KVR Audio

AhmedTaburov · Post by **AhmedTaburov** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:05 am

Hi!
One year ago I decided it's time to ditch all the warez, format my HD and "become legal".The problem was money, most of which I spent on hardware.So I decided to search for the best free VST effects & instruments to use inside FL Studio.It had to be absolutely free (no donations, no sending patches).I downloaded the VSTs after asking the developers if their plug-in/s are COMPLETELY FREE, or, if I can't contact them, I checked and double-checked on their site.
Some developers said it was absolutely free but...if I really like the plug-in/s I should buy their products.Now don't get me wrong, it a commercial world we live in but now I don't wanna use this plug-in 'cause I'll feel guilty.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:16 am

AhmedTabur wrote:Some developers said it was absolutely free but...if I really like the plug-in/s I should buy their products.Now don't get me wrong, it a commercial world we live in but now I don't wanna use this plug-in 'cause I'll feel guilty.

You shouldn't feel guilty. They don't want your money, there often isn't a way to pay for freeware. Oh yes, Kjaerhus has a free Classic series and a Golden series to pay for. If you're happy with the Classics, Torben wouldn't mind that you're not buying a Golden one for appreciation. The devs just want you to be happy with what they've given.

Apart from capitalism there is such a thing as a "gift culture" where status is not achieved by your bank account, but by what you donate to the community. Google and read about it...

liars&ashes · Post by **liars&ashes** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:20 am

----I wouldn't worry about it too much really. Unless you are making money off of your music, then send them some money since you'd be able to afford to then eh. Otherwise, email them and thank them for their free software, or start an appreciation thread. Maybe the best thing you can do is make a preset bank for their synth/effect, and either give it to them to give away to users, or post it yourself in a thread, to get more people interested in their software. Most freeware devs just enjoy making the vsts and giving them away it seems, and of course they enjoy feedback and hearing that their creations are being used and appreciated.

Jeff

krank · Post by **krank** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:37 am

Here's an easy solution: once (if) you start making money off music made with a certain piece of donationware, pay its developer in proportion to how elaborate the product is, and how much it has effected the sound of your production.

Until then, make music completely guilt-free.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:43 am

G'day, arke.

.jon · Post by **.jon** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:44 am

"Some developers said it was absolutely free but...if I really like the plug-in/s I should buy their products.Now don't get me wrong, it a commercial world we live in but now I don't wanna use this plug-in 'cause I'll feel guilty."

Many developers offer free plugins as an extended demo or taster of their commercial products. These are "lite" versions of the real deal, and one point is that if you really like the lite version, you would love the complete version.

I wouldn't worry about it. I've used several donationware and "taster" plugins for some time, before I realised that they are not my thing. If I'd have donated instantly after downloading I'd feel somehow obliged to myself to use that plugin as I've spent money on it- even tho I wouldn't actually like it... if that makes any sense.

Take your time, develop a working setup and then donate or consider to buy something cool from the developer. It takes me a lot of time to decide what really works for me and what not.

AhmedTaburov · Post by **AhmedTaburov** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:51 am

I don't use any DONATIONWARE producst, although I did make a donation to Audacity developers and Green Oak (not directly to them).
.jon let's say I do like the "lite" version but I don't want to buy the full version (for whatever reason), that means that I should not use the lite version at all?

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:12 am

Unless the developer has some bizarre (and unenforceable) policy stating "you can't use the lite version if you've no intention of buying the full version" then use the lite versions guilt free. If the developer really wants a sale then they'll have restricted demos of their plugs, they won't give away fully functional lite versions.

I'm sure they'd love you to buy a full version but if they supply a lite (taster?) version then they must be prepared for you to use it without obligation.

.g

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:23 am

AhmedTaburov wrote:Some developers said it was absolutely free but...if I really like the plug-in/s I should buy their products.

You talk about shareware then.

AhmedTaburov wrote:I don't use any DONATIONWARE products,

Don't be stupid. You were warez user, but now you ditch donationwares.

Rangtangtang · Post by **Rangtangtang** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:23 am

The only critism's I have for the free stuff, is I prefer the dll instead of a installer, some don't have who created it on the GUI, and there is lack of information in the ZIP or RAR file anlong whith dll.

I can tell it can be difficult sometimes to sought out all the free stuff cause I don't where it comes from, as well incase one might want to make a donation. If you had very succesful album, you might want to share a little bit of the profits to some of the freeware developers stuff you used to make it?

AhmedTaburov · Post by **AhmedTaburov** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:26 am

Lance wrote:
AhmedTaburov wrote:Some developers said it was absolutely free but...if I really like the plug-in/s I should buy their products.
You talk about shareware then.

AhmedTaburov wrote:I don't use any DONATIONWARE products,
Don't be stupid. You were warez user, but now you ditch donationwares.

So the fact that I used warez means that I should use donationware? Explain please.

runagate · Post by **runagate** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:33 am

Just a stab in the dark, but are you looking for a good donation-free trance synth?

AhmedTaburov · Post by **AhmedTaburov** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:34 am

runagate wrote:Just a stab in the dark, but are you looking for a good donation-free trance synth?

O.K...

Christian Budde · Post by **Christian Budde** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:39 am

As a developer I can state my point of view. I have several freeware effects and one commercial effect ('Electri-Q').
For me it is most important that people actually use the stuff. During my time at the university I've learned a lot of stuff, which I'd like to use to make the world a better place.
Anyway, since I'm still a student (although it's nearly done), I don't have much money and I'm happy with any money I got, but I don't rely on the money in any kind.

With the commercial plugin, there was once a time, where I realized, that the plugin (previously released as freeware) was too good for the market. I kind of destroy the market for other developers, so I decided to make it commercial. With that step I also spend a lot of extra time in this product and it's more than fair to see some money for this extra work. The freeware is still available (called 'posihfopit') and fully functional (ok, with some advertisment in it).
However, to make an extra worth for the paying customers, I spend more time and support for the commercial thing, while the other still 'is there'. Speaking for our product, we will soon make a lite version of 'Electri-Q' for free (with basically the same features as posihfopit). Once a good friend told me 'you only need to be good' and that's a slogan I remember here. If the plugin is good (in the sense of useful), people will use it regardless if it's free or commercial.

To make it short:
I'm very happy about every single person who uses one of my plugins, but I'm even happier, if I receive some money,

Christian

core · Post by **core** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:40 am

I don't get it.
Can you name the developers who say

it was absolutely free but...if I really like the plug-in/s I should buy their products

or is it more that they recommend you buy their product if you really like their free stuff because a) it unlocks more features, b) would be a nice gesture to support the developer.

It's just not freeware if the developer requests you buy something if you like the freebie. If it's released as freeware, I intend to use it in that way. Else it should be labeled shareware/donationware/demo.

What I Don't Like About Free Plug-ins