Amplitube5 - Release Date 15-16/12/2020

[Mr Arkadin]

Also, the pricing has always been called introductory pricing since the announcement. Only users/non-IK folks have referred to it as pre-order pricing from what I can see...

Doesn't really matter, but it does clearly say pre-order on the Amplitube 5 page, just so you know. You know?

[Compyfox]

There are limitations in AmpliTube 5 CS including the number of simultaneous amps, so you would only have two at a time with the CS version. You can see the comparison chart on the AmpliTube 5 web page.

Wait what?

Aw man, the devil is always in the damn details. I can honestly live with a limitation of allowed usable modules (whole engine). But the thing that makes use of the new Amplitude 5 mechanics, are once more castrated for the Custom Shop users, unless they shell out money for the SE version bar minimum.

That is, quite honestly, utter BS!


Granted, AT4CS got the Cabinet features with like... v4.2 half a year to 9 months later. But what about those that want to check out the Wet-Dry-Wet setup from Brian May, but don't have the Brian May Suite. Would the Brian May suite even unlock this in AT5CS (I guess my answer is a straight up: no).

Then the other thing is the "Mixer"... this is an essential feature for the new Amplitube 5, but it's not available in Custom Shop. I could care less about the technical setup of the cabinets, as long as I can even use the AT5 cabinets and also set up my mic positions like I'm used to.


Honestly... this is a huge(!) oversight, and has been my criticism for years.

There is even no suitable upgrade path still that properly scales to what you already have. Everyone has to invest the same. I mean, where is the problem to say "hey... minimum investment is 75EUR, and it scales down to 29EUR considering your equipment-in-use... if you don't want to go AT5 Max". I never understood that.

While this is not your fault, you're just the messenger after all, considering the sometimes overly aggressive marketing and sales and what have you, yet you can not(!) do things like you expect (like: use up all Jampoints only 30% tops, or convert the Jampoints to Custom Shop points, the whole Custom Shop Point mechanic which either gives you too less points or too many - so you always have to spend more than you need!).


Sorry, but my initial hype for AT5CS just... plummeted. I still want to check out the engine, and I'll definitely do that, not to mention am I glad that the "Custom Shop" will still exist (and this upgrade is free! Well, it should be, considering that the "a la carte" system is how this engine is working now). But I am sadly not allowed to use the new features that interest me the most (maybe in half a year down the line). And it's not like I have an insignificant amount of amp packs already.


Again, you're just the messenger... nothing you can do. But the topic "fair upgrades" has been a topic of debate for almost a decade at this point (since the "Custom Shop" was introduced for T-Racks and Amplitube).

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I'm the messenger, yes, but IK is also a business. I'm sorry that the free version isn't going to give you all of the features of the full version which was a mountain of work and is going to cost something to acquire, but I do feel it is fair of IK to charge for it whether I'm the messenger or not.

"What about those without...?" Of course you can demo gear and features. But if you want to use the new version and all of the things that have taken many, many person-hours (I think that's the proper word for it now) to create you can purchase the versions that provide that functionality.

[ShawnMH]

Says "PRE-ORDER" on my IK page...

Screenshot (110).png

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Yes, because it is... in pre-order. Meaning, not yet available. Doesn't say "special pre-order pricing". The pricing is Introductory, has been that way since the PR and AmpliTube 5 news were sent and published on October 29th, both which explain pricing and availability... I know people want some "gotcha" here but this isn't it. We've stated it clearly from the go that this is introductory pricing.

Price & Availability

AmpliTube 5 (for Mac/PC) will be available in Q4 2020. Preorder your copy now with special introductory pricing listed below.

AmpliTube 5 CS - free
AmpliTube 5 SE - $/€99.99* intro price (regular price will be $/€149.99)
AmpliTube 5 - $/€149.99** $/€199.99 intro price (regular price will be $/€299.99)
AmpliTube 5 MAX - $/€299.99** $/€399.99 intro price (regular price will be $/€599.99)

Edit - definitely get on us about that pasted instance of pre-order from the news above not having the hyphen, though. Totally ruins it. I can see why something like that would make it an absolute NO to buy.

It's also in the KVR news item, just as it appears above, officially posted (this is not an IK-posted thread, so it wouldn't contain the same information and I didn't post a separate thread since this one existed): https://www.kvraudio.com/news/ik-announ ... be-5-50019

[Hink]

Upgrade/Crossgrade prices for IK users who have registered any IK products worth $/€99.99 or more.

Crossgrades only for IK users?

[Mr Arkadin]

Yes, because it is... in pre-order. Meaning, not yet available. Doesn't say "special pre-order pricing". The pricing is Introductory, has been that way since the PR and AmpliTube 5 news were sent and published on October 29th, both which explain pricing and availability... I know people want some "gotcha" here but this isn't it. We've stated it clearly from the go that this is introductory pricing.

Dude, I don't wish to labour the point as I don't even think it's that important, but that's some hoops you've jumped through to say the pre-order price isn't a pre-order even though the website says pre-order. Can't you just accept you were wrong and the website did say pre-order all along? It wouldn't even be that big of a deal.

[SJ_Digriz]

Dude, I don't wish to labour the point as I don't even think it's that important, but that's some hoops you've jumped through to say the pre-order price isn't a pre-order even the website says pre-order. Can't you just accept you were wrong and the website did say pre-order all along? It wouldn't even be that big of a deal.

Or accept that they are saying two different things

We have a pre-order of a product that isn't out yet
AND
It is at an Introductory price.

Sorry: Just in one of those moods

[telecode]

There are limitations in AmpliTube 5 CS including the number of simultaneous amps, so you would only have two at a time with the CS version. You can see the comparison chart on the AmpliTube 5 web page.

Wait what?

Aw man, the devil is always in the damn details. I can honestly live with a limitation of allowed usable modules (whole engine). But the thing that makes use of the new Amplitude 5 mechanics, are once more castrated for the Custom Shop users, unless they shell out money for the SE version bar minimum.

That is, quite honestly, utter BS!


Granted, AT4CS got the Cabinet features with like... v4.2 half a year to 9 months later. But what about those that want to check out the Wet-Dry-Wet setup from Brian May, but don't have the Brian May Suite. Would the Brian May suite even unlock this in AT5CS (I guess my answer is a straight up: no).

Then the other thing is the "Mixer"... this is an essential feature for the new Amplitube 5, but it's not available in Custom Shop. I could care less about the technical setup of the cabinets, as long as I can even use the AT5 cabinets and also set up my mic positions like I'm used to.


Honestly... this is a huge(!) oversight, and has been my criticism for years.

There is even no suitable upgrade path still that properly scales to what you already have. Everyone has to invest the same. I mean, where is the problem to say "hey... minimum investment is 75EUR, and it scales down to 29EUR considering your equipment-in-use... if you don't want to go AT5 Max". I never understood that.

While this is not your fault, you're just the messenger after all, considering the sometimes overly aggressive marketing and sales and what have you, yet you can not(!) do things like you expect (like: use up all Jampoints only 30% tops, or convert the Jampoints to Custom Shop points, the whole Custom Shop Point mechanic which either gives you too less points or too many - so you always have to spend more than you need!).


Sorry, but my initial hype for AT5CS just... plummeted. I still want to check out the engine, and I'll definitely do that, not to mention am I glad that the "Custom Shop" will still exist (and this upgrade is free! Well, it should be, considering that the "a la carte" system is how this engine is working now). But I am sadly not allowed to use the new features that interest me the most (maybe in half a year down the line). And it's not like I have an insignificant amount of amp packs already.


Again, you're just the messenger... nothing you can do. But the topic "fair upgrades" has been a topic of debate for almost a decade at this point (since the "Custom Shop" was introduced for T-Racks and Amplitube).

don't sweat it. i am sure there will be a IKM group buy and you'll get AT 5 for like $50 with a whole bunch of other stuff thrown in.

[acousticglue]

I would hate to be a developer with the lost souls who are mad if things aren't free. Even though IKM has given decent discounts and a freebie here or there. The losers on this thread are the ones looking for viable info and idiots who arent happy whatsoever with anything in life ruin it. Like always.

[revvy]

many person-hours (I think that's the proper word for it now)

Well done, man.

[Hink]

many person-hours (I think that's the proper word for it now)

Well done, man.

ditto

[revvy]

many person-hours (I think that's the proper word for it now)

Well done, man.

ditto

[Compyfox]

I'm the messenger, yes, but IK is also a business. I'm sorry that the free version isn't going to give you all of the features of the full version which was a mountain of work and is going to cost something to acquire, but I do feel it is fair of IK to charge for it whether I'm the messenger or not.

"What about those without...?" Of course you can demo gear and features. But if you want to use the new version and all of the things that have taken many, many person-hours (I think that's the proper word for it now) to create you can purchase the versions that provide that functionality.

I am not disregarding the fact that good work needs to be paid for.

What I call out, is the lack of a properly scaled upgrades.



Sure, IKM will probably do another group buy and I can select AT5 SE in the process, making it possible to "unlock" the new features. But I really don't need the bonus deals at this point. And there is not much room for more -- or rather, I don't really need much more. (I only lack like 4 amp suites, including the new Brian May and Joe Satriani package, and the latter doesn't really interest me at all).

My biggest complaint to this day is, that we can't 1:1 convert our Jam Points into Gear Credits, and the Gear Credits are set in such a way that you're always like 5 credits short, or have 15+ credits in your account left for months on end never be able to be used, or combined with a sale. One great option on that behalf would be, to either fully convert it, integrate it as "partial purchase" (like it's possible at every grocery store - part cash, part cash card) so that we can finally use up all points/credits, or be like "here... trade all in for an upgrade".

Quite honestly... from AT5, I'd really only want the new routing, Ampless (the Tech-21 Sansamp) and maybe one of the new amps (emphasis - maybe... I'd need to hear them first). But... the "complete" routing features and the new modules are AT5 exclusive (even just buying one pedal a-la-carte wouldn't unlock the AT5 features). In fact, I just read that the "VIR(tm) Technology" is also AT5SE+ exclusive. So the "new cabinets" are also not part of AT5CS? We can't even test out the new sound for the updated amps and cabinets (only the amps) of the existing amp packs?! Oof...

I can live with the lack of the wet-dry-wet setup, at least nothing more was castrated (routing). The mixer should be standard, no matter the version.


I wonder what the Brian May bundle users think about the removal of the Wet-Dry-Wet mode for AT5CS though...

I would hate to be a developer with the lost souls who are mad if things aren't free.

...

Thanks for putting those of us longtime IKM Supporters with valid criticism into the same pool of plain downright haters.

And people wonder why I barely interact on KVR Audio anymore.



Guess that's it, I've said my piece and I got my answers. 15th December it is, not delayed Custom Shop this time, kinda "castrated" though (sadly, again), might change with v5.2 or v5.3 in 6-9 months down the line. It's fine, I can still use my old gear. And if that is still not enough, I have at least 2 more guitar suites at my disposal, plus the option of using a modular subhost with a plethora of distortion/FX pedals, cabinet sims and what have you (aka: mix & match).

Stay positive, people!

[Hink]

are you positive I'm people?