bitwig 2 is here

[chk071]

C'mon people, don't argue that KVR, which hosts the the official Bitwig forum, and said official Bitwig forum (whose threads right now are way harsher and negative than this one) are "not representative" of the opinion of Bitwig's "real userbase", that's not a good look.

You know what's representative? Sales figures. It's the only thing which matters to a company too, as it also represents content/discontent pretty well. If they sell less copies with the new pricing model, then that will be pretty representative to them, no matter what internet peeps say. I have read so many times that Steinberg is evil, because of their pricing scheme. Fact ist, they're one of the major players. How could that be if any of the forum bla would be representative?

Anyway, as i enjoy quite a bit of forum bla too, there's nothing to be said against a healthy discussion. Healthy meaning an objective discussion, seeing all the pros and cons of such a pricing scheme, and not senselessly bashing it, or being afraid of it, just because it's different.

[db3]

Regardless of where you stand on the licencing model, this is a marketing fail. The good stuff is being overshadowed by a very poorly communicated roll out.

+1 Schoolboy error.

[LawrenceF]

My thoughts...

1. It won't be Internet forums that wil determine if this succeeds of not. No matter how many people post about a thing on the net it's never anything more than a tiny fraction of the market, which is literally millions of people. Any supposed "fact" that what they're doing will fail is shortsighted and guessing. We'll find out a year or so from now what's true or not. Nobody here knows either way yet.

2. If you are in the "music business" software is always subsidized by billings so any complaint about $160 a year for a necessary tool to make money is ridiculous for those actually making money with it ... which appears to be a tiny minority.

3. For hobbyists, it just is what it is. If it costs too much, don't buy it, or find a less expensive hobby.

Bitwig doesn't owe anyone anything. They make a product, and they can sell it for any price they want.

[chk071]

3. For hobbyists, it just is what it is. If it costs too much, don't buy it, or find a less expensive hobby.

TBH, i know WAY more expensive hobbies. I'd like VSTi's to be priced in the 99 € region though. I have no idea if that is possible or not. If it leads to 50% more sales, it should surely be possible (and why wouldn't it? I'm sure Sylenth1 for example would sell like hot cakes if they lowered the price to 99€, and did sales). Obviously, Bitwig felt the need to raise the prices. If that is due to them not producing enough money, or, because things go well, and they feel they can take more, i don't know. I'd rather suspect the former though.

Bitwig doesn't owe anyone anything. They make a product, and they can sell it for any price they want.

Yep, exactly that.

[ezelkow1]

looks like there may be infighting among the wigs about what all this means as well. The CTO replied to someone on facebook saying that they would backport any OSX specific changes to keep peoples copies working as OSX does updates. He probably didnt realize what an insane maintenance nightmare that would be and now a few hours later the comment is deleted. Then again I would think a friggin CTO would know better

[ere2learn]

[Daags]

this is what happens when you let a support guy (dom) have a seat on the board ... now they want 160 euros a year for email support. DERP.

bitwig is gonna end up like vember audio. an abandoned ship. except this time the captain and his crew burned bridges to get on board. DERP.

[incubus]

BRB, gotta make some more popcorn ...

[Scotty]

Correction. They can "attempt" to sell it at whatever price they want. Anyone want my copy for $300.00? I thought not.

I highly doubt that any company that lasts in this environment will adopt a "we don't owe anyone anything" mindset. Bitwig takes obvious pride in their work and despite this marketing fumble most of us want them to succeed and we want to be part of that success. That is their opportunity. We are far from indifferent and I am sure they care and have to at least consider the critical comments that have been expressed here and elsewhere. How they react is quite literally "their business" with all that is at stake.

There is another reality that Bitwig must contend. Many users of Bitwig have other DAWs for the simple fact that they were late on the scene. Welcome... but late. For some , yes it is their primary tool but for a significant number of others it is optional. When I assess the annual cost that Bitwig is asking, I have to take it into broader consideration. If it was my bread and butter DAW I'd have little choice but to upgrade especially if the features were compelling. Bitwig, however, is not my main DAW so upgrading isn't a no-brainer despite the fact that I run a reasonably well equipped professional studio.

At any rate I'll let this thread run its course content with having added my two bits. I do hope that Dom and his team are listening and appreciate at least the passion that has been expressed. I want them to succeed. It is my opinion that they have jumped into the deep end of the pricing pool prematurely. They aren't way off but they are far enough away from the bullseye that many of us will wait it out or take a pass altogether.

With the greatest respect to those with dissenting opinion... - Scotty

Bitwig doesn't owe anyone anything. They make a product, and they can sell it for any price they want.

Yep, exactly that.

[loungepanda]

Last I checked they made no promises for what would be in version 2.

It was on the web site since launch...until very recently- 'coming in V2 open modular environment and network etc' with pictures and a full description of the features.

The new wording on the web site says something like (the new modulators) are 'one step closer to the modular environment'.

Personally I don't have an issue with them not making these features in V2 and needing a cash injection to keep going (we have had a lot of free updates in V1), its just the way they have gone about everything that seems strange....just removing things from the web site and hoping no one would notice!

All would this negativity would have been avoided by simply making this a 80 USD 1.5 update with a 2 update (for another 80 bucks) in 6-8 months when they are actually ready!

No. You're making that up.

It stated forthcoming features, but not when they would be available.

[LawrenceF]

That's the problem with these KVR discussions, that everything is viewed as a debate or argument. Here is the reality...

1. Some people won't like the change and will stop buying it. I have no doubt at all about that.
2. Despite the overblown perception of their own opinions, many, many others always will.

So no matter how much the YT, FB, Twitter generation appears to believe that everything that angers them will have millions of people following them out the door, that this company is now dead, it just 'aint so.

Bitwig will go on, with or without them.

Now if the pricing and model change will have the effect it was designed for internally? Only time will tell. What I do know, a random person stomping his foot about not buying the product anymore isn't going to end this product, or any other, so all the talk in their forum about that... them going bankrupt, whatever, is pure nonsense.

[ezelkow1]

Last I checked they made no promises for what would be in version 2.

It was on the web site since launch...until very recently- 'coming in V2 open modular environment and network etc' with pictures and a full description of the features.

The new wording on the web site says something like (the new modulators) are 'one step closer to the modular environment'.

Personally I don't have an issue with them not making these features in V2 and needing a cash injection to keep going (we have had a lot of free updates in V1), its just the way they have gone about everything that seems strange....just removing things from the web site and hoping no one would notice!

All would this negativity would have been avoided by simply making this a 80 USD 1.5 update with a 2 update (for another 80 bucks) in 6-8 months when they are actually ready!

No. You're making that up.

It stated forthcoming features, but not when they would be available.

No, he's not
https://web.archive.org/web/20150526191 ... wig-studio

INTEGRATED MODULAR SYSTEM
All 54 devices found in Bitwig Studio were designed using a modular device creation environment which is integrated in the application. Unlike other software, this feature is at the heart of the code running Bitwig Studio. In the next major release, anyone with Bitwig Studio will have access to the integrated Modular System, enabling the modification of existing devices, or the creation and design of entirely new ones.

I would think anyone would agree that a v2 would be the next major release. That was on their site in the summer of 2015

[Daags]

^^^ time for the panda to eat crow.

[incubus]

The fact is this is a really slow developing product. People don't want to be stuck in the mud. A concept that "some" people simply can't get their head around

You're right, they are not going out of business. But it's pretty bizarre what they are asking.

Anyways, back to my munchies.

[loungepanda]

Well clearly it isn't a major version since it's not included.

Legalese aside, It's naive to expect such a comprehensive feature to be ready at version 2.