Free SoundToys Plug-In! Little Radiator (Limited time SXSW Special)

Thanks for the lead...

But you have to own an iLok subscription. <sigh>...

I'm too poor...

Keni

Yup...installed the iLok license...installed the plug...says it needs the latest iLok driver which I already have...rebooted...same thing...screw it.

iLok, Oh no.Thank you, though, e.Blue, for the heads up on a freebee. :)

[<font]It was a PITA just to get to the download. Installed without hassle though. I did some testing and don't see what the big deal is about it. Going to try again with my monitors rather than headphones but I don't hear anything as of yet.

I had very little issue with installation, my only problem was my usual with iLok licenses - remebering to use a supported browser to add the license to my iLok.  I have Chrome (latest), IE8, and Firefox 9 on my system, but none of them work with the PACE site - the site always says my iLok is not connected.  

I have a portable version of Firefox 3.6 I use for loading licenses - works every time (after about 10 minutes I remember to use the old version of Firefox).  PACE really need to do something about supported browsers as they are really behind the times with browser updates happening much more frequently these days.

Sounds like too much trouble for a preamp emulator, even if it didn't have the iLok requirement. (And why have the iLok protection in the first place? So nobody will steal it? Don't they have to pay a license fee to Pace? How hard would it be to comment out the iLok call?)

And what, exactly, does a "preamp emulator" do anyway? Add a little harmonic distortion? Make you wait two minutes before you can use it (to emulate tube warmup)? Insert some hum (to emulate heater noise)? Maybe the virtual tube works its way out of its virtual socket after a year, requiring you to re-seat it. Or weakens over time, requiring you to find an obscure replacement from Russia. 
 
Sorry for the cynicism, but I've seen too many do-nothing plugins out there that promise "analog magic". Plus I'm just feeling crabby today because I can't find a single Omnisphere patch - out of 8,200 presets - that I can actually use in a mix. 

bitflipper


Sounds like too much trouble for a preamp emulator, even if it didn't have the iLok requirement. (And why have the iLok protection in the first place? So nobody will steal it? 

I suspect it's simply so they know who to market to.  By requiring iLok, they now know those that register for it (providing an email address), have already made the investment in an iLok (used for all their plugins) and are accepting of the whole iLok as a authorization mechanism.  It's probably also so that the plugin does not get sub-hosted all over the internet.  It's also a precurser to the release of "Radiator" in April so circle back around to knowing you have and accept iLok, I'm sure all taking advantage of this deal will get marketing materials for it.

Little Radiator

Everyone needs a little warmth in their life. Little Radiator models the classic sound of the Altec 1566A mic preamp, and lets you spread some analog tube magic on your mixes. This was one of the main sounds from the classic Motown mixes, became a secret weapon of boutique producers, and is now a vital part of the sound of bands like the Black Keys. Why? Give it a listen and hear. Subtle warmth, or driving grit, all the things you need to shake the "clean" off of your computer recording. Now you're getting that warm feeling.



Radiator. Coming April 2012

This upgrade from Little Radiator is based on the Altec 1567A (the 1566A's big brother). It's the next level in this classic sound with extra control and an extra SoundToys twist. Details coming soon.

Roight.

bitflipper


Good theory, Jind. There's a reason they want your email address, and it's not just to send you the download link. They're compiling a list of potential customers. It makes sense that those with iLoks would be among the most promising marks candidates.

I wonder how well that's working for them. As opposed to, say, FabFilter, which is taking the world by storm competing in the same price range - but with no iLoks.

Of course they're doing that. Why would this be a bad thing? Don't you do the same thing with your music? I have an email signup for our band during all our gigs. I'm also regularly collecting email addresses from people who are interested in getting our newsletter with info on our gigs and upcoming albums. I also collect email addresses when fans download our music. With my free tracks I usually require that an email address be given. That way we can easily connect with our fan base. This is basic marketing, and it's not evil. You're in absolute control of your personal info. If you don't want to give out your email address, then don't sign up. I don't get it at all when people complain about this. Of course this is a marketing move. Trying to have a profitable company isn't a bad thing. And, no, I don't have any affiliation with SoundToys.