KVR Audio

mckenic · Post by **mckenic** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:35 pm

So long as they forget about DRM - well OK then!

Sotiris · Post by **Sotiris** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:23 am

This is a difficult situation for NI.
They have to deal with two major problems:
1. What to develop next, now that most of their products are so full and mature (this also applies to most other music software companies), and
2. How to please all of the people all of the time with package deals.
For the second problem there's no solution.
Each one of us has different needs and uses for music software and Komplete cannot cover this.
For example, i have Komplete 2 and use Kontakt 2 every day, Absynth 3, FM7 and Pro53 almost every day, Kompakt, Battery, B4 and Reaktor rarely, and Intakt, Spectral Delay and Vokator almost never. I'm starting to dive into Reaktor occasionally, but Spectral Delay and Vokator puzzle me because of their user interface, although i believe there are real treasures waiting to be discovered there ...
Since i also paid for Komplete Care 2005 i expect to get B4 II until December 2005, (no thrills about this) so why should i upgrade to Komplete 3? I don't care about Elektrik piano and Guitar rig, but wouldn't mind "having them around just in case ..." So, if upgrading Komplete 2 to Komplete 3 is at a low cost (??) i'll probably upgrade. But i'm still puzzled about why i should buy Komplete care 2006 ... What will be upgrated? Which easily brings me to the first problem:
What to upgrade?
Let's face it. NI and other companies (Steinberg, Cakewalk, etc.) have been developing their software for a loooong time, and most of their products are full, complete, mature music tools already. The fascinating phase of real innovation has past (????) and we're in the "refinement" period. All music software is becoming almost the same (to each other) because every new idea is quickly copied by other "competitors" in the next upgrade, making each program bigger, better, slower and more difficult to use. Look, for example, how Live and Tracktion started and what they became now ... and what's the REAL difference between Cubase, Sonar and Logic?
So, where does NI stand? What can they upgrade? What new products can they make?
First of all, i bet NI's secret is a Sequencer/Host/DAW/Virtual Studio in the making. I'll be very surprised if NI do not produce some kind of sequencer/virtual studio to complete their range of music software. But this is NOT covered by Komplete 3 ...
Pro53 and FM7 only need a good effects section on their outputs for standalone use,
and Absynth 3 needs a few more effects and a friendlier user interface.
Kontakt 2 is great, so is Battery 2 and Kompakt and there was no real NEED to upgrade B4,
but ... here it is!
Reaktor 6 could have the ability to produce ensembles as standalone and plugin VST effects and VSTi instruments and i really can't imagine where Intakt, Spectral Delay and Vokator can go in the future ...
One upgrade i'd like to see is small built-in sequencers for each VSTi, tailor made for each one. A pattern based, drum-machine built into Battery, a linear-based one in Kontakt and B4, an algorithmic/randomising/procedural one in Absynth, etc. When used in standalone mode we could record something, save it and instantly use it later in a sequencer, which could only be a VST host which syncs all the "built in" sequences together ...
So, must i "upgrade"?
Probably not.
I've spent too much time installing, reinstalling, upgrading, organising my sample libraries, etc and did NOT make music because of this (and other reasons, ok?).
Now i want to SIT DOWN AND PLAY MUSIC!!!!
And that's what i'm going to do.
But ... wait a minute! All these sounds in Komplete Sound 2 .... MMMMmmmm!
This is a GOOD deal!!!
I'll buy this one, install it, and THEN play music.
Unless NI come up with a new product which i absolutely must install ...
Got it?

baggio · Post by **baggio** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:46 pm

From N.I. website

NI KOMPLETE 2 -> NI KOMPLETE 3 Update 299 euros

NI KOMPLETE CARE 2005 -> NI KOMPLETE 3 Update 199 Euros

NI KOMPLETE CARE 2005 -> NI KOMPLETE 3 + NI KOMPLETE CARE 2006 419 Euros

As a Komplete care 2005 owner I feel a bit ripped off at this.

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:45 pm

baggio wrote:From N.I. website

NI KOMPLETE CARE 2005 -> NI KOMPLETE 3 + NI KOMPLETE CARE 2006 419 Euros[/b]

As a Komplete care 2005 owner I feel a bit ripped off at this.

Yup. Me too. This really sucks big time. I was hoping they would at least have some sort of introductory offer that was more decent than that.

baggio · Post by **baggio** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:34 pm

End of day should be 350 euros max but even that is at the higher end - I don't think N.I. have been true to their word regarding KC2005.

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:54 pm

Maybe the Care pack stuff didn't pay off for them and they want K2 users to move to K3 without taking up the KC2006 deal.

mckenic · Post by **mckenic** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:59 pm

So elektric piano, some sound banks, Guitar rig without a controller and whatever they deem needs updating in 06 is gonna set me back 498 Euro???

f**k that!!!

Bye bye N.I.

....

Ok just re read this - 299 Euro K2 -> K3 I could prolly swallow... any price for KC05 -> 06??? Thats gonna be the stinger for me!!!

Thanks for the heads up!

Dave

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:06 pm

mckenic wrote:any price for KC05 -> 06??? Thats gonna be the stinger for me!!!

$479 (or €419)

mckenic · Post by **mckenic** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:23 pm

oK - sorry what I mean is 299 K2 to K3... Id prolly pay.

Komplete Care 05 to Komplete Care 06 would be the clincher as to if I upgrade or piss off!!!

Dave

Blank_Frank · Post by **Blank_Frank** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:42 pm

There's one price that's missing from that list:-

Komplete Care 2006 (for Komplete 2 or 3) $279/€249

- until 31st Dec.

So if you're happy with what you've got in Komplete 2, but still want the upgrades in 2006, this is the one for you. At least, that's how I understood it. Then again, maybe I'm just confused.

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:46 pm

Blank_Frank wrote:There's one price that's missing from that list:-

Komplete Care 2006 (for Komplete 2 or 3) $279/€249

- until 31st Dec.

So if you're happy with what you've got in Komplete 2, but still want the upgrades in 2006, this is the one for you. At least, that's how I understood it. Then again, maybe I'm just confused.

Yeah, all fine and dandy. But mighty expensive if you look at the list of products. What will get updated in 2006? Reaktor 5? Kontakt 2? Absynth 3? Not likely...it becomes a matter of pure guesswork.

I'm happy with KC2005 but will think long and hard before I jump on KC2006.

ravasb · Post by **ravasb** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:57 pm

I bought Komplete care 2005. I feel I got my money's worth, but not much more. I took a leap of faith, and I think it worked out okay, but nothing great. The special offers were not even that special or that frequent. I think NI should let us know what will be updated in Komplete care 2006, at least a couple of things they know for sure. I love a lot of NIs products, but I am beginning to find the process of keeping up with them very stressful and not fun.

It is possible they have just hit the wall creatively. I am not sure the world really needs another expensive GM sound module. I wonder if their most creative people are still with them or have gone on to other companies. Everything seems like maintenance and marketing.

andrew71 · Post by **andrew71** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:18 pm

As NI released updates throughout 2005, they became part of the Komplete 2 package. I bought the 7 product upgrade to Komplete 2 just after they included Absynth 3 and Battery 2. If the same thing happens during 2006, it might pay to wait until we're some way into the year and then upgrade from 2 > 3.

If I'd waited until a few weeks ago I would have got the 7 product update for 99 euros and it would have included Battery, Absynth, Reaktor and Kontakt updates - unless I'm very much mistaken...

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:27 pm

andrew71 wrote:it might pay to wait until we're some way into the year and then upgrade from 2 > 3

My thoughts exactly.

zai · Post by **zai** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:27 pm

Way to go NI, I kinda guess that they would do this...releasing updates/upgrades within a year...and sucker people into buying the Kimplete Care year after year. This is a great way to make money.

But then again, NI do have some amazing products. But don't think that they're going to roll out Kontakt 3 or Battery 3 or Absynth 4 or...how long can they keep this up? I don't see how they could...unless I'm missing something here. Development usually takes a while...test after test...and sometimes it could take 2-3 years in between "major" updates/upgrades. Things are going to slow down...and people are going to feel a little upset...but that I was expecting when they introduced Komplete Care 2005.

I know, "hind sight" talking here...but I wish companies would think before they offer something like this. There are going to be people who can't afford the package, there are people who can and then there are people who think they can but they really can't.

Zai

NI new stuff & Komplete Care 2006