Sad state of Native Instruments

[hey212]

It’s on 50% off until the 15th

It was given away with Loopcloud subscriptions not long ago. So, plenty of licenses still around on here / KnobCloud for even cheaper than NI's sale prices. Some I can see on KnobCloud now for as low as 7 Euros.

Just to clarify for others seeing this, is that for the latest version that works standalone? I got it from a different (official) giveaway, but it's an older version that only runs as a Reaktor ensemble. Thought this was worth mentioning in case others are looking at the second hand market now.

The VST (Super 8 R2) was discontinued, it's Reaktor only now.

https://community.native-instruments.co ... super-8-r2

[midi_transmission]

The reason they're not quick to provide resizable UI with 4K compatibility is because, for the majority of their customer base, it's not important. Most producers are still using 1080p monitors. At least, according to the statistics I've read (more or less 80% for SHD and the rest is 4K).

It's also because 4k is a bad technical decision by the manufacturers. You have to deal with non integer scaling (1.25/1.5) with all current os, which might appear sharper at first glance, but it's actually a bit blurry when you look closely and look less sharp on fine structures than using a lower resolution with 100% scaling. Apple uses 5k on its 27" screen because you can scale everything by a factor of 2. It's the only way to get perfect sharpness.

Your argument only applies to those who don't use a factor of 2. This is not a bad technical decision, this is allowing the user to have more freedom to make the decision his/herself. If a user wants HiDPI, scale everything to 200%. If the user wants more real estate rather than the benefits of HiDPI, that option is available too. Even if a person chooses to not use exactly 200% scaling, there is still the benefit of the increased DPI when choosing to have more real estate on a screen. The manufacturers and Microsoft could have simply hidden that functionality--then everyone would have screens just like Macs. But they chose to give the user the option, which I feel is a much better technical decision.

You got me wrong. It's not a bad technical decision to offer the whole range of scaling in software, but to offer physical screens that have to use non integer scaling to be useful.

The problem is that using a factor of 2 on a 4k screen results in an effective area of fulHD. Which is huge or better a very small real estate on a 27" or 32" screen. On a 24" screen 4k is fine.

Also be aware that non integer scaling on macOS causes higher load. There are some complains about that too. Using a 4k display with a scaled resolution on a Mac can cause more load than using a 5k screen.

That's why 5k is a better technical choice for a 27" screen. The problem is that there are not a lot models available.

Yes, indeed! I misunderstood.

[concealed identity]

It’s on 50% off until the 15th

It was given away with Loopcloud subscriptions not long ago. So, plenty of licenses still around on here / KnobCloud for even cheaper than NI's sale prices. Some I can see on KnobCloud now for as low as 7 Euros.

Just to clarify for others seeing this, is that for the latest version that works standalone? I got it from a different (official) giveaway, but it's an older version that only runs as a Reaktor ensemble. Thought this was worth mentioning in case others are looking at the second hand market now.

The VST (Super 8 R2) was discontinued, it's Reaktor only now.

https://community.native-instruments.co ... super-8-r2

In the link you provided, somebody says that but then somebody else comes in and corrects them and says the VST version is the newer one.

This support article from NI explains that the Reaktor ensemble is the old version, and the standalone VST is the new version:

https://support.native-instruments.com/ ... -REAKTOR-6

The person you linked to also sources an NI person on the forums, so maybe the person who corrected them was wrong and the support article is outdated? But the fewer presets and lower version number are also kind of strange, then. It's all quite confusing.

[pdxindy]

This support article from NI explains that the Reaktor ensemble is the old version, and the standalone VST is the new version:

That is now out of date. The VST version was discontinued

[concealed identity]

This support article from NI explains that the Reaktor ensemble is the old version, and the standalone VST is the new version:

That is now out of date. The VST version was discontinued

Quite confusing, since the article is undated and was the top Google search when I looked into it recently! I guess that's one more to add in the spirit of the thread

[pdxindy]

Quite confusing, since the article is undated

It's annoying how many articles these days are undated. I assume it's better for SEO, but a detriment for readers.

[PAK]

The question is only if you see the difference. As you said, distance plays a role and it depends on your eye sight of course. I know people that are fine with a 4k scaled image.

For me, non integer scaled to 4k @ 27" or 32" looks terrible on macOS. Fine structures have a slightly blurred look. I feel like my vision got worse when I look at it.

My 4k usage has been at larger screen sizes (think 40+ inches) where you’d reasonably expect to see scaling artefacts even more easily. I’m sure if I look for it (fine mesh structures etc) I’d quickly spot downsides. But, just for regular DAW use, I’ve been pleasantly surprised things like fonts looked as good as they do with 4k scaled to WQHD on Mac OS..

The mentioned Cleartype in Windows

I accidentally called it TrueType, but thanks for being nice about it

I agree 100% with you that 110dpi screens display an image that is too small for some people.

If you need reading glasses WQHD @ 27 inches is small enough to cause difficulty when closer, and can be just that bit too small to view from further away (2-3 ft), meaning there’s a narrow viewing sweet spot for some. Ideally I’d want no more than 75 (or 150) ppi. Given this, right now there’s little choice other than to get a 4k TV and scale it (or get one big enough to use natively at a distance you can fit in your field of view!)

I agree with your thoughts on 4k. At 27 inches (and most typical desktop monitor sizes for that matter) it’s too small when native, and too much desktop area is lost when scaled to 1080. Ideally you’d want a resolution which scaled better. In the meantime we’re stuck with what we’ve got. WQHD appears rare in screen sizes above 32 inches (34 inch options all seem to be curved) and 5k options above 27 inches, which aren't "ultrawide" don’t seem to exist (closest being Apple’s $5000 6k 32 inch display).

So, depending on needs, for some people IMO the best option will remain a decent 4k TV and scaling the GUI - despite the various compromises.

[LFO8]

Quite confusing, since the article is undated

It's annoying how many articles these days are undated. I assume it's better for SEO, but a detriment for readers.

It annoys me to no end..

[midi_transmission]

The mentioned Cleartype in Windows

I accidentally called it TrueType, but thanks for being nice about it

And I even didn't notice you wrote TrueType and read it as Cleartype.

I can follow your thoughts too. Especially when you have some distance on a big screen. I usually have the typical office distance to my screens, I guess that's a reason why I'm annoyed by this 4k @27" situation.

[Introspective]

This support article from NI explains that the Reaktor ensemble is the old version, and the standalone VST is the new version:

That is now out of date. The VST version was discontinued

[sigh]

I think it's time to discontinue my use of Super 8, then. Thanks for letting us know.

[Lbdunequest]

Does Native Access work for you guys? its always loading and doesnt load today. Worked perfectly fine before. Maybe some server issues?

[chk071]

It’s on 50% off until the 15th

It was given away with Loopcloud subscriptions not long ago. So, plenty of licenses still around on here / KnobCloud for even cheaper than NI's sale prices. Some I can see on KnobCloud now for as low as 7 Euros.

Just to clarify for others seeing this, is that for the latest version that works standalone? I got it from a different (official) giveaway, but it's an older version that only runs as a Reaktor ensemble. Thought this was worth mentioning in case others are looking at the second hand market now.

The VST (Super 8 R2) was discontinued, it's Reaktor only now.

https://community.native-instruments.co ... super-8-r2

In the link you provided, somebody says that but then somebody else comes in and corrects them and says the VST version is the newer one.

The VST3 version is the newer one, but, it has been discontinued in favor of the former Reaktor version.

You can only buy the Reaktor version now.

[chk071]

This support article from NI explains that the Reaktor ensemble is the old version, and the standalone VST is the new version:

That is now out of date. The VST version was discontinued

[sigh]

I think it's time to discontinue my use of Super 8, then. Thanks for letting us know.

Why? It works fine.

[chk071]

Does Native Access work for you guys? its always loading and doesnt load today. Worked perfectly fine before. Maybe some server issues?

Looks like they do some maintenance work: https://community.native-instruments.co ... ry-22-2024

[Harry_HH]

No it doesn’t.
Today it first loaded, but registering a new product gave an error note.

I’m not quite sure was this because of the
product (Projectsam True strike 2) or the Native Access (3.8.1).

I used 2 h for implementing all advices the product developer gave me. No use.

Later today even the Native Access stoped working (don’t open).

This f***king frustrating - most of the time with these software goes just installing dowloading booting fixing writingtosupport etc etc.

I move back to the hardware soon.