The "NEW" Plugin Alliance?

[jens]

Thanks PA!! As a heavy hitter, I now have the fantastic opportunity to rent the plugins I already own. Such value for money... LOL

Exactly!

[michaeltn86]

it's actually a pretty good deal for studios or new people joining the audio music production world.

on the other hand, it doesn't seem a good idea to PIA, as they don't have other products with higher margins like slate. so they just cut off the profit they had it, which is interesting. kinda obvious that they are still trying to find a way to survive, but it's no surprise that seniors developers left the company, and vertigo also left.

tough world.

[bmanic]

That's the thing with subscriptions.. they are great for people who do this professionally (mixing, mastering, producing whatever). I can deduct the subscription directly from taxes, which was not simple to do with perpetual licenses. An all-in-one subscription is also a great way for a beginner to get hold of tons of good tools.

Having said that, the problem with subscription models that NOBODY seems to be discussing is what happens when everybody offers only subscription models? Is there really value in having 10 different companies subscriptions and paying thousands of dollars at various points in the year to keep them going?

I already have 2 subscriptions and I'm definitely not getting any more (Slate and Noiiz in case somebody is interested.. the Noiiz one being that special early adopter thing so it's still very inexpensive for me, unless I quit it).

I'm also seriously considering dropping the Slate subscription as I keep finding myself going for individual plugins from different companies. I do think the Slate one is the best subscription at the moment as there is a huge array of plugins for mixing and sound sculpting. That subscription covers quite broad range now with the latest additions. Definitely the best bang-for-your buck. Heck it's normal yearly subscription price is less than my heavy hitter price from PA.

Question: Anybody know if the monthly voucher for July can be used in tandem with the heavy hitter subscription code? This would drag down the price for the first year to 129$.. and make it tax deductible, thus I could stay on for a year and see how things evolve.. but at 179 I'm not tempted at all.

Otherwise I'll use that 50$ voucher for upgrading Byome to Triad (I absolutely loathe the milking of this platform by Unfiltered Audio / Plugin Alliance so I'd rather just show them the finger) or DSM v2 to DSM v3, though I do feel like the plugin is outdated and irrelevant. I have better tools now for a similar process.. and I was never really happy with the sound quality of DSM. I felt like could always hear it smear things.

[Greenstorm33]

The "If you own any bx_console get the others for $99" text has been changed to exclude the new Focusrite console. I'm really loving the new PA

[dreamstate42]

I just tried using the monthly voucher with the subscription, it said something along the lines of "cart voucher cannot be used with subscription purchase", so unfortunately no

As someone who is quite happy with the Slate subscription (especially extending it only through BF sales), I'm not really interested in the PA subscription, although I like their stuff quite a lot. But I'm at that point of pretty much having all their plugins I want (which is already more than I realistically ever need), and "just for fun", even with the "heavy hitter" discount, 179$ (which is 213$ with taxes for me) is just not that enticing, certainly not the "deal of a lifetime".

[pixel85]

Having said that, the problem with subscription models that NOBODY seems to be discussing is what happens when everybody offers only subscription models? Is there really value in having 10 different companies subscriptions and paying thousands of dollars at various points in the year to keep them going?

I'm worried that we're heading into direction where EVERYTHING (beyond audio software) will be under subscription model. We'll be paying hundreds/thousands while owning NOTHING. With every new successful subscription we encourage more and more companies to do the same. Some are saying that it's a great model (and in theory it is, for a short term) but what when company will close/bankrupt? Nothing is immortal. It can happen even to biggest companies. Also what when companies will start to rise and rise subscription price (what of course will happen).
It may looks like a story for Black Mirror episode but in long term I see subscription model as very bad thing for all of us.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

NOBODY seems to be discussing is what happens when everybody offers only subscription models?

Won't happen, because:

Is there really value in having 10 different companies subscriptions and paying thousands of dollars at various points in the year to keep them going?

and...

I'm also seriously considering dropping the Slate subscription as I keep finding myself going for individual plugins from different companies.

------------------------------

There are always going to be small developers who will keep cracking on with great plugins, at great prices. Even among larger developers, there will be those who oppose the model and just keep going their own way

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

I'm worried that we're heading into direction where EVERYTHING (beyond audio software) will be under subscription model.

It won't happen with software. Ironically, it's companies like PA, who represent multiple developers, that have the most chance with a subscription. But all the hundreds of developers that sell one plugin you want, are going to have a hard time convincing you to sign up for monthly payments, for EVERYTHING!!

[yehboy1]

So the “deal of a lifetime” is a ~$15 a month subscription. Okay. Someone needs to take a class in marketing.

[perpetual3]

Deleted - wrong thread.

[Klinke]

We'll be paying hundreds/thousands while owning NOTHING.

I think I have payed hundreds/thousands for software I don't use anymore.

but what when company will close/bankrupt? Nothing is immortal.

In the case that you need a running server from the company to activate the plugs, you also lost a lot of money (and in many cases more the if you used a subscription model.

But I don't think that a forced subscription model will be the future. This may work if you have a monopoly like for Adobe, but not in a market with a lot of competitors (and when many people are often only interested in a fraction of your offer).

[cptgone]

I wonder if this is going to backfire - companies have to be careful of setting expectations with their customer base. If expectations are set (eg. deal of a lifetime) and if they don't deliver, it can cause some pretty serious backlash. Good luck PA and Di*k, I think you're going to need it.

I would have laughed when I saw the actual deal - but I didn't find it funny. I felt sad for PA, and I felt like they pulled my leg, for a quick buck.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I haven't seen this point made yet, but the thing I'm curious about is: what will happen with the Plugin Alliance sales in the future? If the constant "$29 plugin" sales stop, it'll be to push people towards subs. From what I recall, Slate used to regularly do deep discounts on the entire product line and cut way back on sales after the subscription bundles began. I could see PA doing the same thing.

That said, I have no interest in subbing and I have no interest in spending $199 on the MC77 either. Their email from a few weeks ago about how the plugin market has changed dramatically and prices were being lowered said all the right words, but there was no real follow through. Price reductions needed to happen across the board, particularly with the Bx stuff, but the only reductions I saw were with the smaller developers (Unfiltered Audio). So at this point, if Plugin Alliance wants my money, the only way they'll get it are with the big sales they've made me accustomed to. I won't be signing up for a sub or paying anywhere near the regular prices for some of their plugins.

[cron]

Another bad thing happening right now. Apparently Dirk turned off commenting on the heavily discussed posts in their group.
This is not a good sign for me and does not convince me to trust in their company any longer.

It was pretty amazing to watch. The people in PA's Facebook group are invariably bizarrely evangelical, and this was just 250 comments (not even counting the replies to each comment) of bile before the lock. I've never seen the mood of an FB community turn so completely.

[sqigls]

it's largely because Derp sent emails out before the farce, telling everyone how fabulous his new world was gonna be. Game changing. Then he takes a few steps backwards into DERP again.