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Justin Frankel Reveals Life After Winamp

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the sitting-on-his-pile-of-cash dept.

Joseph Gelinas writes "Speaking out for the first time on life after AOL/Nullsoft, Winamp creator Justin Frankel sat down with BetaNews to discuss his new endeavors. Starting a new company called Cockos, Frankel is leaving behind the mass market for his musical roots, but hints at revolutionary -- and presumably controversial -- things to come."

31 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. No Kidding.... by the_mad_poster · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm not clicking a link with a name like that. I'm afraid it might be a goatse troll...

    --
    Alito: A vote for Alito is a punch in the eye to put that bitch back in her place!
    1. Re:No Kidding.... by Hard_Code · · Score: 5, Funny

      I for one think it's a nice leveraging of all that wads of money he made. "Sir, the, um, AssTastic 5000 has arrived...should I connect it to the, uh, sigh, Dumpulator?"

      --

      It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
  2. Jesusonic Looks Interesting by FriedTurkey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As someone who plays guitar, the Jesusonic looks interesting. Real time effects processing on a computer would allow an amazing amount of customizations of sounds on the fly. However, it doesn't seem very portable despite being a floor device. I don't see someone taking the monstrosity to a jam session. I think it would be more annoying being on the floor than just at a desk. Jesusonic has to be easier than programming those rack mount processors. Hopefully Jesusonic can grow into something to replace the cost prohibitive Pro Tools.

    1. Re:Jesusonic Looks Interesting by somethinghollow · · Score: 4, Informative

      GarageBand is supposed to do on-the-fly filters. And I know Soundtrack does. Apple has been very staunch about on-the-fly effects not only in Audio, but video as well. GarageBand comes with iLife for $50. Soundtrack is $199. Neither of them will lighten your wallet too much.

      I guess Jesusonic might be easier to control on-the-road than having a point and click computer to process your effects, but that is the only bonus I see to having it rather than a computer. But since it has a keyboard, I'm skeptical. If this was meant for the studio, I'd rather have a computer.

    2. Re:Jesusonic Looks Interesting by plover · · Score: 5, Funny

      Perhaps you can have someone bear your CrusFX 1000 for you...

      --
      John
    3. Re:Jesusonic Looks Interesting by eno2001 · · Score: 3, Informative

      So does Ardour. I've been having a lot of fun using it to process my rackmount gear. Haven't tried it on a laptop though... I have it in my home studio.

      --
      -"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
  3. Not very socially acceptable by maxogden · · Score: 5, Funny

    JF: Naming projects is often the hardest part. When I first started, it just came out. A moment of either stupidity (likely) or brilliance (not likely), we'll see. Yeah, its obviously hard for him, with names like Cockos, AssSniffer, and Jesusonic.

    1. Re:Not very socially acceptable by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Funny
      "Yeah, its obviously hard for him, with names like Cockos, AssSniffer, and Jesusonic."

      For all you Slashdotters who love to bash us marketing folks, people like Justin keep people like me in business. ;)

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  4. Lesson #1 in Business... by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Starting a new company called Cockos

    That's a definite no-no...

    1. Re:Lesson #1 in Business... by parliboy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Cockos? Sounds like a breakfast cereal for porn stars.

      "Cock-O's. Now with nuts!"

      --
      "You're never ready, just less unprepared."
  5. The names he uses for software by The_Rippa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Justin and co. always writes great utilities, but it's really hard to suggest to your boss that the company should be using a tool called "asssniffer" or "ASS I/O".

  6. I really see this as a growing market by ACK!! · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Not really sure why but a lot of the marketing types around my office jam in bands and are very tech savvy.

    I see this kind of product if promoted correctly having a very nice niche market among hardcore keyboard junkies and techy musician types.

    Very interesting idea.

    Hardware and software I want to use.

    Hhhhhmmm .... Sounds like a hacker's grand ideal really.

    --
    ACK /ak/ interj. 2. [from the comic strip "Bloom County"] An exclamation of surprised disgust, esp. i
  7. quote by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Primarily these are a program called Assniffer (which is a HTTP sniffing program that logs the actual files transferred), and PathSync (which I use to interactively synchronize directories on different computers/drives). These are both available on cockos.com.

    assniffer, logs, cockos...you put it together...

  8. Cockos... wtf by isa-kuruption · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was going to ask what kind of crack he was sniffing and if he'd share, but I guess that's not the best question given the application 'assniffer'.

  9. Best Line by DarkHelmet · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Best line of the whole article:

    Not only is it useful on computers, it allows people who don't want to spend money on a Jesusonic hardware device to go ahead and write new effects for the Jesusonic.

    Now there is someone who is completely devoid of marketing, or corporate thinking. He actually has the notion of contributing something on the basis of realizing that some people won't pay for something.

    I suppose at this point he's pretty much made for life, and doesn't have to worry about money anymore. Still, how admirable.

    --
    /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
    1. Re:Best Line by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not only is it useful on computers, it allows people who don't want to spend money on a Jesusonic hardware device to go ahead and write new effects for the Jesusonic.

      Now there is someone who is completely devoid of marketing, or corporate thinking. He actually has the notion of contributing something on the basis of realizing that some people won't pay for something.

      Really? Unless I'm reading it wrong, it sounds like he's allowing people who don't own the product to increase the value of that product. Eventually, the product will become more and more attractive to non-buyers who will then buy it.

  10. Huh? by blackmonday · · Score: 3, Interesting

    First, it's a stupid name. Otherwise, the Jesusonic device looks interesting. I use an incredible device called the Pod XT that makes life very easy for recording, noodling around, or juicing up the amp. One of the things I wished was a way for people to program their own effects/amp modeling algorithms and let people share (or sell) them.

    This gadget looks like it could make it happen. As far as how it looks, I'm sure it's a prototype which will eventually be a slick, portable gadget. I look forward to it.

  11. Interesting by albn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...how my $900 PC can replace tens of thousands of dollars in effects processing. I remember seeing a reverb/delay for $3000 with many presets and you can program some yourself.

    Okay, now that my PC can do effects processing, it can also be used as a multi-track to replace the Alesis ADAT that's has thousands of dollars in add-ons, and can replace a mastering studio and save me thousands there becasuse of my DVD/CD burner. What is still expensive are the instruments, consoles (yay AMEK), and the $14,000 tube mic.

    I do not know. Somehow I just cannot let those old things go.

    --
    Some call me Howie Feltersnatch
  12. Cockos, it's what's for breakfast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously, the name Cockos sounds like a gay cereal.

  13. Pathsync by tayhimself · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Pathsync looks interesting for directory synchronization. Is there something to do this between two linux clients or windows and linux that is rsync or cvs based. Preferably GUI clients or easy to use ones. I need windows > linux backup and linux laptop > linux backup. I saw backuppc in the debian archives, but I'm intersted in user opinions as it is always so much better. Thanks!

    1. Re:Pathsync by electrichamster · · Score: 3, Informative

      You'd be wanting Unison then: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/

      There's Win/Lin/Mac client's, both graphical and console... lovely little app :)

  14. I'm suprised he's a windows geek by digitalgimpus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This isn't meant as flamebait but an observation:

    Common hackers of his level of inovation, and to a degree hatred of authority/corporations really dislike windows and love the freedom and inovation of Linux.

    Seems like everything he touches is Windows related.

    Just suprising.

    Though somewhat depressing...

    it's inovators like him, who really make software people like. Say what you will about WinAmp... but it was one heck of a popular app. Same with everything else he was involved in.

    HE is what Linux could really use: someone to create the golden tools.

    1. Re:I'm suprised he's a windows geek by Strudelkugel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      My guess is most non-programmer musicians run Windows, MacOS, Linux, in that order. I would also guess the percentages are quite lopsided in favor of Windows as well. His idea (and I think it's a very good one) is to bring effects processing creative freeedom to the music community, not promote one OS over another.

      --
      Imagine how much harder physics would be if electrons had feelings! -Feynman, maybe
    2. Re:I'm suprised he's a windows geek by ScytheBlade1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I call bullcrap. This IS slashdot, and likewise it's rare to see a "Windows Geek" get posted here.

      Slashdot is also a serious minority. Compare the number of shashdotters to the number of people running windows 98 (at home). We're nothing in number. Consequently, go look at Channel 9. *Tons* of windows geeks. And suprise, some of them just may be worth listening too.

      I'm not expecting too many people to care, but there ARE intilligent people who use windows. Justin Frankel just managed /. posting "about him", which is uncommon.

      (*having premonitions of insightful troll*)

    3. Re:I'm suprised he's a windows geek by jarsonic · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually, as someone who knows Justin as at least an aquaintance, He dabbles with linux a bit, and really loves his Macs (he has a powerbook and a G4 Cube). He's ported winamp to mac for his own personal use (and to see if he could), and he's releasing jesusonic for mac, as well.

  15. Jesusonic?! by wild_pointer · · Score: 3, Funny

    I bet you dont learn in marketing class to name you products "Jesusonic CrusFX 1000" and make it look like a cross!
    Never ever bind religion to something you dont have to, it just causes trouble!

    On the other hand, I would definitely want one! :)

  16. Whatever he is working on... by jstrain · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whatever he is working on, I'm sure it really whips the Lamma's ass...

  17. This is why he's got lots o money. by teamhasnoi · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Give the software away, but tie the ease of use it to special hardware that he makes.

    Lots of people will run this, and make presets, and do lots of stuff for free for him, while he sells the hardware that makes it usable (without having to hack it together yourself).

    Genius. I think Apple tried something like that before...anyone heard of the iPod?

  18. Jesusonic -- by thatshortkid · · Score: 4, Funny

    It really whips The Savior's ass!

    --
    The IRS is the one organization that you don't want to fuck with. Remember, these are the guys who took down Al Capone.
  19. nothing new, nothing novel by paulbd · · Score: 3, Informative

    95%+ of the posters on /., and perhaps even Frankel himself seem entirely unaware that the idea of his jesusonic project is nothing new at all.

    there are several so-called "RT VST hosts" that do the same thing, and several standalone programs. most have been around for several years.

    even on Linux (even!) we have tools like JackRack and EcaMegaPedal, not to mention the world's best live looper (SooperLooper). maybe Frankel's ideas about triggers might represent some slightly novel model for this kind of thing, but the authors of most of the stuff I've mentioned could probably add them in a day or two.

  20. the boy wonder by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 4, Funny

    Justin Frankel's accomplishments are notable in of themselves, but even more so when you consider that they were all achieved by a boy who's just now turning 13 years old... ...what, he's a grown man? And he still gives his projects names like "CrucFX" and "Assniffer"? That's pretty sad, actually.