AIR Music Technology

halcyon68 · Post by **halcyon68** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:37 pm

Just checked out the new plugins...I'm a little bit underwhelmed because these just seem awfully familiar. Still interested in Mellotron and Electric, though, these are pretty fun.

The rest, not so much, they all feel quite basic...Tubesynth and Bassline sound pretty good, though.

BUT: Is there really no option to use iLok anymore? Because all I get is the choose to either login or try the demo. And if that's how it is now, there's just no way I'm ever going to spend a single cent on any of these.

€: Edited the text because it sounded a bit angrier than I meant it..LOL
Edit2: The "intermittent noise" of the demos is a bit much.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 3:32 pm

The only way I'll ever spend one more cent on any Air plugins is if they lose the iLok malware.

sbangs_air · Post by **sbangs_air** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:18 pm

Following customer feedback, these new products do not leverage iLok apologies for any inconvenience this issue seems to be a bit like Marmite or Pineapple on Pizza some love it some prefer not to have it.

Our new system allows 3 computers VS 2 and you can move your licences as needed self-service.

Omniphonix · Post by **Omniphonix** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:23 pm

How about resizable GUIs? It seems even the new plugins are still stuck with some mid-2000s idea that everyone has a low-res monitor. It is baffling how any new plugin can be released in 2022 without this feature.

starflakeprj · Post by **starflakeprj** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 6:15 pm

Well, it boils down to AIR being completely incompetent. They are probably using the same framework as the old plugins coded two decades ago, even for the new plugins. The sound engines are apparently the same as before, just adding newer GUI's, and names . Just my thoughts, doesn't have to be true.

Clac · Post by **Clac** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 6:32 pm

These are instruments from AKAI MPC. AIR just released them in VSTi format. Also, it seems to me that these tools are based on the same old AIR plugins. AIR releases the same old thing under a new guise.
I'm still waiting for free updates of old plugins...

Karmoon · Post by **Karmoon** » Wed Apr 06, 2022 3:23 am

I'm glad that you're moving away from i-lok.

However, I don't feel confident buying products from AIR when a lot of my AIR products remain behind in comparison to other developers. I fear if I buy these plugins, then they will never be updated and end up being difficult to use.

Really, we just want UI scaling for Hybrid3, Vacuum Pro and many other great plugins made in the past.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:35 am

Clac wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 6:32 pm These are instruments from AKAI MPC. AIR just released them in VSTi format. Also, it seems to me that these tools are based on the same old AIR plugins. AIR releases the same old thing under a new guise.
I'm still waiting for free updates of old plugins...

This. I have a Force and when I got it that was the first thing that I noticed. They are watered down, hence, less interesting versions of their existing plugins. I fully suspect that the reason that they are watered down is because the CPU in their hardware isn't powerful enough to run the code from their OG plugins.

So most likely it was just the shortest path to releasing something that seemed like it was something new to a broader consumer base. People have commented that their programmers aren't "competent." I don't think that's necessarily fair, but I do think that they don't have enough manpower. Glassdoor reviews make me think that they might have a hard time holding on to good programmers.

Clac · Post by **Clac** » Wed Apr 06, 2022 9:57 am

ghettosynth wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:35 am
Clac wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 6:32 pm These are instruments from AKAI MPC. AIR just released them in VSTi format. Also, it seems to me that these tools are based on the same old AIR plugins. AIR releases the same old thing under a new guise.
I'm still waiting for free updates of old plugins...
This. I have a Force and when I got it that was the first thing that I noticed. They are watered down, hence, less interesting versions of their existing plugins. I fully suspect that the reason that they are watered down is because the CPU in their hardware isn't powerful enough to run the code from their OG plugins.

So most likely it was just the shortest path to releasing something that seemed like it was something new to a broader consumer base. People have commented that their programmers aren't "competent." I don't think that's necessarily fair, but I do think that they don't have enough manpower. Glassdoor reviews make me think that they might have a hard time holding on to good programmers.

It looks like the programmers who developed all of their great plugins are long gone from the company.
What can be understood for sure is that something very wrong has been going on in the leadership for about 10-15 years.

AG1970 · Post by **AG1970** » Fri Apr 08, 2022 9:06 am

I don't understand why you have to release new plugins. It would be more correct to update the existing ones. I own almost all of your tools. I really like Transfuser but its interface, synths and sounds are old. And I'm very sorry ....

ThomasHelzle · Post by **ThomasHelzle** » Fri Apr 08, 2022 12:13 pm

Air Music Technology - where audio developers go to die...

CRAFTMATIX · Post by **CRAFTMATIX** » Sun Apr 10, 2022 11:14 pm

I find it almost hilarious that the new plugins have the same issues that cause me to not use the old stuff. They are not resizable and they have annoying drop downs instead of a decent browser. I can hardly believe those things are STILL that way. Who am I kidding? It's not really surprizing at all and I pretty much expected these things as I downloaded the demos.

Then there is the extremely obnoxious noise burst that is too loud and too frequent to even get a good feel for things. I really like the sound of their older plugins and would have actually paid for decent updates to the old or improved functionality in the new. But nope. I uninstalled all the demos after about 5 minutes...

mabian · Post by **mabian** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 6:27 am

CRAFTMATIX wrote: Sun Apr 10, 2022 11:14 pm I find it almost hilarious that the new plugins have the same issues that cause me to not use the old stuff. They are not resizable and they have annoying drop downs instead of a decent browser. I can hardly believe those things are STILL that way. Who am I kidding? It's not really surprizing at all and I pretty much expected these things as I downloaded the demos.

Then there is the extremely obnoxious noise burst that is too loud and too frequent to even get a good feel for things. I really like the sound of their older plugins and would have actually paid for decent updates to the old or improved functionality in the new. But nope. I uninstalled all the demos after about 5 minutes...

I don't have the noise burst issues and I haven't even bothered trying the new plugins but for all that remains I agree on every single word.

- Mario

zachy9 · Post by **zachy9** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 5:56 am

Will the old AIR plugins (Loom etc.) be continuing to use iLok or will we have the option to use them iLok-free in the future?

**edit: I emailed AIR this question and they said: "it's something we are investigating but do not have a roadmap for."

Omniphonix · Post by **Omniphonix** » Fri Nov 18, 2022 6:38 pm

Omniphonix wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:23 pm How about resizable GUIs? It seems even the new plugins are still stuck with some mid-2000s idea that everyone has a low-res monitor. It is baffling how any new plugin can be released in 2022 without this feature.

Very happy to see GUI resizing added in the 1.1.0 updates of the new plugin series!

AIR Music Technology

KVR Audio

So, the new plugins...