This is true for almost every piece of software we own. If NI goes bust tomorrow, no more Kontakt installs. Anything that needs to be "activated" won't work without the support of the vendor. I doubt XLN would deliberately fore users to upgrade by turning off activations for AD1 anytime soon. It may happen, but I'd bet it's at least a few years away.
 
Having said that, I'm also quite sure that AD2 will be on sale at some point during 2014...
 
Regards,
Dan

If you get the install packages at least it's likely somebody (or even the company itself) might release a hack/patch to get around the activation in the event of death and possible lawsuits. No install packages no chance.

After reading this thread I'm getting this strange sense of deja vu...    
 

AD is great for customer service. the company is owned by musicians just like us.
with the release of toontracks new EZ Drummer 2 im guessing they are bouncing a little perc our way, for new users of sonar, or new buyers I should say.
 
lets not ruin it for others to enjoy this upgrade and not feel guilty.
this happens every single year, the price goes down, there is a deal included.
we shouldn't be surprised.
 
think about though, seriously, don't we have enough toys to play with ?
 
we're musicians, we're compulsive, we want it, then when we get it, we don't use it. :-)
 
 
 
 
 
 

The lesson you learn here is wait 8 months to a year before you upgrade. That way software is cheaper and more reliable. I don't see any benefit in being an immediate upgrader nowadays unless you really need a feature, and that's fine. It's always been this way.

+1 for XLN's customer service. I mentioned my individual outs did not work. I was in contact with them and just under a week later, AD2 is updated and everything works now!

chuckebaby
 
we're musicians, we're compulsive, we want it, then when we get it, we don't use it. :-)

priceless

Sidroe
That's just the point. I did not choose to use AD1. It was given as a freebie in X3! Then when you incorporate in to your workflow your left standing around after only 7 or 8 months being told, "Oh, BTW, that drum software we gave you is now dead and if you want to continue to use it you have to pay another 100 bucks for the new and improved."
As I said before, I use Superior 2 as my goto in the studio. I would have liked to continue using AD on my live gigs because it loads so fast. I was just about ready to buy a brush kit from XLN but I don't think that will happen now. Why use an outdated kit with an outdated drum sampler. I don't like being forced to pay a pricey upgrade for something I have only gotten a few months of use out of. What do you do when they no longer support AD1? It all just leaves a bad taste.

Hi Sidroe. I always like reading your posts and respect your opinion, but isn't the bold hi-lighted above a bit over the top? I mean , one can still use AD1. Or am I missing something? 

BENT

Sidroe
That's just the point. I did not choose to use AD1. It was given as a freebie in X3! Then when you incorporate in to your workflow your left standing around after only 7 or 8 months being told, "Oh, BTW, that drum software we gave you is now dead and if you want to continue to use it you have to pay another 100 bucks for the new and improved."
As I said before, I use Superior 2 as my goto in the studio. I would have liked to continue using AD on my live gigs because it loads so fast. I was just about ready to buy a brush kit from XLN but I don't think that will happen now. Why use an outdated kit with an outdated drum sampler. I don't like being forced to pay a pricey upgrade for something I have only gotten a few months of use out of. What do you do when they no longer support AD1? It all just leaves a bad taste.

Hi Sidroe. I always like reading your posts and respect your opinion, but isn't the bold hi-lighted above a bit over the top? I mean , one can still use AD1. Or am I missing something? 

As far as I know the XLN model isn't like Adobe where you have to subscribe and when something new comes out, the previous version stops working unless you keep your subscription. AD1 still works fine on my computer, so I assume it still works on other peoples' computers as well.

Truth in advertising. It is named "Addictive Drums" right?