'd love to see across the board improvements to GarageBand's selection of guitars. It would be fantastic if they had different ways of interacting with their standard guitars also, such as tremelo bar and capo options. Maybe have a "build your own" guitar in-app purchase option?
  • Reply 10 of 17
    blastdoor wrote: »
    It's nice to see another sign that Apple still has interest in pro users. 

    Hopefully a Mac Pro update will arrive this year. I know they are constrained by Intel's pokey pace of improvement. They're probably waiting for TB 3. 

    Most likely, but that requires Skylake-EP, which won't be out until 2016 at best.
  • Reply 11 of 17
    I can think of something else Apple should buy%u2014the rights to include in the next version of iOS the marvelous audio-enhancing code in Marco Arment's podcast app, Overcast.

    I downloaded the app last week and immediately discovered just how much more enjoyable it makes podcast listening. I can set just the right speed. (No dreadful choice between 1x and 1.5x.) Distracting pauses disappear. Varying sound levels are smoothed out. It'd be great for just that. But it also allows me to listen to about 20% more material in the same time.

    Every audio-listening app in OS X needs that feature. It'd set Apple devices off even more from their competitors.
  • Reply 12 of 17
    inkling wrote: »
    I can think of something else Apple should buy%u2014the rights to include in the next version of iOS the marvelous audio-enhancing code in Marco Arment's podcast app, Overcast.

    I downloaded the app last week and immediately discovered just how much more enjoyable it makes podcast listening. I can set just the right speed. (No dreadful choice between 1x and 1.5x.) Distracting pauses disappear. Varying sound levels are smoothed out. It'd be great for just that. But it also allows me to listen to about 20% more material in the same time.

    Every audio-listening app in OS X needs that feature. It'd set Apple devices off even more from their competitors.

    Arment should sell a plug-in for podcasters to clean up their audio podcast before they post it.
  • Reply 13 of 17
    bobschlobbobschlob Posts: 1,074member

    :smokey:

  • Reply 14 of 17
    ????????
  • Reply 15 of 17

    Still haven't seen any integration of Redmatica products.  I wonder how long it will take to see something come out of this Camel Audio deal.

  • Reply 16 of 17
    dysamoriadysamoria Posts: 3,430member
    jblongz wrote: »
    Still haven't seen any integration of Redmatica products.  I wonder how long it will take to see something come out of this Camel Audio deal.

    Redmatica was integrated into MainStage. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/02/02/redmatica-autosampler-returns-as-part-of-apples-30-mainstage/
  • Reply 17 of 17
    I strongly suspect that this acquisition will form part of a stronger (i.e. Pro quality) music creation capability for iOS (iPad Air 2 and the rumoured iPad Pro) - will we see Logic for iOS?

    VST importation capability for high-end iPads would be a sensational addition for music professionals as well as app developers who are already offering high-quality audio workstation and virtual instrument apps on iOS (like Korg, Steinberg, Auria, IK Multimedia, MultiTrack etc).

    Camel Audio's Alchemy offerings would also beef up the Mac's GarageBand and Logic PRo capabilities.
    Good rocking times ahead... top that, Surface Pro!
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