MXXXCore - Good news for anyone on low-budget ;)

[Compyfox]

Actually it's far more complex than that. MFreeEffectsBundle is a steal for 49 EUR, there's more like 20 effects. Assuming that this bargain will unlock MXXX modules is just about insane. It would really KO all other bundles, MXXX itself, everything, not gonna happen sorry.

Sometimes I have the feeling, you don't even read properly, Vojtech. Or you're (sadly) not open to suggestions. And then weeks later you're like "ya, I though this through - let's do it anyway". I remember that I sent you a couple of plugin ideas, and you initially said "not interesting". Yet a couple of weeks/months later, you ported some of these ideas anyway. Same with MXXX Core - people asked for a more affordable version, you said "no - won't happen", now it's about to be released.

I said "ProEffects" on purpose. And if you combine MXXX Core with the Pro Bundle, bump the price to 150EUR (plus VAT!), then it should be a different game.

Actually - come to think of it... The "Full" version of CORE is 399EUR (Introductionary Price, else 999EUR - though I don't think that you can keep this 1k price in the future). MTotal Bundle is 1300EUR, yet MXXX (full) covers that bundle with a huge percent. Something is not adding up IMO.

As for the limitations you added - this makes no sense at all! Imagine you buy MXXXCore, there would be no modulators??? Until when??? You buy a first commercial plugin or something?

I don't know if I really like that sub-tone... especially not as customer.

And imagine explaining such superovercomplicated system to customers, I'm way too long on support to understand that this would be a suicide . So absolutely not. ...
And it's not about anyone robbing anyone. It's about keeping the value. What you are suggesting would be an end of the company .

And I've been too long of both a customer and software tester for various companies to already see where things might not work out, or where I rather speak with my wallet.

What I am suggesting, is a possible idea. You asked for feedback, you got it. How you handle it, or if you even handle it, lies on a whole different ballpark. But shrugging it off right at the beginning is also not really helpful for either parties.


Which brings me to this:

MXXXCore will have all the features of the plugins, but unlocking the dedicated plugins will need the commercial licences.

Up until this point, you were VERY vague as to what is actually planned, bundled and what will be possible with MXXX Core. Then you dropped an image with the "core features". And IMO now the actual questions can begin, the (better) suggestions, etc.

Anyway folks, for those of you interested, here's the list of the available processors if you have just MXXXCore licence, nothing else:

...

Quite enough to build lots of stuff!

Okay... I see an Auto-Pitch, A Band-Pass, a Filter, a compressor, a delay tap, various M/S tools, an Analyzer, Follower, a Math Tool, a Modular Module (man, I could pull off A LOT with this module alone!), hopefully the MUtility module, various building blocks (like a Crossover/Signal Splitter - hopefully with more then 2 bands or a container function - sorry, didn't pay much attention to MXXX Grande), LFO, Noise Generators, etc.


My first question would be:
Why not post this right from the start? This way, misunderstandings would have never happened. And this changes the picture completely.

Though the next question would be:
What do you consider as a Filter?


You list an Equalizer separately. So what is the filter? Is just a single band full parametric filter, or is this just a simple LPF/HPF with dB/Oct setings? Which in turn would make the BandPass module obsolete as you can build it with two Filter modules in series (and then a custom GUI, if possible). But on the other hand, makes things a whole lot more difficult for sound shaping. For example - if you want to add some post-EQ (filtering!) after your FX chain, or pre-emphasis before you go into the next module... you first need a commercial MLinearEQ, MAudioEQ or something like that? That is a bit nonsense/inconsistent IMO.

Same with the delay tap, but no regular simple delay module btw. So what is the difference here?!

Then again, that's just me. A chorus, Phaser, Flanger and Tremolo can all be created wth an LFO controlling the right module (pitch module, a filter module, a volume module)

On the other hand, unlocking the "Freeform", "Linear" and "Dynamic" EQ is a different issue and actually logical. Which brings me to the modules that are needed to unlock advanced features:
Rotary, Auto Pan (there is an auto pitch, but no regular Pan module?!), Reverb, more advanced Dynamics (already pre-built), Granular Synthesis, an amp (yet no simple "WaveShaper" module available with Core?).

Though I do wonder why the "Analyzer" is bundled, yet you consider it more advanced and needs unlocking. Some things are definitely inconsistent here.



Which brings me back to your concern that "bundling this thing with the higher bundles is just as much overkill".

Er... you do realize that the smallest bundle, the Creative one, can basically unlock 90% (if not everything) of MXXX Core? So if you decide to bundle it for new users, or offer a loyality upgrade fee - then those that DO NOT have one of the bundles, burn for all others.

On the other hand, the 99EUR price tag (which I do consider as the regular price, you were NOT talking about introductory prices!) is a bit low in contrast to the MXXX full version. Especially with that feature set. So you put MFreeEffects/MProEffects on a much higher value than MXXX Core here.

Until you're now like "you know, you're right, the price is wrong, it will actually be 299EUR (plus VAT)", but then the feature set is wonky for the price tag.


On one hand, you want to make a fair deal and interesting tool, on the other hand... who of your users is being treated better?! Those that buy individual modules and pay more on the long run, or those that jumped on one of the bigger bundles? Which plugin set is more worth? Which one isn't?

It's a very, very fine line to walk here. Especially if you have users that can build pretty much EVERYTHING out of these modules and a modular environment.



I guess I'll have to wait and see.

But things would have been way more relaxed if you would have said: "I thought about this, here is a screenshot of the available modules compared to the full version - it will be available in x-weeks".



Release a demo, then people can take a look at it.
If it's a good tool at a fair price, people will buy it (myself included).
If there is a fair upgrade path (considering what you already have as well), people might even jump on that deal later.

It's that simple.

[Chandlerhimself]

Great idea. I think this will be great for people that already own a bundle or have quite a few plugins already. Even with the few modules that it comes with you can make quite a bit.

[murnau]

B) Additionally there will be MXXXCore. It will contain only the minimum basic FX and you can unlock the rest of them using your licences to other plugins. If an FX is not available, the plugin won't let you insert it and if you try loading a preset with it, it will fail as well. The price will be 99 EUR, probably.

I don't get what is not to understand here. Thanks for Core Vojtech.

[ZentralmassivSound]

Vojtech has an important point that MXXX plus the free effects at a low price would outperform his other more expensive bundles, so he has to keep the balance somehow. I think he made a good proposal to take care of that and at the same time still be able to offer MXXX on its own.

[drakmaniso]

I see MXXXCore more as an upgrade for people who are already using a few Melda plugins, and want to squeeze a bit more functionality out of them.

And once they're hooked to its modularity, they're bound to buy more plugins! ^_^

[MeldaProduction]

Well I for one am rather excited for this.

Being a modular-headI have been gradually adding to my arsenal of Melda Plugins specifically with the aim of being able to use MXXX, but I was getting a little sick of spending money on so many similar plugins. ( I Don't need 3 different stereo enhancers! )

Many thanks for making this available! Any Idea on when we might expect it out?

Thank you! Next update most likely, so with 2 weeks probably.

And thank you folks!

CompyFox: What is filter etc. you can already check . Just get MXXX. MXXXCore will be just MXXX anyway. As for the plugins, you just need to do some simple math. Take MSpectralDynamics for instance, it costs 199 EUR (and considering existing competition it is worth much more...), so... when you count it all together you'll see that the price is more appropriate and that MFreeEffectsBundle unlocking would devaluate most our products. I have a big Excel table for this .

[webhamster]

Looks very interesting

Am I right that the modulation fx are all part of the free bundle and will unlock when buying the free bundle?

[whyterabbyt]

Sensible move; essentially adds-on the 'modular' capability for what you already own. Personally I'd only ever have been interested in using the 'creative' effects inside MXXX anyway, and the price for having all the mixing effects included wasnt worth it for me.

Vojtech has an important point that MXXX plus the free effects at a low price would outperform his other more expensive bundles, so he has to keep the balance somehow.

Yeah, agreed; it'd be a bit of a kick in the teeth to anyone with the Creative Bundle to see folk get more functionality for half the cost.

[dmbaer]

So will MXXXCore be in any of the bundles (other than MTotal)? Just my two cents, but if MXXXCore were included in the creative bundle (and the bundle price kept pretty much the same), that would be a powerful incentive for folks to pick up the MCreativeBundle, especially during one of the occasional half-off sales.

[VariKusBrainZ]

So will MXXXCore be in any of the bundles (other than MTotal)? Just my two cents, but if MXXXCore were included in the creative bundle (and the bundle price kept pretty much the same), that would be a powerful incentive for folks to pick up the MCreativeBundle, especially during one of the occasional half-off sales.

Or an enticing upgrade price for bundle owners.

Voj has certainly created a game changer this time with MXXX.
If he created another version that hosted VSTs but kept the modulation system

Not sure if this review has already been mentioned
http://soundbytesmag.net/mxxxfrommeldaproductionpart1

I'd like to see a tutorial for what we could do with the Math module

[MeldaProduction]

There will be tutorials eventually, but it will take time .

As for the MXXXCore - it won't be available in any other bundle than MTotalBundle. But for the low price it doesn't really matter. Interstingly enough whyterabbit said something about kicking the teeth to MCreativeBundle owners - not true. You need the creative bundle to unlock the modulation effects, distortions etc. (or separate licences). I again repeat MFreeEffectsBundle won't unlock anything in MXXXCore. And you can see why ...

[whyterabbyt]

Interstingly enough whyterabbit said something about kicking the teeth to MCreativeBundle owners - not true.

You completely misunderstood my point, which was an agreement with Vojtech's. I basically said "If MXXXCore worked with the Free bundle, that would be a kick in the teeth to Creative bundle owners, which is a perfectly sensible justification for it not working with the Free bundle."

[MeldaProduction]

Aaaaah, sorry, my bad! Everything cool now .

[dmbaer]

So will you be publishing a road-map for what purchased plug-ins or bundles unlock what MXXXCore modules? I would imaging that Creative bundle gives you almost everything you need for "creative" type preset construction, but probably not sufficient EQ coverage. And there's probably no compressor at that point. So - and this is just one question people will be asking - what beside creative bundle needs to be picked up to have a truly usable module set?

[MeldaProduction]

Well, it appears so... I feel like I set a trap to myself now...