Are we seeing the decline of the plug-in industry?

[kenobi77]

Piracy? When have we last seen a working crack of a decent plugin?

The era of keygens has been over for a while and nothing is easier than making a crack not work.

I suppose this is why the big crack teams have given up. They all lost whatever reputation they had, so there's nothing in it anymore.

This also means that stuff that formerly wasn't protected well (i.e. most indie devs) is now available for money only. Thus, less budget for the big boys with their dongles...

I assumed that the problem was just getting worse, hearting to know that it's improving.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

Current deep discounts on Lexicon. Current deep discounts on Waves software. Ongoing sales by a wide variety of software manufacturers.

Are Kracks killing the industry?

Are the software developers trying to fight piracy with lower (and lower) prices?

Anyone have thoughts about what's happening out there?

I mean, I love the lower (and lower) prices, but I hope this isn't pointing to major difficulties that software developers are having with kracks and piracy. That would totally suck.

I know that one of Lexicon's main software programmers left early this year...is this due to the challenging nature of that industry?

there is no working 64 bit (ie recent) pcm bundle crack, in existence, so in lexicon's case at least, piracy is not the issue. they just decided to be assholes.

[robotmonkey]

Piracy? When have we last seen a working crack of a decent plugin?

Well, unfortunately, a simple Google search would prove you wrong on this one.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

Piracy? When have we last seen a working crack of a decent plugin?

Well, unfortunately, a simple Google search would prove you wrong on this one.

I disagree.

[Crackbaby]

All those discounts are just to lure the customer. A 1000$ product must be great, buy it for 50% and it's a nobrainer. The discount harms your critical thinking. I find that discount business insulting. It shows a product's real value.

Have you guys read Lexicon's product descriptions? It's just emotional context. In short it says "If you use this product, you will be a winner". Now, are you shopping reverbs or smartdrinks, diapers, a car or perfume?

You don't have time to demo or read reviews when there's a nobrainer.

However, if you KNOW what you're after, then just wait for it. And then wait for it again. And again. Tomorrow you can buy Lexicon for 5%!

Sorry for rant.... i just really don't like the discount hysteria. I love rational and critical thinking ...

[johnnyvn]

there is no working 64 bit (ie recent) pcm bundle crack, in existence, so in lexicon's case at least, piracy is not the issue. they just decided to be assholes.

Theo, why are you saying they decided to be assholes? Because their original pricing might have been too high or because they are pissing off earlier customers by holding the discount sale now?

And on a technical note...if you are working in a 64 bit environment, will a 32 bit plug completely not work or does it still work, but just at 32 bit?

[Urs]

Piracy? When have we last seen a working crack of a decent plugin?

Well, unfortunately, a simple Google search would prove you wrong on this one.

That's good. Everyone who uses a "crack" of our stuff and invests dozens of hours in a project or two is a sure sale once the "crack" decides not to be one.

We do analytics. Every single day we get visitors from a link in an "expired demo" who then buy

[tehlord]

Piracy? When have we last seen a working crack of a decent plugin?

Well, unfortunately, a simple Google search would prove you wrong on this one.

That's good. Everyone who uses a "crack" of our stuff and invests dozens of hours in a project or two is a sure sale once the "crack" decides not to be one.

We do analytics. Every single day we get visitors from a link in an "expired demo" who then buy

Uhe is in the minority.

The vast majority of cracked plugins work perfectly well unfortunately.

I suspect that developers such as yourselves, Fabfilter, Spectrasonics and Camel etc etc who create high quality plugins and offer constant and professional support will continue to prosper however.

It's quite analogous to the music industry. It's completely saturated with literally millions of people creating content, yet I still know several people making a good living out of it.

The cream will rise to the top.

[Urs]

Hmmm, not sure if we're a minority. We've shared our methods and our intel...

[rcat]

Not with exciting new innovative plugins that push new technology to its limits, like Jam Origins Midi Guitar. Eliminates the need for a midi hex pickup system and processor for guitar to ACCURATELY send midi note data to synth plugins in real time with no latency. Also it works polyphonic and recognizes and forms chords from the chords you play on guitar, virtually unheard of until now, even to do with hardware. This is some cool stuff we got going for 2012/2013.

So no, you statement of opinion is leaning on the side of wrong. Stuff keeps getting better, and many companies are pushing the limits of quality and technology available, so there is more competition to lower prices. The freeware has gotten just as good, so even more commercial software companies focus on lowering prices to get your sale. Aside from a decent DAW, you can use all quality freeware plugins to produce something now a days, which is mostly how I roll.

Please excuse my ignorance, but is the Jam Origins Midi Guitar app available as a Win desktop app? I don't know anything about iPad, etc. apps.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

URS shares his method to any dev who wants it. that's pretty cool.

Although i think i read that zebra finally got nailed, but that's cool, as there was like years of it being un cracked. Diva still has no working version, it's full of timebombs (and rightly so)

[@midnight]

It just depends on the company. You don't ever see cracks for Slate Digital, or the new Waves plugins, or Softube etc...

Fabfilter, Izotope on the other hand, seem to be cracked the day they come out.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

there is no working 64 bit (ie recent) pcm bundle crack, in existence, so in lexicon's case at least, piracy is not the issue. they just decided to be assholes.

Theo, why are you saying they decided to be assholes? Because their original pricing might have been too high or because they are pissing off earlier customers by holding the discount sale now?

And on a technical note...if you are working in a 64 bit environment, will a 32 bit plug completely not work or does it still work, but just at 32 bit?

Well it depends on whether your host has a bit bridge, and if it does, it's still a mixed bag and quite debatable. that's the short answer.

The OP used lexicon as an example and i had to point out since lexicon is what he used as his argument for piracy, that the newer stable versions which really are the ones to have, do not exist in warez form.. ie. the ilok 2 versions.

So for now, everyone who has lexicon pcm bundle ilok 2 version, has paid for it.

It was just a poor example. When the original release was cracked over 2 years ago, one time, lexicon did not adjust their prices. Don't forget the pcm effects or MPX have NO cracks at all

The warez kiddies will tell you and claim otherwise, but they don't.

I research this stuff out of curiosity, mainly because i don't WANT ilok 2 to be cracked as i am a legit user and always will be, and i like reading that so far it has thwarted the warez kiddies. So every now and then, usually monthly, i do my best to see what the situation currently is, and am always pleasantly surprised. Let's hope it continues.

Now as far as lex, that drop is inexcusable. not that much. Not when someone may have paid $1100 a day before. I have heard of 50% sales, but this is 75% off retail. Inexcusable in every way. To me that was a totally asshole tactic, and officially the first dev in history of plugins to ever pull such a drastic fast one. Ever. I will never forget this day, the day me and hundreds of others got screwed by lex. But in the long run, karma is a bitch, and i will never spend a single cent with them again. Ever, not even one red cent. I am sure others will feel the same, and the amount they make in new sales will be negated by the amount of boycotts. I do believe that sincerely.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

It just depends on the company. You don't ever see cracks for Slate Digital, or the new Waves plugins, or Softube etc...

Fabfilter, Izotope on the other hand, seem to be cracked the day they come out.

That's interesting you say that, as the waves V9, plug in alliance, & overloud system has been hacked day one and those products have working hacks of every single one.


The other stuff, correct, no, but that's ilok 2.

Fabfilter have timebombs built in.. i really like reading that stuff, often they just say that the code is unauthorized, after maybe working a while, and they revert to buy page. Izotope i don't know about,

but that's the stupidity of it all. URS has a working system that does not rely on any C/R, and will never inconvenience the user, ever, or ever worry about the company going belly up, etc, yet they stubbornly refuse to accept his free help and continue with their own customer annoying, cracked on day one C/R rubbish methods. ... hmm...

[Numanoid]

but that's the stupidity of it all. URS has a working system that does not rely on any C/R, and will never inconvenience the user, ever, or ever worry about the company going belly up, etc, yet they stubbornly refuse to accept his free help and continue with their own customer annoying, cracked on day one C/R rubbish methods. ... hmm...

Are you for real?