Tracktion Software

oxbee · Post by **oxbee** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:50 pm

I know, I am stupid and paranoid BUT, this question is applicable to all these companies (like Mackie,NI,...) that have decided to lock their softwares with an internet registration process that never completely makes the software a standalone version. It's like having a hardware equipement that power off after 30mn of work until you plug a special resistor delivered by the manufacturer to unlock the thing. (oh god, bad idea I'm giving!).
You don't feel that the software is yours.

And, if one day, NI (sorry, I have Kompakt too) or Mackie go bankrupt or something, what about our softwares?
Just imagine that I still use my PC in 6 or 7 years (or more) with Tracktion v2.
I want to install my software and I am realizing that I can't because there is no more support. So, once upon a time, I've paid approx 200 euros for a software I can't use no more.

I just pay for what I need, not for what they want me to need.
Evolution is one thing, but I just feel that the tools I have are now largely enough for making my music.

I own a DSP24 Value and I've seen what has happened to STAudio when they were transfered to ESI. No more drivers update (maybe it means that I will have to buy a new card if I update my OS), poor support. And my card is still very efficient. It still have all the functions I need and it does the job.

It's the long story of softwares. Paying for something which goes obsolete in the minute, and these protections just don't urge peoples to buy softwares as they don't feel like they get it for good.

Something I missed?

ObsoleteAcc99 · Post by **ObsoleteAcc99** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:22 pm

[DELETED]

Motion · Post by **Motion** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:56 pm

Hi oxbee...You shouldn't need to worry about this...most companies will supply you with a permanent unlock code/serial(this is in fact mentioned in the policies on the websites of some of them) if they go belly up....obviously upgrades/bugfixes would dissapear and in years as hardware/os changes things may become a bit harder to use but with backwards compatibility,emulative/recompiling/porting trickery(Transitive's technology is a serious piece of work and we are just starting to see the power of this with rosetta etc for mactel)that are now emerging you stand even more chance of being able to continue to use your sotware for donkeys years to come.....there is also the option for others to buy the source code and at least maintain it...it could even be made public source(unlikely but entirely possible)so the goodwill of the community can keep it going....so there is a lot to feel more secure about.

xylyx · Post by **xylyx** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:34 pm

I would have thought that Jules would have some agreement in place with Mackie, that should they no longer want the program or go tits up, then the ownership reverts back to him...

Plus, if the worst really happened, then there are always the keygens/cracks to bypass the protection.

multree · Post by **multree** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:38 pm

Jules still own's Tracktion as far as I know... Mackie just distribute and help out a bit here and there... at least that's what I heared

rpc9943 · Post by **rpc9943** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:38 pm

i fear nothing. mackie is mad popular and they make enough money

RONC

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:51 pm

It's a fair question - bigger companies than Mackie have gone to the wall.

rpc9943 · Post by **rpc9943** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:19 pm

i aint scared

RONC

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:27 pm

Mackie is still acquiring other companies, so I wouldn't be too worried yet; however, in fairness to the question I think Motion's post about covers it.

piaz · Post by **piaz** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:30 pm

Who said waldorf?

chance11 · Post by **chance11** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:34 pm

What ever you have todav will be obsolete in a few years. I purchased a Mackie HDR in 1999, and it is already discontinued. so is my MAC G-3. Something better will always come along. It's called progress.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:38 pm

Also, if something did happen to Mackie, then Jules, I believe Jules said that T would be released as open source. It's been a long time, but I'm sure he'd still do something to keep it going after he's gone.

Koolkeys

oxbee · Post by **oxbee** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:27 pm

Motion did the answer. Thanks mate

. I ever felt that the internet registration process was kind of blaming for users who paid their tools but I feel reassured by your post. I did pay the tools I am using. It became so naff to say that for a lot of peoples. It's just up to you and your ethics but I DO support software companies maybe because I know what it takes to do good softwares like Tracktion or NI tools are. Meantime, I don't like the usual answer: "you pay the licence, not an object". I DO pay an object, and I give you 200 euros for that and I want it to be viable and usable at any time.

Piaz said it too, we all know Waldorf's case. Maybe the best synths around were not enough. I now have many purchased software and most of them use internet registration from companies that can go bankrupt in no delay (Waldorf was a great suprise, didn't it?). It's a lot of money so I just wanted to have the point.

Thanks.

Karbon L. Forms · Post by **Karbon L. Forms** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:50 pm

koolkeys wrote:Also, if something did happen to Mackie, then Jules, I believe Jules said that T would be released as open source. It's been a long time, but I'm sure he'd still do something to keep it going after he's gone.

Koolkeys

Wow!

could you imagine the fragmentation after every dev/musician got hold of it?

rpc9943 · Post by **rpc9943** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:00 pm

my god. that would be so scary. jules dont do it bro

i'd just say milk milk milk and keep it under your belt, hire beno to do the customer support etc and find people to do the rest!

btw mackie wont go under, damn it.

Tracktion Software

KVR Audio

Licences: If one day Mackie collapses...