Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[Lazarus451]

Summer of Sale is live in Native Instruments site, but the Komplete 12 upgrade prices are bugged. It says that I can get upgrade for 249,5€ (green my upgrade), but when I open it, it's still 499€. Komplete 12 select and ultimate on the other hand works.

Edit. fixed already!

[LoveEnigma18]

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/s ... ound-2020/

The recent product SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not included.

Phew, I am happy to have bought it at release only.

[Calenberger]

NI Summer of Sale excludes all (at least for me) interesing items. Phew! Saves me some funds...

[Dirtgrain]

I was hoping to get Molekular from Native Instruments on sale, but this sale is only on upgrades and updates. Is there another sale you expect where something like Molekular would be discounted? (I have Komplete, but I don't want all the crap with Ultimate.)

[telecode]

I was hoping to get Molekular from Native Instruments on sale, but this sale is only on upgrades and updates. Is there another sale you expect where something like Molekular would be discounted? (I have Komplete, but I don't want all the crap with Ultimate.)

yeah. there will probably be another in fall. if i recall, NI do a 50% off sale on individual Kontact items or expansions sometime in Sept or Oct.

edit. oops. i was mistaken. NI do have a sale on instruments

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/c ... s-upd-upg/

[telecode]

i just need something i can clean up useless ambient audio frequencies. i might jump on the SL deal. looking thru the manual and doc. i just get a weird vibe about Magix. its like they are a Corel kind of company. not a market leader and just gimicky ads. i dont know.

First, there is not SpectraLayers deal (as yesterday) out there yet. It could be soon, since version 7 is already announced and that could take a month, but not much more than that.

Then regular launch SL deals are not that attractive. At first years (2012), it was sold for $399 new, with yearly $199 upgrades. Since most versions came with relevant novel features, even skipping one meant $600 cost in three years, which course is astronomical, crazy pricing for most users.
Then Sony Creative Software (Japan/US), sold their Pro software division to MAGIX (GER) a few years ago, but Spectralayers/Divideframe (France) has always only been an associated developer. The founder is a research pioneer in the field and is always coming with novel features, the kind that can be later copied and streamlined by the likes of iZotope.

Anyway, (it is an unusual story, so needs to be told). At 2018 we found that Steinberg stepped in, which is good because SL aim is to be the specialized tool to attach to all DAWs and workflows and Steinberg is behind the ARA protocol, that supposedly reached maturity with ARA2.
So SL6 was jointly released, but still is waiting for full implementation, up to now and SL has yet to deliver the promised (and published) ARA2 functionality and so users are waiting that update, which should be delivered before Spectralayers 7 is released. Once it works in one version it will work in the next too.

All that said, the reason for choosing RX7 Standard over SL7 would be its steep learning curve and what your actual workflow needs are.
iZotope gravitates toward ONE KNOB solves all, whereas SL is the every-time-deeper photoshop of audio (Photosounder is an economic alternative, that appears to be resurrected...).
So if you do manual frame by frame kind of cleaning/design, like forensic or detailed sound design work, then the powerful SL selection palette might be what you need.
However SL also has very efficient spectral "casting" and "molding" easy tools which are the bigger weapon there is at the Loudness Wars, but highly destructive, to the point of leaving your stems unrecoverable for future alternative mastering, if you don't save them elsewhere before the process.

Back to the offers, pricing could have changed like it has in most of the industry (including RX). Since 2018, SL legacy versions had been offered at Samplitude Suite sales, and also at other specific vendors sales. However SL past versions are not recommended, mainly because what iZotope RX7 and other spectral editors do today is mostly the same (or more) of what SL,1,2,3,4 do.
So discard those earlier SL versions... Version 6 is yet to deliver and we will soon see what version 7 price is. The only reason to buy an early version of SL would be in order to later get a discount upgrade to latest SL version. And there were a couple of weeks at Steinberg SL launch, when updates were offered for $50 and $100 depending on your version number, but only happened once.

//Personally I wish that Steinberg manages to build a larger and varied customer base. It will provide feedback, help with testing and with the learning curve at forums and groups, plus generate novel uses and workflows, apart from ease integration with other software platforms. Cubase is there, a valuable learning that has taken more than 20 years...

thanks for the great post. just out of curiosity, who is the research pioneer developer behind SL and what the novel or unique contributions she/he is making to the field that other software solutions aren't doing.

[paolostylo]

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/s ... ound-2020/

The recent product SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not included.

Phew, I am happy to have bought it at release only.

I had a conversation in their chat and gave them a hint that their wording is a little bit misleading beacause they are saying:
"...Until June 30th, get all updates and upgrades for half-price."
They will forward it to the responsible departement.
And by the way: When I asked, why the upgrade for SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not at half price,
they answered because "it's still way too new"... ok...

[LoveEnigma18]

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/s ... ound-2020/

The recent product SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not included.

Phew, I am happy to have bought it at release only.

I had a conversation in their chat and gave them a hint that their wording is a little bit misleading beacause they are saying:
"...Until June 30th, get all updates and upgrades for half-price."
They will forward it to the responsible departement.
And by the way: When I asked, why the upgrade for SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not at half price,
they answered because "it's still way too new"... ok...

I think for just one product excluded, it is not really misleading in my opinion. They just need to mention it as a disclaimer, which they have.

And ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE is indeed new, as well as a hot update to the existing instrument, so makes sense to exclude it from the sale. Honestly, it is worth the $49 update. For $25 it would be a steal.

[paolostylo]

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/s ... ound-2020/

The recent product SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not included.

Phew, I am happy to have bought it at release only.

I had a conversation in their chat and gave them a hint that their wording is a little bit misleading beacause they are saying:
"...Until June 30th, get all updates and upgrades for half-price."
They will forward it to the responsible departement.
And by the way: When I asked, why the upgrade for SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not at half price,
they answered because "it's still way too new"... ok...

I think for just one product excluded, it is not really misleading in my opinion. They just need to mention it as a disclaimer, which they have.

And ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE is indeed new, as well as a hot update to the existing instrument, so makes sense to exclude it from the sale. Honestly, it is worth the $49 update. For $25 it would be a steal.

I will wait for Black Friday!

[Kalamata Kid]

i just need something i can clean up useless ambient audio frequencies. i might jump on the SL deal. looking thru the manual and doc. i just get a weird vibe about Magix. its like they are a Corel kind of company. not a market leader and just gimicky ads. i dont know.

First, there is not SpectraLayers deal (as yesterday) out there yet. It could be soon, since version 7 is already announced and that could take a month, but not much more than that.

Then regular launch SL deals are not that attractive. At first years (2012), it was sold for $399 new, with yearly $199 upgrades. Since most versions came with relevant novel features, even skipping one meant $600 cost in three years, which course is astronomical, crazy pricing for most users.
Then Sony Creative Software (Japan/US), sold their Pro software division to MAGIX (GER) a few years ago, but Spectralayers/Divideframe (France) has always only been an associated developer. The founder is a research pioneer in the field and is always coming with novel features, the kind that can be later copied and streamlined by the likes of iZotope.

Anyway, (it is an unusual story, so needs to be told). At 2018 we found that Steinberg stepped in, which is good because SL aim is to be the specialized tool to attach to all DAWs and workflows and Steinberg is behind the ARA protocol, that supposedly reached maturity with ARA2.
So SL6 was jointly released, but still is waiting for full implementation, up to now and SL has yet to deliver the promised (and published) ARA2 functionality and so users are waiting that update, which should be delivered before Spectralayers 7 is released. Once it works in one version it will work in the next too.

All that said, the reason for choosing RX7 Standard over SL7 would be its steep learning curve and what your actual workflow needs are.
iZotope gravitates toward ONE KNOB solves all, whereas SL is the every-time-deeper photoshop of audio (Photosounder is an economic alternative, that appears to be resurrected...).
So if you do manual frame by frame kind of cleaning/design, like forensic or detailed sound design work, then the powerful SL selection palette might be what you need.
However SL also has very efficient spectral "casting" and "molding" easy tools which are the bigger weapon there is at the Loudness Wars, but highly destructive, to the point of leaving your stems unrecoverable for future alternative mastering, if you don't save them elsewhere before the process.

Back to the offers, pricing could have changed like it has in most of the industry (including RX). Since 2018, SL legacy versions had been offered at Samplitude Suite sales, and also at other specific vendors sales. However SL past versions are not recommended, mainly because what iZotope RX7 and other spectral editors do today is mostly the same (or more) of what SL,1,2,3,4 do.
So discard those earlier SL versions... Version 6 is yet to deliver and we will soon see what version 7 price is. The only reason to buy an early version of SL would be in order to later get a discount upgrade to latest SL version. And there were a couple of weeks at Steinberg SL launch, when updates were offered for $50 and $100 depending on your version number, but only happened once.

//Personally I wish that Steinberg manages to build a larger and varied customer base. It will provide feedback, help with testing and with the learning curve at forums and groups, plus generate novel uses and workflows, apart from ease integration with other software platforms. Cubase is there, a valuable learning that has taken more than 20 years...

thanks for the great post. just out of curiosity, who is the research pioneer developer behind SL and what the novel or unique contributions she/he is making to the field that other software solutions aren't doing.

Nspace, I also thank you for the interesting post. Had no idea that Spectralayers 7 was announced. Do you have a link for that?

I passed up the previous sale in the hope that there may soon be another better sale for Sound Forge Pro 13 or 14 which includes SL 6 and 7. I suppose SL 6 and/or 7 will eventually be sold separately from Sound Forge.

[LoveEnigma18]

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/s ... ound-2020/

The recent product SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not included.

Phew, I am happy to have bought it at release only.

I had a conversation in their chat and gave them a hint that their wording is a little bit misleading beacause they are saying:
"...Until June 30th, get all updates and upgrades for half-price."
They will forward it to the responsible departement.
And by the way: When I asked, why the upgrade for SESSION GUITARIST - ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE upgrade is not at half price,
they answered because "it's still way too new"... ok...

I think for just one product excluded, it is not really misleading in my opinion. They just need to mention it as a disclaimer, which they have.

And ELECTRIC SUNBURST DELUXE is indeed new, as well as a hot update to the existing instrument, so makes sense to exclude it from the sale. Honestly, it is worth the $49 update. For $25 it would be a steal.

I will wait for Black Friday!

You can, but hope you are aware that Black Friday is about 50% of individual products, not updates/upgrades.

[Dirtgrain]

So NI does have some instruments on sale, but not Molekular. Has anybody ever seen Molekular on sale?

[LoveEnigma18]

So NI does have some instruments on sale, but not Molekular. Has anybody ever seen Molekular on sale?

It will be 50% off during Thanksgiving/Black Friday sale, as I just mentioned above - 50% off individual products during Black Friday.

[telecode]

I passed up the previous sale in the hope that there may soon be another better sale for Sound Forge Pro 13 or 14 which includes SL 6 and 7. I suppose SL 6 and/or 7 will eventually be sold separately from Sound Forge.

FWIW.. there is/was a Magix sale on SF 13 which included SL 6. But the working is vague whether you will or not get SL 7 when it comes out. If the code comes from Stenberg/Yamaha and you activate it on their site similar to other Stein purchases, them its possible you can piggy back on a grace period. But because its Magix it might be that its a code only for SL 6 and does not qualify. Who knows?

[telecode]

So NI does have some instruments on sale, but not Molekular. Has anybody ever seen Molekular on sale?

It will be 50% off during Thanksgiving/Black Friday sale, as I just mentioned above - 50% off individual products during Black Friday.

Black Friday is in November, no? So much can change until them.