RAPID Synthesizer | Rapid 1.8.0 released | Free "SP - Granular Elements"

[fmr]

I just picked up UVI Falcon for $179.00 us dollars in a sale their having, I'd like to get this one up too, if they offered a nice introductory price.

If you own Falcon there's pretty much zero reason to buy this synth.

I don't think that's true at all. A synths feature list is not everything. Sound and workflow are the other big reasons someone might have to chose a given synth over (or in addition to) another one. I can't speak for others but as powerful as falcon is, the workflow isn't for everyone (I don't love it myself). And the sound is not bad in some areas, like the sampling aspects, but the synth engine leaves a lot to be desired. The oscillators aren't the best, neither are the filters. And the envelopes are just weird. For example why do most presets with a fast attack sound like the attack is a burst of white noise? I like the granular and fm and don't mind the va osc for really vanilla sounds so I think I'll keep it for certain sounds (plus a great company with great support) but I just don't think you can say that it covers everything another synth would do.

If you don't like the oscillators, you can use the wavetable module instead of them. That way, you can use whatever waves will suit better your taste. Regarding the filters, with so many options, which ones exactly do you find weak? And you still have a lot of other functions, and a FX section which, both in quality and in quantity, is absolutely unsurpassed.
Regarding the envelopes. they are very snappy, so, if you don't want ot have a noise burst on the attack, you need to define a slightly longer attack time (the envelope values are in milliseconds).

[fmr]

It's strange why it seems to be a problem (mentally) for many people to pay $199 for a very capable synthesizer plugin, when there are reverbs, eq's and compressor plugins that sell for more than that.

Because there are equally good reverbs, eq's and compressors for less. That's why it's also a problem to pay $199 for "reverbs, eq's and compressors". But hey, if you can and want to pay more, be my guest. The developer will say thanks...

[TabSel]

...The developer will say thanks...

He won't. He would like to, but he doesn't find the time, due to his work, which needs to get payed in order to feed his wife and children. Maybe something you don't know nothing about. Like a craftsmanships works value.

[fmr]

...The developer will say thanks...

He won't. He would like to, but he doesn't find the time, due to his work, which needs to get payed in order to feed his wife and children. Maybe something you don't know nothing about. Like a craftsmanships works value.

Well... if this job doesn't pay enough, maybe it's time to get another, then. But raising prices based just in "I need to get more money" isn't a justification, from the business POV. But whatever, I'm out of this discussion. I said what I had to be said. It's up to the developer(s) to decide at what price they want to present it to the market.

[KBSoundSmith]

...The developer will say thanks...

He won't. He would like to, but he doesn't find the time, due to his work, which needs to get payed in order to feed his wife and children. Maybe something you don't know nothing about. Like a craftsmanships works value.

Well... if this job doesn't pay enough, maybe it's time to get another, then. But raising prices based just in "I need to get more money" isn't a justification, from the business POV.

Actually, it IS a justification, and I know of businesses who were revitalized purely because they did just that.

And as for your glib comment about getting another job...yes, I would advise all musical software developers to do so, since this is a terrible market to serve. But since they probably won't do that, they should at least charge enough money to keep the lights on -- and if certain customers don't buy their products because of that, too bad for those customers.

A business doesn't need everyone to buy. They only need a profitable number to buy. And frankly, charging higher prices weeds out undesirable customers who are likely to be the neediest, most time-consuming, frustrating, and the least profitable.

[fmr]

Actually, it IS a justification, and I know of businesses who were revitalized purely because they did just that.

And as for your glib comment about getting another job...yes, I would advise all musical software developers to do so, since this is a terrible market to serve. But since they probably won't do that, they should at least charge enough money to keep the lights on -- and if certain customers don't buy their products because of that, too bad for those customers.

A business doesn't need everyone to buy. They only need a profitable number to buy. And frankly, charging higher prices weeds out undesirable customers who are likely to be the neediest, most time-consuming, frustrating, and the least profitable.

I am NOT a time-consuming customer, nor a frustrating whiner. Actually, I think I am a really rewarding customer.

And, regarding your comments, what I have to say is that a developer who comes to the music business driven only by the willing to make money, and that makes it a condition to remain in business should NOT be here, and is most likely to abandon this market really soon. And we already had many examples of this, sadly. Music nowadays is not a really rewarding market, and if someone is not here driven mostly by passion, then he/she is definitely out of place.

[nineofkings]

Money not being the primary motivation =/= money not being any incentive at all. I hate the BS assumption that caring about money in any way means you're somehow not passionate or you're in it for the wrong reasons. Businesses, which is what a synth developer is running, need money to continue.

Same kind of garbage that leads to venues and clients not paying their musicians cause they get "exposure." F that.

[keel]

Businesses, which is what a synth developer is running, need money to continue.

Of course. But if you overpricing your product, no one will buy it = no money = no business. Take a look at Klanghelm. He sells his plugins from 8€ to 24€. They sell a loooooooot and as far as I know, he can be full time developer. Make a good and affordable product, they sell a lot and many will buy those impulse buys, because the price is not too high. Besides wavetable synth market is already full of good synths. 250€ price tag is wayyyy to high.

[layzer]

Money not being the primary motivation =/= money not being any incentive at all. I hate the BS assumption that caring about money in any way means you're somehow not passionate or you're in it for the wrong reasons. Businesses, which is what a synth developer is running, need money to continue.

Same kind of garbage that leads to venues and clients not paying their musicians cause they get "exposure." F that.

or McDonalds employees not getting paid because they get to work in a comfortable indoor environment for free.

[KBSoundSmith]

Businesses, which is what a synth developer is running, need money to continue.

Of course. But if you overpricing your product, no one will buy it = no money = no business. Take a look at Klanghelm. He sells his plugins from 8€ to 24€. They sell a loooooooot and as far as I know, he can be full time developer. Make a good and affordable product, they sell a lot and many will buy those impulse buys, because the price is not too high. Besides wavetable synth market is already full of good synths. 250€ price tag is wayyyy to high.

Here's some basic business strategy for you to consider.

Let's assume there are 10,000 available people to sell to.

If the price is set at $100, let's assume only 20% of people will consider buying -- that's 2,000 people. Let's assume they do. Times 100, that's a gross of $200,000.

If the price is set at $250, instead of selling to 2,000 people, they developer would only need to sell 800 to get the same $200,000. However, the developer will have the added advantage of having fewer support tickets to deal with (huge time/profit killer), higher quality customers who are less problematic overall, customers who have demonstrated the willingness and ability to pay higher prices (useful for future product launches), and overall more time available to cater to fewer overall customers.

Plus, if there would have been 2,000 who were willing to buy, the remaining 1,200 could possibly be converted at a later time when additional incentives or changed customer circumstances may get them to bite.

Selling "more" at a lower price is actually rarely an advantage for a business.

[keel]

...

Blaablaablaa. No one will buy it for €250, when you can get Avenger under €199 and Serum at ~€168. Spire is also ~€169. Make a new product, price it higher than your biggest competitors. Sounds like a wise move That 10 years old gui will affect on sales too. People seems to be quite picky in these days, what comes to GUI look. But what ever. If the developer want to make a suicide, go ahead.

[fmr]

Here's some basic business strategy for you to consider.

Let's assume there are 10,000 available people to sell to.

If the price is set at $100, let's assume only 20% of people will consider buying -- that's 2,000 people. Let's assume they do. Times 100, that's a gross of $200,000.

Oh, really? So, here's some basic 1st grade arithmetic for you:

Let's assume that, instead of 2,000 that would be pushed by an impulse buy at $100, that number would be 5.000. To be able to get the same amount in sales at $250,00, the developer would need 2.000.

IMO, it would be more difficult to find 2.000 willing to pay $250,00 than 5.000 willing to pay $100,00

Plus, also IMO, it is most likely that those fewre that are willing to pay $250,00 will be much more PITA customers than those that would only be willing to pay $100,00. Why? Here are some reaons:

People who buy cheaper usually don't have music as their main surviving activity, therefore are more forgiven towards eventual youth flaws than the so called "professionals", who, as we often see on KVR are real PITAs and whiners when it comes to allegeded flaws in the products they buy.

These same customers usually are willing to support the developer more trhan the so called "professionals", because they have more time to wait for the fixes, and they don't rely as heavily on the tools to keep doing things.

Saying that people who are willing to pay more are higher quality customers is the same as saying that you have to be rich to be a knowldegeable, understandable and educated guy. It's absurd and I simply don't buy it.

Just to finish, there are a lot of successful developers who started by selling their plug-ins at $49,00 or even by giving them away for free. I will not quote names because I would be accused of favouring someone, but we all know who they are. So, this allegation that you have to charge more in order to survive and be successful is just bollocks.

[recursive one]

Here is another preset demo, this time not a busy EDM arrangement but individual sounds or mellow slow pieces.

Sounds pretty good actually. So even despite it is not Falcon and is not sold for 49 USD or given away for free I think this synth may have some success

[nordickvr]

People who buy cheaper usually don't have music as their main surviving activity, therefore are more forgiven towards eventual youth flaws than the so called "professionals", who, as we often see on KVR are real PITAs and whiners when it comes to allegeded flaws in the products they buy.

These same customers usually are willing to support the developer more trhan the so called "professionals", because they have more time to wait for the fixes, and they don't rely as heavily on the tools to keep doing things.

Is Richard Devine considered a so called "professionals"?
Ok, may be i'v got it for free...
I'll think of a better example

[Synthman2000]

I personally wouldn't pay over $99 for this synth, for all those people stating "$130-$150" is a good price range, that's ridiculous lmao. The Equilibrium price for this would be from $80-$120

I find it ridiculous that you think a $130-$150 price range is ridiculous. Sure, it would be an instant buy for me when it goes on sale for $99 or less, but I'm not expecting it to be that cheap though. I'm guessing something around $200 is more likely, maybe with a nice introduction offer.

It's strange why it seems to be a problem (mentally) for many people to pay $199 for a very capable synthesizer plugin, when there are reverbs, eq's and compressor plugins that sell for more than that.

We all need a bare minimum of tools for making music however I think when you have 10+ good synths and you still never made that hit, or even a single track you were 100pct happy with musically, or your mixing sucks or any production dissatisfaction...you know inside it is not the synth making the music.

I see $99 etc. as a potentially inspiring injection of new sonic potential to get me started on a new track etc. $200.00 is a different arena.

I enjoyed the 2 business models above and thought both can work well. Judge your skill level and/or market wrong with either model and it'll be time to find new line of work.