[ Patreon Announcement ] HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2024 Updates, Plans & More~! [ MASSIVE UPDATE TALK? ] (Patreon)

Hello~!

I wanted to start this Announcement off by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR!... And also saying Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

It genuinely does mean a lot to me that you're here. 2023 has been an extremely wild ride- from Starting streaming, doing Duo Audios, KU-100 Shennanigans, and so much more... and it's really all thanks to you.

Words alone can never really show it properly- that's one of the biggest reasons I work extra hard and keep doing more and more! Really- I started off wanting to do 20-25 minute long Audios once a week- but now I'm doing at minimum 2 ~30+ Minute long Audios a Week, 3 Streams, a few Bonus Audios here and there, a long ~1 hour long Audio, etc. etc.

But... I plan for a little more still in 2024~ ^^... And this is what this post is going to be about! So- Future Azeru, If you're reading this- I hope you did good.

ALSO! I know I did these as "Monthly" Updates a long while ago- but in the end, I kinda usually end up word blurbing in the Audio posts themselves about the updates- so I never really get to say anything here ^^;...

WHEN WAS THIS LAST UPDATED : December 31st - Totally forgot to add SONG COVERS!

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NEW AUDIO SFX!

This will be the next "Generation" of my Audios- so to speak. If you've been here long enough, you might've noticed that my Audios every so often get massive upgrades to their SFX or editing style. Most Notably this comes with the changes in Microphones ( SM57 > TLM103 > KU-100 ), changes in DAC/Audio Interface ( Scarlett Solo > GoXLR > Rodecaster Pro II ) and SFX Library/Recordings! ( Free Audio SFX Online > Professional Audio Library > Custom Audio Library ( Stuff I recorded myself. ) > Live SFX Recording. )

This year- I will be working with a new SFX LIbrary soon~! This one is going to be a LOT spicier. In fact, the entire Audio Library will be featuring THOUSANDS of spicy SFX! For comparison, my current Audio Library, while it does offer over half a Million SFX ( It's the same Library that Movies use to help create sounds on top of their dedicated Foley Artist teams. ) most of it is not really spicy related.

Which does make sense- I don't think Hollywood movies really care to make spicy content on the big screen.

This new Audio Library is pretty much exclusively Spicy!... And if you're wondering why there's like thousands of SFX- well, it's because for even the most basic sound, there's a LOT of variation.

Of course- I will still Augment this Library with Live Recordings on my end to blend in Realistic sounds with the more Movie-Esque sounds that most Libraries tend to do. Again- I'll probably be experimenting with a lot of Audios in early 2024.

But yes- let's look forward to it~

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NEW EQUIPMENT PLANS

Now, to be very upfront, my current equipment is the best of the best that the industry has to offer. The Neumann TLM-103 has the LOWEST Self-Noise out of any Microphone in the market making for the cleanest Audio recordings. The Neumann KU-100 has the highest quality components for Binaural ASMR paired with a realistic Audio representation of... uh... the human head. ( One day I'll post a picture of how it looks- but just google KU-100 and you'll know xD )

Everytime I get new equipment, I do a LOT of research into it. I don't just jump in and buy the most expensive piece for no reason.

For example, the Neumann U87 Ai is Neumann's "Best" Microphone. It's the Microphone that all Studios in the world use as standard. So why didn't I get it?

It's because it's not actually the best. The U87 was designed in the 1960s. The TLM-103 uses the same capsule as the U87, but the TLM-103 simply has a much more modern design and a much more streamlined feature-set. ( Read : Less bells and whistles. ) Which might sound like a bad thing- but the features that were removed are all features that most nobody uses for a dedicated Vocal microphone. And without those extra features- the Self-Noise of the TLM-103 is quieter than the U87!

Of course- each microphone also has other strengths like the way they are tuned- so some microphones complement specific voices better than others!... But specifically for "ASMR" or quiet & clean content, the TLM-103 is really the best.

So what would I upgrade for Equipment?... The only thing really left to upgrade that is an objectively proper upgrade is a Studio Room that's build to be a Studio Room. Hopefully in 2024, I am able to move to a different place ( If I can find one! ) that better suits my needs ^^;...

EDIT : Okay, so I wrote an entire paragraph about the ccrazy neighbor story I talked about on stream- but it got too long so I deleted it xD... I'll talk about it again on stream in the future.

*Ahem* So- yeah. I'd like to move and get a better recording room. That would be the idealest of the ideal.

Another equipment upgrade that I potentially can do for SFX would be getting a Hypercardioid Microphone like the Neumann KM185 ( Or KM184 or KM183 ) for recording some live SFX. These are fairly expensive but they are specifically designed for recording a single source of sound with as minimal off-axis colouration as possible.

Oh- if I do move, I can also get more Foley related stuff... like a sandbox or gravel box, some rocks- etc. My current room(s) are small.

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NEW ARTWORKS, COMICS, AND MORE!

More Azeru Artworks~!... Yes- I've recently started contacting more artists to work with on getting some really nice Azeru Illustrations~!

Also- uh... Some of these Illustrations will be somewhat Spicy. NOT FULLY SPICY!... But a little bit of collar bone here and there, maybe some more skin showing~?... NOTHING TOO CRAZY!... Unless you want it~?

OH MY~! *Ahem*

Well- we'll see. This is uncharted territory admittedly. I never really got too much artwork of myself for myself until recent.

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NEW OUTFIT/AZERU DESIGN & NEW 3D MODEL!?

In 2024, I'm planning on trying to get some new Azeru Designs. It's a little harder for me right now since I don't actually have a "Designer".

A little lonely- not gonna lie.

But yeah. Right now I'm thinking of just removing the Coat or at least changing it ( Maybe it'll hang over my elbows like it's half off?... Or it'll just be draped over the shoulders?... ) changing the colours a bit to fit the "Fallen Angel" theme a bit more. Black Button Up Shirt, Black Slacks, White Vest~? ( Yes- similar to Bartender Diluc. )

I don't know. If you, or an artist you know, wants to draw some Outfit designs, please do feel free! ^^... Maybe I'll even host a little contest and see what future outfits I can do for Azeru~?

Oh! Speaking of- new 3D model in 2024 hopefully!

Oh- and I know that this is also focused more on Livestreaming. I do want to make it clear still that I will always focus on Audios first and foremost! I will NOT stop focusing on Audios/ASMR. ^^

Honestly, I just do Livestreaming because I do want to hang out with you all as a community... Initially I wanted to do it via Discord, but Discord has a viewer limit! Plus, twitch is more interactive!...

Speaking of Livestreaming...

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LIVESTREAM UPDATES!

SO! I want to again reiterate that I will always focus on ASMR/Audios first and foremost. I will NOT, nor do I have plans to, become a "streamer". Again, I mostly do these to hang out with you! ^^

And that's what this Update is about! When I first started streaming this year, I did play single player longer games. Forespoken was the first!... But I eventually transitioned into just really hanging out with you...

For 2024, I'd really like to do more gaming WITH you. I'll try to set up some games that I can have the community join in on or at least interact with in some way. ( Like Cult of the Lamb, Minecraft, etc. )

I'd also like to do more stuff in general. We can watch funny stuff together, I can game more, etc... But I still want to talk to you more than anything else. We'll really have to see. ^^

OH! I really want to implement Bloke or some other stream mascot for 2024... hopefully the artists can work with it. ^^

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F.A.Q UPDATE!

I will be UPDATING the F.A.Q ( Frequently Asked Questions )[ https://www.patreon.com/posts/65565394 ] post in the coming week! Right now- it is fairly outdated and some new questions are being asked fairly frequently now- so we'll be doing that!

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INTERACTION UPDATE!

I want to reply to more comments quq... I still read the comments, but I genuinely have not been able to reply as much as I would like to. I also don't want to just "Like" or "Heart" the comment and not reply because I feel like that just makes it seem like I'm "Faking" it.... does that make sense? It's the same with the suggestions channel on Discord. While I might not react or reply there, I do read them all!

So, for 2024, I would like to reply more here ^^

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PERK UPDATES!

Now, the Perks of Tiers!... The biggest thing I want to change is the Membership Cards.

I mentioned this on Discord a while back, but I've been wanting to get the updated Metal VIP Cards... They're going to be the same design, BUT... with a THICKER piece of metal. Maybe twice as thick?

It's REALLY nice...

I also wanted to update the Premium Membership Card. Right now it's made from a thicker piece of Synthetic Polymer... uh- Plastic. I like saying the latter since it sounds fancier... BUT anyway-

It's made from that and it's Silver Foil Stamped. It looks really nice but I kinda want to upgrade it into metal. Potentially.

So, basically...

VIP tier and Above - Will be getting new Thicker VIP Cards. I might update the design a little.

Premium Patrons - Will potentially be getting a Metal Premium Card with an updated design. It'll be the same thickness as the current VIP cards

I may still keep doing standard membership cards etc. I don't know ^^;...

But on the topic of perks, there will also be new FORMS to fill out for those at the appropriate tier. I'll be updating my tierlist spreadsheet to help organize stuff better. This is more background related stuff, but y'know. It's something still ^^;

Now what will I do with the current set of VIP cards and Premium Cards?... To be honest, I might do small giveaways or auction them off. This is a bit out of left field, but I've kinda been wanting to run a charity drive for a local animal shelter that I volunteered at a long time ago. They're still around, but maybe I can use the VIP cards as a thank you similar to how I did the Premium Cards as a Thank You for those that helped support on twitch at T3 when we were doing the Partner Plus Push.( I have quite a bit of VIP and Premium cards still since I do have to order these in bulk... otherwise I'd have to pay an absurd amount per card. )

Or I can do the Otter Foundation that we did a while back too!

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MERCH UPDATES

Merchandise coming this year!... In fact, some of it is already out! But, in 2024, I want to get you more!... Not just more... but Better Quality for Better Value!... I'll explain more down below.

MAIN SHOP- [ https://azeru-official-shop.fourthwall.com/?source=dashboard ]

UWU MARKET COLLAB- [ https://uwumarket.us/collections/azeru ]

OG SPREADSHOP- [ https://azeru-official.myspreadshop.com/ ]

I have a LOT of merchandise that I want to get done that quite a few of you had requested... Mainly...
- Plushie(s) ( Requires minimum order quantity. )
- Hoodies/Clothing
- Acrylic Keychains ( Requires minimum order quantity. )
- Stickers

To expand a bit more, Plushies are probably going to be the most difficult and most time consuming to do. I don't want to just get a cheaply made felt one or something just to say "Oh look, we have a plushie!"... No no no- I want quality. But hopefully I can do this! ^^

Acrylic Keychains and Stickers are fairly self explanatory. I'll get some cute Chibi works and stuff~... Or maybe some more "Cool" ones?

The one that I want to talk about the most would be the Hoodies/Clothing. Basically, for 2024, I want to release a "Discreet" line of Merch alongside the more overt anime-inspired Azeru stuff. Now what does "Discreet" mean and why do I want it?

Well, I know that not everyone wants to wear a Hoodie with a giant anime character in maybe a questionable pose. I know that we are classy. We are professional. So I wanted some quality clothing that FEELS nice to wear and touch that has a more discreet design style. A more "If you know, you know ;) " kind of feel to it.

Basically, it's just going to be high quality material with maybe a Broken Halo as the design.

That isn't to say that I won't have more overt merch- no no no~... We will have those too! ^^

But- to step back a bit, on the topic of Quality. This is something that I REFUSE to really back down on. I really genuinely want nothing but the BEST for you while keeping it reasonable and good Value.

To be very honest and blunt, a LOT of places do have high margins on their merchandise. We're talking about anywhere from 20% to 60% profit margins. And I get it. It costs money to get artwork or illustrations for a piece of Merch. It's very expensive due to licensing costs. And I also get it that the main point of Merch is to support your creator of choice- but I don't like the idea of people or companies charging someone a ton of money for lower quality merch. Plus I want you to get nice stuff first and foremost.

So, really- whenever I do any Merch, I actually put my "Revenue Share" ( Profit Margins. ) to be as low as possible. It does have some issues though. While it's nice to know that I can charge, in some cases, almost 50% cheaper for a better quality product- I also know that some people might see it and think "Oh.. wow, that's super cheap... it must be bad quality" or "Wow, Azeru merch is cheaper- he must go for bad products" even when in reality, I probably make like $2 out of a $50 hoodie... which is the same quality of better than a $100 hoodie you can find at other places.

Why can I sell it for $50?... Well, remember when I mentioned 20%-50% profit margin?...Yeah- I just have the bare minimum they let me. I also just eat the cost of the Artwork/Illustration since I can also use it for other stuff ^^

But yeah- I am well aware some people see Price = Quality... As sad as it is.

Oh... I think I overblurbed on this one... Sorry it's so long q-q

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SONG COVERS

If time is willing, I do want to make fun song covers! ^^ I've already done one- and I plan to keep improving!

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IF I FORGET SOMETHING, I WILL UPDATE IT HERE!.. Admittedly, I've been typing this for over 2 hours now. 3?... I lost track of time. I started typing this when I pushed "Send" on the Diluc ASMR Before this....

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Thank you~

- Azeru, The Fallen Angel