NI is now part of Soundwide with plugin alliance etc! Lots of free stuff...

[soulata]

Its a freebie at the Focusrite Plugin Collectiv

Since when? I didn't see it last time I looked, which was just before Xmas. I'm hopeless with that thing, I never remember to check what's on offer. They manage to get some good stuff, though, but I nearly always miss out.

Same here.

[zerocrossing]

soon there will be soundwide and music tribe.
then there will be a war.

If you grant me emergency powers, I can protect the republic. I promise I’ll relinquish power when all’s well.

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

[DrGonzo]

see what you mean about it becoming a monopoly/maybe subscription, but they cant make what we already own subscription, and none of these are high end in terms of sound quality, theres better sounding stuff than these companies, so dont think they could do that, id just get better sounding non sub stuff elsewhere

Well, they can just release new products as subscription only and don't update existing ones. There will be still smaller devs unless the whole industry decides to go that route then we're kinda screwed.

thats what i was getting at about only new products being sub only, does anyone actually know they plan to do this or just speculation? and its not just these 3 devs or small devs, lots of other big ones

It's pure speculation - I'm fine with subs as long as there's an option for normal purchases. But I can also imagine artificial inflation of perpetual licenses' price just to "convince" people to move to subs (see PA)

PA has just unveiled 29$ +1 sub where you get to pick one plugin a month and get a perpetual license. Waves pricing without the WUP.

Can't be fairer than this, right?

k

So basically this is just a removal of the 6-months waiting period from when a new plug is released to when it goes 29 dollars? If one were a bit cynical all PA plugs goes 29 dollar sooner or later, no?

[0degree]

see what you mean about it becoming a monopoly/maybe subscription, but they cant make what we already own subscription, and none of these are high end in terms of sound quality, theres better sounding stuff than these companies, so dont think they could do that, id just get better sounding non sub stuff elsewhere

Well, they can just release new products as subscription only and don't update existing ones. There will be still smaller devs unless the whole industry decides to go that route then we're kinda screwed.

thats what i was getting at about only new products being sub only, does anyone actually know they plan to do this or just speculation? and its not just these 3 devs or small devs, lots of other big ones

It's pure speculation - I'm fine with subs as long as there's an option for normal purchases. But I can also imagine artificial inflation of perpetual licenses' price just to "convince" people to move to subs (see PA)

PA has just unveiled 29$ +1 sub where you get to pick one plugin a month and get a perpetual license. Waves pricing without the WUP.

Can't be fairer than this, right?

k

This one is not a bad deal to be honest but something tells me the only reason it exists is that there were not enough people jumping the regular subscriptions.

For me there are 4 main problems with subs:
1. Issue of ownership - the biggest one. Sub runs out and you end up with nothing, you can't finish your old projects.
2. Second hand market is dead
3. No need for innovation anymore - the cash flow is set up so why pull new or existing clients with something original?
4. Quantity over quality - more mediocre plugins added to the sub to keep people convinced the sub it's worth it

I can definitely see a nightmare scenario where most audio software will go sub only in the future with maybe an exception of some smaller devs. Also - smaller devs may see it's impossible to compete with big subscription providers with perpetual licenses and eventually go the same route

[soulata]

If one were a bit cynical all PA plugs goes 29 dollar sooner or later, no?

Sure. Every plugin they make ends up costing 29$ after a few months.

Thank Waves (I guess).

k

[beely]

Sure. Every plugin they make ends up costing 29$ after a few months.

It used to be a lot longer - 1-2 *years* in some cases, but that time span has been getting shorter - one of the latest plugins, for instance, Soma, hit that point after a couple of months.

So I guess they feel that keeping the prices higher for a long time ultimately wasn't working out so well, and they've found other ways of incentivising new sales, including shorter times at higher prices, and Forever29 etc...

[Klinke]

This one is not a bad deal to be honest but something tells me the only reason it exists is that there were not enough people jumping the regular subscriptions.

For me there are 4 main problems with subs:
1. Issue of ownership - the biggest one. Sub runs out and you end up with nothing, you can't finish your old projects.

However, this depends very much on the specific implementation. The already existing PA subscriptions are perceived here mainly as a subscription model, and not as a rent-to-own, but thanks to the voucher, which is part of the subscription model, I have had a year to look at exactly what I really use and then use the voucher in an offer action to get the plugins that I really work with. When I compare that to the plugins I bought and then rarely or never used, was using the PA subscription one of my better decisions. And maybe this would be even true without the voucher.

2. Second hand market is dead

Why should I care when I've had enough time to figure out what I'm really working with and only buy that.

3. No need for innovation anymore - the cash flow is set up so why pull new or existing clients with something original?

Because customers could end the subscription and switch to another provider. Because if they are no longer innovative, they will not get any new customers.

4. Quantity over quality - more mediocre plugins added to the sub to keep people convinced the sub it's worth it

I do not see why more mediocre plugins should help to keep existing or get new customers.

[0degree]

However, this depends very much on the specific implementation. The already existing PA subscriptions are perceived here mainly as a subscription model, and not as a rent-to-own, but thanks to the voucher, which is part of the subscription model, I have had a year to look at exactly what I really use and then use the voucher in an offer action to get the plugins that I really work with. When I compare that to the plugins I bought and then rarely or never used, was using the PA subscription one of my better decisions. And maybe this would be even true without the voucher.

I was referring to the worst implementation like Adobe where either you're in or out so not your case really.

Why should I care when I've had enough time to figure out what I'm really working with and only buy that.

Because not everybody is fortunate enough like you and there may be people looking for cheaper, second hand licenses?

Because customers could end the subscription and switch to another provider. Because if they are no longer innovative, they will not get any new customers.

Unless there are only few "big subscriptions" and you're ending up with a choice of one "big" provider or multiple smaller ones which may not be feasible economically

I do not see why more mediocre plugins should help to keep existing or get new customers.

I already stated in my previous post - to give people illusion of tons of plugins justifying the price of a sub

I can see one positive side of subs tough - cheap entry for people with very limited budget but of course it only makes sense short term

[thecontrolcentre]

Not looking for favors (you spelled it wrong)

ORLY? You must be American

favour
[ˈfeɪvə]
NOUN
approval, support, or liking for someone or something.
"training is looked upon with favour by many employers"
synonyms:
approval · approbation · commendation · esteem · goodwill · kindness · benevolence · friendliness
an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual.
"I've come to ask you a favour"
synonyms:
good turn · service · kind act · good deed · act of kindness · kindness · courtesy · indulgence · benefit · boon
(party favour)
a small inexpensive gift given to guests at a party.
synonyms:
present · donation · offering · contribution · handout · presentation · [More]

VERB
feel or show approval or preference for.
"slashing public spending is a policy that few politicians favour"
synonyms:
preferred · favourite · recommended · chosen · choice · selected · [More]
(favour someone with)
(often used in polite requests) give someone (something desired).
"please favour me with an answer"
synonyms:
oblige · accommodate · gratify · satisfy · humour · indulge · pander to · put oneself out for · honour
dated

[j wazza]

the main things that tend to go sub only are things that are industry standard, so doubt most audio software will but things like kontakt could do for updated versions and they could make new library activations only for that, i really hope they dont though and there could be a lot of backlash from the hundreds of library makers who made samples for the old kontakts without being sub only, and it could spark a new format and the end of kontakt being the main one, for anything else ni makes they should realise they are easily replaceable with many other and often better sounding options, maybe other than reaktor but thats quite niche anyway so not really industry standard
pa is already an alliance but most of the companies already sell their plugins elsewhere and none of them are industry standard, izotopes stuff is all replaceable too

[j wazza]

a lot of positives could come from this though if they work together on the development side instead of just marketing/sales, does anyone know if theyre doing that? stuff like pa's analog companies and exponential audio making reaktor modules would be cool

[rezoneight]

I love subscriptions. I get that some people don't. If you don't like them, don't use them. Simple really. But I'm the guy that's always buying updates anyhow so for me there is little difference between subscriptions and "perpetual" licenses.

There are still many, many options out there in all types of software for people who don't want to pay for subscriptions. There are also many subscription models that blur the line between perpetual license "forever" and subscription, so you can't just write them off as all the same thing. For instance, the Agenda note-taking app is a subscription but if you let your subscription lapse you keep the app and all of the features you paid for up to that point. Quite a bit different from the Adobe model but still a sub.

[seangm]

Incidentally, as a measure of showing how great the hysteria is, this thread has now been almost entirely dominated by the subject, even though there's no subscription option even being hinted at in the Soundwide announcement. Maybe it'll happen in time, but such is the paranoia here that it's all anyone can think about. Bizarre. Just download the freebies and look out for good sales.

Here's what Dirk from PA said in his Facebook post about Soundwide, I'd say this is more than a hint that a subscription model is coming:

"The creative space has been moved into the cloud in the past few years. A few new and upcoming audio companies have activated a new, younger group of creatives, have excited them for music creation and technology, in totally new ways! Laptops, iPad and iPhones... plus a set of Headphones and some kick-ass software - that’s the entry-level music studio in 2022. New creatives do not typically spend thousands of Dollars on hardware equipment and software when they start, but they want to have access to large collections of inspirational software, samples & services. Software as a service and subscriptions (seen by many aging, established professional producers as some form of evil) are a beloved reality for Millions of up and coming creatives & creators! For a few bucks per month you can use everything you need, and once your new song is on Spotify and Apple Music, who cares about "owning" all the tools and sounds...?! ... we are even working with external agencies on new website technology, subscription technology, etc. "

[SLiC]

Yup- from the horses mouth, its all going subscription and online one way or another.

[vurt]

it's the end of the world as we know it!!!!