Any Chicken Systems Translator users?

[BBFG#]

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.

Please don't misunderstand my comments, they were made to point out that even those that support another product have gripes about it. I'm still behind the purchase I made with you and every email and question I've sent you has been responded to professionally, politely, and quickly.

I just wish I could get some time with it so I could support it with experience. (And that has been solely my fault).

My only questions are about the 'physical product' and the 'auto-sampler'? I believe you were suppose to send me a link for the auto-sampler, which you said was in beta at the time, and I have never received either. The downloads came through fine though

[chickeneps]

Thanks - part of the post was meant for the public so that's why it sounded that way. Sorry about that.

The autosampling function must have been put in the public version at the time so that may be what we missed each other on. The physical SamplerTools DVD has missed two deadlines this year - our fault - it's prone to it because it relies on updates to multiple products. Again, though, it's mainly the three products and they can be downloaded for now, so it's not make-break, but I know what you mean.

[kmonkey]

I want to chime in (again) and to say that my response was a bit to harsh especially regarding "scam" thing. I did not used this app for quite some time, maybe they changed their administration. From what i can see communication is far better then back then. I hope issues will be fixed for both sides, user and company.

I'll use this chance to tell devs. at chickentranslator that they at least reconsider their demo limitation and to give people chance to at least translate few files within their wanted format conversion so they could actually know will software work for them or not. This is as well chance for more users to test this software and report eventually errors. Both sides win.

Anyway or other i apologize. My claim isn't objective since i did not test software for quite some years - many thing could be better (or worse) and i don't want my past experience have impact on some other mind.

Try the demo.

Good luck to everyone.

[chickeneps]

I'll use this chance to tell devs. at chickentranslator that they at least reconsider their demo limitation and to give people chance to at least translate few files within their wanted format conversion so they could actually know will software work for them or not. This is as well chance for more users to test this software and report eventually errors. Both sides win.

I totally agree and I think it's awful that the demo doesn't allow conversions.

But, there just isn't any way I know of to limit the conversions without exposing the ability to remove the limits and BOOM there goes our technology. This happened previously and it's just not going to happen again.

I should mention that there ARE some conversions allowed in the demo. You can move files off and onto proprietary disks, and perhaps more importantly you can extract samples from proprietary disks AND monolith files like Giga, SoundFont, Kontakt monolith, and others.

To make up for the demo limitations, we work overtime on any issues brought to our attention. So I hope that compensates for the limit.

However, I don't think the quality of conversions is in question. I know this because we continually test the conversions, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. They work.

I'm NOT saying that any reports here on KVR are false or negative complaining - only that they do need to be reported which is a simple thing, and that one thing would rectify most/all of them. AFAIK the majority of complaints posted here are simply issues that hadn't been called to our attention yet. Translator supports a 70x70 matrix of formats, an occasional punt is possible if not probable. Data takes on so many forms it would surprise a lot of people, and decoding this stuff without assistance (we get no cooperation which is fine) opens things up even further.

Remember, we have 50,000 users so we have a built-in testing base already.

Thanks KMonkey, I appreciate your post.

[padillac]

Translator works well, I use it to translate kontakt instruments to MPC programs all the time. It's not perfect, and I've submitted a few bug requests that definitely have not been addressed within 24 hours (unless an automated "thanks, am checking" comment counts as addressed) but frankly I don't really expect a 24-hour turnaround even if that's what they say. I do think there's some weird stuff...like the requirement for the CD that isn't actually a requirement, because they give you a download version. I've read the explanations multiple times, so I don't need it explained to me again why they do that, I just think it's weird. You'll definitely read about people who haven't gotten a CD in years, and the only way to get one afaik is to email them and specifically ask for it (although again not 100% sure why given that the download version works just fine). All in all though it works really well and I'm pretty amazed at how effective it is given the # of formats it handles, and all the different audio file types that I throw at it. They did fix one issue I submitted within 24 hours, so I'm hoping these other ones happen within the next month or two. Bottom line imo is that the tool is generally solid, and the company's occasional weird decisions/behavior I just file under working on translation software for the last quarter century. I don't know if you need to be a bit crazy to do that, or doing that makes you crazy, but either way I give them the benefit of the doubt

[bharris22]

I think it would help if the demo permitted conversions, too. Would it be possible to have a feature on the CS website where you would upload some files of limited size (maybe each user would need to sign in with an e-mail address and get five different conversions) and then download the converted files into the format of your choice?

[chickeneps]

I do think there's some weird stuff...like the requirement for the CD that isn't actually a requirement, because they give you a download version. I've read the explanations multiple times, so I don't need it explained to me again why they do that, I just think it's weird. You'll definitely read about people who haven't gotten a CD in years, and the only way to get one afaik is to email them and specifically ask for it (although again not 100% sure why given that the download version works just fine).

That's an old issue, since we finally printed Translator 6 a couple years ago, everyone should have their CD's.

Software is either physical or virtual. Physical software (also dongle) is rarely pirated, downloadable software is mostly. We don't do downloadable software because we can't protect it (yet). Most download-only companies are here and gone, companies that package it (or do download and have the financial resources to protect it) stay around.

So we do the best of both worlds, offer a temporary build to span the time between order and shipment. I think honestly it's highly inventive.

[chickeneps]

Would it be possible to have a feature on the CS website where you would upload some files of limited size (maybe each user would need to sign in with an e-mail address and get five different conversions) and then download the converted files into the format of your choice?

It's a good idea, but I actually don't think people want the Free version to perform test conversions to decide whether to purchase the product. We've had a couple people ask us to do that, but only a couple - over 15 years. We did it, but I'm not sure those people actually went through with a purchase.

And it also feels like a set-up. On all those instances I never sent out anything that was a poor conversion. I do remember a couple times fixing a thing or to (with the conversion code) before I sent the final out, but those were a fraction and also minor things. So how does that prove anything about the conversions, to the user? Would they even expect a poor conversion to be sent out?

You either need Translator or you don't. Giving a solid guarantee that we'll back up the product post-purchase (which is what we do now) is just about the same thing.

Still, I might put something about that on the Free area where it states the limitations. I don't have much time to do sample (not sound sample, but sample) conversions, but might as well try.

Thanks for the idea.

[niktu]

To the OP: I have Translator but have only used it to translate a few Kontakt > Alchemy files on a Mac. It worked well enough but was buggy and inconsistant as I recall. Sorry I can't be more specific. It was about 12 months ago when I used it last. My overall lingering opinion of the product is positive. I consider Translator to be 'useful'.

Regards ChickenSys: Unfortunately, you need to give them a wide-berth with regard to their claims both here and on their website.

[chabb]

Mouais...faut voir...

[chickeneps]

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