What makes you buy or not buy music software / Plugins?

[rod_zero]

I have been using more and more the stock effects of my DAW, so plugins have to do something really special and really well to make me consider them.

They have be either very creative, as for example Reaktor or very good at technical tasks like a limiter.

[jethrobull]

Having enough to begin with is why I rarely buy anything now. GAS was mad for a few years (HW & SW). Now I'm really uninterested in purchasing anything. Spending the spare, precious time I have making music is far more important (obviously). It can be a constant conveyor of trying stuff I absolutely don't need.

[legendCNCD]

Something that is not a "my first DSP book" or "llm vibe trash" static one. Fex. Iron Glass EQ, LTL Silver Bullet, Glue V2..

Something which'll bring something new to the table, with better sonics (thats hard when one has mostly TDR stuff )

[cobaia]

Appeal. The user interface has to invite me.
It must have all the features I need because I am only interested in complete synths that would cover everything I need.
Yes, an easy licensing system is also welcome. I don't like third-party systems being used.
The developer should be solid and fix bugs fast.

[D-Fusion]

I only buy plugins that offer something I want or add something new these days and the same goes for my Hardware synths.

Plugins i won't touch no matter how good they are is online protected software or subscriptions.

I refuse to be a economic slave or live with ransomeware for something that i need to work when I want to make music or create a few presets that can encounter server issues or stop working the day you stop paying.

[perox]

After years of GAS which has luckily disappeared the plugin must bring something really original or improve my workflow. I became quite immune to all new compressors, limiters, eqs, channel strips, ...

[andy4trance]

Inspiring presets(not necessarily complex - like a song per keypress, but ones that trigger coming up with a melody of my own), and that don't kill my cpu.

[IvyBirds]

At this point I already have emulations of the overwhelming vast majority of Synths that I care about having emulations of. There are a very few I would still love to have and all of them do unique things. Those would be instant buys for me.

Having yet another emulation of something to send a saw wave through a resonating filter isn't going to get me to open my wallet anymore

Beyond that I am finding myself more and more drawn to using just big and deep Synths with lots of options. In particular HALion7, Omnisphere 3, zebra 3 and UVI Falcon. Those give me all kinds of options to send a saw wave through a resonating filter, and then go way way beyond that with all kinds of other things

When I am not using one of those I am looking for synths that do very special and unique things. Phaseplant and Dawsome Myth does that for example

So for me to buy any new synth plugins they have to either have a very large sample library and a myriad of ways to process them alongside other synthesis methods, or offer something new and unique

I don't care if they use iLok or not, I just don't want them needing to phone home or they stop working

[yul]

1-Simple UI with good mouse knob control (especially fine tune)
2- Solid sound.. even simple plugins
3- No phone home

Many plugins are too dense and kills my musical vibes especially when tired..
Now I just purchased the Minikorg 700...best purchase since a while.
The PPG plugin maybe an exeption but I can get by with my eyes closed almost at this point

[Mike777]

I check if there is a good free version 1st. If not I wait for a sale price of a high quality plugin. On sale is often when I make a purchase. Sound quality is always #1.

[rectifried]

Number 1: does it do something I can't accomplish with what I already have
Number 2: is it bringing some new workflow or algorithmic magic that might have not been possible given the earlier state of CPUs
Number 3: is it inspiring , do I immediately start composing with it and feel like making music
Number 4: is it on sale?
Number 5: download the demo see if you reach for it ..more than a few times.
Number 6: is it a company I've heard of, and what's their track record of updates and maintaining.

[wonshu]

3- No phone home

1000 times this. Forgot to mention in my post.

[Uncle E]

Give me a demo version, that I simply can download.
I don't want to create an account, download your "manager", don't want to feel like a customer in your shop software to get a demo. No, I want the demo, not your newsletter. Only the demo, with fair restrictions and not blasting whatever noise every 30 seconds.

+1

[idoru97214]

It needs to be something I don't already have (which is getting hard because my HD is well fed with the plugs) and I have to like it.

It's fine if it has iLok. Love iLok.

It's fine if it phones home, as long as it works. I've heard people being fearful of losing functionality by developer going away. I haven't had that happen.

I like subs - am using only one right now, but if it has what I want and looks like value for me, sign me up.

I appreciate plugin managers that work well (most of them, for me.) as it saves me time.

I do not like Roland cloud, because it doesn't work well.

I also do not like demos that blast noise. Buzzkill

EDIT: Don't care how the plugin was coded or by who or what. I care about the sound and functionality.

[ghettosynth]

Most of the above, but, you need serial/keyfile only and linux support today to get my attention. That's really it. It doesn't have to be open source. It doesn't even have to be super novel. Create something that looks roughly like Neutron 1.0, with none of the AI bullshit, and I'll buy it. The details matter though, clean modern interface, clean U/X, no floating windows, my muscle memory matters.