Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[Vleker]

IK Multimedia "Syntronik Deluxe Upgrade" is only 35 EUR after using JamPoints. I really don't need anymore synths (haven't even installed Syntronik), but this deal is pretty tempting - adding 5 new synths and 500+ presets. The audio demos sound really good though. I wonder if it is worth grabbing it mainly for this no-brainer price, or is Syntronik Max around the corner?

You answered it already. Just because it's a favorable price, doesn't make it a favorable purchase. Stop buying junk just because it's on sale.

Thanks for the awakening.

Completely agree with this. Compiled a list of all my pugin purchases over the last year to see that I spent over a 1000 on music related software. A lot of it I got for great prices however a lot of this stuff I can't use or resell

Yes, I agree with you. It all add's up bit by bit. Thats why when I look at a sale on something like Cubase Pro, Ableton Live Suite, or Reason -- yeah, it's a big $ figure but you petty much get a fully fledged DAW, all the instruments and effects you will need.

Good call, stock plugins are still overlooked pretty easily. I use Cubase artist and there are some amazing plugins included. I'm still looking to upgrade to Pro as I'm still missing a few features and the extra plug-ins in that are amazing as well! Some of of them a lot of them could easily compete with high end third party ones!

[n9research]

so what are peoples thoughts on the UVI string machines sale? 40% off.

Very happy with this, money well spent. I'm not a preset or library kind of person at all, but it's very quick to switch off all the FX and modulators, then access all the basic tones of the different instruments quickly, directly in the UI using up/down buttons or a dropdown, and there are tons of them! I've found the vast majority of them very, very usable when dry (though the FX do actually complement the tones well!). If you have Falcon, you can jump in and customise the patch with your own surrounding setup easily.

[telecode]

IK Multimedia "Syntronik Deluxe Upgrade" is only 35 EUR after using JamPoints. I really don't need anymore synths (haven't even installed Syntronik), but this deal is pretty tempting - adding 5 new synths and 500+ presets. The audio demos sound really good though. I wonder if it is worth grabbing it mainly for this no-brainer price, or is Syntronik Max around the corner?

You answered it already. Just because it's a favorable price, doesn't make it a favorable purchase. Stop buying junk just because it's on sale.

Thanks for the awakening.

Completely agree with this. Compiled a list of all my pugin purchases over the last year to see that I spent over a 1000 on music related software. A lot of it I got for great prices however a lot of this stuff I can't use or resell

Yes, I agree with you. It all add's up bit by bit. Thats why when I look at a sale on something like Cubase Pro, Ableton Live Suite, or Reason -- yeah, it's a big $ figure but you petty much get a fully fledged DAW, all the instruments and effects you will need.

Good call, stock plugins are still overlooked pretty easily. I use Cubase artist and there are some amazing plugins included. I'm still looking to upgrade to Pro as I'm still missing a few features and the extra plug-ins in that are amazing as well! Some of of them a lot of them could easily compete with high end third party ones!

It all depends what you are doing and what you want to do. Some say its good to mix and match native plugins with 3rd party to get a kind of different sound.

RE: IKM. I spent about $93 USD in 2020 and got pretty much most of Tracks 5 and Amplitube 4 collections that I think I will use. The Amplitube 4 stuff was to upgrade me from NI GR5 & Roland Roland Boss COSM DSP stuff I was using up until then. I think it was a good investment as its newer generation software and micing algorithms and you can pretty much hear a big difference right off the bat. The Tracks 5 stuff was addon stuff to playing around with mixing and mastering that I didn't have such as master match, tape collection and a few compressors and limiters. I think worth it as its pretty stable and plays nicely with all my other software stuff i have installed.

RE: Cubase, if you are making more straight forward traditional type music with live performances -- rock and pop tunes (vocals, bass, guitar, drums, e.t.c.) , its a good solution. But if you are making more electronic music and integrating a lot of synth & sequencer instruments, I would seriously look at Ableton or Bitwig.

[VitaminD]

You answered it already. Just because it's a favorable price, doesn't make it a favorable purchase. Stop buying junk just because it's on sale.

Thanks for the awakening.

Completely agree with this. Compiled a list of all my pugin purchases over the last year to see that I spent over a 1000 on music related software. A lot of it I got for great prices however a lot of this stuff I can't use or resell

Yes, I agree with you. It all add's up bit by bit. Thats why when I look at a sale on something like Cubase Pro, Ableton Live Suite, or Reason -- yeah, it's a big $ figure but you petty much get a fully fledged DAW, all the instruments and effects you will need.

Good call, stock plugins are still overlooked pretty easily. I use Cubase artist and there are some amazing plugins included. I'm still looking to upgrade to Pro as I'm still missing a few features and the extra plug-ins in that are amazing as well! Some of of them a lot of them could easily compete with high end third party ones!

It all depends what you are doing and what you want to do. Some say its good to mix and match native plugins with 3rd party to get a kind of different sound.

RE: IKM. I spent about $93 USD in 2020 and got pretty much most of Tracks 5 and Amplitube 4 collections that I think I will use. The Amplitube 4 stuff was to upgrade me from NI GR5 & Roland Roland Boss COSM DSP stuff I was using up until then. I think it was a good investment as its newer generation software and micing algorithms and you can pretty much hear a big difference right off the bat. The Tracks 5 stuff was addon stuff to playing around with mixing and mastering that I didn't have such as master match, tape collection and a few compressors and limiters. I think worth it as its pretty stable and plays nicely with all my other software stuff i have installed.

RE: Cubase, if you are making more straight forward traditional type music with live performances -- rock and pop tunes (vocals, bass, guitar, drums, e.t.c.) , its a good solution. But if you are making more electronic music and integrating a lot of synth & sequencer instruments, I would seriously look at Ableton or Bitwig.

Investments appreciate in value over time. Nothing here we're buying does that. All this software will be old and nearly worthless on the market in several years. These are sunk costs.

If you have money to burn and don't care, then fine. But calling it an investment is not exactly accurate.

Purchases of stock or securities, real estate, or even a rare and desirable item or bauble are an investment. Some virtual ones and zeros that will be replaced in the near future by a better designed set of virtual ones and zeros are not that.

I only bring this up because I see too many people for years who live in this thread. 'Your' (not you but in general) music isn't going to be what you want it to be by simply continuing to throw more money at it in the form of better tools.

More people would probably be better off in spending some in training or just learning what tools they already own.

Now back to your regularly scheduled spendventure..

[telecode]

Thanks for the awakening.

Completely agree with this. Compiled a list of all my pugin purchases over the last year to see that I spent over a 1000 on music related software. A lot of it I got for great prices however a lot of this stuff I can't use or resell

Yes, I agree with you. It all add's up bit by bit. Thats why when I look at a sale on something like Cubase Pro, Ableton Live Suite, or Reason -- yeah, it's a big $ figure but you petty much get a fully fledged DAW, all the instruments and effects you will need.

Good call, stock plugins are still overlooked pretty easily. I use Cubase artist and there are some amazing plugins included. I'm still looking to upgrade to Pro as I'm still missing a few features and the extra plug-ins in that are amazing as well! Some of of them a lot of them could easily compete with high end third party ones!

It all depends what you are doing and what you want to do. Some say its good to mix and match native plugins with 3rd party to get a kind of different sound.

RE: IKM. I spent about $93 USD in 2020 and got pretty much most of Tracks 5 and Amplitube 4 collections that I think I will use. The Amplitube 4 stuff was to upgrade me from NI GR5 & Roland Roland Boss COSM DSP stuff I was using up until then. I think it was a good investment as its newer generation software and micing algorithms and you can pretty much hear a big difference right off the bat. The Tracks 5 stuff was addon stuff to playing around with mixing and mastering that I didn't have such as master match, tape collection and a few compressors and limiters. I think worth it as its pretty stable and plays nicely with all my other software stuff i have installed.

RE: Cubase, if you are making more straight forward traditional type music with live performances -- rock and pop tunes (vocals, bass, guitar, drums, e.t.c.) , its a good solution. But if you are making more electronic music and integrating a lot of synth & sequencer instruments, I would seriously look at Ableton or Bitwig.

Investments appreciate in value over time. Nothing here we're buying does that. All this software will be old and nearly worthless on the market in several years. These are sunk costs.

If you have money to burn and don't care, then fine. But calling it an investment is not exactly accurate.

Purchases of stock or securities, real estate, or even a rare and desirable item or bauble are an investment. Some virtual ones and zeros that will be replaced in the near future by a better designed set of virtual ones and zeros are not that.

I only bring this up because I see too many people for years who live in this thread. 'Your' (not you but in general) music isn't going to be what you want it to be by simply continuing to throw more money at it in the form of better tools.

More people would probably be better off in spending some in training or just learning what tools they already own.

Now back to your regularly scheduled spendventure..

Well, you could say that about just about anything where you are blowing your disposable income on[1]. Computers, guitars, games, civil war model kits. It's all about what you like to do with your free time and what you like to spend your money on. Part of living life and keeping the economy rolling is disposable income spending.

I admit, I do find it a little strange in the GAS syndrome all the people who just buying software tools and then selling them without much effort put into learning the tools. You should be able to tell by the sound demoes and by demoing the software whether its something that fits into the type of music you are making or want to make. But you got to look at the hidden benefits of it all. This benefits music software companies as they make sales above and beyond the professional music studios. It also benefits consumers as it generates an incentive for the music companies to better their products and innovate. Just look at where Pro Tools is and where the new DAWs are? Everybody a winner baby.

[sprnva]

https://accusonus.com/lp/celebrate-video-creation-2020

Not entirely sure what's in this yet as I haven't gotten the email. But logging into my accusonus account there are licences for ERA 4 Voice Leveler and De-Esser that weren't there before.

[dzilizzi]

The problem with sample libraries and other virtual instruments is the walkthroughs tend to highlight the best part about the product. So asking others who have it whether they like it, if it is all similar to what is in the walkthrough (if there is one) and playability all make sense. Generally, there are no demos and no resale. Your only hope is feedback.

And I spend a lot more than most because I do have disposable income now. And a lot of it does help me make better music. But there is a learning curve and I don't always have time to learn it all now. Isn't that the thing? When you have money, you don't have time. When you have time, you don't have money. Sigh.

And if you have more time than money, most of the stuff that comes with your DAW is all you will need to make music if you learn how to use it well. There are thousands of good YouTube videos out there that will show you for free.

And if you have money - well, help support the sample/instrument/effects makers as best you can. You never know when one of them will come up with the perfect library for you. HDD's are cheap.

[soundbylaura]

https://accusonus.com/lp/celebrate-video-creation-2020

Not entirely sure what's in this yet as I haven't gotten the email. But logging into my accusonus account there are licences for ERA 4 Voice Leveler and De-Esser that weren't there before.

Same. Just installed the De-Esser (already had Leveler). Not sure how the rest of the content will be accessed; I'll definitely take the music beds and "YouTube Starter Kit" beds/sfx. Perhaps an email forthcoming?

[sprnva]

Yeah I got the email a few minutes ago. There's just a bit of a delay.

[soundbylaura]

Yeah I got the email a few minutes ago. There's just a bit of a delay.

Startin' the week off right with some free stuff!!

[Vleker]

[/quote]

It all depends what you are doing and what you want to do. Some say its good to mix and match native plugins with 3rd party to get a kind of different sound.

RE: IKM. I spent about $93 USD in 2020 and got pretty much most of Tracks 5 and Amplitube 4 collections that I think I will use. The Amplitube 4 stuff was to upgrade me from NI GR5 & Roland Roland Boss COSM DSP stuff I was using up until then. I think it was a good investment as its newer generation software and micing algorithms and you can pretty much hear a big difference right off the bat. The Tracks 5 stuff was addon stuff to playing around with mixing and mastering that I didn't have such as master match, tape collection and a few compressors and limiters. I think worth it as its pretty stable and plays nicely with all my other software stuff i have installed.

RE: Cubase, if you are making more straight forward traditional type music with live performances -- rock and pop tunes (vocals, bass, guitar, drums, e.t.c.) , its a good solution. But if you are making more electronic music and integrating a lot of synth & sequencer instruments, I would seriously look at Ableton or Bitwig.
[/quote]

For sure, especially instruments and amp sims tend to be better by third parties. I also got the Total Studio Max 2 bundle last week for Amplitube 4 mostly Also got Serum and DS Thorn recently and those two really beat the stock stuff in Cubase. I disagree though on the electronic music, I think Cubase can be used for all genres (Zedd for example uses it) and recently I've been doing electronic remixes with it, however live stuff and looping is easier in Ableton! Still want to try Ableton someday but I just get turned off by the GUI. I got the 8-track version of Bitwig with my keyboard but never bothered as 8-tracks seems to be too limited. I've heard great things about it though so I might check it sometime soon!

[sprnva]

Another freebie. Waves Sibilance is up for grabs at vstbuzz

https://vstbuzz.com/deals/free-sibilance-by-waves/

[monomox]

I am going to buy an upgrade in the next day from artist to studio for presonus studio one - who is the cheapest? JRR and Audiodeluxe are much the same (audiodeluxe a few cents cheaper). Anyone else?

Try Best Service and Plugin Boutique also but the two you listed are hard to beat usually except for Every Plugin.

thanks - I am really quite excited, been with Reaper for sooo long

How much are you spending? You can get a second hand license for around $125-$150 quite often.

180 for a new license - so not really worth waiting around and getting second hand

$180 is a good price. I paid $168 for a cross-grade from Reaper, you may qualify. I love S1 and I'm happy I made the transition. Reaper is great, of course, and I still use it for some stuff that shouldn't be allowed, LOL (e.g., loops that could create a dangerous feedback), but S1, man, love the interface and the workflow.

[mladi]

Lucky me: I forgot the basket @ PA with a voucher and a plugin already reduced to $49.99 a few days ago. Now i reedem the $25 code as well and it work! Despite the mail it accepted both vouchers. Don't know if it work if you put something fresh in the basket btw

[sprnva]

Slate Academy is free for the next 90 days.

https://slatedigital.com/lock-and-learn