No more Bias Peak

[JohnnyHo]

Dude, this sucks... I was tempted to upgrade a little while back, just to stay current even though I am predominantly on Wavelab 7.2 mac. Glad I didn't. BTW: as of right now WaveBurner hasnt been updated in yrs and according to folk that were involved in the Logic development, it was pretty much an afterthought and wasn't even on Logic's list of features. Beware when doing CD-text and burning a DDP... Eclipse will see the text data as errors and "fail" the disc. That stopped me from doing any more sequencing in WB

[analogcabin]

The part that confuses me is why didn't they sell Bias or the Peak program?
With a few fixes it really would be a fantastic program. Instead they killed it and then really did something I don't think I've ever seen..... they made it impossible to authorize and use software that you OWN.
How can this be legal?

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by analogcabin

they made it impossible to authorize and use software that you OWN.
How can this be legal?

The problem is that legally you don't own it - you've just paid for permission to use it.

I'm wary of any software that relies on someone's server to authorise it - having been burned in the past like this. I've been fortunate enough to find software that will get the job done and that doesn't have draconian software protection.

James.

[darrien]

Originally Posted by jamesp

The problem is that legally you don't own it - you've just paid for permission to use it.

I'm wary of any software that relies on someone's server to authorise it - having been burned in the past like this. I've been fortunate enough to find software that will get the job done and that doesn't have draconian software protection.

James.

Yes, we've paid for a permission to use it. A license to use this software as long as we want to use it. Therefore, this is total scam and definitely illegal. It's not like paying for a one-year service or something that needs renewal.

[LNerell]

Originally Posted by darrien

Yes, we've paid for a permission to use it. A license to use this software as long as we want to use it. Therefore, this is total scam and definitely illegal. It's not like paying for a one-year service or something that needs renewal.

Not sure how its illegal, its not like they took your money and never gave you anything for it. I've been using Peak for about 15 years so they weren't an overnight software scam. And if you have it already installed on your computer you can use it until that computer drive dies. Having said that I'm just as upset as anyone else. I just upgraded my computer last week and I seem to have lost out on moving Peak onto the new computer by just a few days.

[analogcabin]

At the very least they could have issued permanent serial numbers for paying customers so we could use our own software as long as we have OS support for it.

Ughhhhh those clowns.

[digidandy]

Originally Posted by t_d

i'm liking DSPQ more and more as well... i just wish it was like Peak sometimes (no program, from audio to photoshop has had such a good save/open dialog box. it remembers, separately, the last places you saved and opened from... adding to an already very fast program)

You should try the Default Folder X app. It is absolutely indispensable when working with files located at different directories (it adds to every save/open dialog in almost all software) - one of the things I can't work without.

Default Folder X

[musigny23]

I'm astonished that the update and authorization sites are down so quickly. I only just found out about this a few days ago. AFAIK no email notification either. I'm not a pro but long time recording hobbyist and this was my editing mastering program. It did everything I needed and I know how to use it.

I wouldn't mind them ceasing further development but shutting down access to the last updates and authorization is a very shoddy thing to do. As a user for 14 years and a purchaser of each new version I feel they owe their license holders a better goodbye than this. I hope those involved are working out a way to either continue or at least provide license holders with the means to keep using the software including the ability to move it from a dying machine to a different one.

So what other program comes closest to PEAK? I haven't used any of the various ones mentioned as options, Amadeus Pro II, Audiofile Engineering Wave Editor, DSP-Quattro, Steinberg WaveLab, Adobe Audition, so I have no idea where to begin seeking replacement. Any suggestions?

[analogcabin]

Someone here must know how to contact the folks at Bias.
It not too much to ask that we be issued a permanent way to keep running our paid for software.

Anyone?

[digidandy]

Originally Posted by analogcabin

Someone here must know how to contact the folks at Bias.
It not too much to ask that we be issued a permanent way to keep running our paid for software.

Anyone?

There are no "folks at Bias" anymore - that's the whole point of closing down a company. Bias is gone.

You could, of course, try to find the private email address of Steve Berkeley, or you could contact him through Facebook. Doubt very much he'd be able to help, though, not least given the way they've handled this entire shutdown thing.

https://www.facebook.com/steve.berkley.12

[acorneau]

Just get all the Peak users together, gather up some money, and pay a programer to hack/jailbreak the license scheme.

Bingo!

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by musigny23

....
So what other program comes closest to PEAK? ...

all i need to do is drop in 16 bit 44.1 , mastered, peak limited stereo mixes, adjust fades, gaps, and where the ID markers are....

maybe be able to turn down a few of the files a db or so... maybe.

then burn Red Book cd's

i dont need any plugins.

I used to use Wave Burner, but we all know that is basically dead.

I am on Mac.
so what would be the most stable, easy to use software?

10.6 or 10.7

[jslevin]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

all i need to do is drop in 16 bit 44.1 , mastered, peak limited stereo mixes, adjust fades, gaps, and where the ID markers are....

That's basically what I was using it for, too - at least on my laptop. Now, like others, I can't move authorization from my old laptop to my new one.

It blows.

Bias business management was always very stupid. Not surprised they failed to sell the assets before running out of cash.

JSL

[mftorso]

My use of Peak is/has been primarily for assembly of masters. The text/metadata seemed to work well as did the burning of masters. Itunes playlist creator is handy for CDDB. I never used it for the actual sonic part of mastering because the only I/O for my hardware was that stupid "Jack OSX" plugin which did nothing but crash me.

In March of this year I upgraded from Peak Pro 6 to 7. My main reason for doing so was the addition of the Sonoris DDP creator (which has worked flawlessly). When I phoned sales to inquire about what exactly the upgrade included, I was told a FREE upgrade was sooncoming that would allow Peak to access multiple hardware I/0's, a HUGE improvement and a workflow time saver for me. I could actually do all, or most all, of a mastering job start to finish, in Peak.

Wish I would have known and saved the dough.
It's truly unethical that they haven't left some sort of web app on a server that can continue to authorize "ownership" for the inescapable change to a new computer, down the road. It's outrageous.
I guess it's like beer. You can only rent it.

Further, I live in Petaluma where they were based, have casually known some of the guys working there, and never heard a thing about pending failure.
Even the local Press Democrat newspaper, when reporting on Bias going under, was unable to get ANYONE from the company to comment.

More I think about it the more I'm pissed.

rant complete

[mixerguy]

yeah - it all sucks.

so what is best for simple assembly of masters? in 10.6 and 10.7?

[mftorso]

Re. what's best to move to from Peak for OS 10.6/7

Soundblade. It sounds amazing. The workflow is a totally different beast than Peak or Wavelab. I know a couple guys who run/work at Soundblade. They are definitely working furiously to address a number of issues and bring the app's use of plugins into a more typical UI context along the lines of PT, etc.
It's a no brainer with the crossgrade deal from Peak.
No-Noise, their EQ and QRT Dyn EQ (which is killer) are expensive but, all in all, it's worth it. I'm going there asap.

[Jeff D.]

Bias Authorization server is back up!

I am super happy since I got my new laptop just after the old server had gone down. I was able to download the latest version of Peak and authorize it to my HD.

There is also a free gift included in the download

THANKS STEVE!!!

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Jeff D.

Bias Authorization server is back up!

I am super happy since I got my new laptop just after the old server had gone down. I was able to download the latest version of Peak and authorize it to my HD.

There is also a free gift included in the download

THANKS STEVE!!!

what is the free gift?

[Jeff D.]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

what is the free gift?

Unless you already owned every Peak product, you will get more than you had paid for.

[Zep Dude]

Now this is some good news!

[jazzbutcher]

Does anyone know if there is a way to upgrade from Peak Pro 5.x to version 6 or 7? I poked around on the website, but it looks like I'm stuck with version 5...

thanks,

-- dave

[analogcabin]

Originally Posted by jazzbutcher

Does anyone know if there is a way to upgrade from Peak Pro 5.x to version 6 or 7? I poked around on the website, but it looks like I'm stuck with version 5...

thanks,

-- dave

I'm at 6 but would love to have 7.
Hmmmmmmm

[Jeff D.]

Originally Posted by jazzbutcher

Does anyone know if there is a way to upgrade from Peak Pro 5.x to version 6 or 7? I poked around on the website, but it looks like I'm stuck with version 5...

thanks,

-- dave

It doesn't make sense to upgrade a dead product... I'd start learning something else now, as you will have to later anyway.

Soundblade crossgrade offer

DSP Quatro offer Peak user discounted upgrade

Wavelab crosspgrade offer

[Jeff D.]

I'll add this from my decision making process: One of my frustrations with audio software is the concept of "lite" versions.

Soundblade crosspgrade from Peak - just $197! But wait, you need to use plugins? Then it's $447.50!

Wavelab Elements crossgrade - just $49! But wait, you want DDP? Then it's $249.98!

DSP Quatro is just plain $49 for the full version.
Wave Editor is just plain $79 for the full version (although not my favorite workflow).

<end rant>

Both of these are incredibly cheap for a pro app. They could charge twice as much and I don't think it would hurt them at all.

I'm still using Peak while demoing DSP Quatro. I'm going to prepare a DDP today in both apps and see how it goes.

[rtype909]

I am.
Can't find anything that comes close to replacing the features and usability yet. Tried Soundforge for Mac but it looks like a very early release.

Plus how many editors still feature export via SMDI to a sampler? Someone is bound to say 'who uses h/w samplers these days'

[Dora]

Opensource your code dawg

[Stevehwan]

I use Peak 3.0. I have to use it in my G4 that hosts My Paris system in OS9.
Does anyone know how to get (I believe it's called) LameLib for my Peak to be able to save a wav file as an mp3?
I am totally open to another program that does this and will work in OS9.

Thanks,
Steve