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

[simmo75]

It just seems like there is a disconnect between Bitwig and the community. Maybee many tolerated the ”premium price” and lack of development of the most wanted features as long as they got everything as some sort of consolation prize.

I can only speak for myself, but I've been satisfied with the premium price and both the pace and direction of development. I don't need a consolation prize. This has been a debacle obviously, but otherwise I've had no significant complaint until now.

I've been ok with the annual subscription plan too, even though it is the most expensive DAW to keep up to date.
But... I don't need to say it...

They f**ked up and owe us an apology, and more importantly, a detailed roadmap of what is going to be covered in the upgrade fee and what is going to be extra.

[kultschar]

I was also happy with the pace and was happy to renew again come December even if there was a reasonable and fair price increase, however now things have changed.

[machinesworking]

VT's update:

I'm somewhat impressed, and this is again, proof that saying and doing something about bad business moves is absolutely the right thing to do. The more direct lines of communication to let Bitwig know what is happening to their perceived credibility the better. As an obvious influencer, he's at least willing to share his own feelings and express those of the greater audience.

I'm starting to think this might end well.

[machinesworking]

It just seems like there is a disconnect between Bitwig and the community. Maybee many tolerated the ”premium price” and lack of development of the most wanted features as long as they got everything as some sort of consolation prize.

This is such a weird take. I'm not sure why this has to be repeated, but until now everything that was embedded into Bitwig content plug ins wise etc. was perceived as the reason for the " premium price", it's not a "consolation prize". We are now told differently, there is no privilege at work here, just a breach of a perceived agreement.

It's a typical development process where the company has a vision, and the users all have another. Any upgrade ever has people happy, and some wishing their feature request was met, and not a single thread ever has had 5 or 6 requests, any wishlist thread ever for any DAW has had hundreds of divergent requests.

[pdxindy]

They f**ked up and owe us an apology, and more importantly, a detailed roadmap of what is going to be covered in the upgrade fee and what is going to be extra.

I'm reserving judgement until the next update comes along (4.4 or 5.0) and if it is a good size and commensurate with what I would have expected prior to this mess, then I'll be satisfied that they will keep up with previous update pace while also putting out an occasional add-on.

[SLiC]

They f**ked up and owe us an apology, and more importantly, a detailed roadmap of what is going to be covered in the upgrade fee and what is going to be extra.

I'm reserving judgement until the next update comes along (4.4 or 5.0) and if it is a good size and commensurate with what I would have expected prior to this mess, then I'll be satisfied that they will keep up with previous update pace while also putting out an occasional add-on.

Exactly, also I have 8 months update plan left to run so what else can you do!

[machinesworking]

I was also happy with the pace and was happy to renew again come December even if there was a reasonable and fair price increase, however now things have changed.

I've got as question for you and people like me as well who are upset about this. If Bitwig come back with a solution that all content will now be included, but the price of the Update Plan is increased to $200 will you upgrade or are you now done?

Personally it's not about the money, it's about the perception of customer value, are we cash cows or are we proving to them that they're making something great and of value? I have no problem with them wanting to make enough profit to expand, or feeling that their revenue is slipping etc. I'm not here to tell them the value of their work, the market and their work will decide that.

So if they did increase the Update Plan and included the spectral suite into the plan etc. I would instantly up my plan. It's about a perceived breach of contract, or lack of trust, not price.

[kultschar]

I was also happy with the pace and was happy to renew again come December even if there was a reasonable and fair price increase, however now things have changed.

I've got as question for you and people like me as well who are upset about this. If Bitwig come back with a solution that all content will now be included, but the price of the Update Plan is increased to $200 will you upgrade or are you now done?

Personally it's not about the money, it's about the perception of customer value, are we cash cows or are we proving to them that they're making something great and of value? I have no problem with them wanting to make enough profit to expand, or feeling that their revenue is slipping etc. I'm not here to tell them the value of their work, the market and their work will decide that.

So if they did increase the Update Plan and included the spectral suite into the plan etc. I would instantly up my plan. It's about a perceived breach of contract, or lack of trust, not price.

If they hold their hands up and say they made a mistake but had to up their plan price then I would respect that and continue to support them. I know what I am getting for what I am paying for.

I wouldnt be happy but would accept the current situation if they honored all active plans with the “add-on” and start this charge from fresh eg new subscribers and expired plans. Not a model I like but at least they would of honoured what I paid for. I would then of course update only if felt good value.

[pdxindy]

They f**ked up and owe us an apology, and more importantly, a detailed roadmap of what is going to be covered in the upgrade fee and what is going to be extra.

I'm reserving judgement until the next update comes along (4.4 or 5.0) and if it is a good size and commensurate with what I would have expected prior to this mess, then I'll be satisfied that they will keep up with previous update pace while also putting out an occasional add-on.

Exactly, also I have 8 months update plan left to run so what else can you do!

What else can I do?

I'm going to also keep enjoying Bitwig and all the amazing stuff I can do with polyphonic modulation. Very much looking forward to the official release of the CLAP versions of the u-he synths.

[Held]

I've got as question for you and people like me as well who are upset about this. If Bitwig come back with a solution that all content will now be included, but the price of the Update Plan is increased to $200 will you upgrade or are you now done?

I'm going to buy Ableton on black Friday and stick with that. I never tried it because I believed all the Ableton bashing in the Bitwig community, but it's actually pretty nice and suits my needs better.

I usually don't sell software because I think the money should go to the developers and its not worth the hassle, but I'm going to make an exception for Bitwig once the drama dies down and second hand prices go up again.

[perpetual3]

They did do that. $199 for the upgrade and suite. $169 for both at blowout.jrrshop.com

I was also happy with the pace and was happy to renew again come December even if there was a reasonable and fair price increase, however now things have changed.

I've got as question for you and people like me as well who are upset about this. If Bitwig come back with a solution that all content will now be included, but the price of the Update Plan is increased to $200 will you upgrade or are you now done?

Personally it's not about the money, it's about the perception of customer value, are we cash cows or are we proving to them that they're making something great and of value? I have no problem with them wanting to make enough profit to expand, or feeling that their revenue is slipping etc. I'm not here to tell them the value of their work, the market and their work will decide that.

So if they did increase the Update Plan and included the spectral suite into the plan etc. I would instantly up my plan. It's about a perceived breach of contract, or lack of trust, not price.

[liquidsound]

Waiting until v5? And then what. If nothing changes now, with this unified backlash, you think at v5 we can change the game?

This is just hypnotic denial at best.

[machinesworking]

I've got as question for you and people like me as well who are upset about this. If Bitwig come back with a solution that all content will now be included, but the price of the Update Plan is increased to $200 will you upgrade or are you now done?

I'm going to buy Ableton on black Friday and stick with that. I never tried it because I believed all the Ableton bashing in the Bitwig community, but it's actually pretty nice and suits my needs better.

I usually don't sell software because I think the money should go to the developers and its not worth the hassle, but I'm going to make an exception for Bitwig once the drama dies down and second hand prices go up again.

I'm willing to forgive. I don't think anyone can know how hard it is to keep a DAW going, too many get bought out by conglomerates/bigger companies like Cubase, Logic, Pro Tools, Sonar, Studio One, NI Machine and AKAI MPC etc. are all owned by huge parent companies. the large independents like Ableton Live are rare, Bitwig, MOTU DP and ReNoise are all I know of that are still truly independent.

Again, I'm certain there were voices of reason at Bitwig, this can be remedied.

[machinesworking]

They did do that. $199 for the upgrade and suite. $169 for both at blowout.jrrshop.com

Ugh, I hate this, I just need a bone from Bitwig, before this Blowout ends. Just throw me a bone, something to let me know your users voices were heard. Hopefully Monday.

[drewfx]

It can be remedied easily. The development costs of it is already spent and they can easily just give it to people with active plans (and perhaps extend the plans of the people with active plans who have already paid for it) and then change or not change their policy going forward.

Which seems to me like the only sensible thing to do given the backlash, UNLESS this is selling enough (to people with active plans) to make it worth the backlash, or if the backlash is perceived to be a tiny minority of users.