The end of an era ...

[tropicalontour]

HG, you make great synths and if I had the time and money to do more for you, I surely would. However, I fear that having been a generous person in the past, your new decision (while it might be a better business decision - and I hope it is for you), I also hope it does not eat at your soul (I really hope it doesn't, because lots of people who are as generous as you feel pain when they stop being quite so generous). Only you can know the answer to that, of course. All I want to say is thank you for your generosity. Your work has made a big difference to many, even if they haven't made that known to you and I am sorry you have not felt that appreciation and acclaim as richly as you deserve. I love your synths.

Good luck with your new way of doing business.

[heinrich_h]

Hi Günter,

i think its the right decision.

the prices of your plugins were allways reasonable low and one gets a lot of features and quality for the buck.

its a shame: more than 1000 downloads of the free version and only a view pepole purchasing the pro-version. so, why put lots of time and brain on a plugin then?

You made the right decision imho, carry on!

[Fortune]

... However, I fear that having been a generous person in the past, your new decision (while it might be a better business decision - and I hope it is for you), I also hope it does not eat at your soul (I really hope it doesn't, because lots of people who are as generous as you feel pain when they stop being quite so generous). ...

I'd have to say it's quite funny, somebody is referring to my state of soul after I've made that decision; just like after the child has dropped into the well as a german saying goes.

the prices of your plugins were allways reasonable low and one gets a lot of features and quality for the buck.

its a shame: more than 1000 downloads of the free version and only a view pepole purchasing the pro-version. so, why put lots of time and brain on a plugin then?

There is an evident relation of actual sales to public feedback and response on a plugin. If it's talked about sales are definitively better. This is where users of free versions (with no budget) could have easily shown some more support.
If the ratio of the above no. of free downloads to sales for that fairly cheap one were about 0.6% that would be ok, but this is not the case, even not half of that. This is a clear indication that old system of always putting out free versions too does no longer work, is no longer justified provided one wants to continue in that business.

HG

[setAI]

you have been more than generous already- many of your free versions are more than good enough in themselves- you would definitely make more money- I only have the free version of Anvilla and it is one of my favorite synths but if there were no free version I would immediately have to purchase the pro- same for Avatar and the old STS synths [but i did get pro versions of many of those as well as WOF which are mission critical]-

if you hadn't already provided the community with endless quality freeware I would say don't diminish yourself with consumer fetishism- but you did your community service so GO FORTH AND MAKE SOME $$$!

I will definitely being purchasing Avatar and Alphatron in a few days/weeks- I have been meaning to-

[luxth]

Sounds more like a start of an era. Which is good.

[ooddaa]

I've been tempted to shell out money for your synths, as there really is nothing else like them, but my primary workstation is Linux, and I've had issues with some of the newer ones (Avatar ST just does not work period), and even when I flip over to Vista, I sometimes run into trouble. I do like the older STS synths, and will probably spring for those. As a pure hobbiest, who just tinkers with noise to soothe my ADHD addled brain, your synths are the most interesting to fiddle with. I think at some point I'm just going to have to give up on trying to make Linux work for audio and fall back to Windows, trading the vastly superior JACK audio for a crappy but stable OS for working with VSTs.

Anyway, I can appreciate your motive, as its clear you are doing far more than slapping some Synthedit modules together and releasing yet another boring VA piece of crap. The intermittent mute for the demos is definitely an acceptable alternative to feature reduced freebies, especially as it's a better reminder to me that I actually need need to send you money. But I hope that going the purely commercial route includes putting more effort into better stability. I'm trying not to be too critical here, but aside from the freebies not forcing me to pony up the money to support you, what's always kept me from clicking the Paypal links are the issues I mentioned.

Also, please don't go down the path of dongles and three strikes and your out challenge response protections.

[Fortune]

I've been tempted to shell out money for your synths, as there really is nothing else like them, but my primary workstation is Linux, and I've had issues with some of the newer ones (Avatar ST just does not work period), and even when I flip over to Vista, I sometimes run into trouble. I do like the older STS synths, and will probably spring for those. As a pure hobbiest, who just tinkers with noise to soothe my ADHD addled brain, your synths are the most interesting to fiddle with. I think at some point I'm just going to have to give up on trying to make Linux work for audio and fall back to Windows, trading the vastly superior JACK audio for a crappy but stable OS for working with VSTs.

If Windows then XP or Win 7 but definitively not Vista. Most probs as of 'stabilty' are due to the combination of OS and Host. E.g. Recent Alphatron could not be convinced to run with Cubase 4 and Win 7 but does with FruityLoops, Cubase 5.5x and Win 7. The prob could be tracked down to the step seq in general but not to a dedicated cause. What's more the Step seq in it's very rudimentary form is also present in Avatar ST and that one does run with Cubase4 and Win 7. Anyway least probs of this kind are still with XP as OS or Win 7 with host ready for Win 7.

hth
HG

[ooddaa]

If Windows then XP or Win 7 but definitively not Vista. Most probs as of 'stabilty' are due to the combination of OS and Host. E.g. Recent Alphatron could not be convinced to run with Cubase 4 and Win 7 but does with FruityLoops, Cubase 5.5x and Win 7. The prob could be tracked down to the step seq in general but not to a dedicated cause. What's more the Step seq in it's very rudimentary form is also present in Avatar ST and that one does run with Cubase4 and Win 7. Anyway least probs of this kind are still with XP as OS or Win 7 with host ready for Win 7.

hth
HG

FYI, I use Reaper and Orion as my hosts. Never noticed serious issues on XP, but Vista is an absolute nightmare for lot's of reasons.

[Blue Wind Project]

FYI, I use Reaper and Orion as my hosts. Never noticed serious issues on XP, but Vista is an absolute nightmare for lot's of reasons.

Finally..someone that agrees with me on the Vista issue. I had recently
bought a new computer, I wanted to install XP, but there are no
compatable drivers or chipset for my computer and XP. I had Vista on
another machine and simply hated it..some swore by it, so I thought it
was just me being stupid.

Haven't had a single problem with Win7

[darsho]

I check every once in a ahile at your page and find several new synths then. Usually there is alswaya a free version available.

I think you just put out too much free stuff to create a need at most users to buy anything from you.

If one wants to use that HGF Sound, one can shoose among so many free stuff that the average HGF Sound user doesn't need to buy anything to get that typical sound.

I have only ever bought Umbra from you (great thing, althougt he free version is enough tbh).
I also like to use Laserblade S from time to time. I got it for free in your yahoo group (I think) years ago. And I use Shuniji in the Edition that was on the Magazine DVD of BEAT some years ago.

Interestingly, none of these synths is available anymore on your site, I just realised .g.

Maybe if you had a donation button ,some people would hand you some money for the free stuff they use ? I sure would for Laserblade S. It's a total classic for me. I used it for a noisy bass in a DnB track just today and also for a spacy Lead.

Or only make the archive of free downloads available to people who donate you a minimum amount ?

[codec_spurt]

To HG Fortune -

Your synths are excellent - You should charge money for them.
It was very generous of you to give them away for free.
Now you have made a name for yourself in the 'cut-throat' competitive world
of VST. A name for quality and a name for generosity. The two most important
points imvho.

Obviously a lot of time and effort went into making these. It is only fair
you should be reimbursed for your efforts.


Keep on doing what you're doing.
Maybe snazz up the odd interface bit here or there (not really necessary)
if you can. Plenty of GUI designers would help out I'm sure...
Provide a decent sized soundset that is original and people can't get
elsewhere....


Don't charge too much.

Everything under the 50 Mark is doable for everyone.
Whether that is 50 dollars, 50 euros, 50 pounds....


They might not be forming a riot to beat down your door.
But they would definitely form a core of people to give you the support
you need, to take you to the next level.

I would be happy to contribute.



Alles klar!

cheers.

[alexfalcao]

Hi Günter,

I agree with you with your decision, and I would like to say that your synths are great tools, specially for Ambient music. I often use them in conjunction with others with astounding results. I think your Classics, such as STS-24, STS-21, Protoplasm TSM should be treated as Classic and have an special place on your site, they are still my favorites. Well, thanks God you are well . after I saw the Thread Title I thought you were retiring.

All the Best.
Alex.