Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[Rational]

Thanks ghetto. Yeah. I've used the audio stats thing for awhile now. Learned about it in a groove3 tutorial video a few years ago. It's fantastic. But I like the graphical idea Expose has come up with. Others need to implement that idea and just do it better. It's nice to see red for areas that are at risk based on intended market. Doing it graphically is a new idea to the market I believe. I've just read that many people find it too rudimentary as currently implemented by Expose. They say it get's it wrong oftentimes. But it's still a fresh idea to do it graphically I think across the whole waveform.

Yep on creamcm being good enough?

Yes, $99 upgrade price at AAS for me to the full modeling collection of 6 items. And I'm also sad to see tassman lost now. They should include it for free still as a bonus with a note that it won't be supported. I at least would still like to own it as it's been such a classic for so long.

Unfortunately my reason is not the full version. It's reason essentials which I paid $99 for thinking I could apply that $99 to a $99 discount on the full eventually. Sadly, they don't and won't (I keep asking.) every year now going on like 4 years. Until I can get my $99 investment into essentials applied to an upgrade to the full version I'm not going to buy. They keep saying no, so I keep saying no.

[ghettosynth]

Thanks ghetto. Yeah. I use the audio stats thing for awhile now. Learned about it in a groove3 tutorial video a few years ago. It's fantastic. But I like the graphical idea Expose has come up with. Others need to implement that idea and just do it better. It's nice to see red for areas that are at risk based on intended market. Doing it graphically is a new idea to the market I believe. I've just read that many people find it too rudimentary as currently implemented by Expose. They say it get's it wrong oftentimes. But it's still a fresh idea to do it graphically I think across the whole waveform.

Yes, I don't find it useful enough to part with a couple of coffees. If I need to pin it down more carefully then I'll use one of my other loudness tools like insight or flux.

Yep on creamcm being good enough?

Yes, IMO.

Yes, $99 upgrade price at AAS for me to the full modeling collection of 6 items. And I'm also sad to see tassman lost now. They should include it for free still as a bonus with a note that it won't be supported. I at least would still like to own it as it's been such a classic for so long.

Ah, yes, well, it's closer to $200 for me and without Tassman I'm not interested. I agree, Tassman should be included as a free download for bundle buyers.

[Rational]

Yep. We think alike. I have insight. And I just bought the Flux pak for $64 this year. Glad they were smart enough to discount it this year as last year I was thinking I'd buy it if it were around this price. At $149 for a 2nd tier player in the game still name wise, I wasn't going to pay it.

I'll try out my CreamCM. Thanks. That's why I subscribe. So I can go back to my vault and finally nab an item I already have and didn't know. The videos on youtube showing how it arpeggiates other synths is very cool. Does it not have it's own synth internal, or is it only a midi arpeggiator and gate initiator? I'm unclear on it still until I have time to try it out.

[Fleer]

I did the Reason upgrade. My last was Reason 4 and going to 10 for $99 is a real bargain,just looking at all that is improved. Im a Cubase user but this will allow me to easily collaborate with a co-writer

Yep, Reason is quite fun. If you just upgraded from Reason 4, you’re in for a lot of treats. I’m also using it next to Logic, MainStage, Bitwig and Waveform but it’s a creative world of its own. And those synths they just added are quite amazing, especially the granular one. Enjoy!

[telecharge]

Still getting dial-up speeds from Plugin Boutique. I guess inMusic Brands is too cheap to pay for capacity and redundancy. You can still order reasonably quickly, though.

[mutantdog]

Slate have been on my blacklist for some time. Even though i hear good things about their effects, I've always been put off by their marketing practises. Having seen Rational's post above I feel even less interested in trying them now.

Also, it seems everybody else agrees with my thinking about Cream. I was considering buying it but I feel like the CM version is almost full-featured enough.

In the end i didn't buy that much this year, just Nova GE in fact. Any other time i'd have probably snapped up the Flux pack, i was close to spending a bit with AudioDamage too but realistically i need my cash for Ableton 10.

[yellowmix]

This must be where I get interested in orchestral sample libraries to keep the gas machine going. Mostly I purchased utility software, some of it wasn't even on sale LOL!

That's what happened this year for me as well. Satisfied with my toolkit, so it comes down to utilities that help with workflow or really niche stuff. I mean, I got Imogen Heap's mouth noises.

[yellowmix]

nt

[telecharge]

Word. Slate can choke on a dongle.

[ghettosynth]

This must be where I get interested in orchestral sample libraries to keep the gas machine going. Mostly I purchased utility software, some of it wasn't even on sale LOL!

That's what happened this year for me as well. Satisfied with my toolkit, so it comes down to utilities that help with workflow or really niche stuff. I mean, I got Imogen Heap's mouth noises.

Yeah, that's pretty niche alright LOL! Actually, I probably should have picked up box of tricks, but not because of the mouth noises, but the performance sequencers. Oh well, next year. I love SC stuff, but I only buy them on a good sale.

[OneOfManyPauls]

Get xFer Cthulhu instead of Cream.

yeah, cthulhu is great for arps - but for chords, pluginboutiques new "scaler" has taken top spot for me.

Still getting dial-up speeds from Plugin Boutique. I guess inMusic Brands is too cheap to pay for capacity and redundancy. You can still order reasonably quickly, though.

Why would InMusic have any connection to PiB/Loopmasters download speed?

[shonky]

Does anyone know if the preorder upgrade to Ableton 10 requires payment upfront or is the money paid only when it finally becomes available?

[Rational]

Slate have been on my blacklist for some time. Even though i hear good things about their effects, I've always been put off by their marketing practises. Having seen Rational's post above I feel even less interested in trying them now.

Also, it seems everybody else agrees with my thinking about Cream. I was considering buying it but I feel like the CM version is almost full-featured enough.

In the end i didn't buy that much this year, just Nova GE in fact. Any other time i'd have probably snapped up the Flux pack, i was close to spending a bit with AudioDamage too but realistically i need my cash for Ableton 10.

I didn't realize how many people didn't care for Slate's marketing and treatement before me. Seems like an opportunity for them to hear some feedback and improve. Here's to hoping. I'll judge them based on how I'm treated in this instance. I'll of course be sure to report back the good or bad either way. As they say though, customers who have a bad experience usually share it with 27 other people on average. I'm sure I'm no different in that respect. But I always give credit where credit is due.

Companies on my favorite list:
1. Eventide. They were VERY very cool during last year's BF sale. Even hooked me up with a NFR of T-Verb at the end. I got their whole collection for like $150 if I remember right. Or not much more perhaps. I'll have to look it up. But it was stellar. They understand these plugins are not real hardware. They KNOW real hardware and what real hardware is worth. Plugins are not truly valued anywhere near the real thing and once created cost nothing to reproduce and hand out. They understand it's better to keep us happy with freebie (or steeply discounted) plugins so we'll be interested in their hardware in future years. Smart business there. Same with Focusrite and Novation. They all have the customer first. I've been treated well by all three. Same with Plugin-Alliance. They always say yes to my requests and decide in my favor every time I've asked. Hence my loyalty builds with them.

2. Soundtoys. I got their entire line last year for $175 or so was it? Fantastic value. Never any drama. Lots of freebies over time that apply to future sales and always quality. When I open their plugins I always have a warm fuzzy and no negative memories in my mind. The way it should be.

3. I'll think on it more when I have the energy. I know I have several more favorites that have done right by me over the years. I started in audio in 1984 and PC based VST audio, DAWs and plugins in 1997? and remember when the first VSTs were released. Lots of opinions to share. Shoot, I had an Amiga and an Atari ST before that... lol. C64 and 128 and even a Timex Sinclair. Haha. Anybody know what a Tandy CoCo is? My first computer in '82. Man, I'm getting old...

Thanks for confirming the CreamCM. Saved me $15. If they update it I'll throw some bucks their way for offering such value via the free CM plug. As long as it's reasonably priced that is.

[Rational]

Oh, and while I'm on it, I'll start sharing companies that are on my S^(t list.

1. Tascam. They dropped driver support for TWO of my interfaces over the years. I couldn't get them to work on newer versions of Windows no matter what I tried. And they refuse to make drivers for newer OSs so that it forces customers to buy something new. N.O.P.E. Never again Tascam. Won't ever buy another Tascam product. Ever. You've done me wrong twice. Kiss off.

More to come.

[mgw38]

Does anyone know if the preorder upgrade to Ableton 10 requires payment upfront or is the money paid only when it finally becomes available?

No money upfront needed. You pay when it becomes available.