Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Apple and Digidesign, competing for our cash.

Noah · 5th February 2004

Interesting thoughts guys...

From a developers perspective Digi is pushing very hard for full XP support. I understand the reasons, but it is also tricky to have to deal with.

If you were a business, what would you do first? A, make a new plug-in that you will possibly sell hundreds of. B, port existing plugs to XP that you might sell 10 of?

I know that there are lots of variables in that equation, but it shows the point...

Now, on to other things...

I think that Digi buying Bomb Factory was less about getting the knowledge of how to port to XP (they already know how to do that just fine) but more about competing with Apple giving away 50 plugs for free...

From a plug-in developers point of view it sucks. Not because of a free economy, but because apple is blowing the bottom out of the market, and real high-end developers like us will be left in the cold.

Apple doesn't care if they loose money when making plug-ins as long as they can say they are at the top of the audio game. This means they want the press, and they want to sell computers...

They have more at stake. I suppose it's kinda like Digi giving away their software for free with an interface. I bet that Nuendo isn't real happy that for $500 bucks you get an M-Box, as well as the software with it.

I suppose the real question will lie in what is the interface? Can Apple create a computer that doesn't need an HD I/O and process cards? If they can Digi's job will be much harder. Typically we have seen some of that be the case, but not all. They may still rely on Digi (for instance) for I/O boxes, but want to sell the computer/processing themselves.

So who knows what is going to happen...I don't think that Garage Band really plays in this equation. It might be the first step though. Logic is still very different than Pro Tools. They don't really do the same thing, and they are designed in different ways.

Still, the plug-ins are kinda the same...(Except if we made an auto-filter that sounded like the one in logic we would be shot...) I don't know what it will mean. Obviously pro's will still want innovative, great sounding stuff.

If the level of all DAW's gets high enough so the pro and the consumer are at the same place we will do fine because of volume. Our prices are already dropping very significantly due to good copy protection and volume goals.

Right...I think I'm done rambling now...I hope I made some sense.

Noah
(SoundToys)

5th February 2004	#8
Noah Gear nut Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 99	Interesting thoughts guys... From a developers perspective Digi is pushing very hard for full XP support. I understand the reasons, but it is also tricky to have to deal with. If you were a business, what would you do first? A, make a new plug-in that you will possibly sell hundreds of. B, port existing plugs to XP that you might sell 10 of? I know that there are lots of variables in that equation, but it shows the point... Now, on to other things... I think that Digi buying Bomb Factory was less about getting the knowledge of how to port to XP (they already know how to do that just fine) but more about competing with Apple giving away 50 plugs for free... From a plug-in developers point of view it sucks. Not because of a free economy, but because apple is blowing the bottom out of the market, and real high-end developers like us will be left in the cold. Apple doesn't care if they loose money when making plug-ins as long as they can say they are at the top of the audio game. This means they want the press, and they want to sell computers... They have more at stake. I suppose it's kinda like Digi giving away their software for free with an interface. I bet that Nuendo isn't real happy that for $500 bucks you get an M-Box, as well as the software with it. I suppose the real question will lie in what is the interface? Can Apple create a computer that doesn't need an HD I/O and process cards? If they can Digi's job will be much harder. Typically we have seen some of that be the case, but not all. They may still rely on Digi (for instance) for I/O boxes, but want to sell the computer/processing themselves. So who knows what is going to happen...I don't think that Garage Band really plays in this equation. It might be the first step though. Logic is still very different than Pro Tools. They don't really do the same thing, and they are designed in different ways. Still, the plug-ins are kinda the same...(Except if we made an auto-filter that sounded like the one in logic we would be shot...) I don't know what it will mean. Obviously pro's will still want innovative, great sounding stuff. If the level of all DAW's gets high enough so the pro and the consumer are at the same place we will do fine because of volume. Our prices are already dropping very significantly due to good copy protection and volume goals. Right...I think I'm done rambling now...I hope I made some sense. Noah (SoundToys)