You're welcome. If the TV host made you say "wow", watch this!

https://youtu.be/vIzSTz0uF_s?feature=shared


And even this is just the tip of the iceberg...

Hi Dengizich,

Thanks for linking that thought provoking video showcasing the state of AI and its endless possibilities. The explosion of AI has accelerated in the past few years into all facets of our lives.

AI was the star of the show at this year’s CES.

YouTuber AI Revolution captured all the AI related gadgets that stunned the CES 2025 attendees.

Day 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2OWbXaDbpI


Day 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfLVNMqQX9g


Day 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmU4JTORze8

All 3 videos were narrated by an AI Voice.


Gary Shapiro, CEO & Chair of the Consumer Technology Association said that companies need to adapt or die.

The same holds true for common folks. They would need to embrace the new technologies to thrive and flourish or be left behind.

The future is filled with wonders we have not dreamed of yet.

The problem with AI is the same as with everything else, no matter how good it is, humans will always use for bad, and AI used for bad will be a complete nightmare. (It's already used to scam millions of people who think they are talking or seeing someone they know, when in actual fact it is AI generated and is being used purely for deception)

Bill

Hi Bill,

I share your concerns. AI in the wrong hands can be used for nefarious purposes from scamming trusting individuals to causing mass panic to waging global warfare.

I watched this sequence of video clips from AIQuest Academy in suspended disbelief. Every scene was generated through the use of Google VEO 2.0.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6sIJNBg52A


The crazy part is that this technology is free to the public.

https://labs.google/fx/tools/video-fx


https://blog.google/technology/google-labs/video-image-generation-update-december-2024/


Things on the AI landscape seem to be morphing at lightning speed. The demarcation between Reality and Simulation is getting blurred to the point where the human brain can be tricked into believing anything.

That is a scary feeling.

At the same time AI has the potential to enhance our lives, boost our creativity, save us time and money when applied judiciously.

Personally, I think a lot depends on your interpretation of the word ’creative’…

I don’t think AI used in the arts is in any way creative. It is essentially software sent out on the internet to copy and learn from already existing work, and then used to create music or illustration ‘in the style of’ any text prompt it gets. And while this is impressive in and of itself, it isn’t really ‘creating’ anything, it is imitating. It’s doing it very quickly and very cheaply, but it’s not creating in the sense of making something never heard or seen before.

The thing is, most commercial application of the arts doesn’t WANT anything new, challenging, different. It wants something comfortable, something familiar, something that appeals to the demographic the user wants. The only way to appeal to a specific demographic is by aping what they already listen to, read, or watch. That is the main need of commercial art.

As great as some have pushed commercial art, it is extremely rare to find anything utterly original. Even things like John Williams doing film scores, it is still, in essence, a distillation of orchestration styles and writing long familiar to classical music listeners. Most of the avant gard would be difficult to meld with say a science fiction soap opera or an adventure potboiler!

That’s not to say it doesn’t happen from time to time (Ligeti with 2001 A Space Odyssey for instance or the electronic soundscape of Forbidden Planet) but by and large, art for anything but its own sake is pretty familiar. Perfect for a technology that copies existing art.

I’d love to hear Russ’s input on this topic, as he is the one closest involved in that aspect of the industry.

We need to be careful though. We are binding together all kinds of different technologies and calling them all ‘AI’, but they don’t all operate the same way. Interactive large language model AI’s used for things like customer service and things like that aren’t exactly the same as video generation tools or music generation.

There’s upsides and downsides to any new technology, but the one thing driving it all is money. Those AI server farms cost billions. In today’s political climate, I honestly don’t expect to see any significant pushback or legislation because primarily they benefit the ultra wealthy, who apparently have a stranglehold on our legislators.

It’s hard to stop a boulder once rolling downhill. Best to get out of its way!

Hi Charley,

I have good news for you!

Scaler 3 was announced today.


https://scalermusic.com/


It will be released in March, 2025.

Scaler 3 will run as a Standalone App as well as a plugin.

You can buy Scaler 2 today and get a free upgrade to Scaler 3.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR-w-T2Vy00&t=224s

Thanks for the info. It still looks quite interesting. -charley

Hi Charley,


I found 4 Standalone Options to run Scaler 2 on the Scaler Forum:


1.
Cantabile Lite

This is a free VST Host for Windows.
It can Host and Play virtual Instruments live.
It Works on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10 and 11.

https://www.cantabilesoftware.com/free-vst-host

This is the best solution.


2.
NanoHost

This is a free DAW for Windows that can load VST-synths.

You can convert any VST-Synth into a standalone application.

https://www.tone2.com/nanohost.html


3.
Bitwig Studio

All 3 versions of Bitwig Studio – Essentials, Producer and Studio can host Scaler 2.
The Producer and Studio versions come with Multi virtual MIDI Out options.

https://www.bitwig.com/


4.
Blue Cat’s PatchWork

This is a universal patchbay for plug-ins.
It can host up to 64 VST, VST3, Audio Unit or built-in plugins.

https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_PatchWork/