*rant alert* - why mark other people's reviews down if you don't have the balls to do one yourself?

[Doug1978]

I have never taken the time to do a review of anything. I shall consider doing some in the future. To be honest I have never even read any of the reviews myself either so certainly never thumbed either way I doubt I'd give 'em all a 10 accross the board very much though if I ever do get around to doing some. So yeah rant helpful for looking at an area that I have never looked at before, If it seems worthwhile then I will do some for sure but with so many threads about stuff and also demos available I do wonder if that many KVR users actually use the reviews thing, Like Teksonik said last page

But yeah as said I will give it a look and add what is all in all just my 2 pence when there have probably been multiple threads on the same thing already...Spirals?

Dean

Good point Dean. And tbh, maybe Teksonik is right too.

Anyway as rants go, it's been one of my most relieving in recent times!

[Gamma-UT]

Excuse me, I prefer someone who actually used the product write about their experience on a forum than to read a paid shill extol something on a magazine review thank you...

Are you saying that magazine reviewers haven't used a product before reviewing it? That's a big accusation. It might be true of some but seems a bit fanciful if you look at a mag like SOS or Electronic Musician.

[fisherKing]

i wanted to add one (more) thought: more than anything else, the SOUND (and for me, the presets) define what is a great (or not great) plugin. i know, within a half-hour of downloading a plugin demo, whether it will work for me.
if i'm uninspired to MAKE MUSIC, it's a pass.

so (for my $), an "ugly" looking plugin is fine if it sounds great (sylenth1 anyone?), and an unfamiliar GUI (synthmaster, for me) is well worth it because the SOUND works for me.

the MUSIC is my #1 concern, at all times.

[Doug1978]

and, rereading my post above, i give myself a 8 (well-put but ultimately over-defensive).

will continue to write reviews here. i enjoy it, as much for getting clarity for myself about how a plugin works (or not), and to share my thoughts, which may (or may not) be useful to others. either way, i enjoy the process.

I just read your review now of SynthMaster and I think it's pretty good (so I gave it a positive tick).
I think part of the problem with reviews at KVR (or any other forum which brings together people with exceptional technical knowledge as well as enthusiastic hobbyists) is that there are differing levels of expectations about a review. For me, your review was an informative and readable account.

However, despite these differing levels of expectation (or maybe because of them), I think that it would be nicer if the more highly-technically gifted at KVR who at the moment negatively mark some 'enthusiasts' reviews instead provided a different take on a product.

[ariston]

wow, that's from my review.
am not sure what the problem is; i went looking for new synth plugins, found one i really liked, and added it to my arsenal. was excited about it and wrote a review, wanted to share my enthusiasm and thoughts.

does this mean i should not write a review until i've lived with the plugin for a determined period of time?
what would that time be?

have no regrets, i made the observations i wanted to make, pointed out things i needed to point out. there's no harm in clearly stating "i'm new to this, and here are my thoughts".

i give your post a 4; informative, but ultimately pointless (and more about your head cold than my observations).

Why not just use the forum for your enthusiastic, poorly informed outbursts like we all do? I suspect the inner need to glorify your opinion by calling it a "review". You're not sure what the problem is? That much is obvious.

A "4" from you is actually one of the biggest compliments I've gotten. Thanks for that!

[Gamma-UT]

However, despite these differing levels of expectation (or maybe because of them), I think that it would be nicer if the more highly-technically gifted at KVR who at the moment negatively mark some 'enthusiasts' reviews instead provided a different take on a product.

How do you know the ones who are clicking "no" are these people?

[trimph1]

Excuse me, I prefer someone who actually used the product write about their experience on a forum than to read a paid shill extol something on a magazine review thank you...

Are you saying that magazine reviewers haven't used a product before reviewing it? That's a big accusation. It might be true of some but seems a bit fanciful if you look at a mag like SOS or Electronic Musician.

No. But how is a relative newcomer to know which mags have more credibility?

[Doug1978]

However, despite these differing levels of expectation (or maybe because of them), I think that it would be nicer if the more highly-technically gifted at KVR who at the moment negatively mark some 'enthusiasts' reviews instead provided a different take on a product.

How do you know the ones who are clicking "no" are these people?

I didn't say I did.
You may have noticed the word 'if' in there?

[fisherKing]

wow, that's from my review.
am not sure what the problem is; i went looking for new synth plugins, found one i really liked, and added it to my arsenal. was excited about it and wrote a review, wanted to share my enthusiasm and thoughts.

does this mean i should not write a review until i've lived with the plugin for a determined period of time?
what would that time be?

have no regrets, i made the observations i wanted to make, pointed out things i needed to point out. there's no harm in clearly stating "i'm new to this, and here are my thoughts".

i give your post a 4; informative, but ultimately pointless (and more about your head cold than my observations).

Why not just use the forum for your enthusiastic, poorly informed outbursts like we all do? I suspect the inner need to glorify your opinion by calling it a "review". You're not sure what the problem is? That much is obvious.

A "4" from you is actually one of the biggest compliments I've gotten. Thanks for that!

seriously, i wrote my review with care and forethought (i actually wrote it on my mac first, so i could edit it, get it right).

i DO save my poorly-informed outbursts for the forums...

[Gamma-UT]

However, despite these differing levels of expectation (or maybe because of them), I think that it would be nicer if the more highly-technically gifted at KVR who at the moment negatively mark some 'enthusiasts' reviews instead provided a different take on a product.

How do you know the ones who are clicking "no" are these people?

I didn't say I did.
You may have noticed the word 'if' in there?

Well I'm sure that being based in Japan you know all about the subtle nuances of meaning between natural consequence and general and contextual conditionals.

[Doug1978]

You're very kind sir
Alas, I am still a student of these things.