I shit you not... http://openlabs.com/index.php

I love freeware and all, but what do you think of this? I mean, while they're at, shouldn't they throw every quality freeware synth in, too?

Virtual Instruments: Audio Nerdz Delay Lama, IK Sample Tank, LP Cronox, LP Delta III, LP RM III, LP Organ, MDA Epiano, Tiki Clav, Buzz Room Lollapalooza lite, Buzz Room BB303i v2, Green Oak Crystal, RGC Audio Triangle, Big Tick cheese machine, Elogoxa Sun RA, TweakBench Toad, TweakBench Tapeworm, RumpelRausch Crazy Diamond, Guido ORGANized Trio, Massiva Energy XT.

Virtual Effects: Spin Audio FXDesigner, Spin Audio Room Verb, Spin Audio Spin Delay, kjaerhus Chorus, kjaerhus EQ, kjaerhus Flanger, kjaerhus Master Limiter, kjaerhus Classic Verb, Big Tick Dual Delay, Big Tick Hexaline, Big Tick Nasty Shaper, Buzz Room Filter One, Buzz Room Watabe BUZ, Buzz Room Octo Buzz, Buzz Room Wox V.2, Buzz Room Twox V.2.

http://openlabs.com/index.php

well only half of that is freeware

as long as they have permission from the authors, what's the problem?

I'm failing to see an issue with this either.

Devon

hoy melonie, your type looks huge

Quote:

I'm failing to see an issue with this either.

Well, it's almost like McDonald's boasting that their Big Mac comes bundled with a wrapper and french fry container. I mean, they're free anyways.

And, like I said, why not load it with more, even better free synths as long as you're at it? Surely they wouldn't occupy tons of hard drive space.

valley wrote:

as long as they have permission from the authors, what's the problem?

Are the authors getting paid? I wouldn't mind that.

BTW, I remember a similar controversy over Receptor too.

Quote:

BTW, I remember a similar controversy over Receptor too.

Thanks. I knew it was controversial, and I'm having a hard time understanding why some have said it's not.

And speaking of getting paid, are any of these developers of the freeware getting compensation for this? I'm really curious.

melaniepiper wrote:

Well, it's almost like McDonald's boasting that their Big Mac comes bundled with a wrapper and french fry container. I mean, they're free anyways.

Exactly! The keyword there is "boasting". I see no problem with including the freeware, but just say "comes pre-loaded with a selection of the internet's best freeware" so that you're not using it as a selling feature.

I mean, if McDonald's were to say, "Comes wrapped in a nice piece of paper to prevent the contents sliding out" I wouldn't mind that, either, because they're just saying what it is without any pretense.

Greg

Quote:

I mean, if McDonald's were to say, "Comes wrapped in a nice piece of paper to prevent the contents sliding out" I wouldn't mind that, either, because they're just saying what it is without any pretense.

Openlabs solicited permission from a host of plugin developers, prior to making this product available.

there's really nothing to see here

scuzzphut wrote:

Quote:

there's really nothing to see here

Actually, there is scuzz. Presumably, there are potential buyers of this product who will see the listed software and assume they are getting applications that are sold seperately elsewhere (because Cheeze Machine, for example, is listed along with Energy XT and Sonic Synth).

Better to list it the way Lunch Money suggested.

Quote:

Exactly! The keyword there is "boasting". I see no problem with including the freeware, but just say "comes pre-loaded with a selection of the internet's best freeware" so that you're not using it as a selling feature.

It's not as if they are selling software though, they are selling hardware. The box is what it is. That they've dumped some software on there to get people up and running out of the store is by the by. You're paying $3000 for a hefty lump of hardware, not software.

The only thing I take issue with is that they make comparisons between their device and a pro-tools rig, which is a little disengenious IMV.

.......and why is it wrong to use it as a selling feature if you've had everyone's permission to do so?

maybe these guys *are* getting paid!!!

don't expect people who are trying to sell an expensive piece of hardware to play by the same rules as the folks in your local hippy commune do.............

It might be better in the eyes of a few tree-huggers to say " we've included this commercial software, but most of the stuff is actually free stuff you could get yourself" but ask yourself this - would *you* do that if your job was at stake and you had checked with all concerned that it was okay?

reality check required at checkout 13

If they have permission (obviously they do), and people are crazy enough to buy those neko's etc, then have at it.

scuzzphut wrote:

...don't expect people who are trying to sell an expensive piece of hardware to play by the same rules as the folks in your local hippy commune do... It might be better in the eyes of a few tree-huggers to say " we've included this commercial software, but most of the stuff is actually free stuff you could get yourself" but ask yourself this - would *you* do that if your job was at stake and you had checked with all concerned that it was okay? reality check required at checkout 13

I don't see how my suggestion is that of a granola-crunching, Birkenstock-wearing hippie.

I don't see how it would affect their bottom line to simply say: Includes: (list of commercial plug-ins) and a selection of the best the internet has to offer, including: (lists freebies).

Reality check, my ass. It's called honest business practice, and believe it or not a few companies in the world still follow it.

Greg

Quote:

Reality check, my ass. It's called honest business practice, and believe it or not a few companies in the world still follow it.

High five, Greg! My sentiments exactly.

[edit]

But admit it: you love the satisfying crunch of granola every now and then, don't you?

Lunch Money wrote:

Quote:

"comes pre-loaded with a selection of the internet's best freeware"

Sounds like a commie suggestion if I ever heard one. Thanks for the reality check, scuzzphut!

melaniepiper wrote:

scuzzphut wrote: Quote: there's really nothing to see here Actually, there is scuzz. Presumably, there are potential buyers of this product who will see the listed software and assume they are getting applications that are sold seperately elsewhere (because Cheeze Machine, for example, is listed along with Energy XT and Sonic Synth). Better to list it the way Lunch Money suggested. Quote: Exactly! The keyword there is "boasting". I see no problem with including the freeware, but just say "comes pre-loaded with a selection of the internet's best freeware" so that you're not using it as a selling feature.

LOL you make it sound like some bumbling idiot is going to walk in/surf onto site, and just buy this without any knowledge about anything lol!

I am positive most at least "semi" pro's in the music industry who would purchase a $3000 item, would already know what most of the software included already is! Shoot they prolly will have thier own personal compies of stuff at home!

So why is this a big deal? I think you need to "care" about other things, and not something lame like this.. IMO

ZZZzzzZZZ......

Now what where we talking about?

Quote:

LOL you make it sound like some bumbling idiot is going to walk in/surf onto site, and just buy this without any knowledge about anything lol!

Just look at the VSTi ignorance of Open Labs' creators and say that again...

"Virtual Instruments: Audio Nerdz Delay Lama, IK Sample Tank, LP Cronox, LP Delta III, LP RM III, LP Organ, MDA Epiano, Tiki Clav, Buzz Room Lollapalooza lite, Buzz Room BB303i v2, Green Oak Crystal, RGC Audio Triangle, Big Tick cheese machine, Elogoxa Sun RA, TweakBench Toad, TweakBench Tapeworm, RumpelRausch Crazy Diamond, Guido ORGANized Trio, Massiva Energy XT."

Even the most genius hardware designers/electronic musicians like the Open Labs crew didn't know that:

1.) There's no such thing as "Tiki" Clav, unless it's some sort of crude Polynesian VSTi I've never heard of.

2.) Triangle has been updated to version 2 for three years now, if not more.

3.) A Cheese Machine is something you see in Wisconsin. The actual VSTi is called "Cheeze Machine." If you ever used it, you'd understand the sacred importance of the Z.

Not to mention Crazy "Diamond."

....Care to rethink your stance?

MDMAchine wrote:

I am positive most at least "semi" pro's in the music industry who would purchase a $3000 item, would already know what most of the software included already is! Shoot they prolly will have thier own personal compies of stuff at home! So why is this a big deal? I think you need to "care" about other things, and not something lame like this.. IMO

It seems to me that the demographic you're speaking from is not the demographic that would even USE the freeware. So if it's a part of their marketing campaign, obviously they ARE appealing to users who may not know that much. You make the mistake of assuming that the average consumer is just like us, checking in on internet forums and aware of the latest stuff. They're simply not.

I didn't say it's a big deal. I was merely agreeing with Melanie that it's a bit of a sneaky marketing tactic in the way they worded it. I, for one, DO care about many many things other than this... and if it didn't come up in my "view your posts" with new posts, I would have forgotten it already.

It only takes 30 seconds to make a reply to a thread. Hardly my life's energy devoted to it.

geeseaplenty wrote:

Sounds like a commie suggestion if I ever heard one. Thanks for the reality check, scuzzphut!

<goes to the laundry to make sure his pink outfit isn't bleeding colour into his blue collars>

this is such a non-issue. has someone got a personal gripe with this company or something

Cabinfever wrote:

this is such a non-issue. has someone got a personal gripe with this company or something

Hmmm...I don't quite get it either.

Cabinfever wrote:

this is such a non-issue

i concur ...

... lets argue about hosts instead

slainte rob

pHz wrote:

... lets argue about hosts instead

Indeed! My host is better than anyone's host!!1!1!

Cabinfever wrote:

Quote:

this is such a non-issue. has someone got a personal gripe with this company or something

Yes, I take issue with Open Labs for not delineating commercial ware from freeware. Sue me.

(And you perhaps you should post in the thread that interests you, next time. )

Lunch Money wrote:

Quote:

It seems to me that the demographic you're speaking from is not the demographic that would even USE the freeware. So if it's a part of their marketing campaign, obviously they ARE appealing to users who may not know that much. You make the mistake of assuming that the average consumer is just like us, checking in on internet forums and aware of the latest stuff. They're simply not.

Yes, it doesn't make sense, and that's all I've been saying since my initial post. Thanks Granola Man!

gold wrote:

pHz wrote: ... lets argue about hosts instead Indeed! My host is better than anyone's host!!1!1!

But mine's bigger than yours!
(In reality I guess not, as I use eXT.)

BTW - Betabugs-Greg: You rock (as always)!

What's there to "get"?

It's an internet forum!

It's almost ALL pointless!

[edit: SparkySpark - I believe you'll find that Fizz (sic) r0X0rz harder than me.]

melaniepiper wrote:

Cabinfever wrote: Quote: this is such a non-issue. has someone got a personal gripe with this company or something Yes, I take issue with Open Labs for not delineating commercial ware from freeware. Sue me. (And you perhaps you should post in the thread that interests you, next time. )

I agree with you this _is_ an issue. Although not very alarming, it's certainly not good practice (and I should know, having worked as a CIO in a not too small music software company).

I think it's a good thing that consumer groups such as the KvR gang take action when something seems to get a bit out of hand. It's better to do that now than when we get a much "sneakier" climate, with many software developers having to be even sneakier in their advertising to keep up with the rather sneaky ones...

I hope this thread reaches the company we were discussing. Then they'll be more careful next time, and that's that.

Never underestimate us as a leading consumer group!

/SparkySpark

Lunch Money wrote:

[edit: SparkySpark - I believe you'll find that Fizz (sic) r0X0rz harder than me.]

Oh - so you're not _that hard_?! Then I bet you have a mullet cut!

/SpSp

I believe you meant to call it a "shorty long-back" or a 3-11.

Actually, I'm shaved right to the skull. Doesn't get much harder than that. GRRRRrrr...

(takes a bite of granola)

Quote:

and I should know, having worked as a CIO in a not too small music software company

Finally, justification from someone who doesn't eat granola or hug trees.

...a former CIO, no less!

Do you wear Birkenstocks? Wait, don't answer that.

melaniepiper wrote:

...a former CIO, no less! Do you wear Birkenstocks? Wait, don't answer that.

No - we were much harder than that! In fact, our President was as shaved as BetaBugs-Greg!

this thread was funnny

can we kill it, now

I hug Granola and EAT trees.

And I'm a CTO. Nya.

Meffy

Quote:

this thread was funnny can we kill it, now

No.

Why are you so suspiciously eager to "kill it"? Do you have a vested interest in Open Labs?

By the way, I'd armwrestle my own grandmother to my get my hands on a NeKo 64.

melaniepiper wrote:

By the way, I'd armwrestle my own grandmother to my get my hands on a NeKo 64.

You like to place heavy hurdles in front of your dreams then?

Meffy wrote:

I hug Granola and EAT trees.

Nothing washes down a nice pint of ale like a good chunk of poplar.

melaniepiper wrote:

Quote: Reality check, my ass. It's called honest business practice, and believe it or not a few companies in the world still follow it. High five, Greg! My sentiments exactly. [edit] But admit it: you love the satisfying crunch of granola every now and then, don't you?

I guess the idea is so that you have an idea of the sounds you will be getting onboard plus the fact that you know these plugs work simple enough?

valley wrote:

Meffy wrote: I hug Granola and EAT trees. Nothing washes down a nice pint of ale like a good chunk of poplar.

=^_^= Just so! It's a very pop'lar cure for what ales you.

Must admit I'm an amateur -- my porcupine friends are higher on the xylophagosity scale.

Meffy

valley wrote:

I don't get it?

at that price i wouldnt either

Quote:

I guess the idea is so that you have an idea of the sounds you will be getting onboard plus the fact that you know these plugs work simple enough?

You obviously haven't read this thread. Go back and read it. Then you can shout.