Soundtoys Plugins still not resizable?!?! "there are no plans currently to implement resizable GUIs for our plug-ins"

[MogwaiBoy]

I hope that is a sign that they are creating the foundations for full resizability at some point.

Maybe this decade...

[digitalboytn]

I hope that is a sign that they are creating the foundations for full resizability at some point.

Maybe this decade...

[zerocrossing]

Soundtoys have been semi-abandonware for about 15 years now

In the last 15 years they've supported every OS update, every architecture change, released new products, are working on VST3 and another OS and architecture change at the moment (and possibly other things).

What is the definition of "semi-abandonware"? Not releasing enough upgrades to satisfy people on forums?

Yeah seriously! This isn't abandonware (or even semi) by any means.

Do I want to see new Soundtoys plugins with new GUI's, that are also resizable, with an expanded Rack that has modulation capabilities and parallel paths, along with built-in oversampling? Heck yeah! But that doesn't make Soundtoys abandonware. They fix bugs and support current OS's and hardware.

Note: if there wasn't an M1 beta out, I may have been more inclined to agree.

Maybe it was a bit harsh to call Soundtoys "semi-abandonware", but developers keeping their plugins OS-compatible is the bare minimum they can do to keep their plugins afloat. To be fair, it's Apple's fault for making OS-compatibility the #1 priority for plugin developers for several years, instead of innovation.

The new Super Plate is awesome but it took them 6 years to get from Little Plate to Super Plate. That said, I'm sure a Soundtoys 6 bundle will have GUI-resizing because you'd have to be daft to release plugins now without it.

I haven't completely given up on Soundtoys, but there are mountains of great alternatives around like Valhalla Delay (EchoBoy), Process Audio SpiceRack or Arturia's 'DIST' range (Decapitator), and most of them have the Quality of Life features that Soundtoys plugins lack: GUI resizing, oversampling, A/B instancing, etc.

Maybe not abandonware, but I can’t imagine anyone buying anything from them. I got my money’s worth out of these plugins, so I’m not really that disappointed about it, but I feel like it can’t be going well there. I can’t imagine these ancient plugins are generating any sort of income for someone.

[plexuss]

Maybe not abandonware, but I can’t imagine anyone buying anything from them. I got my money’s worth out of these plugins, so I’m not really that disappointed about it, but I feel like it can’t be going well there. I can’t imagine these ancient plugins are generating any sort of income for someone.

I feel the same why. I was very happy with them when I got them in 2015. I wouldn't buy them now because of the lack of GUI resize, and there are decent alternative. Nothing exact but close enough conisdering the cost. So, they had their day. Glad I have them but I consdier them "vintage software".

[RobGee]

It’s never been an issue for me before. I’m looking at a new laptop and they all have qhd resolution displays, I’m wondering if it will be an issue for me?

[Wrong Eq]

Soundtoys is one of the original "one off" devs: Devs that release a product and only do minimal to no updates until the product is abandoned. Seems this is a hard pill to swallow but there are many such devs and associated products out there. Many change their strategy from maintenance to abandon as well. It seems to be more common as time goes on.

Not entirely disagreeing but here is how Filterfreak by "abandonware producer soundtoys" looked 2 years ago. Excuse me, looked 2 DECADES ago. https://dt7v1i9vyp3mf.cloudfront.net/st ... FjCZJO.jpg

I agree support is not really good, they even seemed to be completely vanished for a few years until recenctly, but support is still there.

I find companies like Izotope much worse, producing abandonware every damn year. In a literal sense (Trash 1, Trash2) but also in a wider sense by updating software every year and destroying backwards compatiblity (Ozone, Stutter Edit etc.). Which is why I don't use any product anymore from them. Same goes for NI with Kontakt. (except Kontakt 5 to 6).

But anyways, Soundtoys need to update the GUIS. Not just by making them resizable. They need to tweak the color palette a bit so everything is easier to read.

[zerocrossing]

I don’t really mind if a developer feels like a plugin is “done” and only does maintenance releases, but those releases should include things like a UI that can work on higher resolution monitors, and oversampling when faster CPUs can handle it. I had to laugh at Waldorf for their “Largo 2” software, which is really more like “Largo 1.5,” at best. We all like to poke a bit of fun at U-He for the length of time it’s taken for Zebra 3, but the truth is, other developers would have called the current Zebra build “v3” a long time ago.

[plexuss]

But anyways, Soundtoys need to update the GUIS. Not just by making them resizable. They need to tweak the color palette a bit so everything is easier to read.

For me, when assessing the viability of a plugin company and forming an opinion, I go based on the impact it has on me as a customer and musician. I am less/not concerned with any ethical arguements. For me, Soundtoys products are rarely used because the GUI is not usable. That places them and their products into a mostly-unused category and relegates them to "vintage software". For me, that means I've moved on from them and their products. Re-sizable GUIs are the only issue. In the meantime I have other products with better usability and I only fire up an old ancient Soundtoys product mostly out of nastangia. I am assuming Soundtoys wants it that way since they have done it that way. I've moved on.

[ralfrobert]

May I ask with which plugins you replaced Soundtoys?

[martinjuenke]

Eventide and Softube are candidates.

[ralfrobert]

Eventide and Softube are candidates.

I am currently iLok-free and want to keep it that way. Any additional ideas?

[jamcat]

Machine based iLok is just like any other C/R copy-protection. I don't have a dongle on my system, but I have lots of iLok plugins installed. They're actually LESS hassle than a lot of plugins that need to be authorized individually, one at a time, if you find yourself reinstalling your system.

I had an old machine that I decommissioned and forgot about an Eventide authorization on it. I emailed tech support and was sorted out by that afternoon.

[martinjuenke]

Eventide and Softube are candidates.

I am currently iLok-free and want to keep it that way. Any additional ideas?

No, not worthy ones.
I assume that Waves is not loved as well.

[comfortablynick]

I had an old machine that I decommissioned and forgot about an Eventide authorization on it. I emailed tech support and was sorted out by that afternoon.

I'm glad that worked out for you. I had a machine die and had to go through the "location reset" process. Some licenses were released within a couple of days but others took months. That was enough to get me to avoid machine auth and stick with two dongles and iLok Cloud.

Back on topic, most replacements for Soundtoys plugins I can think of would also be iLok, except maybe ValhallaDelay.

[jamcat]

I'm glad that worked out for you. I had a machine die and had to go through the "location reset" process. Some licenses were released within a couple of days but others took months.

Wow, that really sucks. Which devs were the problem?

Still, iLok machine authorization is a good system, because you get (at least) 2 authorizations in almost all situations, so even if your machine goes down, you'll have another authorization to use right away while you wait to get your lost auths back. Except for East West libraries, which only give you one authorization.