Warning - do NOT buy Kick Ass Brass

Hi Sonar users

I want to warn you against Kick Ass Brass and its asinine copy protection polices. This legitimate user has been frozen out of this sample set for more than six weeks while the developer ignores my emails.

The copy protection system is challenge/response, and the developer is very stingy about upgrades. There is no 'demo mode' - you need the response or the software doesn't work at all.

Here's my example:

Dec 05: buy the software- 1 authorisation
March 07: System rebuild entails a new authorisation
October 07 - replace DAW, using authorisation 3. Warn developer that I will be upgrading to Vista 64 shortly and would like to run dual boot. He (Matthew Wilkinson) tells me that won't be possible.

So I've used up 3 authorisations in 24 months. Now AMG UK are refusing to give me another authorisation. The software is unusable without it. Matthew Wilkinson is ignoring my emails.

This is extremely unprofessional and, to be quite frank, an absolute rip off. I have samplers from Spectrasonics, Synthogy, Native Instruments, XLN Audio (Addictive Drums), IK Multimedia and East West, and not one of these companies has given me this grief through the same cycle of upgrades. I also have an iLok which covers me for even more legit plugins. This developer has the worst user relations issues I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.

Aside from this, the sampler is buggy and freezes up frequently at low latencies. The samples themselves are vastly over-rated and lack both definition and dynamics. STAY AWAY.

Like I said, DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE. Feel free to tell all of your friends, colleagues and fellow musicians.

Added to the no-go shopping list, sorry to hear about your experience.

Makes you appreciate the way Cakewalk does it!

+1

ORIGINAL: CJaysMusic

Makes you appreciate the way Cakewalk does it!

I hope roland doesnt change that. I love this policy, expecially when you ugrade every year to a new pc. It makes the new pc experience that much better. now if all the VST and VSTi vendors would do the same...LOL

I hear ya bro... By the time you've spent hours and hours installing the OS, downloading & installing drivers, installing all the latest OS patches and service packs, Sonar, Sonar's patches, all your plugins, etc...

... the last thing you want to do is spend hours, days, weeks or even months trying to activate your freaking software!

I do workshops at a studio that got screwed over big time by WAVES. One of the MACs failed and have to have the MB replaced. WAVES would not re-authorize the plug-ins, even when the MAC builder went to WAVES on behalf of the studio. Essentially these guys are out several thousand $$ and can't use the software.

Hi,

What does the EULA say about authorisations?

Eric.

October 07 - replace DAW, using authorisation 3.

This is bull.
Since when should a software developer determine if/when you upgrade hardware.

thats really bull :(
and that waves story is just another reason never to buy waves stuff.
as consumers our power is probably to quickly ditch these arrogant developers and spread the word about how they treat their customer.

Perhaps you can find a sympathetic ear at a competitors site, a crossgrade might ease your pain...?

It funny I was thinking of getting some brass and had looked at Kick Ass, I shall now avoid like the plague.

~G

Just sent them an email. Thanks for the heads up...

ORIGINAL: Paul Russell

This is extremely unprofessional and, to be quite frank, an absolute rip off. I have samplers from Spectrasonics, Synthogy, Native Instruments, XLN Audio (Addictive Drums), IK Multimedia and East West, and not one of these companies has given me this grief through the same cycle of upgrades. I also have an iLok which covers me for even more legit plugins. This developer has the worst user relations issues I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.

I guess that's the danger when buying from the "little guy". I hope that's not the norm. Still, I guess there is something to be said for buying from a major company, at least in a situation like this.
Now we've only heard your side of the story, but it's sounds legitimate. Regardless, ignoring e-mails is completely unprofessional. I will spread the word.

It continues to boggle the mind that in this day of instant obsolesence and constant mobo and chip upgrades that some pig headed software developers continue to shoot themselves in the foot with such prigish behaviour. And in this case (sorry, Paul) the software itself is not all that great to begin with. I agree that a cross grade might be in order; First Call Horns perhaps. I even agree with those who've suggested getting a hacked copy. Almost all of the software that I currently own licenses to (dongle, challenge, etc...) allow an adequate number of authorizations and even when that number is exceeded I have yet to have a company deny me yet another. It looks like Mr. Wilkinson is staring at the world from the inside of his own large intestine. Just think of how many new, legitimate customers Waves, for one, would have if they simply took a chill pill and developed a more "moderate and tolerant" copy protection scheme? Perhaps then everybody and his brother would not be giving away hacked copys of Mercury on every audio-street corner in the world.

I have samplers from Spectrasonics, Synthogy, Native Instruments, XLN Audio (Addictive Drums), IK Multimedia and East West,

Hello Paul,

It's a shame that a knowledgeable member like yourself (who no longer frequents this forum) would return not to discuss Sonar but to disparage a music software vendor that hasn't worked out for you. Since you have all these other samplers, why did you need yet another piece of duplicitous kit? In my shop the saying is "better is the enemy of good." If you needed more horns there are plenty of libraries (EW and Garritan - I'm particularly found of Garritan GPO and JABB, which are fantastic buys for the price (especially if you got them in a group by like it did US$120 each).

A large portion of the plugs and apps that I use require on-line authorization (Sony, Adobe, Antares, IK, GPO-NI) and would become useless if any of these companies were wound up for whatever reason. Happened to me in the 90's with Passport Systems (MasterTracks on Mac). As long as the laws support the concept that the software is "owned" by the manufacturer and is only "licensed" to the end user we will suffer problems like you describe. That is because the software manufacturers don't respect their customers. Which brings me to my famous three rules of software:

1. You don't own it.
2. It's never finished.
3. Each new version removes your favorite features replaced with ones you will never use (They giveth and they taketh away).

Software manufacturers blame the hackers for cracking their software but it is the unreasonably stringent license requirements and unreasonable pricing that begets users to seek out a "free" alternative (e.g., cracks).

Another big problem with purchasing software licenses is that your bank or credit card issuer considers this a one-time sale (not an ongoing transaction) so you can't go back to the bank or credit card issuer and make a fraud complaint a year or more later. Try explaining that you are entitled to roll back the purchase transaction because the vendor is in violation of the license agreement. I think you're going to throw the DVD/CD into the "box of forgotten software" and get on with it.

I fully understand your predicament and despise software manufacturers that do not respect their customers, but I can't see how you will be comforted in any way by knowing that you have "hurt" this vendor. What I or others do or don't do will not make you "whole" in this matter.

GK

I can't see how you will be comforted in any way by knowing that you have "hurt" this vendor.

I think the point was to warn us.

I think the point was to warn us.

Exactly. Some people just miss the point. A lot.