Do you really buy that expensive recording software?

[CoolCat]

I recently bought a pc/audio dock and it came with Cubase and other "included" software stuff...
I went back to the FREE Kristal Audio Engine.
just like the layout and it works everytime I've powered up, for my basic recording of a mic or two to capture band practice it seems to work well.
Overdubbing works great too.

So I get confused on the expensive software.
1) does it effect the sound quality?

My understanding was the hardware/converters.preamp etc..put the
analog into digital, thats the "sound quality".

If software does effect sound quality, how would one software make it sound better than another?


And what makes expensive software better than the free Kristal for example, from a sound quality perspective?

 

[Rochambeau II]

I think it's more a feature thing than a quality thing

 

[crankypants]

confession

I confess to having downloaded cracks or pirated stuff.

But I did go out and buy the cheapie version of Cubase (SE) after that.

I'm not a professional, and I've never made a cent from recording someone else or selling anything I've recorded.

I must've tried out 50 or more plug-ins or virtual instruments, but it was mostly just for fun. I've deleted all that extra stuff now and did a clean install of XP to make sure I had a nice, clean, virus-free, stable environment. Cubase still has an occasional bit of buggy quirky-ness once in a while.

But I don't regret having tried out many, many virtual instruments. I would be seriously unhappy if I'd spent the thousands of dollars required, only to find out that only about 5% (or even less) is something I would ever use.

In the future, I will probably look for a legitimate demo whenever possible, but if I can't find it I won't hesitate to "try before I buy" by any means necessary. It's just too much money to spend for a hobby that is always a loss and never a source of income.

I don't see how this hurts the software developers (I won't get into how much they may have hurt the consumers in some cases by selling slickly packaged digital turds), and I will support those who are selling something I actually need and will use when the day comes when I can afford those products. In the meantime, Cubase SE covers my meager needs.

cp

 

[Ronnievoice]

Out of all the cheap shit Cool Edit Pro 2 is the best in my opinion, you will be lacking real time effects though, which really blows. I only download plug-ins not Sequencing software.

 

[mrT]

Out of all the cheap shit Cool Edit Pro 2 is the best in my opinion, you will be lacking real time effects though, which really blows. I only download plug-ins not Sequencing software.

audition 1.5 is the way to go. Just before the whole thing went to shit. (IMO)
and of course I paid for it...

 

[firby]

I use 100 percent cracked software on a macintosh. I love it. If I have to spend money I go out and get some kickass outboard. The latest outboard that I got was a couple of Distressor compressors made by empiracal labs and a manley massive passive. Those things you have to buy cuz you can't get a cracked version. Anyways my recordings sound better and better and I have gotten interest from two labels for my recent compilation that I sent out so I must be doing something right ! I owe it all to cracked software and a fast g5 !

 

[Robert D]

I use 100 percent cracked software on a macintosh. I love it. If I have to spend money I go out and get some kickass outboard. The latest outboard that I got was a couple of Distressor compressors made by empiracal labs and a manley massive passive. Those things you have to buy cuz you can't get a cracked version. Anyways my recordings sound better and better and I have gotten interest from two labels for my recent compilation that I sent out so I must be doing something right ! I owe it all to cracked software and a fast g5 !

And you'll understand completely when everyone's digging your tunes, but no ones buying them because they can just pirate them instead, right?

 

[Projbalance]

And you'll understand completely when everyone's digging your tunes, but no ones buying them because they can just pirate them instead, right?

BUt would that not also be the case if he had spent many thousands of dollars on software to make those records? At the very least this ensure that, while others are downloading his work, his loss in terms of financial investment is minimal. And as long as no one is taking credit for his work, there is a possibility that he may still reap some kind of award for it.

See, those two things do not necessarily equate. As I've said before, the software companies arent looking to make their money off of individual purchases; the real money is in large scale licensing. No studio that is making a profit is going to pirate software; if they did it would be unwise to advertise that they have it for use, which is what many studios do to attract clients. It might seem shitty, but I thik a lot of software companies understand that they are probably going to "lose" some sales to individual home users. They get the money from the sources that really count and just swallow the "losses" due to pirating.

Face it, pirating of software has never led to the downfall of a company or product. Adobe software is probably some of the easiest to pirate software there is and they are making sufficient funds to have purchased Macromedia last year. Microsoft products are traded to possibly and even greater degree, and I don't think they are hurting. Smaller companies, the kind that would be hurt by piracy, are usually bought up by the large ones whenever they have a product that is of sufficient value.

Also, software piracy through downloads and free P2P are not of the same level of concern as the physical sale piracy you often encounter in Asia and Europe. The business there is in actuall SELLING copied version of the software in a manner in which the customer may be led to believe it is the real product. They can often be charged a considerable amount, though it may be less than the actual purchase price of the real product. IF the product does not work or somehow causes damage to the users hardware or otherwise they then attempt to hold the software developer accountable, having no knowledge that the product was illegal.

Just as with music, the community of users who actually care enough to devote the time into downlaoding the very large and time consuming softwares are not of any real concern to those that produce. These are not people who are taking money from the developers; it is true enough to be said that they would not have bought the software to begin with. And, as many have said here, I have never known anyone to pirate software that they could otherwise afford to purchase. It just doesnt happen to the degre in which some like to imagine.

 

[Robert D]

BUt would that not also be the case if he had spent many thousands of dollars on software to make those records? At the very least this ensure that, while others are downloading his work, his loss in terms of financial investment is minimal. And as long as no one is taking credit for his work, there is a possibility that he may still reap some kind of award for it.

So then I should go break into someone's house and steal their stuff so that when my house gets broken into my loss will be minimal?

As I've said before, the software companies arent looking to make their money off of individual purchases; the real money is in large scale licensing. They get the money from the sources that really count and just swallow the "losses" due to pirating.

This applies somewhat to an Adobe type of company, but is completely wrong for the small companies that make music software. They are depending on individual licenses to stay afloat, and your absolutely rediculous next line.....

Face it, pirating of software has never led to the downfall of a company or product.

....is pure crap. What did you base this on? Do you work in high tech? Do you have any idea of what you're talking about, or are you just spewing crap that supports your moral bankruptcy?

And, as many have said here, I have never known anyone to pirate software that they could otherwise afford to purchase.

Every Frickin day, hundreds of times a day. I think you mean can't afford to buy without having to give something up.

 

[Projbalance]

Well, I thank you for your asessment of my moral charecter based on a single subject commentary. I'm sure your depth of insight will serve me well in the coming days.

As for the closures due to piracy - my research hasn't led me to a single instance where piracy was seen as a conclusive reason for the downfall of a company. Like the music industry they often cite it as a factor for failure but it has never, to my knowledge, directly led to the failure of a company. If you can find one please share it with me, I would be especially interested in hearing of small music or recording software companies the likes of which you speak.

For the future, I would ask that you keep your personal charecter judgements to yourself while we discuss the issue here. You don't know me, and I don't know you. Let's not start out by assuming anything.

 

[Robert D]

You're right, that was a bit of a personal attack, and I apologize. I'm sure you have your head screwed on right about a lot of things, just not this one. Look, it's not just about companies going out of business, which they do. It's about real people like you and me getting laid off, and it's about people pouring a whole piece of their life into something to have their margins erased by moral equivication. For some reason, otherwise decent people steal software, and just aren't aware of the real value and development cost of IP, or the impact their actions have. Please don't make up facts for the un-informed to latch on to and justify bad behavior with. In doing so, you become a bigger part of the problem than just the software you yourself steal.

 

[Projbalance]

I'm not trying to incite any sort of idealogical uprising in anyone, my point is merely that the issue of piracy is often blown wildly out of proportion; both in music and software. I venture a guess that the loss estimates for piracy are always assumed by estimating the number of illegal users and then multiplying that by the MSRP of the product. First of all, attempting to estimate the number of "copies" floating about is futile in itself. Secondly, the number is always given in terms of, "if everyone one of these users had purchased the product". That is also a ridiculous estimate. For many people, if piracy was not an option, they would simply find an alternative method for doing what they wanted.

Im not suggesting piracy is a good thing, nor am I suggesting anyone should do it. However I must say that I have indulged in my small share of pirated programs to certain end results; if I had never pirated Photoshop I never would have fallen in love with it and gotten my degree in Multimedia Design. IF not for that oppurtunity, I don't even want to know where I would end up.

One must also keep in mind that there is a tendency in any industry o inflate the price of a product in an attempt to create a "premium" price tag for it. With the greater visibilty of Photoshop and interest in digital photography over the past 10 years, did Adobe lower the price of the software to make it more available to the public? No. In fact the price has gone up significantly since I purchased my first copy of Photoshop 5. Instead, they introduced Photoshop Elements, a significantly neutered version of the program. This was to keep the premium brand association the the full version of Photoshop carries. Retailers also contribute to this; I used to sell software so I have a pretty good idea what the base price is for a lot of it. Beleive me, no one is hurting for money here.

I'm not saying anyone should do it. I'm just saying I understand the mindset that many bring to it.

 

[wheelema]

I trust that you chaps appreciate that you are actors in a drama that has been played out in this godforsaken thread... even more so on this BBS... oh, about a hundred times.

At least your spelling and grammer don't suck.

 

[TragikRemix]

oh no! not this thread again!

warning; much neg rep comes in this thread! beware! stay out of it!

but if you can, support the creator. especially if you are trying to go commercial with your stuff.

i know i can download a crack of waves diamond bundle, but i'm saving up and buying the gold bundle... and reason 3.0.. and motu symphonic orchestra.. etc.

plugins are wonderful. if it werent for them, would you steal a piece of hardware? if we dont support them, maybe the creators would stop making new things!

grr. this thread is bad news!

 

[Toker41]

You're right, that was a bit of a personal attack, and I apologize. I'm sure you have your head screwed on right about a lot of things, just not this one. Look, it's not just about companies going out of business, which they do. It's about real people like you and me getting laid off, and it's about people pouring a whole piece of their life into something to have their margins erased by moral equivication. For some reason, otherwise decent people steal software, and just aren't aware of the real value and development cost of IP, or the impact their actions have. Please don't make up facts for the un-informed to latch on to and justify bad behavior with. In doing so, you become a bigger part of the problem than just the software you yourself steal.

I have yet to see any hard that piracy affects software companies in this way. Just a lot of bitchin'. I have, however, seen studies, such as the one from Harvard a few months back, that show that most people that use "illegal" downloads would not have bought the product even if they couldn't download it. If software companies were really that worried about it, they would put more effort into "anti-piracy" software, which they really don't seem to have much interest in. Microsoft has an excellent anti piracy with the XP OS, yet they don't use it on any of their other software products. Nortons anti-virus uses it, but not nearly as strictly. After activation with the same key number 7 times, it will no longer allow activation of the software. XP only allows one time. This system is shown to work, or at least take a LARGE part of piracy out of the picture, yet is not widely used. Why is that? If they did away with piracy (which BTW, isn't anything new), they would have one less reason for the jack up in price. Why fight something that isn't really hurting anything, when instead you can use it for a reason to charge more for your product.

And viewing ones self as having "morals" does not give anyone the right to judge others. It's not the moral thing to do.

P.S. This site is pure bait. Been awhile since I got any bad feedback, but I'm sure it's coming. Must be why I keep coming back for more.

P.P.S. I don't really use pirate stuff anymore. My music is important to me, and I don't take chances on "iffy" software. I do, however, sometimes use cracks to try a product before I buy it. Since I buy the ones I like and use, it's not stealing. I have a feeling that only the companies who's product I don't like and use, and thus don't buy, are the only ones that would protest my practice of "sampling before I buy". God forbid I be an educated consumer.

 

[TragikRemix]

yes it is bait... stay away,

 

[Flux]

die thread, die

Pg. 7 12-30-2003
Amen

 

[dgatwood]

At least your spelling and grammer don't suck.

If you're going to spell grammar like that, at least spell speeling right.

And stop talking about my grandma.

 

[Flux]

This whole thread is a moot point isn't it? There's no incentive to 'steal' software because it comes bundled with the hardware. Try not to get a copy of Cubase LE these days, heheh. It boils down to only the pros needing the bloatware in order to compete with the Jones' (and they can write off the taxes so WTF are they bitching about?) And I don't buy this "what if I stole your car" arguement either. Losing an object in a finite world of objects is not the same as making a clone in a virtual universe of infinite possibilities, any more than taking a test drive at a car dealership is ripping off the dealership or the transit system. However I will cocede that if the test driver becomes a cabbie then he/she should buy the plates.

Computers are becoming toaster ovens to be tipped into our shopping carts at the supermarket and the software is typically thrown in - just like it is (and will be) with all our electronic appliances. Besides, nobody really owns anything anymore anyway. We lease, we rent, and we pay the subscrition and upgrade fees and since we can't fix any of it (and why would we when they keep changing the 'standards') we pay the dealerships for a fresh coat of fleece. Why do ya think they give you the printers, the cell phones and the satellite dishes for 'free'?

Discuss

...er, I mean DIE Thread DIE!!!!

 

[TragikRemix]

This whole thread is a moot point isn't it? There's no incentive to 'steal' software because it comes bundled with the hardware. Try not to get a copy of Cubase LE these days, heheh. It boils down to only the pros needing the bloatware in order to compete with the Jones' (and they can write off the taxes so WTF are they bitching about?) And I don't buy this "what if I stole your car" arguement either. Losing an object in a finite world of objects is not the same as making a clone in a virtual universe of infinite possibilities, any more than taking a test drive at a car dealership is ripping off the dealership or the transit system. However I will cocede that if the test driver becomes a cabbie then he/she should buy the plates.

Computers are becoming toaster ovens to be tipped into our shopping carts at the supermarket and the software is typically thrown in - just like it is (and will be) with all our electronic appliances. Besides, nobody really owns anything anymore anyway. We lease, we rent, and we pay the subscrition and upgrade fees and since we can't fix any of it (and why would we when they keep changing the 'standards') we pay the dealerships for a fresh coat of fleece. Why do ya think they give you the printers, the cell phones and the satellite dishes for 'free'?

Discuss

...er, I mean DIE Thread DIE!!!!

your missing it....

no hardware comes with a version of sonar producer, Digital performer, or a waves diamond bundle for free.

why cant we lock this thread!