Splice rent to own Serum plan, what do you think?

[Compyfox]

I think I also have seen other threads that have asked about possibilities of paying in installments and it has mainly got negative feedback.

So I also find it a bit surprising to see the mostly positive feedback here.

I think the discussion was mostly dismissed because:

1) people couldn't think of it being working
2) there as no similar concept known to them (AVID and formerly Sonnox)
3) at the point of these discussions, there was no available plugin or synth with that scheme in public discussion

Also... KVR likes to drag things into the negatives


Would you have asked the same question over on GS, you would have gotten intials "no's" and "kill it with fire" comments as well - but after page 3-5 or so, people would have been like "maybe this is an interesting idea after all".

What do you know, one developer stepped forward and is like "look - we're doing a deal with SPLICE here". Not only does XFER Records do a deal with a third party company that sells their VSTi for them (and therefore loose out a bit of the financial cut), but SPLICE is on the full risk here.


And I think there were simply users out there that didn't realize this, or couldn't comprehend the workload. So the quickest answer in all these other threads were "can't imagine it to work" "won't work" "why don't you save up and buy upfront".

Circle closes, rinse and repeat

[Shabdahbriah]

But what happens when the plug goes from v1 to v2, which often happens ?

And what if that v1 "legacy plug", after v2 has superceded it, should not work on the next major OS upgrade (either Win or Mac)

Even though you own that v1 plug you will have problems using it, so one will have to sign on again to get the v2 version to stay up to date.

Selling Serum v1 will not be that easy either, as the next owner will be stuck with it for life (NFR)
https://www.xferrecords.com/general/top ... e-transfer

This applies to purchasing any software in any way. Don't see why this is a special concern in this case

Indeed, it isn't. Steve isn't iZotope, or Adobe, or Apple, or others with predictable development 'cycles' that charge you through the nose to keep current. He continually updates, refines, improves his stuff, and has repeatedly expressed his intent to do so with Serum. Nerve is still at v.1 (something), and Serum is moving along rapidly with continual updates that enhance its appeal.

"Version-2", I suspect, is a few years down the road, IF it ever appears to be 'necessitated', in contrast to "conventional" marketing strategies, which have programmed and play-on dumb-ass consumers Pavlovian need to have the latest/greatest, by putting a new number on it, and/or making the "old version" suddenly obsolete/non-functional, incompatible, or no longer supported.

[Numanoid]

Even though you own that v1 plug you will have problems using it, so one will have to sign on again to get the v2 version to stay up to date.

This applies to purchasing any software in any way. Don't see why this is a special concern in this case

It was in relation to somebody saying that it was quite unlike a subscription plan.

So the point I tried to make is that one most often need to sign on again, due to needing major updates, so that such a downpayment plan becomes quite like a subscription plan.

[masterhiggins]

Indeed, it isn't. Steve isn't iZotope, or Adobe, or Apple, or others with predictable development 'cycles' that charge you through the nose to keep current. He continually updates, refines, improves his stuff, and has repeatedly expressed his intent to do so with Serum. Nerve is still at v.1 (something), and Serum is moving along rapidly with continual updates that enhance its appeal.

Logic has received countless free updates and it's one of the cheapest DAWs on the market. If you had said Steinberg then you might have something, but Apple is very different. They also threw in Alchemy with Logic and Mainstage, which is dirt cheap. Their track record kind of excludes them from your example. I'd consider revising your statement.

[Shabdahbriah]

Indeed, it isn't. Steve isn't iZotope, or Adobe, or Apple, or others with predictable development 'cycles' that charge you through the nose to keep current. He continually updates, refines, improves his stuff, and has repeatedly expressed his intent to do so with Serum. Nerve is still at v.1 (something), and Serum is moving along rapidly with continual updates that enhance its appeal.

Logic has received countless free updates and it's one of the cheapest DAWs on the market. If you had said Steinberg then you might have something, but Apple is very different. They also threw in Alchemy with Logic and Mainstage, which is dirt cheap. Their track record kind of shoots your theory in the ass.

I considered using Steinberg, but I don't keep up at all with any of their development. Although Padshop Pro is of interest to me. "Apple" {specifically}, as in "iStuff", hadn't thought of Logic, but though their software acquisitions have benefited Mac users, I do wish I could still use IT, and Alchemy on my PC, which does make it fit perfectly with my "theory", thank you.

{ergo:}

making the "old version" suddenly obsolete/non-functional, incompatible, or no longer supported.

[Neon Breath]

When I go to the grocery store, I really hate it when people pay with a credit card. I don’t want them to pay that way, I want them to pay just like me, in cash all the time. There shouldn’t be other type of payments, only the one I use. No credit card, no debit cards, just cash like I do.

[Shabdahbriah]

I think it's a brilliant idea, completely fair to the customer, and no doubt other developers haven't done it because of the stupid, negative feedback that the 'mentally challenged' here came up with, when somebody dared to suggest exactly the same thing, a year and a half ago:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=433086

I think I also have seen other threads that have asked about possibilities of paying in installments and it has mainly got negative feedback.

So I also find it a bit surprising to see the mostly positive feedback here.

I think maybe it can have something to do with the product offered in this particular case. Many have probably had Serum on the radar, but found it too expensive. With the payment plan it has become within reach for their wallets.

BING-[f'ing]-GO!!! Someone's had their coffee.

[Compyfox]

I did not have SERUM on my radar, does that make me a special case?

[Numanoid]

I did not have SERUM on my radar, does that make me a special case?

Yes, you are not Kanye West

[Compyfox]

We mustn't talk blasphemy about the higher being!

[Teksonik]

Many have probably had Serum on the radar, but found it too expensive. With the payment plan it has become within reach for their wallets.

BING-[f'ing]-GO!!! Someone's had their coffee.

But it ends up being the same price so the impact on their wallet is the same....

However if one does not have the discipline to save for what they want this is a good plan.

[Numanoid]

However if one does not have the discipline to save for what they want this is a good plan.

You mean you need to save up all the money before you can buy a car, or an apartment

When it comes to everything else, we do down payments as standard, so why not plugs ?

[masterhiggins]

Indeed, it isn't. Steve isn't iZotope, or Adobe, or Apple, or others with predictable development 'cycles' that charge you through the nose to keep current. He continually updates, refines, improves his stuff, and has repeatedly expressed his intent to do so with Serum. Nerve is still at v.1 (something), and Serum is moving along rapidly with continual updates that enhance its appeal.

Logic has received countless free updates and it's one of the cheapest DAWs on the market. If you had said Steinberg then you might have something, but Apple is very different. They also threw in Alchemy with Logic and Mainstage, which is dirt cheap. Their track record kind of shoots your theory in the ass.

I considered using Steinberg, but I don't keep up at all with any of their development. Although Padshop Pro is of interest to me. "Apple" {specifically}, as in "iStuff", hadn't thought of Logic, but though their software acquisitions have benefited Mac users, I do wish I could still use IT, and Alchemy on my PC, which does make it fit perfectly with my "theory", thank you.

{ergo:}

making the "old version" suddenly obsolete/non-functional, incompatible, or no longer supported.

That's quite a wide swath you've painted for that category. Every company that's been around long enough to have old products eventually discontinue or no longer support some products or versions. Some provide free updates for life but eventually there's going to be an update somewhere along the line that makes it incompatible with your operating system or daw. Not sure exactly what your point is. Do you think Xfer is going to support Windows xp indefinitely?

[tehlord]

but you can continue the plan later, and your 5 installments still be there. And 5 installments are $50, not $100.

Yeah, but what if it takes some time, and you need to render a track with the plug, and you can't
use it in the meantime.

In that case you wouldn't have bought it outright either.

This scheme is a smart way to try and combat casual piracy, there's really no downside to it. Not even an interest charged.

Good on Xfer.

[ATS]

Many have probably had Serum on the radar, but found it too expensive. With the payment plan it has become within reach for their wallets.

BING-[f'ing]-GO!!! Someone's had their coffee.

But it ends up being the same price so the impact on their wallet is the same....

However if one does not have the discipline to save for what they want this is a good plan.

In a way this is saving for what you want. A lot of people saving for something like this would put away $10 a month till they save up enough. This way you get to use the plug the whole time you are "saving".