JohnKenn
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have we reached a tipping point?
Downloaded ClintMartin's tip on the Macho Delay and it is great. Lisc Delay is now updated as well. http://www.saltline.co.uk/liscdelay.html SynthEdit production, and previously avoided SynthEdit plugs because they crashed everything. Works fine and really cool. Question myself as to what ever I need beyond the freeware market. Mostly a guitar banger so can't speak for mega bux keyboard Kontakt libraries, and if they are still necessary. From my perspective, we are at a glorious transition point. Decades ago, if you could afford Cool Edit Pro, you had about the only program that could do per channel eq. Dead meat now, and any dinosaurs out there can laugh at the limitations/struggles we faced in the dark past. Just a philosophic like perspective. Why does anyone have to buy anything anymore (still respecting the PayPal donation request from the devs) Catalyst for me was a fire sale, cut the retail price, then undercut the discount price, cut the bottom line further with a coupon if you act immediately. Ohm's delay down to $45. Cool plug but even at $45, the free guys have already delivered credible contenders. Don't know what I'm missing any more. Not a lot. John
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clintmartin
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/03/31 22:04:20
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Glad you like it John, but I think you mean the Bionic Delay. You should also try the new SlickEq from TDR, VOS and Vladg...it's pretty impressive when you get into it a bit. TDR Feedback I and II are great compressors and Vladg sound LimiterNo.6 sounds as good as any limiter I've tried. We are in some good times indeed.
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cclarry
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/03/31 22:23:59
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John,
I agree...and this is what I have been saying for quite some time...
Coming out with "price increases" ala Cakewalk, and some others, and
touting your "awesomeness" as a product is over...
We're in a very "low" economic state....and musicians not only want...but demand
BETTER for LESS...and those who don't deliver will find out what happens to them...
Couple that with the fact the iApps and Android Apps sell for pennies...that do some of
the same things...and that creates a BIG problem for the big boys...
There is far too much highly useful and high quality freeware and extremely low priced "others"
to keep up the "MEGA DOLLAR" scheme that has gone on for far too long...
TIME TO WAKE UP VENDORS.....as Rush stated VERY clearly...."conform, or be cast out"
When you can buy a DAW like Reaper for $60....and then get a plethora of awesome freeware
plugins that will do a great deal of what needs to be done...hopefully it makes you stop and think.
Time to wake up and smell the coffee boys....either lower your prices or get out of the game...IMO
Because there a whole lot of programmers out there looking to kick you square in the bahooki...
that is all...
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stevec
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/03/31 22:46:16
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Hmmm... I dunno, Larry, I think someone forgot to tell the Bitwig folks. 
SteveC https://soundcloud.com/steve-cocchi http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=39163 SONAR Platinum x64, Intel Q9300 (2.5Ghz), Asus P5N-D, Win7 x64 SP1, 8GB RAM, 1TB internal + ESATA + USB Backup HDDs, ATI Radeon HD5450 1GB RAM + dual ViewSonic VA2431wm Monitors; Focusrite 18i6 (ASIO); Komplete 9, Melodyne Studio 4, Ozone 7 Advanced, Rapture Pro, GPO5, Valhalla Plate, MJUC comp, MDynamic EQ, lots of other freebie VST plugins, synths and Kontakt libraries
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yorolpal
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/03/31 23:48:33
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Well...that would be very cool indeed. But think about it for a minute. How cheap would YOU sell something that took you many many hours of development and production time from a team of highly skilled pros who each needs to earn a decent living in this ratty assed ol modern world?? These are not easy...or equal...things to ascertain. Sometimes higher cost DOES mean better. But not always. It just means all of us have to learn as much as we can about every offering and educate ourselves to actually know the difference between great, good and meh. But it does not mean...sorry Larry...always thinking everything should (or even could) be offered at the lowest...read give away...price. Do your homework. Use your knowledge...and your ears. Then get what works for you. Regardless of price. You will NEVER be sorry for paying more for a tool that makes your products easier and better.
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JohnKenn
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/04/01 21:45:56
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Good thoughts for sure, and it would be hard to replace some of the hi end Kontakt libraries or Slate drums with freeware (maybe not for long if software evolves at the current pace).
Was inspired or forced (once again) to look at tools versus talent while compiling discographies of the old masters. These guys did magic with a spring reverb and a tone control on their amps. Life on the edge if they had an echoplex.
I'm out of the closet as a GAS victim. Nothing wrong with GAS if it is associated with creative output, and think we're all as musicians on the same page that we want to create something good and memorable. For me, seems like I'm spending too much time chasing the ultimate sound rather than creating the ultimate song.
Fired up a few free reverbs, analog and convolution freebies. Free delays (yeah Clint, it was Bionic Delay). Did some free distortions and flangers, comps and phasers, eq's. Found I could get most of what is needed by subtle application of current freeware that rivals the big bux stuff, emphasis on actual need. Aimed at me only, if I had more inspiration and spontaneous creativity, I could do much more with creative insight and freeware than I currently crank out with less creativity and all the hi end toys. Wish for everyone I was alone in this club, but think I'm not.
Side note on old technology I thought was cool, wandering off subject. Good friend Barry Paul did his grunge rock Hearts on Fire CD in a hi end Portland studio. Really tight and consistent sound quality. Young kid and genius engineer with a 100k ProTools setup. Bary went to do the vocals and burned his hand on a 10 thousand dollar Neuman mic. The mic was driven by a tube from a WW II German submarine. All state of the art equipment and plugins done in 192k and 32 bit float depth.
Last stage of the mastering was to mix down stereo onto a 1970's Revox half track tape machine to get real saturation and warmth.
Clint, another thumbs up to the Slick eq plug. Definitely a presence or warmth or something there that is good.
John
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cclarry
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/04/01 22:22:40
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John,
I, too, am not ashamed to admit that I buy way more then I need (or should)
Some of the freebies I have are far better then some of the ones I've spent mega
dollars for...I'm not ashamed...I'm just a realist. Some want to feel good about their
stupidity...not me...I'm just stupid...and love toys...and not ashamed to admit it...
Maybe, just maybe, some of these "high dollar" vendors will wake up and smell the coffee..
But I'm not holding my breath...they all seem to have a Death Wish...and that is their
prerogative...
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jude77
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/04/01 22:56:42
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You guys are making a great point. With a little research you can get some very good plugins that are either free, or extremely cheap, and sound great. I'm sure you're all aware of Rob Talbot who writes the "Mix Rescue" column for SOS. I'm pretty sure he does all the work for those mixes with free or inexpensive plugins. Needless to say, his work always sound great. The day of Egalitarian Music is here!!
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JohnKenn
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/04/01 23:03:11
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Yep Larry,
Fortunately or unfortunately, you and me in the same club. Best to you. And thanks Jude.
John
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RobertB
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/04/01 23:21:08
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I still use my two favorite free plug-ins in almost every project, Voxengo SPAN and GlaceVerb.
I don't mind paying for reasonable stuff, but I can't touch high dollar plug-ins. And I have to deal with she who notices every tiny new shiny box that appears in my room.
Free is good.
My Soundclick Page SONAR Professional, X3eStudio,W7 64bit, AMD Athlon IIx4 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM, 64bit, AKAI EIE Pro, Nektar Impact LX61,Alesis DM6,Alesis ControlPad,Yamaha MG10/2,Alesis M1Mk2 monitors,Samson Servo300,assorted guitars,Lava Lamp Shimozu-Kushiari or Bob
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JohnKenn
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Re: have we reached a tipping point?
2014/04/01 23:47:20
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Robert,
Back when the likes of Glaceverb came out, it was grainy, slapback, but about as good as it got without spending hi dollars for something a little bit more credible. Reverb (like overdrive now) was the hardest effect to crack. Programs now are way better, professional and free as water.
One technique we used that may still benefit even if not needed anymore. Each reverb vst scatters the reflections as best possible to avoid artificial slapback. Used to be a big issue. Takes some forward thinking, downsize adjustments on the settings and level for each unit in the chain. Running one reverb into another reverb scatters the reflections of the reflections, compounded enough to come up with a smooth and credible reverb almost no matter what you are using.
Freeverb 2 open source for stereo convolution with a feast of free impulse libraries for the taking. Myriad of analog units free and excellent. I got all or a lot of the big guns, but can as of recent achieve the same level of coolness with proper application of the freeware offerings available for the download bandwidth.
Exciting times.
John
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