Group Buy for 2CAudio Aether Reverb - Already Started

[rexlapin]

Aplats,
You did not come across as insulting at all so please don't worry. :-)
Klemperer,
You make some good points and I am still glad that I bought Aether even
if the price goes lower later. I do a fair amount of beta testing for developers
and I have some appreciation for what it takes to actually produce something
and bring it to market. I try and support what I feel are worthwhile developments.
And for the record my financial position was quite a bit better in December
than it is now, so I have to be more careful as I know many of you have to also!

I do think that Aether is a great reverb and hopefully some sort of balance of price
can be reached which allows Andrew to feel good about continued development.
Cheers to all,
Scott

[experimental.crow]

i think the sales model adopted by Arts Acoustic could be studied , here ...
the products are ( somewhat ) competitive , and in the ( relative ) same niche ...

AA had an early adoption price , and then raised the price to their standard ...
then , after some time had passed , they announced a sale , for a limited period ...
iirc , that sale price was a reduction back to the introductory price ...
the time period , W/ demo , allowed for review , and created demand ...
many people took advantage of the sale price reduction ...

early adopters were not punished ...
latecomers got a second chance ...

[aMUSEd]

I fail to see how a group buy that went to the early adopter price would "punish" anyone. That should be the reasonable minimum. Only if it went below would it be unfair to them.

[elxsound]

I love the gui and it's actually quite well thought out ergonomically with the colour coding, the way elements are structured and the way it makes use of visual affordances such as size cues even if rather more on the funky side than functional (which is fine as far as I'm concerned - who said interfaces can't be fun)

If the GB goes to an affordable level I would be interested.

+1

I can't say a single bad thing about this GUI and am surprised at some of the comments made, but I really shouldn't since its all just personal taste.

[experimental.crow]

I fail to see how a group buy that went to the early adopter price would "punish" anyone. That should be the reasonable minimum. Only if it went below would it be unfair to them.

agreed , and not what i'm saying ...
what i am suggesting would eliminate the need for a group buy ,
and administration , of same ...

[aplats]

I took the opportunity of introductory offer and bought 2CAudio Aether this month. If Galbanum initiated a GB right after the end of introductory offer, I won't buy any more product from them. Seriously. Developers of course can price their plugins at whaever range they want. They can even succumb to pressure for a GB. But they need to respect the users who believe the developers' marketing moves at the time of their purchases. I would really effin' hate it if developers toy me with introductory offer and any kind of marketing non-sense.

Rant over. I don't mind Galbanum start a GB in the later half of this year, but definitely not in the eeff April or May!!

The earlier they do a group buy, the greater the chance that less people go off and buy a similar product in the meantime. If someone is looking for one good reverb at this point, they may not wait till later on in the year.

Just giving another viewpoint.

[chrised]

I voted no but that's only because I've already bought one. Nice reverb. I don't fully understand the people who say it drowns the sound - the ambience-focused presets are very good and natural and the SFX ones are, well, there to drown the sound.

[Sequent]

These things are all very subjective, but speaking to the gui, I also thought that it was a bit let's say "sloppy". The overall idea is really cool and I don't mind it, but it did feel like it needed slightly more focus. Same idea except tightened up a little. Don't know whether that makes sense.

The gui is a tough one, because I certainly like a good looking gui, at the same time, I wouldn't like it if something was really pretty but what's underneath doesn't deliver. When we're talking about sound production, what's underneath should always come first.

Really, when you're at a certain level of cost you expect a certain level of polish both sonically AND visually. The whole package. My subjective impression of the gui on this was that it didn't quite match the quality (or asking price) of what was underneath. Close but not quite; it seemed like there was a slight disconnect. I have to be absolutely honest and say that I had to come back here and poke around to see whether this might have been a SynthEdit creation. Not that I have a problem with SynthEdit as such - but not for a $349 product.

Please don't be upset that I'm saying this, just following on the discussion.

[elxsound]

These things are all very subjective, but speaking to the gui, I also thought that it was a bit let's say "sloppy". The overall idea is really cool and I don't mind it, but it did feel like it needed slightly more focus. Same idea except tightened up a little. Don't know whether that makes sense.

The gui is a tough one, because I certainly like a good looking gui, at the same time, I wouldn't like it if something was really pretty but what's underneath doesn't deliver. When we're talking about sound production, what's underneath should always come first.

Really, when you're at a certain level of cost you expect a certain level of polish both sonically AND visually. The whole package. My subjective impression of the gui on this was that it didn't quite match the quality (or asking price) of what was underneath. Close but not quite; it seemed like there was a slight disconnect. I have to be absolutely honest and say that I had to come back here and poke around to see whether this might have been a SynthEdit creation. Not that I have a problem with SynthEdit as such - but not for a $349 product.

Please don't be upset that I'm saying this, just following on the discussion.

No offense, but I think you're nuts and I guess that goes to show how subjective this really is (seriously, no offense intended). I really can't say enough how much I like the GUI. I don't think its sloppy in any way and I most like that they didn't try to make this look like hardware, which I know is a turnoff for quite a few, but a major plus for me.

[aplats]

It sounds like having a user-skinable interface would be the only way to please everyone.

[fceramic]

Think this skin is very much in the love/hate category. That's why using a graphic designer is important to create a safe and sound user-interface that appeals to anyone.
Still it's not professional looking, even if some of you might like it. It got too much wasted space and unnecessary 'effects'. Still far from the worst and I like the symmetrical design and friendly look.

[elxsound]

Think this skin is very much in the love/hate category. That's why using a graphic designer is important to create a safe and sound user-interface that appeals to anyone.
Still it's not professional looking, even if some of you might like it. It got too much wasted space and unnecessary 'effects'. Still far from the worst and I like the symmetrical design and friendly look.

First of all, there's no such thing as "appeals to anyone" when it comes to GUI's. There's not a single plugin that everyone will enjoy, or even one where not even one person won't hate it.

Second, even with years under your belt with graphic design, much of the subject is still a matter of personal taste. "Wasted space" even is even subject to personal taste.

[jimvictor]

"Think this skin is very much in the love/hate category. That's why using a graphic designer is important to create a safe and sound user-interface that appeals to anyone"

I tend to agree with this.

When you have such a large disparity of opinions over an interface of a product, you have to look twice at the design.

Of course it is ultimately subjective and the sound is the most important thing but you don't see this with CSR or AAR or Altiverb (although surprisingly, Altiverb could use a more professional overhaul in my opinion)


also, I see what some people are saying about drowning out the sound.
The clarity seems washed away....


Keep in $150.00 range and sell more.....

Just my .02c


Jim

[elxsound]

"Think this skin is very much in the love/hate category. That's why using a graphic designer is important to create a safe and sound user-interface that appeals to anyone"

I tend to agree with this.

When you have such a large disparity of opinions over an interface of a product, you have to look twice at the design.

Of course it is ultimately subjective and the sound is the most important thing but you don't see this with CSR or AAR or Altiverb (although surprisingly, Altiverb could use a more professional overhaul in my opinion)


also, I see what some people are saying about drowning out the sound.
The clarity seems washed away....


Keep in $150.00 range and sell more.....

Just my .02c


Jim

I think think interface AAR is visually boring (but the sound is pleasingly rich).

You're not going to see the same comments with something like CSR, because its accepted to produce interfaces that replicate hardware.

I personally hate any GUI that is made to look like hardware.

To me, the idea is stupid, since quite obviously its not hardware. Now I understand why its done (since so many are used to the familiarity of certain hardware, which for some reduces the learning curve), but I think it amounts to retarding progress, innovation and creativity. That's just my opinion.

Look, this can go on and on and on, but my point (which you stated too) is that a GUI is subject to personal taste. If you can find one plugin that EVERYONE enjoys the GUI, I'll gladly STFU.

Otherwise, just accept it that you don't like, but some do... which is basically the way most things are in life.

[taoyoyo]

I voted 'no', just because I already bought it in the trial beta period.

I'd say a fair price for the lowest mark of a potential group buy would be $149, the same as us 'trialers' bought it for.