No TLs-2094_LEIA sound examples

[shamann]

As I stated before, I only share the fact that I am being creative.

I can understand that, like the Music Cafe of effects.

And once again it is only "another" plug in a vast sea of plugins.

I don't believe that for a second, especially considering the quality of 2095.

But I see where you're coming form, I've often thought the same about my music, why release something when there is already so much. I suppose it has to do with how much you personally wish to share with the world, if the sharing of your art has no benefit for you, then not sharing is the way to go. Except, given that this thread is about sharing your art in one form or another, I think you do see benefit in sharing it.

Personally, I perform and release my music to others because I enjoy the conversation it elicits from the few who listen. Putting it out there is a good way to develop my ideas and a fresh perspective, because others tend to respond to it in ways that I don't.

Either way, the 2094 sounds like it is a creative approach to a dynamics processor. Another question for you, is there a hardware counterpart to something like the 2095? I don't use software for my live show, but I could make fairly good use of a compressor that does similar things (hopefully something portable and not too expensive, if the only counterpart costs thousands, I can do without).

[koolkeys]

I suggest you go the synchrosoft way if possible. That way the risk of your plugins being cracked should be minimized and afaik it's even cheaper than ilok
(which isn't safe anymore i'd say). Then up the pricetag to say sonalksis etc. level and you should be fine. I'd also have a look at the mac market and make protools compatible versions available.

Bad idea.

[loopdon]

Please tell me why? I know lots of people dislike dongles but let's stay realistic. Whatever other method he chooses - his work will be stolen asap.

But i am no marketing strategist so i might be totally wrong here. It's just what I would do, probably...

[koolkeys]

Please tell me why? I know lots of people dislike dongles but let's stay realistic. Whatever other method he chooses - his work will be stolen asap.

But i am no marketing strategist so i might be totally wrong here. It's just what I would do, probably...

You have to measure how many customers you would LOSE by going with a dongle. Also, with a dongle, he would HAVE to raise the price probably above what he otherwise would have charged. Customer support issues with dongle related problems would no doubt arise as well.

On top of that, and this goes for the RTAS versions as well, is that he is a small fish in a pond of big fish. His quality of work is not in question here. But to the crowd that uses RTAS every day(not the LE users, but the real PT users), a couple small compressors by a guy they have never heard of will not appeal to them as much as an officially endorsed SSL series plugin with Lord Algae presets by a company with top name recognition like Waves(this is all just an example, but you could insert many more choices here). Using a dongle puts you not only just in a certain type of copy protection. But it puts you in that "pool" full of competition that is fierce and is relied HEAVILY on name awareness.

People expect a lot at the higher prices. A lot more pressure, and a lot less loyalty while he is still making his name.

He would have to pay for the license to use Syncrosoft before he even sold a single copy as well. And who's to say that he will make more than he spent?

It's just one big mess. And in my opinion, would be a bad move. I can tell you at least one person who has been waiting with excitement for his plugins, who would not buy if he took that route.

Brent

[ddummer]

Whatever other method he chooses - his work will be stolen asap.

Yes that is the reality and with filesharing it is spread instantly.

You can do a keyfile with parts of the code as mentioned where everything
works until a buyer spread a key and it's over.

But my idea of copy protection is that you SHOULD have it.

If people have a given up attitude like "What's the point of spending time
on copy protection when it is going to be cracked anyway?" you should
also say with this reasoning:

"What is the point of locking your door to the apartment when you go out
since you will be robbed anyway?"

Owning a key is the same thing as knowing that you are the only LEGAL owner
for the product. This is a feeling that is important to encourage.

You simply can't throw out stuff without any limitations. Saying:
"It is up to you and decide if you are going to pay for it or just use it."

Doing things via internet would (if you think about the thing as reality) be the same thing
as going down to a corner on a street with a bunch of products saying:

"Here! get a demo version and if you like it come back and by a key to it!"

First off an easy way for a passing person would be to say:

"alright! Free sample!" No it isn't free it is a demo.

So they try the stuff and come to the realization that they want it.

But guess what... at their own street corner there is another guy standing
and handing out free keys to the product. And even worse they got BOTH the
demo AND the key..

Right here the Inventor is out of the game. All business can be done with
the bloke at their own corner.

How many people that are downloading stuff today actually visit the homepage
of the products they get hold of?

You want a personal relation with buyers as if you would stand in a store...

Maybe the only way is to sell your products to people you know, and their
friends and so on....

Then you might not sell as much but you could keep a higher price since
your stuff will be recommended.

If the products get out on the net then everybody will know that it is warez
because they where never officially released...

Hmmm... sounds interesting... (he said to himself)

//Daniel

[Mr. Tingle]

If you try and make some money cool, if you don't just give up. You can't loose by trying.

[ddummer]

It is the trick of doing business with your moral intact that we are talking about here. If I can't then I don't mind keeping stuff to myself.

Why provide quality cookies to the "cookie monster" when he would get
off on wall-mart cookies anyway and still he would look pissed when
you don't provide it all for him?

//Daniel

[koolkeys]

Why not just use donationware then? Release them for free, and let people choose to donate to have the right to use it in a recording that is commercially released.

Then, people would be able to get the plugin directly from you, you're not obligated to anyone, and you might make some money and draw attention to your site?

Even a simple nag screen that pops up once every three uses or whatever could work.

Brent

[mangel1234]

Daniel,
Personally I think that there are two camps of plugin production that work:

1. The Big Guys.
2. The really cool and inventive individual/small company.

#2 only seems to work when that individual stays in contact with their user base.
I think that if you stay connected with the community like KVR, TapeOp, 3DAudioInc, and other forums, answering questions directly, offering your link when applicable, and staying visible by being present, you can easily get paid by the small but loyal honest plugin user crowd.

I agree with your comments that you don't just give up on protection bc someone will crack it. Obviously companies like Waves and URS are still at it making money despite the plethora of cracks availible to even their dongle based items. But developers like Stillwell, Alexis(sp) with Voxengo, Damon/Salvator with Tritone, Giancarlo w/Nebula, I believe, are all making an excellent name for themselves by simply being availible, responding to testing and reaction, letting people know what they are working on, and offering a competitive price.
The word definitely gets around who is the best at what they do. Consistency and presence should make your sales worth the time invested in creating something you have a passion for.
There are always going to be people that don't understand the difference between good and bad plugins. But there are also people with discernment that are going to recognize the excellent products, and they will recommend them for better reasons!

Stay with it. You are very talented!

[bduffy]

Why not just use donationware then? Release them for free, and let people choose to donate to have the right to use it in a recording that is commercially released.

Then, people would be able to get the plugin directly from you, you're not obligated to anyone, and you might make some money and draw attention to your site?

Even a simple nag screen that pops up once every three uses or whatever could work.

+1. I wonder how that's worked for ddmf?

[shamann]

It is the trick of doing business with your moral intact that we are talking about here.

Have you considered approaching other independent companies for partnership opportunities? An established company would have already sorted out how to do business, and a company that doesn't have a lot of exposure to the dynamics market might like to fill out their product line.

[bmanic]

Daniel, the rest of KvR will probably butcher me for this but:

How about going the extreme route and work on your plugins until perfection, get a few known names on board to test them for you (I know Bob Katz frequently tests plugins and helps out when they are good enough in his opinion). Then get a license with syncrosoft (it's a safe platform still.. no cracks AFAIK) and price the things high. Dig into the hard market and see how it goes.. if you price it high enough, you'll only have a few sales, probably to professionals who will be easier to give support to (but more demanding probably) as they will be fewer.

What I mean is: Go the algorithmix way. It might actually work.

.. or you could just release all you have for free, add a donation button to your page and hope for the best. AFAIK it's going pretty well for Stillwell and Schwa.

Cheers!
bManic

[bduffy]

I have really got to wonder what Algorithmix's sales are like. I mean, Jesus: they make even the most over-priced TDM plugins look cheap!!

But actually, I can agree with you, bManic: either take the honourable low-road or go straight to the top and charge out the wazoo.

I see two problems, though: a HUGE backlash here if a beloved free-dev goes dongle/ultra-payware, and he would probably have to have a Mac/TDM version, or the big boys won't be able to run it (or take it seriously).

[pough]

a HUGE backlash here if a beloved free-dev goes dongle/ultra-payware

To be honest, I don't think the backlash would be as huge as the shrug. As fond as I am of ddummer's plugins, I personally won't dongle. To me, it sends the message that the developer and his tortured relationship with criminals are more important than the customer. They're free to be like that and I'm free to avoid it like the plague that it is.

[bduffy]

a HUGE backlash here if a beloved free-dev goes dongle/ultra-payware

To be honest, I don't think the backlash would be as huge as the shrug. As fond as I am of ddummer's plugins, I personally won't dongle. To me, it sends the message that the developer and his tortured relationship with criminals are more important than the customer. They're free to be like that and I'm free to avoid it like the plague that it is.

Yeah, I essentially agree with that statement, although my devotion to certain software trumps my aversion to dongles; but I've been using them for years. Bitchy registration software like NI's Service Center...man, that get's my goat!

Actually, I was thinking of KarmaFX Synth: didn't he get in a world of hurt when he finally unveiled the price? And that's without a dongle! I realize this is crass speculation, but we all know what effect dongles have on (arguably) the majority of KVR members...