From his recent post on Facebook:

"Over the last year or so I’ve had a lot of time to think about where digital pro audio & software are heading — technically, creatively, and culturally.

What’s becoming very clear to me: the next chapter won’t be written by stacking more legacy plugins on top of each other, or by treating great audio brands like passive financial assets.

The future belongs to fair platforms that understand sound as a system — grounded in iconic styles, built for real-time workflows, and designed for the way producers actually want to work today: tracking, mixing, mastering, immersive audio, modern genres, fast decision-making.

One thing I’m deeply convinced of: in the years ahead, value in pro audio won’t be defined by archived source code or legacy binaries alone — but by living platforms, active producer ecosystems, and the ability to evolve sound in real time. Assistance is here to stay and welcome by many — but control and final authority will always belong to professionals, artists, humans.

And increasingly, true value only lives in these platforms and in the long-term relationships that real leaders build with their communities — the trust, continuity, and shared direction that can’t be transferred in a transaction.

I’ve quietly been working on exactly that for a while now. New technology, new ideas, and a team that remembers why authenticity mattered in the first place - but without nostalgia, and without repeating the past.

To the partner companies and people I’ve worked with over the years: you’ll recognize soon where this is going. Timing matters — and when the timing is right, some currently closed doors may feel very open again.

Some things can be bought, some can be tweaked — but really great systems only work long-term when they’re led by people who actually built and them. More soon. - Dirk"

 

Dirk is a real go-getter and entrepreneur, and a truly people-oriented individual. If anyone can make a difference, it's him. I'm eager to see what he comes up with and puts into practice. Good analysis, Dirk, and thanks @aymat for sharing it.

 

he definitely had some "assistance" with that soapbox-y speech that said essentially nothing. if that's a taster of what is to come, i wont hold my breath. as for him being an innovator and "person led individual", lolz. he was one of the first people to jump at the chance at subscription models, he apparently underpaid his staff at Brainworx(checkout the Glassdoor reviews by senior software engineers), and he started the whole aggressive trend towards the gamification of plugin sales. he seems very wallet led to me. not people led. lets not forget to mention that he snaps up companies only to sell them on to the highest bidder which contradicts his whole artist first narrative. i guess he's capable of pulling the wool over some peoples eyes though

The pattern is. acquire company, aggressively expand its reach through firesale like tactics, community backlash of decreasing quality and customer services, gets on soapbox issues apology, sells company on a year or so later. he did it will all the other companies before(besides Brainworx). he'll definitely do it with Manley and Apogee. he's a private equity bro with a niche interest in audio production markets