The founder of Aqeel Aadam Sound discusses his flagship product 'Waymaker,' why he discourages people from buying modular synthesizers, and how his daily creative practice keeps him connected to the inspiration behind his innovative plugin designs.
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The Spotlight shines On musician, software engineer, and plug-in developer Aqeel Aadam.
Aqeel's got deep roots in Philadelphia's music scene—his grandfather was a jazz musician who gifted him his first guitar. That foundation led him from Princeton's computer science and music programs to a five-year stint at Google, and eventually to creating his own company, Aqeel Aadam Sound.
His plug-ins aim to bring the magic of hardware synthesizers and modular workflows into the digital realm. His latest release, Waymaker, ties together his entire ecosystem of products in what he calls "an expansive, inspirational environment to get lost in." Aqeel's here to walk us through this unique approach to music technology and share how he's democratizing complex modular synthesis for producers everywhere.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Aqeel Aadam album Swim, Simian)
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[00:01:24] Introduction to Waymaker and its evolution from previous products
[00:03:17] The core thesis: making modular synthesis accessible
[00:04:00] Problem statements and workflow recreation in plugin design
[00:05:09] The deeper meaning of democratization in music technology
[00:07:01] What attracts people to modular synthesis (and why he doesn't always recommend it)
[00:11:07] The modular mindset and midlife crisis connections
[00:12:15] Computer science and music studies running in parallel
[00:15:00] From college to Google: building engineering skills
[00:17:16] Working on Gmail and ads: the complexity of large-scale systems
[00:18:18] The decision to leave big tech and pursue music
[00:19:31] Getting laid off: the unexpected push toward independence
[00:20:05] The transition from composition work to plugin development
[00:24:08] Balancing interface design with functionality
[00:28:05] Being a one-person development shop
[00:28:32] Publishing cadence and business viability
[00:30:44] Future directions: inspiration versus utility in music software
[00:34:43] Daily creative practice and avoiding your own products
[00:36:54] The philosophy of letting inspiration lead
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Visit Aqeel Aadam Sound and download plug-ins and trials at https://aqeelaadamsound.com
Follow Aqeel on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aqeel.aadam
and Aqeel Aadam Sound on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aqeelaadamsound
Listen to Aqeel's music on Bandcamp → https://aqeelaadam.bandcamp.com
and visit his personal site at → https://www.aqeelaadam.com
Watch Aqeel's videos on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@AqeelAadam
For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com
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