Plug-in (mostly FX) prices: lost in a devalued world

[fluffy_little_something]

The cost and value of Software is basically the work put into it, and occasionally a few bucks for DVD and manual.

It usually costs a bit when you need to buy computers and software for development.

Yes, but it is still way cheaper than buying the gear needed for developing and building cars. If I wanted to make a plugin, how much would I have to invest in gear? Maybe $500 to $1000 for a computer (most people in industrialized countries already have one, anyway), plus some C++ suite and framework fees I suppose, no idea what that costs. No factory, no machines, no employees...

[Acid Mitch]

how much would I have to invest in gear?

It would depend on how many formats and platforms you intend to support.

[jopy]

Actually, an item having physical substance doesn't indicate intrinsical value, either.

Exactly. Some clear (and rather disgusting) examples of rare and hard to make pure physical products having no inherent economic value were introduced earlier to make this point. The cost of anything is clearly based on things like demand, scarcity, and substitutes. This is a pretty old saw in economics (see the logical errors in Ricardo's labor theory of value as an example).

As far as price-value correlations, I think the OP should abandon that idea. If you want a very standard effect, there's probably a very cheap alternative because many people are chasing that market and the core principles for designing it are well known-possibly open sourced. If you want something that has a very unique sound profile and a well-heeled set of buyers (think of pure studio quality plug ins), you can expect to pay much more.

This works for plenty of commodities as well--expensive wine isn't necessarily "better," it's just that it is harder to make some of the specific flavors in expensive wine. Most experts who aren't just being pretentious have favorite products at multiple price points (this is a good $10 bottle of wine, this is a good $20 bottle, and if you're looking for something unique, here's a good $70 bottle).

There are also exceptions where someone motivated by pure enjoyment produces something without caring about return on time investment. The best stuff for Reaktor 6 is the free in the Euro Reakt set, for example, which appears to be a pure labor of love.

Which is just to echo what's been said many times before: price is a poor indicator of quality.

[jopy]

Actually, an item having physical substance doesn't indicate intrinsical value, either.

Exactly. Some clear (and rather disgusting) examples of rare and hard to make pure physical products having no inherent economic value were introduced earlier to make this point. The cost of anything is clearly based on things like demand, scarcity, and substitutes. This is a pretty old saw in economics (see the logical errors in Ricardo's labor theory of value as an example).

As far as price-value correlations, I think the OP should abandon that idea. If you want a very standard effect, there's probably a very cheap alternative because many people are chasing that market and the core principles for designing it are well known-possibly open sourced. If you want something that has a very unique sound profile and a well-heeled set of buyers (think of pure studio quality plug ins), you can expect to pay much more.

This works for plenty of commodities as well--expensive wine isn't necessarily "better," it's just that it is harder to make some of the specific flavors in expensive wine. Most experts who aren't just being pretentious have favorite products at multiple price points (this is a good $10 bottle of wine, this is a good $20 bottle, and if you're looking for something unique, here's a good $70 bottle).

There are also exceptions where someone motivated by pure enjoyment produces something without caring about return on time investment. The best stuff for Reaktor 6 is the free in the Euro Reakt set, for example, which appears to be a pure labor of love.

Which is just to echo what's been said many times before: price is a poor indicator of quality.

[cocoazenith]

Bumping this topic a a little bit:

http://everyplugin.com/metafilter.html

I found out today (22 June 2016) that I can get Waves Element 2 ($120) and Metafilter ($150)
for $32...

Great synth, great effect...ridiculous price. But I will not buy for the reasons
I stated in the first post. Still lost...