[Fixed in 4.4] Weird bug: latest "Spectral Suite" update not included in upgrade plan

[machinesworking]

The DAW choice isn’t just between Live and Bitwig but don’t see a lot of people walking away from Bitwig just because of this, I can see a lot of good will and trust being lost and a lot of people not upgrading as often.

I’ll walk away in a heartbeat. I have zero DAW loyalty, and although I love Bitwigs modulation it’s nothing you couldn’t do in another DAW with an extra step or so. Mostly I like the workflow, but I’m not so sold on workflow that I need to pay over and over to stay current with a DAW. It’s not Pro Tools, it’s not making me 200k a year etc.

Flatly, I’ve never heard anything done in Bitwig I thought couldn’t be done in another DAW, and you can build up speed in any DAW, it just takes time, and really if you can’t create because X DAW takes a couple more minutes to write a song than Bitwig then I don’t know what to say?

I bought it because I like small developers and thought they had good ideas, this sort of gouging is not what I consider a good idea. This will probably send me back to Ableton Live for sure unless the company addresses it in an honest and decent way.

[Pasaje]

Phew, read this whole thread and can't really add something that hasn't been said already. I'm in the camp that his is a breach of trust and a very badly executed business decision. It was just terrible, I'm sorry.

I've used Bitwig for a few years (four subscriptions almost back-to-back) and I'll be watching their response until Friday. If we have no satisfactory response from Bitwig, I will not renew and next time I'm due for an 'update' on my DAW I'll consider all the options available in the market based on existing features. In other words, they'd have lost my trust in their "free updates" value proposition.

[Firewyre]

I've gotten two U-He plugins from them and several other things. I like their work and I'd prefer to have them offer a paid addon like this than to see the company go under, if that is indeed the situation.

I think the issue is that this will more likely worsen their financial situation rather than improve it. Trust is key, and if they needed more money they should have just slightly upped the prices of licensing and update subs. I think very few Bitwig users will see these add-ons as good value.

[mofolotopo]

I think the issue is that this will more likely worsen their financial situation rather than improve it. Trust is key, and if they needed more money they should have just slightly upped the prices of licensing and update subs. I think very few Bitwig users will see these add-ons as good value.

Yeah that's the thing for me. I've been a Bitwig evangelist since version 1, and have never failed to have an active update plan since they started doing those. I can afford the new spectral suite features and am very interested in them, but I'm so pissed off at the company for how this was rolled out that I simply don't want to give them money any more. Releasing these features this way feels like a betrayal of trust, and what it implies for the future of Bitwig is alarming to say the very least.

[Glendathu]

I don't believe how a company can ruin it's good reputation with such a stupid move. Can we expect more of this kind in the future? Then I will not have a reason any more to renew an "Upgrade"-plan !

Maybe back to Propellerheads Reason, which was my very first DAW ? I heard that in the meantime I can use Plugins with that too.

[_leras]

Cmon. Give them a break. they've done one thing you don't like.

At least give them a chance to react to feedback.

No one has died.

[Buckster]

Have they changed the wording on

https://www.bitwig.com/support/shop_lic ... an-work-5/

edit - just relooked - I can't tell if has been changed or not it might be the same

[simmo75]

Cmon. Give them a break. they've done one thing you don't like.

At least give them a chance to react to feedback.

No one has died.

Who are you to tell people to give them a break?

We’ve been unethically treated by them.

[FakeNatty]

Changing descriptions of the upgrade plans they are selling instead of publicly addressing the cusomters shows that Bitwig is done as a company I would support.

They would rather cheat their way out of customers wallet than to face the mistake.

If you want to change upgrade plan description, then offer refunds for previously purchased upgrade plan, because those who bought the upgrade plan before didn't agree to this upgrade plan "lite" edition.

It had always been upgrade plan "complete", as in no further DLC type of added upgrades.

You want to change it? Fine. Refund us at least the latest upgrade plans and any unactivated upgrade plans.

Then, you can go about your way of making a fortune out of those who are willing to pay for this doubled upgrade plan. It's like paying twice for the same product.

[DEP-5]

I feel foolish to have bought Bitwig Studio full version in 2020 with the conviction to support the only DAW that really produces innovative features despite this twelve-month subscription. Twice I paid the upgrade plan, believing that this business model was worth it, because all-in-one was the promise, right?

Well they are innovative nevertheless, but without my money from now on.

[ozonepaul]

...Believe me, I was also shocked today, but I really can't stand this whining about Bitwig being expensive and that the company is greedy...

Bitwig is great but it's already pretty expensive. If they want/need more income than instead of milking their loyal users, they should focus on building a bigger userbase.

My upgrade plan runs out in less than a week. No way I'll pay for their plan unless they course correct. For me Bitwig is a phenomenal sound design playground but nothing more than that. I do most of my work in Reaper, so for my income I'm not dependent on Bitwig.
The only 2 real reasons I use/buy their stuff is because
1. I really like how smoothly the linear sequencer and the clip launcher is integrated together (allowing me a workflow I have not yet found in any other DAW)
2. to have more of their creative toys (it's addictive).


So here is my "wining", my critics of Bitwig's sneaky "add-on cash cow" move:

1. When I last payed for their upgrade plan, on their website they promised me the following:
"12 Months of Free Upgrades Future-proof: All Bitwig Studio updates in the following 12 months are FREE." It seems they forgot to keep what they promised. With my "12 month update plan", all updates were supposed to be included free of extra charge for 12 month. That is BY DEFINITION what "12 month update plan" means.

2. I'm pretty sure a huge chunk of the development resources will be moved to developing the add-ons and not the main DAW.

3. My money I spent/would spend on my active upgrade plan was used/will be used to develop add-ons which I HAVE TO PAY FOR AGAIN.

4. These add-ons are not some proper Bitwig developed plug-ins that I can move to any other DAW if I wish to do so. These add-ons are completely useless outside of Bitwig and they will be useless at some point unless I pay for a new upgrade plan. So these add-ons are "glued to" a payed Bitwig upgrade plan.

5. Bitwig has never ever done anything for their loyal customers. Not a single sale or discount ever. Nothing, even if you already upgraded 4-5 times. In this case, they could have said something like: after the 5th upgrade plan payment, all Bitwig add-on devices will be unlocked, they are free for users who already upgraded 5 times.

6. Since 2016 it is already the 3rd time Bitwig changed it's business model. That's average once every 2 years. When and what shall I expect next?

7. Bitwig's communication with it's users about their payed add-ons was/still is disastrous/non existent. In fact, does anyone know now what is and what is not covered by a "12 month upgrade plan"? Because I don't have a clue.

8. This new Bitwig payed add-ons model will gradually also ruin Bitwig user collaborations. Originally Bitwig was advertised as a fully self-contained DAW. Now this will be messed up: some people will have more features than others.

9. Functionality-wise these spectral suit add-on devices "are such perfect examples of the Bitwig spirit. Additions to a tool box of components to build awesome stuff, exactly the type of thing long-time Bitwiggers are used to getting as part of their upgrade plan. These are clean, well-designed devices to be used as building blocks in an endless number of creative ways."
THESE "TOYS" ARE EXACTLY WHY I CHOSE BITWIG AT THE FIRST PLACE! THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I PAYED REGULARLY FOR MY UPGRADE PLAN!

My upgrade plan is still active (for one more day ). Without these spectral add-ons what changes/improvements did I get with my 4.3.9 update? A Japanese translation of the manual That's great, thanks Bitwig

I was happy to support Bitwig, they deserved it...but now...
As far as a creative playground, I never enjoyed any DAW as much as I enjoy using Bitwig. But for my work I'm not dependent on Bitwig and I'm not a cash cow. So if Bitwig (instead of building a bigger userbase) wants to milk me (and other long time loyal users) twice by selling their new creative toys/tools as an extra, than I'm off. I can understand if Bitwig is in some financial trouble and they have to find some solution. Fair enough. But (based on the user reactions today) I'm pretty sure payed add-ons is not the right solution. + A $169/year subscription/upgrade plan model (around $129 during sales) is already not very cheap. I know it's apples to oranges but compare that pricing policy to Reaper.

Anyway, I'm curious how Bitwig will react to the flak storm they received today from their loyal (and perhaps now not so loyal) customers.

[Pasaje]

Have they changed the wording on

https://www.bitwig.com/support/shop_lic ... an-work-5/

edit - just relooked - I can't tell if has been changed or not it might be the same

I don't see any changes from the version in October: http://web.archive.org/web/202210060014 ... an-work-5/

[teknoman]

BW is trying to have their cake and eat it too. It's a shame... They were picking up momentum, tons of positive praise for their product. I keep reading about people switching and loving BW (what's not to like?).

But this is a slap is in the face and 100% false advertising (or 100% misleading, you decide). It's not about the money at this point, it's about the company and the way it's being run. It's about poor management decisions that will take all of that good will for a superior product and completely squander it.

I can choose to use any software and I choose BW because of its flexibility and features. But I'm not about to support a company that is double dipping. I don't even need these new features, but again, that's not the point anymore. Sorry, I'm not paying $170/year for 'bug fixes'. I'm paying because I want all the new features right away. That was the deal, right?

They missed such an opportunity here to pick up even more customers and good will and they completely blew it. If they are reading any of this feedback, and if they want to continue growing their market share, they need to issue a real apology and include these new features in the BS SUBSCRIPTION MODEL I'M ALREADY PAYING FOR.

If I leave, I'm leaving out of principle. Good luck, BW.

[Phil B]

Ok, I’ve had several hours away, took a deep breath and here’s where I am at personally …

1) Bitwig is my favorite DAW. I have bought four upgrade plans (skipped one year) as an investment in the company and to go along for the ride. That’s why todays events hurt so much - I felt like I was dropped off the bus for exactly the type of awesome utility device that I love bitwig for. I’m not in it for Phaser+ or Convolution. I have other plugins. I’m here for the utilities. This does not feel “add on” to me at all … it feels core to bitwig’s innovative spirit.

2) that said, I have a year left on my plan (I realize that’s not everyone’s fact pattern), so I don’t need to go anywhere. I will be patient and give the company the benefit of the doubt that they are currently in a state of absolute panic trying to figure out what to do. That’s gotta suck. And they’ve done right by me to date, so I will have patience and let them do their thing. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life. This is high stakes for peoples lives that work there and we have made our point abundantly clear!

3) I will likely even buy the damn splitters … if I have to. That gives me a year to stay current at least and enjoy the fruits of their labor

4) I will decide what to do about the next update when I need to. Maybe I’ll feel comfortable updating, maybe I’ll just stay where I am, maybe I’ll switch DAWs. Who knows. The point is that I don’t need to decide anything today, so I’m not going to keep trying to beat anyone up over this. Whatever they do, I like their product and will make a rational decision for myself when I actually need to

Thanks for listening, psychiatrists!

[Sweet Tooth]

lol. fool me once

I bought plenty of propellerheads "NOT INCLUDED" REs before...only to have them all included in future Reason versions.

The plugins look CRAP anyway