U-he offer from Native instruments

[EnGee]

A little bit off topic question (but not that much!): Is there Diva 2 (or Diva X ) on the way? or is there a plan for it?

[goldenanalog]

A little bit off topic question (but not that much!): Is there Diva 2 (or Diva X ) on the way? or is there a plan for it?

That's funny. Sorry, Urs - this is my fault.

[Local Man]

Both may be true. I'm probably looking at it a little differently. To me: it's the same thing as when a relatively unknown walks onto TV - his or her life could possibly be changed going forward. U-he, a tiny-to-small-sized company (pick your perspective) - darling to the kvr community - is now front and center, spotlighted by possibly the biggest software/hardware animal on the planet: Native Instruments. There's likely no agenda; other then to sell 'more' - nks obviously being the core focus. But: it's a *much* larger stage - the 'why' is really secondary, in U-He's case. It's the fact that they're there.

I think Uhe is known a bit more broadly outside the KVR community than what you are alluding to.
Diva has been one of the top soft synths for years.

[EvilDragon]

Here's a great question: I wonder if CA ever regrets their sell-out to Apple? I bet not - Alchemy is now in Logic; and according to what I've read recently: improved. So apparently thats a buyout that has a happy ending - Alchemy is still going; just not interactive on kvr.

It's not a happy ending for Windows users.

[goldenanalog]

You may be right. But I'm using Urs' numbers - at least in part. He said about 100x those he reaches through his newsletter will be advertised in full form to by NI - in several languages. And unless I'm misunderstanding: NI is paying for it. Sounds like a huge investment on Native Instruments' part. Also, the fact that he has his own blog speaks a lot about how hes perceived by Native Instruments: as a leader in the industry, obviously. But also - and maybe primarily so - to introduce him to those who occupy the Native Instruments universe who *don't* know him.

The blog makes a super impression, IMHO

[Urs]

I'm speculating, of course. But I think your estimation of a 2% increase in revenue is way too conservative, Urs. This is going to affect your bottom line much more substantially - that's my wager. And thinking it through: if I were NI, and could afford you: I'd buy you out. Maybe it would be stupid on your part to sell out to NI - but a lot of content providers for NI still retain independence, true? Here's a great question: I wonder if CA ever regrets their sell-out to Apple? I bet not - Alchemy is now in Logic; and according to what I've read recently: improved. So apparently thats a buyout that has a happy ending - Alchemy is still going; just not interactive on kvr.

Re 2%: My quick estimate shows an increase of about 2-5% new customers in those two weeks. I guess we can correlate that to the long term impact. I'd be surprised if it was more than 5%.

Re Buy-Out: NI have their codebase, we have ours. We moved past the point where it makes sense to merge the code bases into one. NI would have to buy us for the knowledge and shut our products down. But our knowledge isn't worth shelling out 20% of annual revenues.

Re CA: I think peeps from CA are fine. I think the stress of running a company was too much for Ben and he was seeking for a different kind of life concept where he'd get to work on things he likes and excells at rather than juggle business stuff. Which I guess he found there. They certainly regret not reading the fine print and being confronted with a situation that would not allow them to explain their move.

[goldenanalog]

Here's a great question: I wonder if CA ever regrets their sell-out to Apple? I bet not - Alchemy is now in Logic; and according to what I've read recently: improved. So apparently thats a buyout that has a happy ending - Alchemy is still going; just not interactive on kvr.

It's not a happy ending for Windows users.

I'm speaking purely from CA's perspective, ED. I'm glad that they kept going - bottom line. Hell: there may have been a significant cash-flow or personel problem(s) that were keeping them from crossing the ver 2 finish line - we don't know. And I bet that internally: Ben and the rest of the CA gang commeriserated over the loss of their loyal kvr base - maybe they still do. Business decisions can be, and often are, brutal.

[Urs]

He said about 100x those he reaches through his newsletter

We had to "reboot" our newsletter due to GDPR because we are using a non-European service. That was unfortunate, and NI did not have to do that. They saw it coming, they got a legal department.

I can only speculate, but my decisions are based on the assumption that NI's reach is in the vicinity of 100x of ours, while their market share (revenue from overlapping products) is in the vicinity of 20x higher than ours.

[EvilDragon]

Here's a great question: I wonder if CA ever regrets their sell-out to Apple? I bet not - Alchemy is now in Logic; and according to what I've read recently: improved. So apparently thats a buyout that has a happy ending - Alchemy is still going; just not interactive on kvr.

It's not a happy ending for Windows users.

I'm speaking purely from CA's perspective, ED. I'm glad that they kept going - bottom line. Hell: there may have been a significant cash-flow or personel problem(s) that were keeping them from crossing the ver 2 finish line - we don't know. And I bet that internally: Ben and the rest of the CA gang commeriserated over the loss of their loyal kvr base - maybe they still do. Business decisions can be, and often are, brutal.

Before they were assimilated to Apple they had around 250k GBP in the bank, that info was publicly available, IIRC. Or was that last year's revenue/profits... Doesn't seem like cash-flow problems at all. Urs' take on it makes more sense.

[Urs]

A little bit off topic question (but not that much!): Is there Diva 2 (or Diva X ) on the way? or is there a plan for it?

No plans, just speculation. The new decade begins 2021, I'd be happy if people didn't expect any news before then

[goldenanalog]

I remember seeing some of that info, ED - and I do remember the talk about a life style change playing into it - but I also remember asking myself about their debt burden, which can be quite a bit less transparent.

What often happens in partnerships is where one wants out, but the other(s) can't afford the cost to buy the partner out.

[goldenanalog]

Dp

[goldenanalog]

They certainly regret not reading the fine print and being confronted with a situation that would not allow them to explain their move.

Then I guess that they didn't understand that they were completely in class-action lawsuit territory, Urs. Apple's lawyers were absolutely doing their job - that *fine print* was there to protect everyone involved; including the (former) CA group.

Think it through: One day CA supports Alchemy and the user base; the next day it doesn't. So: any person who had bought Alchemy and all of its libraries (1) day before the lockdown was f*cked; along with everyone else who had spent $$$ on Alchemy and depended on CA's support.Tens of thousands of dollars are spent on Alchemy in good faith; by hundreds of people - and the company disappears.

[ATS]

I'm still using all the camel software I bought on PC and no problems yet.

[EnGee]

A little bit off topic question (but not that much!): Is there Diva 2 (or Diva X ) on the way? or is there a plan for it?

No plans, just speculation. The new decade begins 2021, I'd be happy if people didn't expect any news before then

Thank you for the answer 2021 is not so far really! Even for starting to plan. Anyway, I'm sure it will be another classic hit and I hope you consider getting in to it after Zebra 3