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

[SLiC]

I understand that all updates to Bitwig are included in the subscription, but these are different devices (and devices that are in no way essential to anyones work), so makes sense to offer them as an addon.

I think maybe they should have established a fake company and then sold the same thing as native devices. People would probably pay for these gladly.

All they needed to do was launch 'packs' officially and properly, it's not like the perfect model didn't already exist at the company they all worked for!!!

https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/

Although this doesn't necessarily fit in very with an update plan (as they are now finding), you just can't have your cake and eat it.

[Dionysos]

I understand that all updates to Bitwig are included in the subscription, but these are different devices (and devices that are in no way essential to anyones work), so makes sense to offer them as an addon.

They're not really different in any way from other devices that previously would've come as part of regular Bitwig updates.

[skiltrip]

From their FAQ thing..."Core features of Bitwig Studio will continuously be developed as part of the 12-month upgrade plan. Highly specialized features, like devices or additional content such as presets and sound libraries, will occasionally be developed as add-ons."

Literally the only things I want is them to clearly define...

* "Core" features (and use current examples within Bitwig).

* "Highly specialized" features (and use current examples within Bitwig, if there are any).

* "Devices" (in terms of the context of this new delineation between "Core" and "Highly Specialized", and again, give examples of Devices within Bitwig that fall under either category).

If this is harder than it sounds, that's the crux of the issue here.

[SLiC]

Highly specialized to me would have been most of the updates since comping! Pretty much all of 4.1 unless “Dribble” and “Ricochet” FX are considered mainstream!

[sircuit]

I adopted the "Steinberg method" aka upgrading after the features are out. I don't care too much about their semantics, I just extend the plan the moment they have features that I need. So far I'm at 4.1.something (it really does everything I need so far) and I don't exclude the possibility of upgrading only after 5.0 is out

[ozonepaul]

I don't think the decision makers at Bitwig really thought through how much their undefined/intertwined/uncommunicated "add-ons are new products" concept undermines the value of their upgrade plan subscription.

I'm not sure why people assume they are amateurs. It's quite banal: They actually had thought it through […]

No, even if they had thought it thru, they executed it as if they were braindead idiots.

You ignore the possibility that they might attach less importance to communicating their decisions to their customers than we all would like them to do. ... Thus, to me the message is: Take it or leave it.

It's not that I ignore that possibility. Yes, you're right, it's possible that they put way "less importance to communicating their decisions to their customers than we all would like them to do". But still, from purely a profit oriented business point of view I see quiet a few options that could have been better; less inflammatory; less user alienating; less profit risky in the short-term; less confusing; clearer... so I rather share ] Peter:H ['s opinion: "even if they had thought it thru, they executed it as if they were braindead idiots."

In my humble opinion the guys at Bitwig are wrong on this one, and it's a way riskier business move than what they think it is.
I'm just a single user, so my opinion is not enough to deduct any real purchase trends, but I'll 100% change my attitude towards them. Obviously I'm not going to leave Bitwig, but I won't renew my subscription for as long as I can. Prior to this, for the last 4 years I was constantly on valid/running subscriptions. + For my professional work I'm not dependent at all on Bitwig. My main linear recording/mixing DAW is Reaper, Bitwig is just my favorite creative toy.
I'm not sure Bitwig has got up to date info about how much percent of their users are multi DAW users. My guess is it's way more than 1/3, but perhaps even more. Most of these users are not going to buy into an add-on buying scheme that locks them forever to Bitwig. If there is a DAW independent 3rd party alternative to their add-on product (eg. a VST), than these multi DAW users will most probably rather buy that. I think what they did here is a very risky move.
But obviously it's possible that I'm completely wrong and Bitwig knows exactly what they are doing. Will see.
It's really not scientific, but at the moment, based on my gut feelings and the actual info Bitwig provides (+ watching how ineffectively they communicate): I still think that the decision makers at Bitwig never really thought this through. They never actually realized how much their undefined/ intertwined/ uncommunicated "add-ons are new products" concept undermines the value of their upgrade plan subscription.
Obviously that's just my opinion, I can be wrong on this one.

[pierb]

I was hoping there would be some kind of statement from Berlin when waking up today... But still radio silence.

If Polarity is right and there's no change in direction this might get worse than remaining in silence.

[pizzatime]

I don't watch many videos about Bitwig apart from Bitwigs own ones which I like a lot but just checking now what was going on with the add-on debacle.. Venus Theory has gone in hard against Bitwig! Dude is pretty much demanding action from Bitwig before he will even use Bitwig again (sorry if this has been posted already, I'm meant to be working). 195k subscribers too so probably biggest person on Youtube doing Bitwig content..

[pdxindy]

I don't think the decision makers at Bitwig really thought through how much their undefined/intertwined/uncommunicated "add-ons are new products" concept undermines the value of their upgrade plan subscription.

It does not necessarily change the value of the upgrade plan at all. If over the next months you receive just as much as you expected to prior to this, then nothing much has changed.

Basically, the mind assumes the worst and then reacts based on that assumption.

[giacometti777]

I understand that all updates to Bitwig are included in the subscription, but these are different devices (and devices that are in no way essential to anyones work), so makes sense to offer them as an addon.

I think maybe they should have established a fake company and then sold the same thing as native devices. People would probably pay for these gladly.

If you believe this, you aren't making modern music. And I don't mean anything regarding genre. This arena is absolutely core to the next stages of creativity and mixing in all genres, including folk. Even when used subliminally or strategically - these are core devices. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

[pdxindy]

The bizarre thing is without a statement each post they do will continue to be smashed with negativity and criticism.

That is gonna happen whether they say something or not... they may as well just ride it out.

Words are cheap anyway. The best thing they could say is the announcement of a new update with some cool sh*t in it

[giacometti777]

I don't think the decision makers at Bitwig really thought through how much their undefined/intertwined/uncommunicated "add-ons are new products" concept undermines the value of their upgrade plan subscription.

I'm not sure why people assume they are amateurs. It's quite banal: They actually had thought it through, they knew it's going to be a hard sell and that their customers are not going to embrace the changes happily.
For whatever reason they have concluded this is the way forward and worth it overall.* Just remember the last "fiasco" a few years back. Besides, they have hardly listened to the (broad) community over the years but one cannot deny they have got a vision where they want their product to be. For better or worse.
I'd be surprised to see them significantly back-paddle. Damage has already been done. Considering how this thing has seemingly blown up over the last days they already should have reacted for damage control. Week-end or not. They haven't.

* I'm putting aside the questionable legality of their maneuvers

People assume they are amateurs because they are demonstrably amateurs considering this move? They have never been good on the business side - its exclusively because of the quality of their product (and the good faith purchases of all inclusive update plans) that they have made it this far. All success has been DESPITE their business acumen (or lack therof).

[giacometti777]

The bizarre thing is without a statement each post they do will continue to be smashed with negativity and criticism.
I would of thought they would say something regardless if they are backtracking or continuing as is. Their advertisements on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube don't exactly make them look good for any potential new customers!!

I don't know why people are surprised, we did this already when the upgrade plan was introduced (without warning) and caused an awful lot of unnecessary confusion (you will still see people now asking if Bitwig still works when the subscription runs out!)

Bitwig are not good at consultation or communication- It's their vision, their way- take it or leave it, sometimes that work, sometimes that doesn't...seems like this time it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

That change wasn't totally unethical though - and it felt necessary to keep the dream alive TOGETHER. This is different. You don't take peoples money then dangle something they paid for in front of them and withhold it from them and expect to survive. Its nuts.

[giacometti777]

Why haven't they spoken to the community yet?!?

According to Polarity on discord they will release a statement soon but we shouldn't expect a change in direction.

It all comes down to whether existing users with active upgrade plans get the Spectral Tools. If they don't do that - they are done. At that point I hope they are forced to go open source like Blender so the wonderful devs can thrive and be free of this awful management.

[pdxindy]

Highly specialized to me would have been most of the updates since comping! Pretty much all of 4.1 unless “Dribble” and “Ricochet” FX are considered mainstream!

It is impossible to differentiate add-ons... best just accept that it is arbitrary and carry on