Splice sample marketplace has become the owner of Spitfire Audio. This was announced in a press release issued by the parties. According to the statement, Splice became the owner of Spitfire Audio and received the rights to all of the company's products, including the free LABS line. The deal was worth $50 million. The reason for the purchase could be the Spitfire Audio sound engine, which will be the basis of Splice's AI products.
The deal was confirmed by Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava and Spitfire Audio CEO Paul Thompson in a published YouTube video. The feature makers went into more detail about the agreement, while also discussing future plans.
Paul Thompson noted that he will remain at the helm of Spitfire Audio and that the company will continue to operate under its own brand. In the future, both companies will launch new products that "combine the best of Splice and Spitfire Audio".
Spitfire Audio products will soon appear in the Splice catalog, Thompson said. The instruments will be distributed as part of a subscription to the sample catalog and will be available to users on a rent-to-own model. The developers will also be working on new tools that "combine sampling and ethical generation based on artificial intelligence.
It is noted that the reason for the purchase of Spitfire Audio was the sound engine developed by the company. Splice plans to use it as a basis for current and future projects of sample generation based on artificial intelligence algorithms. The developments will be presented in the near future.
The Splice Marketplace was launched in 2013 as a store for samples and loops. Access to the content library is by subscription. The platform's investors include major funds and banks, including Goldman Sachs, and its revenue exceeds $100 million per year. According to the platform, millions of new samples created by enthusiasts, sample labels and artificial intelligence are uploaded to the service's catalog every day.
Spitfire Audio is headquartered in London. Founded in 2007 by Christian Henson and Paul Thompson, the company specializes in the development of virtual instruments. Spitfire Audio became widely known after digitizing the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The company later launched Spitfire Audio LABS, a line of free virtual instruments designed to make it easier for musicians to access high-quality libraries.
For a long time, the founders clearly divided responsibilities: Henson was responsible for the creative development of the company and the creation of new instruments, while Thompson was responsible for its financial success. Henson later left Spitfire Audio due to allegations of transphobia and founded The Crow Hill Company.
