Well, I look at it this way. And I agree, the devs deserve to earn a living. However, when I price instruments and ultimately decide if something is overpriced, I compare to other instruments in their price range and the features each one brings.Debutante wrote:They are not expensive. You are poor. Big difference.
I'm not a rich person myself, but I have to back the devs on this; the time, the effort, the education that went into this is not cheap - people are earning a living. Then they have to support/upgrade it and continue educating themselves with new tech and so on. What can you do with 150 Euros today anyway?
I think it's a small price to pay for the enjoyment it brings. Wanting everything for free is unreasonable.
My perfect example is this. And mind you, I own 5 Tone 2 synths.
Saurus 2
Electra 2
Nemesis
Icarus
Rayblaster
So I'm not a Tone 2 hater.
Okay, my example. And I am not going by the current sale prices but by the regular prices that I paid for the synths.
Electra 2 - $199
Zebra 2 - $199
If you're going to tell me that, feature for feature, Electra 2 is as feature packed a synth as Zebra 2, you are on some serious drugs. There is absolutely no comparison between those synths. Zebra 2 blows Electra 2 out of the water on every count.
That is pretty much the scenario for every Tone 2 synth. If you compare them to other synths in their price range and synths even cheaper than Tone 2 synths, Tone 2 synths do not stand up.
That is not to say that Tone 2 synths aren't good. That's not the same thing. All I am saying is that I can get a synth of equal or better quality for less money.
Icarus 2 - $199
Serum - $189
I actually think both of these synths are overpriced but Serum is clearly superior in design to Icarus and it costs $10 less.
Rayblaster at $199 is almost criminal given how little that synth actually does.
Were I not someone who buys synths because he runs a business around buying synths, I probably would not have purchased more than maybe Saurus 2. I actually think that synth is a good value at $119. Not an amazing value, but a good value. Their other synths, not so much.
Tone 2's synths, based on the competition, are $150 synths outside of Saurus 2. That's what they should be selling for. Essentially they are all about $50 overpriced. That's a lot of money for some people.
Again, this is based on a synth by synth comparison comparing feature to feature.
I don't expect you to agree, and I'm sure you don't, but I just wanted you to know where I'm coming from. It has nothing to do with entitlement or not feeling that devs don't deserve to make a living. But with all the competition out there and the quality that you can get today, Tone 2's prices are on the upper end for what their synths do.
There is no disputing that.