No demo, no sale?

VST, AU, AAX, CLAP, etc. Plugin Virtual Instruments Discussion

No demo, no sale?

No demo, no sale
12
67%
Sale if it's less than $10
1
6%
Sale if it's less than $20
0
No votes
Sale if it's less than $30
0
No votes
I buy without demo at any price
5
28%
 
Total votes: 18

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no demo - no buy

yt videos will never be able to tell you how the specific plugin works for your specific needs
also, without a demo you'll never know how the plugin behaves within your specific OS
for example, i'm still at mojave and it's becoming critical
only a demo can tell me if it's really working

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No demo no buy, no. demo no buy.
Hey little seller, don't shed no tears,
No demo no buy.

(with apologies, also, I don't always need a demo, just sayin)

I just realized that it seems that I was answering the question, I wasn't I was just singing Bob Marley in my head. Sometimes I demo, sometimes I don't, and the algorithm of the choice is more complex than just price.
Last edited by ghettosynth on Wed Jul 08, 2026 5:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

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that seems crazy, as a developer, it's really not that hard to put in a demo mode. Mine is easily reset even if you know what to do :) but you'll have to deal with a nagging pop pup every single time.

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It’s so easy these days, almost every dedicated e-commerce system designed for plugin devs, has demos, RTO, subs whatever all included in the lowest tiers. No excuse these days not to offer all that. Running a business is about making money, you should exercise every reasonable opportunity to do that. Else you’re In the wrong business imo.
Last edited by pekbro on Tue Jul 07, 2026 11:28 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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I chose: No Demo = No Sale coz there is no way that I am gonna plunk down $50 for something, even with a vague promise of a refund (like this is a total scam already).

It is not hard to offer some kind of demo these days. Also, the reality is that most of those kinds of things scream stoopidware looking for suckers, e.g., all those Clippers that appeared promising that with some stock code they changed the game (the game in their bank account).

I will note that as a dev myself, many of my creations do not have demos as such. BUT...

I never ask for money without offering a way to warm to my form:
a) I make loooong detailed vids showing the sound and function along with mindset and suggested usage (and even misuse) of each device. I note most don't watch, so it is somewhere between infuriating and hilarious to see those Play-hounds who show my devices with absolutely no idea what they are doing :facepalm:
b) I offer freebies of synths and fx that show my form which any semi-intelligent person should be able to extrapolate to the other thing.
and kinda c) my prices are stupid low; QED little to no loss either way.
:-)

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I think the choices you've given us (maybe unconsciously) reflect your bias. Perhaps you wouldn't pay more than $30 for plugin without a demo, but that doesn't mean others are unwilling. If there's no demo, I simply do more research. Best example I can think of personally is Falcon.

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Can’t demo Falcon? Weird, maybe version 1 was a public beta, I doubt I would have bought it without trying it. Of course, I had mach 5.

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I can't remember the last time I demoed anything, dozens of plugins and only once was there a problem with a plugin not working some way or another, to which I got a refund.

I read reviews, threads, check dev. website, activation requirements, watch yt vids if there are any, and glean all i need to know. If the developer has a good rep and/or has been around for awhile I'll buy a license at any price if I want it enough.

I also find the poll odd as 10, 20 & even 30 bucks is comfortable write off / shoulder shrug territory to me. It's also in 'get what you pay for' range in many cases, though not always.

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nusound mind wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2026 3:08 am

I also find the poll odd as 10, 20 & even 30 bucks is comfortable write off / shoulder shrug territory to me. It's also in 'get what you pay for' range in many cases, though not always.
Actually I take that back, nowadays with all the mega-sales and hidden gem indie devs and so forth price doesn't necessarily correlate w/ quality. Some of the best plugins i have were given away free and some companies whose plugins I find overrated are vastly overpriced.

I do still find the poll options limited however and wouldn't demo anything at any of those price points. I bought a few plugins recently w.out demoing all over 30 bucks and am glad I did.

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And all *that* said, I *do* think probably the responsible and practical thing to do is to demo before buying. I'm just lazy that way and once had an issue where a demo conflicted w/ a purchased license and since then no I longer demo anything.

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It depends

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JsinOwl wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2026 2:47 am I think the choices you've given us (maybe unconsciously) reflect your bias. Perhaps you wouldn't pay more than $30 for plugin without a demo, but that doesn't mean others are unwilling. If there's no demo, I simply do more research. Best example I can think of personally is Falcon.
Sure, it reflects my bias.
This wasn't pre-meditated for days and I didn't try to include all possibilities. :)
ABX is enemy to GAS

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Oh no!!!

Now the party is perfectly ... messed up.

I changed the poll and all former results are ... gone.

Now with added option "I buy without demo at any price"

Sorry folks! :oops: :roll: :clown: :ud: :?




(Was that your first poll, dude? :smack:
Yeah, sorry. Never did one here before.
Man, you better remember that... :uhuhuh:
That's the plan. :cry: )
ABX is enemy to GAS

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For me it depends who is the developer.
They are some developers I would buy 'blind' from.
rsp
sound sculptist

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A one minute elevator sales pitch YouTube Video showing the cool capacities is really all I usually need before even looking at purchasing something.

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