I skipped Tracktion 1 to let things mature a bit before coming aboard. When the T2 demo was released I grabbed it, and was generally pleased.
Although there is much to be done and fixed, I am impressed with where things are at only the 2nd release. It is enough to make me feel confident that it will only get better from here, and make me want to use this as my primary creative environment for audio composition.
I recorded a song in T2, despite the pulsing noise in the demo, and began checking the forums every day to see when I could register and render. I was happy one day to see it was released. I had all intentions of typing in my credit card #, hitting a few buttons, and exporting my project... but Mackie had other plans.
The great thing about the information age... the thing that frightens organizations like the RIAA, MPAA, and old dinosaur corps is that valuable products are now reduced to thin air. The costs involved in development, storage, and distribution of your goods are unbelievably small in comparison to wares of the past. This means that software is never out of stock, and yet, here I am with all my gear, waiting to produce songs, and am unable to.
I ordered T2 from MusiciansFriend.com 9 days ago, and every day their website says, "Out of stock, due tomorrow". The next day comes, the date is incremented, and it is always due tomorrow. The fact that I even was forced to order software, printed using precious natural resources, forcing a man in a polluting van to personally deliver it to my home is absurd.
This is 2005 Mackie.
Now, I do have a copy of the T2 demo crack on my drive, and I have considered using it in order to unlock software I have already paid for and yet do not have in my hands. But I've decided against it. I shouldn't have to resort to tricks. The software is available for download, the mackie website has the necessary backend, so why am I not able to purchase a license online?
Here is how it would work if I were in charge.
You may obtain T2 in one of two ways:
a) Visit mackie.com, register an account, enter your Credit Card # and receive a key which is used to unlock the downloadable demo for $x. For $y in a separate charge, if you choose, you will receive a T2 CD and the 3rd party plugin CDs, all of which are in paper slip wrappers (glossy with T2 design printed on them) and they are sent in a standard padded envelope rather than a retail box.
b) Purchase hardware (most likely Mackie name), which comes with the same CDs from above. When installed it is in demo mode, and you unlock it the same way as above (for free). There is the possibility of restricting this license so that it is not eligible for the upgrade price for major releases in the future, forcing them to purchase a full license.
This scheme allows for a high volume of sales with minimal expense due to it's primary online distribution. Most people would just buy the online version, and many who receive it bundled would end up buying it at the next major release.
For the old fashioned types that want to physically purchase it standalone in the store, it will provide them with incentive to buy one of the pieces of hardware that comes with it bundled. Otherwise they will simply download it.
I've heard people who only pirate software say, "How much? $150? Wow I might actually buy software." But we don't buy software when it requires going to the store, or waiting. We want it now, and by forcing us to find an online store to order from, and then wait days for it to arrive you are losing many impulse sales.
You see Mackie, software is never out of stock... and if you insist on pretending that it is, you lose.
Software Is Never Out Of Stock
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- KVRAF
- 3745 posts since 29 Sep, 2002 from Killafornia
Your post is as stupid as it is boring and it contributes nothing to this forum.
Why would you order your product from a website that didnt already have it in stock? I bought mine from www.samedaymusic.com and it arrived 2 days later with free 2nd day shipping and no tax.
You gotta do your research when you're shopping online. Thats how the "information age" works. AND if you hadnt "skipped" T1 you would be able to upgrade immediately online for only 20 bux. So what exactly is this little rant about? You need attention or something? What does the RIAA, MPAA have to do with any of this. You should be complaining to Musicians Friend for lying to you.
Why would you order your product from a website that didnt already have it in stock? I bought mine from www.samedaymusic.com and it arrived 2 days later with free 2nd day shipping and no tax.
You gotta do your research when you're shopping online. Thats how the "information age" works. AND if you hadnt "skipped" T1 you would be able to upgrade immediately online for only 20 bux. So what exactly is this little rant about? You need attention or something? What does the RIAA, MPAA have to do with any of this. You should be complaining to Musicians Friend for lying to you.
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- KVRist
- 453 posts since 10 Jul, 2003 from Rotterdam
Whether or not mackie should make t2 available online to everyone, i think alot of people will be asking this question. Whatever the reasons for it, i agree that this can make mackie seem a little behind the times.The software is available for download, the mackie website has the necessary backend, so why am I not able to purchase a license online?
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- KVRAF
- 3745 posts since 29 Sep, 2002 from Killafornia
It IS available to everyone. Everyone that bought T1 (which is really everyone that matters anywayscbit wrote:Whether or not mackie should make t2 available online to everyone, i think alot of people will be asking this question. Whatever the reasons for it, i agree that this can make mackie seem a little behind the times.The software is available for download, the mackie website has the necessary backend, so why am I not able to purchase a license online?
). But they're obviously trying to make the transition to a boxed product so selling it online and boxed would be smart would it? Wheres the Sonar, Cubase, Logic, DP, and Samplitude downloads at?-
- KVRist
- 72 posts since 10 Apr, 2003 from Michigan
I don't know -- the last time I looked you couldn't download Cubase or Sonar from their respective manufacturers. I also know that there are issues with a manufacturer selling a product directly when they have dealers and distributors trying to sell the same thing.
I'm sure Mackie has reasons for deciding to go the boxed/retail route for new T2 users and ongoing, and I'm sure Mackie decided that route would benefit them more than selling directly online.
Other than that: What AD80 said.
I'm sure Mackie has reasons for deciding to go the boxed/retail route for new T2 users and ongoing, and I'm sure Mackie decided that route would benefit them more than selling directly online.
Other than that: What AD80 said.
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- KVRist
- 453 posts since 10 Jul, 2003 from Rotterdam
that true: but it just means that sonar cubase logic dp and smaplitude are behind too
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- KVRAF
- 1615 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
I agree that only selling physical copies is a shame and a waste. Yes DP Sonar Cubase are all box only also. But on the other hand, Live and Max/MSP are downloadable (and a billion vstis)...
I know everyone will hate this but I actually like ilok...
I know everyone will hate this but I actually like ilok...
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- KVRAF
- 4644 posts since 28 Nov, 2002 from Chicago
semiquaver wrote: I know everyone will hate this but I actually like ilok...
Someone shot the food. Remember: don't shoot food!
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- KVRAF
- 1974 posts since 21 Jun, 2002 from Earth
if you are a first time purchaser of Live, you must purchase a box... unless I'm missing something, because I see no download option. Upgraders are eligible for a download tho. Kinda sounds like Tracktion to me... 
ModuLR / Radio
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- KVRAF
- 16154 posts since 2 Dec, 2003 from Nashville, TN
Yeah, until the iLok is stolen or lost and the companies won't offer you another license. My school, SAE in Nashville, just had one of theirs stolen by a student. And they were not allowed new licenses, so they were out thousands of dollars on all the top software available, from ProTools plugs to Auto-Tune, etc. Now, you have to give them your license every time you want a dongle or iLok for anything. Sad, really.
Anyway, to say that Live and Max, etc are downloadable is not really relevant. They aren't as big of packages as T2 boxed. And so what anyway. I don't say this to be mean, just to say that just because a few companies do it, doesn't mean it's wrong not to. I think that Tracktion is being meant to compete for the users of apps like Cubase, Sonar, etc. and so they do it the same way. And to not come upon any problems with undermining your retail chains, sometimes it's just best to not sell it. With the exception of plug-ins, more companies do sell their software through retail only. And even some plug-ins are sold that way(many, actually).
It's the way Mackie chose to go with T2, and I doubt it will change. Even though I do think it would be nice to have a downloadable version of the full package, I understand that sometimes it's just not feasible.
Koolkeys
Anyway, to say that Live and Max, etc are downloadable is not really relevant. They aren't as big of packages as T2 boxed. And so what anyway. I don't say this to be mean, just to say that just because a few companies do it, doesn't mean it's wrong not to. I think that Tracktion is being meant to compete for the users of apps like Cubase, Sonar, etc. and so they do it the same way. And to not come upon any problems with undermining your retail chains, sometimes it's just best to not sell it. With the exception of plug-ins, more companies do sell their software through retail only. And even some plug-ins are sold that way(many, actually).
It's the way Mackie chose to go with T2, and I doubt it will change. Even though I do think it would be nice to have a downloadable version of the full package, I understand that sometimes it's just not feasible.
Koolkeys
My host is better than your host
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- KVRAF
- 1884 posts since 9 Feb, 2004 from Rochester, MN
