Fathom Synth Development Thread

[FathomSynth]

People, please don't be so quick to assume that the project no longer exists. I stopped checking this thread every morning because no one posted here for months.

The server was down the last few days because my computer rebooted and I completely forgot to respawn the automated server and no one emailed me about it.

Version 3.7 is coming out soon and I will be taking out the license control so that everyone can get the latest version of Fathom on their computer permanently with no need to connect to the server.

We tried the license system for I think a couple years but it failed to generate any extra sales so it is time to put it to rest.

3.7 will be the biggest Fathom Release ever and it just takes a lot of work to get it ready.
It will include Spectral Distortion and Modulated Envelope Segment Times.
Also it may include Video Card GPU processing for the Spectral Distortion which is very tricky.
The GPU processing is what I am currently working on.
Also version 3.7 will include VST3 which is already working and tested.

[RPH]

Everett,

Thanks a lot for the reply!
Can confirm the server is up (downloading update 3.6.0, which is oddly named Fathom_Vector_Update_306).

Cheers,

Rob

[FathomSynth]

No problem, I'll post here as soon as version 3.7 is available.

[zzz00m]

People, please don't be so quick to assume that the project no longer exists. I stopped checking this thread every morning because no one posted here for months.

Hi Everett, glad that you are OK!

Hope you realize that if an active developer goes silent for a month or more that the KVR rumor mills will crank up!

It wouldn't hurt to take a minute to check in here monthly, or post a blog update on your website, just to let your paying customers know that the project is still active. Even just a one liner to say working hard on 3.7 or whatever. Don't need any fancy status reports.

Nobody posted here probably because there was no news. We get notifications about new posts if we are following the thread.

Peace of mind for users and a little publicity for your product on your main forum thread might help things along!

Bulent at KV331 Audio has been disappearing for extended times over the years, as well as Matt Tytel at Vital Audio. That is very annoying for paying customers. I understand that it's difficult for a small team that must do everything to have to come up for air, put on the marketing hat, and deal with the public. But it is what it is.

Anyway, looking forward to 3.7 soon!

[FathomSynth]

OK, I agree with your point. I'll try to post updates here once a month.

Many thanks to everyone who does support the project.

[ElevatedBeing]

In my honest opinion, I think that in order to get more sales you need to:

1. Sort out your website.
It looks unprofessional and not a lot of people wants to drop 100+ USD for any type of software, when the site looks sketchy. The content and navigation on the site is also all over the place, and it does not make sense. If it's frustrating to use, it will turn people off.

2. Get a simple user area where customers can get the latest update.
Getting the latest update is a hassle. I have purchased an older version and also bought the 3.0 upgrade. The mediafire link I got in the mail obviously does not work anymore, and now all links on the site are gone. So to get anything, I have to mail you, again.

[FathomSynth]

Post Deleted by Fathom.

[ElevatedBeing]

Trashing my website here on KVR publicly for all to see will definitely improve sales, thanks.

Sorry you have to go to the download page right in the plugin itself and press a single button to get your update link. I know how stressful it can be to press a single button.

I can see why you are getting angry, and I'm sorry if I was overly harsh, but I wrote that because I wanted to help you. I own fathom and I did buy the upgrade, since I wanted to support the "pay per upgrade model".

I believe if I was totally wrong about what I wrote, somebody would have swiftly posted a negative response. This is KVR after all.

Regarding the site:
You complained that Fathom Mono did not generate any sales, and a not so good website could be one of the reasons why people are not buying the product.

Upgrades:
As I mentioned, I did buy the 3.0 upgrade but I did not update any further. The "upgrade from settings" where added in 3.2. I have since reinstalled my machine and I do not backup my plugin installers.

I can see from my mails that I have mailed you 3 times, since I bought the product the first time back in 2018, due to new passwords for the zip files. Each request takes up time and I don't think it would scale so well when your customer base increases.

[Kalamata Kid]

Hi Everett,

May I suggest that you put your signature in your posts.
The signature should include at minimum your website link.
Also,
Your website link should be visible when you click on "fathomsynth"

In advertising follow the AIDA rule. Better AIDAF
Attention - Interest - Desire -Action (to purchase)
F = Feedback

I believe that your https://www.fathomsynth.com/ home page could be better.
A great product like Fathom deserves a great homepage.

[RPH]

..I believe if I was totally wrong about what I wrote, somebody would have swiftly posted a negative response..

In two clicks people are able to buy Fathom, when I go to the site.
Seems really easy to me and Everett has been very supportive and quick to help out if needed.

There aren't a lot of indie developers willing to spend so much time on KVRaudio answering questions and engaging with us on improvements/feature requests etc.
I'm all for being critical, but also with respect and some praise is also in order.
Every time I boot up Fathom Vector and e.g. start playing with just the Oscillators the sounds they produce amazes me, and always find something I didn't notice earlier.
The metamorphic OSC is just insane and damn easy to get great unique results, seems it's still under the radar of e.g. musicians on Youtube showcasing stuff.

Elevated_being :
Fathom Mono offers too much, why pay for pro (or vector).
Seems to me a bigger driver of lost sales than the website.

[zzz00m]

One can have the greatest technology in the world, but if the marketing engine and website is not equal to the task, then how can one expect the world to discover it?

[shorty]

some things are made for the soul, not for the masses.

[BBFG#]

I've been watching this thread and its development for quite awhile now. I'm one that has downloaded the mono version and very much like it. I've almost pulled the trigger on upgrading several times, but the progress of the plugin is both its strength and its weakness. I find I fear it may 'blow up' at any time or rather, stop working on my systems while working great on other's. And without explanation. (This has happened to me a couple of times in the last few years.)
But the number one factor that keeps me from buying is something the developer has no control over. The majority of customer personality it attracts. Demanding and hypersensitive, expecting what their lawnmower mom always gives them.
I like the stance the developer is taking here now. Finally drawing the lines of demarcation between actively listening to all customers, but grounding the product/marketing/website in reality.
Still watching. Even though I've made a soft-rule of not buying anything more unless it can run directly on all three OSs (Apple, Windows, Linux). I do consider this one of those possible exceptions...
I would need some type of demo to test since the mono is falling to the wayside though.
Otherwise, ignore us all and keep doing what you're doing.

[FathomSynth]

Post Deleted by Fathom.

[BBFG#]

Please forgive me, I'm having trouble understanding your post. What did you mean by lawnmower mom?

I don't mean any disrespect but are you aware that by using the product and not buying it you are literally making the decision that I not continue full time development? Are you aware of that? Literally? Did that thought occur to you?

You'll pay two thousand dollars for a guitar, moog, or computer but you can't buy a software synth for $100? I take it you don't think that a synth which offers you bezier curve waveforms and envelopes, modular signal flow, full screen freehand wavedraw and a hundred screens of parameters covering every possible nuance of sound is worth sustaining? Well, man, its your choice not mine. Hope you're happy with your one page synth with two oscillators and four filters. Have fun with that.

I am so close to giving everyone here an earful, but out of respect for KVR, I won't.

RPH, thanks for being the single voice of reason here. You hit several nails directly on the head.

Yes, I am aware of your plight, but supporting you in and of itself cannot be the only factor for me buying it.
I constantly put everything against a cognitive dispute since I already have more than enough to play. And have spent much on those as well. Like I said, watching something grow to it's own demise happens more often than any of us care to admit. (e.g. IK-M). At this point, I need to be wary of anything more that triggers blind or fog buying GAS.
And I'm currently considering letting go my "2k hardware" synths simply as a reaction and need for consolidation. Even though I know how much I'll miss them. Of course, that could also be in your favor if/when I do.

* "Lawnmower Mom" is a parent that cuts everything down in front of their child so that they never have (or get to) experience a rough patch in their life.

As opposed to a
* "Helicopter Mom" which is a parent that 'hovers' over and is ready to swoop in at the first sign of them hitting a rough patch.

Needless to say, I've hit and experienced enough to have developed my own method of risk/reward management. And it works most of the time. I've only download the mono once, and it's probably not even the most updated before you eliminated it.
So far, I've never used it in any kept composition. It has done its job of enticing me enough to keep reading up on your development. I just haven't seen that 'one thing' that inspires me to buy yet.

I very much liked your previous comments here and they actually give me hope that I may. To your future success.