Soundtrap, a digital audio workstation acquired by Spotify in 2017, is offering live collaboration and auto-save tools as new test features, allowing artists to work on a project from different devices in real time.
The new features that are currently in beta were revealed by Bryan Johnson, Spotify’s head of international artist and industry partnerships, to Music Ally in an interview on Tuesday (August 9).
Apart from live collaborations and auto-save tools, Soundtrap will also allow commenting so that collaborators can share feedback on a certain section of their podcast or music projects.
“Live collaboration and auto-save – which are currently in beta – means that we can show real-time changes between collaborators without a ‘sync’ button. It shows real-time changes, and autosave is automatic, which means users can keep in that creative flow,” said Johnson.
Soundtrap will showcase the new tools in a Spotify for Artists Masterclass video to be released Wednesday (August 10).
The development arrives about five years after Spotify acquired the online recording studio for an undisclosed amount.
Swedish tech news outlet Breakit said the deal was worth at least $30 million based on an estimated surge in Soundtrap’s value since its series A $6 million fundraising in 2016, which valued the firm at $25 million.
Soundtrap is a platform where creators can combine beats, loops and instruments or connect their own tracks. They can record, edit and collaborate on different devices and store their work in the cloud. Some of its features include its proprietary Auto-Tune feature, automation settings, amplifier, and patterns beatmaker.
Pricing starts at USD $7.99 per month for music creators and from $11.99 per month for podcasters, although Soundtrap still offers unlimited projects, 4,880 loops, 440 instruments and sounds and 150,000 sound effects for free even without a premium subscription.
Since joining Spotify, Soundtrap has rolled out various offerings to increase its user base. In May 2019, it launched a podcast recording, editing and publishing tool called Soundtrap for Storytellers, which offers recording, remote multi-track interviewing with video chat, smart transcribing and editing of spoken-word audio files, and other features.
Pricing for Soundtrap for Storytellers starts at $14.99 per month. An annual plan is also available from $11.99 a month.
“We’re seeing more people creating songs, and wanting to create on the go, and with people around the world. Providing intuitive and accessible tools is important.”
Bryan Johnson, Spotify
Soundtrap also enabled Spotify to launch on Roblox through Spotify Island, offering music creation tools and virtual merchandise and games.
When asked about why Spotify continues to offer tools like Soundtrap instead of letting creators use other digital audio workstations, Johnson told Music Ally that the company is focused on being with creators in every step of music production and publishing.
“We’re seeing more people creating songs, and wanting to create on the go, and with people around the world. Providing intuitive and accessible tools is important,” Johnson said.
The executive also addressed questions about whether Spotify will integrate its artificial intelligence music lab into Soundtrap in the future. Johnson said the goal is to innovate with Soundtrap.
“We listen to the creative community and ask them what they want in a DAW, or in tools… Any tool is about how you use it, and when you use it, and the vision you have – any tool we launch will be for creators to use and interpret with their artistic vision,” Johnson added.
Spotify’s increased focus on Soundtrap comes after company sold another recording platform, Soundbetter, back to its founders in late 2021, just two years after SPOT acquired the firm.Music Business Worldwide