discoDSP Retromulator: the Usual Suspects code repackaged

VST, AU, AAX, CLAP, etc. Plugin Virtual Instruments Discussion
Locked New Topic
RELATED
PRODUCTS
DSP56300 Emulator Retromulator$29.00Buy

Post

What is problematic or confusing? If you release free software under the GPL licence then you are giving your consent to people like DiscoDSP to do exactly what they are doing. It's all clearly and explicitly stated.

If you sign my contract that says "I allow you to do This Specific Thing" and then you do the Specific Thing, I can't hold up my hands and go "Woah buddy, that's morally problematic! I mean yeah, I gave you my blessing to do The Thing, but you can't just go and do it, WTF???"

As for confusing, what's hard to understand about "Free to use with no restrictions, or pay to support the dev and get priority support?" I feel like I'm going crazy here reading some of these comments :shock:

Anyway, the blue 'Buy' button has been removed, and there's now a 'Purchasing a licence' link near the bottom of the page.

Post

Cyforce wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 11:07 am Next to the "download it for free" or "pay 30 bucks for it" - that as well confuses many users.
Agreed ! (full post and any other bevore)

It´s shady as f*ck.


But i for example could never make some of the Synths work with TUS.
He bridged here an important step for dumb users. Clear instructions and just pull your file over. ( no, not installed or tested anything with this one so far) While i can see why TUS didn´t go that far.
This small detail could be key for some users.


i really would like to have a go with Waldorfs Microwave XT, just to see what it was.
While i heavily doubt that i´d want to use any of these -specific- old Synths to make actually music with it. The modern SW-Synths are too tempting......"time vs. time".....which one you chose ? I take the most modern ones.
"Plugin has turned Drug now"....and the business knows it.

Post

Legally this is perfectly allowed under many open-source licenses, but it raises interesting questions about the spirit of open-source collaboration versus commercial redistribution.

For example:
• Does the new project add meaningful features or value compared to the original one?
• Does it contribute back to the original project in some way?
• Does it improve the software — fixing bugs, improving performance, or expanding functionality?

Post

It does none of that.

Post

EvilDragon wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:24 pm It does none of that.
Fair enough 🙂 They were meant as rhetorical questions to frame the discussion.

Post

I wonder if the people defending DiscoDSP actions also enjoy smelling other people's farts in enclosed spaces :? . In both cases no laws are broken, but dropping your guts in a lift full of people and passing off other people's work as your own are both sh*tty things to do.
Always Read the Manual!

Post

PieBerger wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:43 pm passing off other people's work as your own
Retromulator is built on Gearmulator, an open-source synthesizer emulation project by the dsp56300 team. We are grateful for their extraordinary work in bringing these classic instruments back to life.
:shrug:

Post

Vortifex wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:48 pm
PieBerger wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:43 pm passing off other people's work as your own
Retromulator is built on Gearmulator, an open-source synthesizer emulation project by the dsp56300 team. We are grateful for their extraordinary work in bringing these classic instruments back to life.
:shrug:
That's on me for not checking before shooting my mouth off :dog:
Always Read the Manual!

Post

From what i can tell, it looks like he has removed the buy button because of the backlash, i can only see the download button now.

Post

A smart thing would have been to equally split the donations to DiscoDSP between the dsp56300 team and DiscoDSP themselves as a way to support both initiatives.

Post

Ghostwave wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 2:38 pm A smart thing would have been to equally split the donations to DiscoDSP between the dsp56300 team and DiscoDSP themselves as a way to support both initiatives.
yeah that would have been a very smart move!

Post

jwfeniello wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 2:07 pm because of the backlash
I'm starting to think this should be the tagline of his website nowadays :)

Post

DiscoDSP is now blocking people who are calling them out.

Post

Korg Supporter wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:46 pm DiscoDSP is now blocking people who are calling them out.
I only know this from the Behringer Facebook page ;)
Synth Anatomy
http://www.synthanatomy.com
Sound Design and Software / IOS Synthesizer Videochannel

Post

Korg Supporter wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:46 pm DiscoDSP is now blocking people who are calling them out.
I don't know, looks like this guy called him out....... :hihi:

DSP.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Locked

Return to “Instruments”