Any Chicken Systems Translator users?

Sampler and Sampling discussion (techniques, tips and tricks, etc.)
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chickeneps wrote:Translator has been out for 15 years and has over 50,000 users. It is an excellent product
chickeneps wrote:It People LUUUVV to complain on KVR, don't take it seriously.
Both of the quotes above epitomize your responses to criticisms of your product. You laud it as being a fantastic product and complain about those who say anything derogatory.

If people complain, why don't you try actually listening to them? I'm sure that making a blanket statement that dismisses all criticisms of your product tat originate on this forum is not going to make you any fans.

While I appreciate you have a business to run and that it's certainly in the interest of that business to promote the product in the best light, you have a lot to learn about customer service. "I'm right and you're wrong" is exactly the opposite of what anyone wants to hear from a company whose products they have bought.

I'm not trying to unduly criticize your products (there are plenty of others who do that if you'd care to take notice), but it seems that if anyone has anything non-complimentary to say about your products, your response is to dig your heels in and say that everyone and everything except your product sucks.

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^^^ As compared to that other company, that doesn't answer anything at all to anyone? :wink: (Yes, I mean ESC).

I am interested in seeing how chickeneps answers my comments though.

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Not that I want to get drawn into this again as I have stopped trying to use Translator full stop. I only respond because of the above insulting chicken paragraphs which should tell people all they need to know.

ESC whilst no longer developed does what it states on the tin, it's a superb product if only it supported more formats. It has a couple of minor bugs that aren't a big deal but would still highly recommend it to anyone looking for it's supported formats.

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Astralp wrote:Not that I want to get drawn into this again as I have stopped trying to use Translator full stop. I only respond because of the above insulting chicken paragraphs which should tell people all they need to know.

ESC whilst no longer developed does what it states on the tin, it's a superb product if only it supported more formats. It has a couple of minor bugs that aren't a big deal but would still highly recommend it to anyone looking for it's supported formats.
So it's good except that it is no longer developed or truly supported, doesn't support all formats and has bugs? That doesn't say anything good about it either.

Between that and the negative things about CS, it doesn't sound like anyone in their right mind should buy either one of them. What does that leave? DirectWave? I hear the same issues surrounding it

In fact, shouldn't ESC just be freeware at this point?

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BBFG# wrote:
Astralp wrote:Not that I want to get drawn into this again as I have stopped trying to use Translator full stop. I only respond because of the above insulting chicken paragraphs which should tell people all they need to know.

ESC whilst no longer developed does what it states on the tin, it's a superb product if only it supported more formats. It has a couple of minor bugs that aren't a big deal but would still highly recommend it to anyone looking for it's supported formats.
So it's good except that it is no longer developed or truly supported, doesn't support all formats and has bugs? That doesn't say anything good about it either.

Between that and the negative things about CS, it doesn't sound like anyone in their right mind should buy either one of them. What does that leave? DirectWave? I hear the same issues surrounding it

In fact, shouldn't ESC just be freeware at this point?
What he probably wanted to point out that ESC even if it isn't developed anymore, and even if it have small bugs (and believe me they are small and no showstoppers), product actually work and really it is WORKING - unlike that chicken joke which was nothing short of nightmare for me. Really it is that simple. I am not complaining because i am on KVR, i can repeat same things on every other forum, it's nbot that KVR is scary or something. Chicken system does not work, especially not working with older e-mu library formats, not like it is advertised. Yes, i did my homework, i read manual several times, i did exactly like it was supposed to do thing, all i got is crashing, empty banks with no sounds, weird and bad formats and so on. Actually i've found quite a lot of people on various forum with exactly same disappointing result. Go figure.

edit: i've forgot to mention that OP does have same disappointing result with Kurzweil format. Haha. They don't allow you to try conversion in demo but when you buy a product you are screwed because - surprise - it can't convert.

I see it as a scam. Sorry. And just to point out, my chicken joke adventure is more years old. I see there are no changes there..haha gimme a break


ESC produced exactly what i wanted each and every time within the limits of for what it is advertised that it can do. Every single time.

Before you make another philosophy seminar just try these two products and then jump here..you'll see what he wanted to point out.

Btw isn't DirectWave ImageLine sampler product - not library converter. Correct me if i am wrong..
Last edited by kmonkey on Wed Nov 13, 2013 9:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Thanks kmonkey, that is exactly what I was trying to say :)

ESC is also extremely good value for money at 39.99 Euros if you deal with the sample formats it works with, not to mention the auto sampler which I have used a lot.

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BBFG# wrote:Couple of things here... PayPal didn't charge me a fee that I remember (I would remember if they did).
They charge US a fee, and we pass it on to the customer, that's what the $5 is for. We take every form of payment, so the appeal to PayPal is limited. We get very few questions or complaints about it, so we've kept the policy in.
Also, I've yet to receive any 'physical product' from CS. And when I purchased the SampleTools
We've given you information on this, please contact us through customer service.
I was told I would receive an auto sampler, which I never have.
I think you mean that there would be an autosampler feature in the product(s), and there has been for several months.
But the communication from the company has been excellent, which is a plus, I have the downloaded products (except for the promised auto-sampler) and was told they do ship rather slow, so I've been patient about it.
You have all three products of SamplerTools, so download them and use them. The DVD is yet to be produced and it's going out as soon as some updates have occurred. That way the DVD has more "lifetime" to it, hedging against Apple changes and etc.

Thanks for the compliment on communication, we value it highly.
Last edited by chickeneps on Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Garth Hjelte
Chicken Systems, Inc.
support@chickensys.com
http://www.chickensys.com

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robojam wrote:epitomize your responses to criticisms of your product. You laud it as being a fantastic product and complain about those who say anything derogatory. If people complain, why don't you try actually listening to them?
All I said was: "People love to complain on KVR." I think you are assuming too much. Complaining is a good thing, and it can be a bad thing. People DO love to complain on KVR. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad.

People have a right to their opinions and we respect them fully. We correct misinformation when it's right to do. This thread is an example, read it back through and you'll see how we've responded.

Thanks for your suggestions and we agree, we try to do what you have suggested.
Last edited by chickeneps on Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Garth Hjelte
Chicken Systems, Inc.
support@chickensys.com
http://www.chickensys.com

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i didn't have said that the products are bad or anything like this (even if there are an Demo where you can watch and see how the GUI looks ! i just don't like how its handled !

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Shipping Method

TEMPORARY BUILD DOWNLOAD
Most Chicken Systems software products such as Translator, Constructor, Motif Creator, MV Kit Creator have a temporary build that can be downloaded immediately. It is NOT RECOMMENDED to select expedited shipping methods, such as Express Mail or Next-Day Air.
Specifically: Constructor, Instrument Manager, SamplerTools, and MV Kit Creator CD's are out of stock and will be manufactured this summer 2012. The temporary download build will work until then. All other software products will be shipped immediately.

UPS INTERNATIONAL NOT RECOMMENDED
UPS International shipments often expose you to custom charges and duties. If you are a non-US customer, It is STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you choose a United States Postal Service option to reduce excessive additional charges on your end.

SHIPPING IS MANDATORY
All products must eventually be shipped; SamplerZone does not sell download-only items (unless explicitly noted).

NO SOFTWARE REFUNDS
All software products are NOT REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. BE SURE you want the product, and that it does what you want it to do before you pay for it, since unfortunately you will have NO RECOURSE after you purchase the product.

MAKE SURE YOUR FORMAT AND FILE TYPE IS SUPPORTED
Some formats cannot be converted by Translator, usually due to copy-protection reasons. PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR DESIRED FORMAT IS NOT ON THIS LIST! For a complete list, click here.

Clicking on the CONTINUE button on this page indicates that you agree with all statements made on this page. All shipping prices on this page reflect a $3.00 handling surcharge SamplerZone imposes. The rates reflect standard USPS rates, and our discounted UPS rates.

United Parcel Service (1 pkg x 1 lbs total) United Parcel Service
UPS Worldwide Expedited (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) 	$85.71

UPS Saver (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) 	$88.64

UPS Worldwide Express (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) 	$91.79

UPS Worldwide Express Plus (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) 	$135.99
$85.71 are the calculated shipping costs from your SamplerZone Site to where i live in the EU !

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If you are a non-US customer, It is STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you choose a United States Postal Service option to reduce excessive additional charges on your end.
you can't choose it on your Samplerzone Site

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NO SOFTWARE REFUNDS
All software products are NOT REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. BE SURE you want the product, and that it does what you want it to do before you pay for it, since unfortunately you will have NO RECOURSE after you purchase the product.
Just wondering how it is possible to test what the product does beforehand when the demo doesn't allow any conversion?

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kmonkey wrote:I am not complaining because i am on KVR, i can repeat same things on every other forum, it's nbot that KVR is scary or something. Chicken system does not work, especially not working with older e-mu library formats, not like it is advertised. Yes, i did my homework, i read manual several times, i did exactly like it was supposed to do thing, all i got is crashing, empty banks with no sounds, weird and bad formats and so on.
I'm sorry you had that experience. May I suggest contacting Chicken Systems and they can straighten anything out for you? You can call 320-235-9798 or 800-877-6377, or email support AT chickensys.com.

We have zero tolerance for bugs, if anyone points anything out to us we keep that issue open until it fully satisfies the user.
i've forgot to mention that OP does have same disappointing result with Kurzweil format. Haha. They don't allow you to try conversion in demo but when you buy a product you are screwed because - surprise - it can't convert. I see it as a scam.
I think it would be a better scam if we hid behind our web page and didn't respond to communication. But we respond to everyone, and quickly, fast, and thoroughly. We really do.

Please remember that we've been around for 25 years, we aren't any newcomer. Translator has over 50,000 copies sold and I expect some people to be disappointed. But given a chance to take care of anything that goes wrong, we take that opportunity to fully flesh out anything that gets reported.
Garth Hjelte
Chicken Systems, Inc.
support@chickensys.com
http://www.chickensys.com

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Astralp wrote:Just wondering how it is possible to test what the product does beforehand when the demo doesn't allow any conversion?
You can't. (BTW, if there is a way to robustly make a demo app that does limited conversions without allowing people to find out how to remove those limits, let us know.)

We use and program Translator every day, it really does work. It is completely possible - probable - that there are bugs. That's true for most software. So... we make ourselves available, you can call us, email us, and we have an excellent Bug Reports system so if anything goes awry, we handle it - within 24 hours if we can. And most often that's all it takes.

If someone really truly hit super snags where Translator truly was deficient, and the user asked for a refund after checking stuff out, we would consider it and probably do it. But we take it on a case by case basis. We are fair.

However, this just doesn't happen often. Translator is a finished product, the technology appears in Kontakt and the list of professionals that use it is long and lengthy. That doesn't mean there can be a problem. Simply contact us, and problem solved.
Garth Hjelte
Chicken Systems, Inc.
support@chickensys.com
http://www.chickensys.com

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DrumAddict wrote:i didn't have said that the products are bad or anything like this (even if there are an Demo where you can watch and see how the GUI looks ! i just don't like how its handled !

United Parcel Service (1 pkg x 1 lbs total) United Parcel Service
UPS Worldwide Expedited (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) $85.71
UPS Saver (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) $88.64
UPS Worldwide Express (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) $91.79
UPS Worldwide Express Plus (billed dimensional weight 1 LBS) $135.99
[/code]

$85.71 are the calculated shipping costs from your SamplerZone Site to where i live in the EU !

If you are a non-US customer, It is STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you choose a United States Postal Service option to reduce excessive additional charges on your end.

You can't choose it on your Samplerzone Site
Again, please contact SamplerZone and ask them what is happening. Complaining (which is a good thing) is better done to the people that can actually help. No one on this forum - except me I guess - can help.

My guess is that, because there are no USPS - United States Postal Service - quotes, your address is not being identified as "knowable" as the site is passing to USPS; thus, you get no USPS quotes, which of course are the ones you want. This can happen in certain smaller foreign countries - I don't think all of the European Union gets that response. We get EU orders on the time with shipping around $10.

Try changing your address around and see if that helps. Or, again, ask SamplerZone themselves.
Garth Hjelte
Chicken Systems, Inc.
support@chickensys.com
http://www.chickensys.com

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BBFG# wrote:Between that [ESC being not supported] and the negative things about CS, it doesn't sound like anyone in their right mind should buy either one of them.
This isn't answering your question - but I completely stand behind Translator, and most of the "negative things" that perhaps you are referring to are either misinformation, or more likely people posting things on KVR before they've contacted us and/or before they know the facts.

We stand accountable to our software. if there is an issue, any issue, call us, email us. 320-235-9798, 800-877-6377 support AT chickensys.com. No scam. Working software.
Garth Hjelte
Chicken Systems, Inc.
support@chickensys.com
http://www.chickensys.com

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I have Translator Pro and I can vouch that they have always responded to my support enquiries in a timely fashion.

Regards
Kraznet
Asus Z97-A| i7 4770K|32GB DDR3|Samsung 850 Pro 512 SSD System|Crucial 960gb SSD A/V|Crucial 960 SSD Samples|GTX 960 2GB|RME Raydat|Windows 10 x64, Philips 40" 4K
My Samplitude/Sequoia Tutorials are here :
http://www.youtube.com/kraznet

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