NI and Izotope unify leadership teams

[machinesworking]

I’ve owned Komplete since version 2 so either Im dense or I like their product (probably both), but Komplete 12 Ultimate had so much locked sample based ROMpler content it’s really made me think they aren’t headed anywhere near a direction I want to go in. I upgrade mainly to keep Kontakt current, but NI can do great things.. At this point though I can 100% see the future is more locked sample based ROMpler content. iZotope has been attempting to push subscription models for a while so this isn’t any surprise, the AI to get a song mastered is pretty great though, but an old copy here on an older machine will do when the subscription model is all you can buy…

Kontakt is about the only NI product I use these days, and even that not so much. I’ve found more enjoyable and exciting products elsewhere (for iZotope as well). Isn’t competition wonderful? At this point, I can honestly say I wouldn’t miss either NI or iZotope if they go subscription.

Ive got at least a dozen commercial libraries that are Kontakt based, Kevin Hunter, Spitfire, 8Dio, Soundiron etc. etc. Kontakt isn’t going anywhere even if it stays on an old computer as a VEP slave

[vertibration]

It is quite strange to say that if izotope or NI went sub some users would be totally content with never using anything from either company. Odd place to be if you are attempting to strengthen the brand. I happen to think the virtual instrument/effect and DAW world flourishes with independent companies.

[nightjar]

I agree. Subscriptions encourage a shortage of innovation and consumer responsiveness.

I disagree. I believe that in the near future (2-3 years), there will be 3-4 dominant cloud-based music creation "ecosystems" that will compete for users.

Innovation will come more in the form of refined user experience vs the feature bloat of the ownership/versioning model.

Competition will keep pricing low, and user won't have prohibitive huge upfront costs of ownership model.

[dayjob]

I agree. Subscriptions encourage a shortage of innovation and consumer responsiveness.

I disagree. I believe that in the near future (2-3 years), there will be 3-4 dominant cloud-based music creation "ecosystems" that will compete for users.

Innovation will come more in the form of refined user experience vs the feature bloat of the ownership/versioning model.

Competition will keep pricing low, and user won't have prohibitive huge upfront costs of ownership model.

this sounds like a big gentrified pie in the sky that lacks innovation. also, it turns over creation and management to "tech bros" who will not push innovation but will just maximize profits. not to mention how they'll extort developers who want to distribute their creations. what you're describing is a few monopolies controlling things. no thanks.

cloud based systems are a trap imo. i don't see the benefit for the average user. why use a cloud when eventually all forms of solid state storage will be incredibly fast and efficient and likely fall in price.. same w/computers.

i don't want to have the internet at all times when making music. i don't want to bounce data off starlink satellites as an entry to being creative.

finding any old laptop with my 20 favorite tools on it will be more than enough. why should that be tied to some subscription service subject to all that comes with it? it sounds oppressive.

like making music in mark zuckerberg's f**king metaverse.

[flori89]

I just recently talked to someone who worked at NI on another topic. He said the NI management was such utter shite, any change to that can only be good since it’s hard to imagine to get any worse.

He was pretty bitter though and didn’t leave in good terms, so take it with a grain of salt.

He also said that NI used to be all about the product and how to perfect it, but now they are all about squeezing the last bit of money out of everything.

[DJ Warmonger]

bring back Iris 2

Quite the opposite. Iris 2 is a difficult to use and niche software, based on long sample recordings. NI's recent strategy was to just to make "expansions" (sound packs) and mass-clone sample-based instruments (Mysteria, Pharlight). They would rather make more clones that invest in R&D for a single product with advanced synthesis features.

at the very last I expect NKS for all iZotope products

For the effects - it already happenend:
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/ozone- ... pport.html

Not sure about their synths and other less popular products.

But hey, Stutter Edit 2 with Maschine mappings - that would be awesome!

[crickey13]

Competition will keep pricing low, and user won't have prohibitive huge upfront costs of ownership model.

Like it does now? $199.90/year is cheap I presume?

Subscription is essentially corporate feudalism. You're bound to a couple of corporations and you are coerced into paying to keep your plugins working while essentially being unable to buy or use anything else because of the accumulative cost of subscriptions.

Would you kindly stick to gearspace and shill for Izotope and subs there?

[DJ Warmonger]

Subscription is essentially corporate feudalism. You're bound to a couple of corporations and you are coerced into paying to keep your plugins working while essentially being unable to buy or use anything else because of the accumulative cost of subscriptions.

Seize the means of music production!

[crickey13]

the feature bloat of the ownership/versioning model.

Also, it's curious you say this because in AD 2021, it's almost exclusively the sub models that pump out all the bloat and superfluous content in order to justify the monthly or yearly fee.

[machinesworking]

I agree. Subscriptions encourage a shortage of innovation and consumer responsiveness.

I disagree. I believe that in the near future (2-3 years), there will be 3-4 dominant cloud-based music creation "ecosystems" that will compete for users.

Innovation will come more in the form of refined user experience vs the feature bloat of the ownership/versioning model.

Competition will keep pricing low, and user won't have prohibitive huge upfront costs of ownership model.

Count me out, and no, there will always be options to just buy outright offered by a few, and no, the bigger companies don't always release the best plug ins or DAWs. Otherwise all of us would be using Logic.

Right now, in many ways a better offering on my own system to iZotope is DMG Audios software. DMG are never going subscription, neither is U-He, in fact I can name dozens of independents that offer as good or better products that will never go subscription.

Subscription is always more expensive unless you stick with only one brand, so by default subscription always sucks.

[aMUSEd]

bring back Iris 2

Quite the opposite. Iris 2 is a difficult to use and niche software, based on long sample recordings. NI's recent strategy was to just to make "expansions" (sound packs) and mass-clone sample-based instruments (Mysteria, Pharlight). They would rather make more clones that invest in R&D for a single product with advanced synthesis features.

at the very last I expect NKS for all iZotope products

For the effects - it already happenend:
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/ozone- ... pport.html

I would hope this might finally motivate NI to make NKS for effects usable because at the moment it’s functionally pointless (especially for mixing and mastering effects like iZotope offer)

[SLiC]

I would hope this might finally motivate NI to make NKS for effects usable because at the moment it’s functionally pointless (especially for mixing and mastering effects like iZotope offer)

Seems to work OK when using NKS effects in Maschine software.

[aMUSEd]

I would hope this might finally motivate NI to make NKS for effects usable because at the moment it’s functionally pointless (especially for mixing and mastering effects like iZotope offer)

Seems to work OK when using NKS effects in Maschine software.

True - I was thinking about the lack of an FX version in KK but forgot about Maschine (which I have but rarely use due to its lack of support for aftertouch in instruments)

[vertibration]

I just recently talked to someone who worked at NI on another topic. He said the NI management was such utter shite, any change to that can only be good since it’s hard to imagine to get any worse.

He was pretty bitter though and didn’t leave in good terms, so take it with a grain of salt.

He also said that NI used to be all about the product and how to perfect it, but now they are all about squeezing the last bit of money out of everything.

The word worse can be subjective in this instance. Some may like subscriptions or fancy promotional materials. I think most would prefer a solid product with active updates. I see absolutely no light at the end of the tunnel for this acquisition unless both companies develop a total music making platform DAW that integrates all of their software together.

Can anyone else even think of something both companies can do together that can generate enough buzz? A DAW is the only thing that comes to mind.

[kvmorgan]

Right now, in many ways a better offering on my own system to iZotope is DMG Audios software. DMG are never going subscription, neither is U-He, in fact I can name dozens of independents that offer as good or better products that will never go subscription.

Subscription is always more expensive unless you stick with only one brand, so by default subscription always sucks.

Big fan of U-He. Thanks for the tip on DMG Audio. I'll have to check them out.