Softube goes subscription

[asksol]

Never say never... Perhaps next there'll be players akin to cable companies selling bundle subscriptions to different plugins.
Then I'd be interested for sure! Just think of all the software you have purchased that are now outdated, or Not For Resale.

What is annoying me here is the Gobbler stuff that I'm forced to install, that I never use. I realize this argument is similar to the ilok discussion, but it differs in that I have virtually no use for the software: it's a background service that I could uninstall without consequence.

I did uninstall it too, but it left a "Gobbler" shortcut in the left Finder sidebar, and who knows what else. I fear it will serve me ads soon

[kocio21]

I wonder what company will be the first to introduce subscription based DAW. It is bound to happen someday and rather quickly. Like it or not, subscription is the business model of software for the future. And it will be cheaper and cheaper too with all the competition that is out there. To the point where piracy becomes mostly irrelevant because legit software will be too cheap and convenient to use to even bother, as seen with music (Spotify etc.), movies (Netflix etc.) and so on.

The only people who get hurt from this are the "whales" but they are probably less than 5% (number made up) of whole potential customer base. Thing is, 10 bucks per month/customer is far more stable and better income than occasional 1000$ here and there.

Downside? You don't actually own anything, if you stop paying you are left with nothing. Does this matter? For studio professionals it matters a lot. For majority of potential customers (hobbyists, bedroom producers) not so much.

[robotmonkey]

I wonder what company will be the first to introduce subscription based DAW. It is bound to happen someday and rather quickly.

I think Ohmforce has one. It's pretty craptacular. Cakewalk has one too.

[Guenon]

"Software as a service" is no problem when it's just a couple of great value services you can subscribe into, and are offered this model as an alternative. However, as has been pointed out, it would be very worrisome if it was the only way to go for everything software based. Ye olde categorical imperative type of stuff, "could this be made the standard way of doing everything of this sort?" That's why I don't generally approve of such stuff, personally. Subscription for your OS, DAW, plugins, instrument libraries, graphics software, antivirus, music, TV/movies, cloud storage, games even.

It's all well and good when it's not at the very core of your setup, or if it's concentrated sparingly into a few subscriptions -- but if everything was only available as "a service" and you hit a rough spot, you suddenly can't get stuff done if you don't swing a considerable amount per month. It's very much an ideological thing, I know, but I'm of the opinion you should have that certain security of actually having your tools at your disposal once you have paid for them.

[robotmonkey]

Haven't had time to really dig into this thread but now I see that Softube requires one to install Gobbler just to download installers even for the perpetual licenses. That would be stupid and annoying in magnificent scale. Or did they quit selling perpetual licenses at all?

[rasmusklump]

now I see that Softube requires one to install Gobbler just to download installers even for the perpetual licens

Not true, but it is so easy to spread flase things because one is too lazy to read a thread...

[dreamvoid]

I just received a friendly mail from Softube and they answered me about my concerns with Gobbler:
"If you absolutely don't want to use the Gobbler App, you can still get our plug-ins by downloading separate installers from our website and managing the licenses in the iLok License Manager app. Separate installers are available here: https://www.softube.com/index.php?id=mydownloads
To access this page, you will need a Softube/Gobbler account though."

Furthermore Gobbler only gets informations about Softube licenses on the iLok account. I have several hundred licences on iLoks and don't want Gobbler to see or even access them - that's not their business. That's what I wrote Softube and they answered this particularly.
I decide to trust Softube, but won't install the Gobbler-Wobbler app.

[Jace-BeOS]

Free market? Ha ha ha ha ha...

[db3]

I just tried Gobbler for first time...whole heap of a mess. Going to stick with seperate installers.

What I am glad is that Softube are offering a great deal of the software bundle offered as subscription. That's the one thing I find annoying about Slate Digital, in that since pushing subscription they've not had any attractive deals for perpetual licenses.

[dreamvoid]

Softube site is down:

http://www.issitedownrightnow.com/status/softube.com

[Orbit-50]

Softube site is down:

http://www.issitedownrightnow.com/status/softube.com

See? Now you guys made them take their ball and go home. Thanks guys!

[plexuss]

I'm getting a privacy error now. I wonder if they were hacked and have shut down to try and fix the issue.

[robotmonkey]

They are making their website also subscription based.

[db3]

It's back. Now it's offering me super deal on Vol 1 upgrade, based on a product it thinks I have purchased, which I haven't. Go figure

[DarkStar]

I just tried Gobbler for first time...whole heap of a mess. Going to stick with seperate installers.

They felt the need to compete with 'Native Access'