4 min read
Finding the right session musician or producer can be challenging, especially for remote projects. Here, we compare Musiversal and SoundBetter.
One key distinction between SoundBetter and Musiversal is their approach to quality assurance. Musiversal boasts a handpicked selection of skilled musicians, producers, and engineers. With rigorous vetting processes in place, the platform only accepts less than 1% of applicants to join their roster. This curation ensures that users can trust that they are working with top-tier professionals committed to delivering exceptional results.
Anyone can offer their services on SoundBetter and the platform offers two types of reviews aimed at helping clients find the best musicians. Verified reviews are submitted by clients who have hired and paid providers through the platform, ensuring their authenticity. Meanwhile, unverified reviews come from clients who may have hired providers outside of SoundBetter. If a service provider would like to become a Premium provider, they can sign up, pay a monthly fee, and undergo a review process to ensure they meet certain criteria. Premium providers are expected to be experienced, customer-service oriented, and have a complete profile.
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SoundBetter takes a different approach to collaboration compared to Musiversal. The platform allows users to post their projects on a job board or directly contact specific providers, who then send proposals. The communication between users and providers is message-based, which may not be as efficient as live collaboration.
Musiversal's live streaming approach allows for real-time collaboration between clients and musicians. The musician's fixed calendar and this live approach ensures that the recording process is efficient and precise, and eliminates the need for back-and-forth communication via email. The musician is fully dedicated to the session, ensuring that the client gets the desired result in a shorter time frame.
SoundBetter operates on a gig economy model, where musicians are paid per session, which may lead to an unstable and unpredictable income. To make a living, musicians may have to take on multiple projects. However, this model offers flexibility, as musicians can choose which projects to work on and can often set their schedules accordingly.
But how about price? Musiversal offers both pay-per-session and subscription options. Pay-per-session rates start at $79 for a single session, but go down to $50 per session if purchased in bulk. Meanwhile, Musiversal's subscription plan, priced at $199 per month, provides users with unlimited recording sessions.
In SoundBetter, each provider has the freedom to set their own prices for the services they offer. However, not all providers publicly display their prices, with some opting to display a "contact for pricing" message instead. While this approach can give providers the flexibility to adjust their prices based on factors such as experience and workload, it can also be frustrating for clients who want to efficiently compare prices and make informed decisions. Sessions of comparable quality to those provided by Musiversal usually start at around $150-200.
SoundBetter, released in 2012, has been a key player in the music industry for over a decade, building a solid reputation over time. Thousands of sessions have been facilitated on the platform, and the caliber of providers is reflected by the fact that many have worked with big names in the industry.
On the other hand, Musiversal has a more disruptive startup vibe, having completed more than 40,000 sessions so far and rapidly growing in popularity. The platform's highly-curated roster includes Grammy-winning musicians, producers, and engineers, which highlights the quality of the professionals on the platform.
In conclusion, both SoundBetter and Musiversal have their strengths and weaknesses. If you're looking for a larger pool of musicians and producers to choose from, with the ability to access specialized music production services, SoundBetter might be the better choice for you. However, if you're looking for a highly curated roster of top-notch musicians and producers, with a proprietary booking and file sharing system, and a focus on live efficiency, Musiversal might be the better choice. Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific needs and preferences, and it's important to carefully consider all the factors before making a decision.
