SynthMaster 3 Official Thread: SynthMaster 3/Player v3.4.9 Rev 17271 update

[Held]

Hi guys,

What's your take on a limited "Free" version of SynthMaster 3, aside from the "Demo" and "Player" (SM3 Player will be released in 2025)

As long as you're fine with some people using only that and never buying the full version, you could release a free version.

People who use free stuff are often very demanding and don't like spending money, so I would expect increased support cost for very little benefits.

The player should serve well as a cheap (and I guess occasionally free) introduction.

[Requeenre]

Hi guys,

What's your take on a limited "Free" version of SynthMaster 3, aside from the "Demo" and "Player" (SM3 Player will be released in 2025)

Limited features such as (not finalized yet)

1. Max Layers: 1
2. Max Modules: 2 -> 1 Osc (All oscillator types except additive/vector/modulator), 1 Filter or Waveshaper
3. Max Modulation Sources: 3
4. Max Osc Unison: 8 voices
5. Max Grains for Granular Osc: 16
6. Max Global Unison: 2 voices
7. Max Polyphony: 8 voices
8. Max Mod Matrix Entries: 16
9. Max Number Of Instances: 8
10. No Global FX
11. Max Number Of Layer FX slots: 3
12. No Wav export for waveforms / wavetables
13. No Sfz export for multi-samples
14. Doesn't read SM3 preset, but SM3 can read its presets
15. Will come with 100 factory presets
16. User must register with a valid email address to be able to use it.

As opposed to the demo version -it emits noise every minute-, this would be useable in a project.

Hi, I already bought a license for SM3, so I am not your target for such free "light" version. Neither do I know anything about your line of business and in how far such free versions outweigh the benefits for you as a developer compared to the risk that most people just use the free version and never come back for more. Nevertheless, to me your limited free version sounds like a wise compromise to give enough to invite people to check your product out, but still leave big enough benefits if one buys the full version.

I imagine it to be frustrating as a synth developer that Vital and some other capable synths can be used without any charge and you must compete in this environment and still cover your wages and cost. Therefore I take your enquiry this morning as an opportunity to thank you for putting out SM3. I am still pretty new in trying myself in sound design and synths etc., but whenever I had the time to open SM3 and play around, I end up with a sound that surprised me in how few steps it took to create movement and lush satisfying sounds, but with such subtle features that nothing feels overdone in the patch. I don't know if that has to do with your programming or whether it is just karma, in any case I like it

Also like the presets and the browser, very accessible and well structured.

[ThomasHelzle]

Another aspect:
After many years of constant sales or even free givaways, the SM market may be rather saturated.
And that colours the perception.
Many people will have put SM on the shelf, didn't take it serious or did not like it (I never really got into SM2, One or Player myself).
SM3 is great, but like I said, the packaging still feels like something quite old to me, so no matter what you do with free or limited versions (which all take time and effort to create and maintain), I still think working on the packaging and make it more juicy is the better way.

Something being free isn't a value in itself.
If somebody gets it for free, he/her may still not like the deep menu diving etc. and won't update to the full version in that case.

For me, the ONLY thing missing with SM3 is a better workflow and UI.
And in todays saturated market, people don't get excited if something is free, if it isn't top notch too.
Look at all the moaning regarding Vital, which is very well thought out and executed - and free.

SM3 sound much better and richer to me, but I much prefer the workflow and UI in Vital or other more modern tools.

I don't say it's easy, but you asked

Cheers,

Tom

[kv331]

Thanks so much guys, great feedback

[gunark]

I don’t suppose there’s any chance drag and drop of samples into the sample and granular oscillators? Always a much more elegant way of working. Thank you.

[kv331]

I don’t suppose there’s any chance drag and drop of samples into the sample and granular oscillators? Always a much more elegant way of working. Thank you.

You can drag-n-drop samples inside the sample editor window:

sample_import.jpg

[kv331]

Upgrade from SM2 is $29 (source: KV331 website).

Guys, this is going to increase to $49 on September 2 (Summer Sale ends one day before and we release SM3 officially on that day)

[classic]

I have to say something, I don´t understand.
Nearly all the vst developers offer free versions of their plugins.
For example the Syntmaster free versions. Easy the most versitail synt on earth right now great sounding and with active development. And I am not talking about the full version jet.

If you have the free version, you don´t need anything else so fare.
Isn´t that killing its own business?

[Gavincoolguy]

I would start with $5 for the lite version and leverage that price point to give it away free via magazine, website, influencer promos. Fomo is a powerful thing.

[kv331]

I would start with $5 for the lite version and leverage that price point to give it away free via magazine, website, influencer promos. Fomo is a powerful thing.

This

[robert_p]

Hi, Granular Oscillator (Osc 2) can't be duplicated (or removed):
---

Duplicate_Osc.jpg

[HcDoom]

How do I see only favorite presets?

[kv331]

How do I see only favorite presets?

Select My Favourites bank. It will filter by favourites

[RoadCrewWorker]

If you have the free version, you don´t need anything else so fare.

That's an oversimplified assumption, the point is more to target different user types (usually preset surfers vs sound design tinkerers) who prefer more or less features and are (or are not) willing to pay for the difference, or to entice preset surfers who want to tinker towards the more advanced version.

I have a decent amount of tools where the most "basic" version is all i need, and a few where i want access to all the processing parameters to make more educated adjustments and an upgrade was worth it. But that's so subjective to each individual's specific workflow i couldn't judge for anyone else.

[ReverendLove]

Suddenly SM3 (last beta) VST2 & VST3 get blacklisted on Cubase 13 Pro with win 10.

The message for VST3 is "unknown" and for VST2 "No valid plugin".

Reactivating crashes Cubase