New IK Product Version 3!!!!!

[grymmjack]

+1 on sucky crossgrade. id hope for 50% upgrade discount. i own every ik product except ARC and samplemoog as a loyal customer we should definitely get better treatment.

[grymmjack]

$99 upgrade to what? a new UI? some meters? gee that sounds good, tracks legacy units feature what improvement in sound/capability?

from what i gathered nothing besides new UI and meters in the rack effect plug style of AT2, which is nice but not for a hundred bones.

[Teksonik]

Squids, I looked at the IK site but didn't find an answer. What are the improvements to the original 4 T-Racks plugins? I know they have a new GUI but what's new under the hood?

This question too hard?

[Squids]

+1 on sucky crossgrade. id hope for 50% upgrade discount. i own every ik product except ARC and samplemoog as a loyal customer we should definitely get better treatment.

It is practically a 50% discount (and very well could be one depending where you buy it from).

But, again, the crossgrade is to get you to the deluxe version that has more than just regular standard T-RackS 3.

I think there should just be an inexpensive crossgrade to standard T-RackS 3 so you guys stop complaining. But if you want the Deluxe version you're going to have to pay for it. Mind you, not much if anything more than 50% discount (the Deluxe non-crossgrade is $499) but still... if you want it you gotta buy it but you get more than 5 new plug-ins for that price which is like $50 per plug-in... when one of them is a Fairchild.

+1000000000000 from me on that.

[Teksonik]

I think we're all getting our panties in a bunch a little too early. We don't even have a demo to try. Let's check these plugins out first.

No disrespect Squids but you're hardly the most unbiased voice. Let's give our own ears a chance to decide whether this is a good deal or not.

[grymmjack]

see squids i dont know fairchild from fannypack..

what is new and improved about tracks existing plug besides UI and meters and the rack stuff? anything?

[Squids]

Squids, I looked at the IK site but didn't find an answer. What are the improvements to the original 4 T-Racks plugins? I know they have a new GUI but what's new under the hood?

This question too hard?

I missed it.

The answer is right on the page itself:

* New configurable mastering/mixing chain - run up to 12 parallel/series processors

* New complete built-in metering section with Peak, Perceived Loudness, Phase, and RMS meters, plus a Spectrum analyzer with Peak, RMS and Averaging indicators

* New standalone and plug-in versions available in the same package for use in all the most popular native DAWs

* New high-fidelity oversampling with crystal clear transparency, for high quality audio processing throughout the entire signal path


But, there's also other bells and whistles. I don't actually have the standard myself but the Deluxe. However I will try to find out more details about the standard. I have to admit that my personal interest is in the Deluxe (and seems everyone else's is too).

[Squids]

see squids i dont know fairchild from fannypack..

what is new and improved about tracks existing plug besides UI and meters and the rack stuff? anything?

A Fairchild sells for $30,000.

A Fannypack not only doesn't get you laid in the States calling it that but can also be had for $5.



Seriously though if you don't know the benefits of a Fairchild or Pultec and want to learn why so many people covet them there is so much interesting reading on the net about it. Google it!

[Teksonik]

* New high-fidelity oversampling with crystal clear transparency, for high quality audio processing throughout the entire signal path

That's what I was looking for, thanks. Yes I'm interested in the Deluxe as well, it's just a question of finances. A few more days like this in the Stock Market and I'll be living in a cardboard box.

[Teksonik]

Anyway I'll wait for a demo and take it from there.

[Squids]

I think we're all getting our panties in a bunch a little too early. We don't even have a demo to try. Let's check these plugins out first.

No disrespect Squids but you're hardly the most unbiased voice. Let's give our own ears a chance to decide whether this is a good deal or not.

Fair enough! I'm selling it in a shop. I'd never expect someone to just take my word for it... although around here people have done in the past and very few have felt that I steered them wrong. I always do the best for you guys and most of you know that. But, I have to go by logic in order to state any case to try to get deals. When I see you guys are right believe me I fight like a Giant Squid to get the voice of the customer heard as I HANG with you guys (and have for about 7 years straight now I might add). Very few owners of companies actually take the time to do that. You see it more on KVR than practically anywhere now (we were the second company forum on KVR after DashSympathis).

Look, we have our loyal esoundz customers who buy when they have a good feeling about something. I think it is plain to see this is gonna be GOOOOOOOOD! I can tell you as one who has the beta version OH YEAH it is. However, I don't pretend that I am not the salesman in the situation who stands to benefit. Absolutely I am (or we are at esoundz collectively anyway). But that doesn't make me so biased that I'd steer anyone wrong on it. If I did that it would be short sighted and we'd not have the customer loyalty that we have (and have earned).

I'm not telling anyone they should get it right away. But if you do you'll get some extra benefits like extra patches and maybe a better discount for pre-order (only know if you login). In fact, I am telling you guys this. If you're not sure about the purchase then by all means wait for the demo and try it out for yourself. I bet a LOT of you will be convinced then. But I also think a lot of people that visit this thread really kind of know what to expect. There are a lot of IK product's quality to compare to and to be honest I think even the previous T-RackS was pretty darn good so this one is as good as a lot of you think it will be.

But whatever you do you gotta be comfortable with the decision. I am trying to help you guys understand the value proposition of it. Some of you are getting stuck on what you think an upgrade should be. But I think it is just in the way you look at it. TR2 to TR3 is to the standard. The Deluxe is a whole level beyond that (just like going from AT1 to AT2 but then getting Ampeg SVX on top of that or something).

If I had to guess I think if IK had actually separated the two and made them modular like the Powered By AmpliTube products then it'd be more easily understood.

[lotus2035]

Yeah actually Squids I think having a crossgrade price on the standard version would be a good thing..
Although personally I'm gonna go for the deluxe version which I can get a for a good price from you guys..
Considering I was thinking about saving up for a UAD2 DUO which would have set me back about 900 euros, I think that my price on esoundz is a great deal for this new T-Racks package even if I do own the old T-Racks Plug in...

Its nice to know the standard version have been improved but I wouldn't be able to sit still knowing those new plugs were in my reach at that price..

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I'll definitely be demoing this on day 1. The UA Fairchild is definitely a favorite, and I also love their Pultec (ElectriQ's Pultec filters: also extremely good), so I'm already a fan of the gear.

I may not need T-Racks 3 as much being that I already have hi-end emulations/alternatives, but if IKMM brings something new to the table with these I'd want to be among the first to know. If they can also pull that off, then maybe $299 will be a fair price for the Deluxe. It's never been the price I have problem with, it's the policy itself (I think it's stupid, Squids thinks it's great). At $199 for the Deluxe, it'd be a no brainer for me. At $299, in this economy, I better be floored to bust out my CC!

In the end, I am very happy that someone is competing directly with Waves in the native market. I want the iLok (in relation to audio software anyway) to die a horrible and slow death. I'm glad IKMM is helping. I also want these to be good plugins. So IKMM, bring that demo on, but you better knock my socks off if you want my cash.

My last word on the crossgrade polucy: no one else offers crossgrades to the extent IK does, but everyone offers upgrades. There's a reason for this: offering upgrades are the most fair, and it builds loyalty among existing customers. While Squids may see the extra-inclusiveness of the crossgrades as being a good thing, I consider it crappy to existing customers/early adopters: this is IKMM's base. IK really needs to make me happier that I've been such a good customer to them, because their policies make it harder and harder for me to keep being their customer. Everytime they do this I like them less, and the quality bar gets higher before I'll even consider a purchase.

Right now, I've got a UAD1 and UAD2 Duo including the Fairchild and Pultec (as well as the Pultec Pro) and a ton of other high quality plugs (UAD and native). The $300 the crossgrade would cost me can buy two brand new UA plugins to add to the arsenal, and I'd still have my existing T-Racks plugs. See what I mean about it getting harder to justify these purchases?

[calex]

I just recently got T-RackS, so I certainly am in no mood to re-buy it once again at what I'd consider close to a full discounted price rather than an upgrade price. The Deluxe is the version that has the new features worthy of calling it a new version number.

Keep in mind though that initially, all new products come out high and then they adjust the price down. Also, with the economy in the tank, people don't have the money they used to have, and there is pressure to discount it quickly if it doesn't move.

Moreover though, there is what I think reasonable anger at a poor upgrade path price for those that already own the product. All I can hope for is that Squids will set up a cool GB for ARC with T-RackS 3 Deluxe tossed in, but I fear more likely any GB in the future is going to be just the Standard version.

I will say though, T-RackS 3 Deluxe is incredible-looking enough to sustain its own GB, and if Squids makes a compelling one built around T-RackS 3 Deluxe, I'll probably go for that. I guess I can think of my previous version of T-RackS as a virtual paper-weight once I end up with T-RackS 3 Deluxe.

For me, the Standard version 3 is of no interest to me at all. I'd only want the Deluxe, but if I didn't have T-RackS already, for a low price, even the Standard version of 3 would be interesting, but personally, I like to get the version that has all the extras, so Deluxe for me, even if I were new to the product.

Hey, lost in the upgrade upset though is that they really have offered a compelling new product in the 3 Deluxe, and this to a product that was long-overdue for a huge upgrade. IK delivered. So yeah for that!

[grymmjack]

but there isn't anything worth $99 for standard version. it's not a compelling upgrade because it doesn't bring anything to the table besides a really nice UI, and some meters and a big rack paradigm, which no offense we already have in our hosts and can do it anyway. so what does the standard crossgrade really give an existing user if they aren't interested in the extra new stuff? im being honest, i am humbled by the existing stuff enough, regardless of a model or brand name. it doesn't mean the slightest to me if it's fairchild, pulltec, blah blah. that's all old audio engineer crap i couldn't care less about. i dont care how venerable and legendary it is, it sounds like it's good but i personally get on with the existing IIEQ and LP10 as well as legacy tracks stuff and my sonalksis compressors. so really what is the value squids for the 'standard' crossgrader? it seems like the sound is identical, so what 'value' is there?

meters are not worth $99 nor is a new skin. not trying to be a jerk, just saying already i have voxengo span, freakoscope and smexoscope for free metering. modularly they can be wired anywhere in the signal chain i want.

i just dont see a reason to upgrade. if the 'deluxe' was the actually the crossgrade, i wouldn't feel this way. in fact, i feel somewhat duped. i've spent over a grand on ik stuff. there isn't anything to 'CROSSGRADE' to. only upgrade is left.



maybe i dont get it. i wish you well though. i can tell ya i wont be 'crossgrading' to anything else paying more than i feel i should unless it's something that i cant already do with what i own of ik products already - ie; if sampletank3 is just a ui and more sounds, no thanks. there has to be more value to persuade me to spend these days.

i dont think your crossgrade idea is bad, just seems it could exist as well as upgrades and customer rewards for the loyal ones who own so many products already the term 'crossgrade' means nothing.