Craig Fowler

I say this every time, but if you don't have Matchlock...get Matchlock 🙂

On 8/9/2022 at 1:28 AM, Mark Downer said:

Oh - and AudioPluginDeals. You on the other hand know how to look after your customers. I complained to them. In literally a couple of minutes I got a credit note for the full price for my troubles, and got to keep the non-working Drum SE.  See IK - that's how you treat customers. It's not rocket science.

Agreed; kudos to APD who issued me a credit note almost as soon as I contacted them last night.

1 hour ago, LAGinz said:

I would push back on this, hard. Why should you have the responsibility for persuading their licensed vendor on this? If IK’s licensed vendor screwed up, IK is the one who should be taking charge of the solution, since it is 1) profiting from this, 2) could have easily drafted its own terms to avoid this situation; and 3) has much more leverage with APD than you would ever have. This “not my problem” attitude is just totally unacceptable coming from a company that claims to value customer service. I’m actually astonished by how long they are allowing people to twist in the wind over this. They are burning way more customer good will with all who are observing this than they will ever save in $ from the relatively small number of people affected.

Sorry to hear your response wasn't so helpful @Paul Cohen. My assumption all along has been that if we hadn't registered the serials, APD would probably be accommodating with refunds. Of course, some of us are in the communal boat because we did register the serial only to find it didn't qualify us for the promo. And I'd be surprised if APD could/would refund in that case without assistance from IK to cancel the license registrations.

It kinda sounds like the customer service folks aren't singing from the same song sheet. And @LAGinz is right on; individuals have virtually no leverage in cases like this and rely on companies involved to fix things .

I'd be very cautious at this point about entering any future group buys/promos other than by buying the qualifying product directly from IKM's webstore.

An update from my support ticket: "Our team is working with Audio Plugin Deals to provide you with a refund. This should be distributed in the coming days."

I'm satisfied with this as it doesn't leave me 'out of pocket' for a product I wouldn't otherwise have bought.

On 8/4/2022 at 8:57 AM, Peter - IK Multimedia said:

I don't know, or I can talk to people here too but note the choices I mentioned above would be 39.99 or less.

Peter, have you been able to raise the discontent here back at IK HQ?

Despite what's been posted here in this forum, and in support tickets, these are the T&Cs as stated on IKM's own website.

I know you've cited the 'sole discretion to terminate or modify the promotion' clause, but essentially what's happening here is that IK is simply saying 'nah' without a valid reason. Literally the only two criteria stated for a product to be eligible for this promotion are that:

a) the product must be registered between Aug 2nd and Aug 31st

b) only new purchases, not transfers or giveaways are eligible.

Those of us who bought ModoDrum at APD have fulfilled both of these criteria: There is still no indication either on IKM's website, or on APD's that people who buy ModoDrum from APD will not qualify for the promotion. And, given that it is listed as a $149.99 entry point, nor is it easy to see any justification for why it would suddenly only be counted towards a $39.99 tier product if IK decided to accept it as a qualifying purchase.

I'm not a lawyer, but this seems incredibly sketchy. I simply don't see how IK has a leg to stand on in not honouring this. And from a business perspective, it seems astonishing that a company that just gave away what? 50+ products for the price of one in a group buy isn't willing to make some effort to retain customers' goodwill.

Please understand that I've always appreciated you here Peter and don't want to shoot the messenger. But something stinks here, and customers are being hung out to dry.

2 minutes ago, Mark Downer said:

Just got my response...

Since this is a discounted purchase from Audio Plugin deals it does not qualify for the MEGA bogo Promotion.

 

So... whether APD were slow with the update on the website or not , the faq on the IK website did not state this VERY specific term at all. If it had done, I wouldn't have made the purchase (and just to annoy further, my modo drum no longer works due to the reasons mentioned in the other thread). Would happily have a refund for that instead. 

Have sent my thoughts back to IK on this one. And sure, they can reserve the right to change the terms of the promotion, but they have to tell people they're doing so! That's why you have a terms and conditions page which can be updated. It comes across as unprofessional and a little shady to say we can change the terms whenever we want without actually telling anyone what you have changed.

Even the new talk of the value of the qualifying product now has to be equal to what was originally paid for the product is changing the goal posts again, and is not what is set out in the terms of the promotion. Modo drum SE has a specifc value, and the terms do not stop you from registering a discounted item. So why isn't that honoured?  And historically it has never been an issue before when using a discounted product in one of the group buys, so why is it now?

Pretty disappointing tactics really. In my line of work, when promos aren't set up correctly from the start, the company takes the hit. Not the customer.

Agreed. I think at the least, ik should be working with APD to facilitate refunds for those who only bought modo drums to join the promo.

1 minute ago, Peter - IK Multimedia said:

That's an assumption and incorrect.  Our rep has contacted APD to get the information about this exclusion posted as was originally planned with them.

Hi Peter

In this case, what are the odds APD can be convinced to refund purchases made to enter the promo (IK are pretty heavy hitters, right?)? I don't want anyone to be 'out of pocket' but that includes myself - and I don't even use the existing license I have for Modo Drums, much less the redundant one!

1 hour ago, user4325874 said:

It's ok if they exclude the APD sale with included disclaimer, but IKM should honor their own 4-for-all Mega BOGO rules if MODO SE 1.5 is already registered before the new disclaimer (that's nowhere to be seen on the IKM website).

All software titles on the Mega BOGO page are eligible* to enter this promo and are available as FREE titles of equal or lesser value. Two must-have examples:

*Excludes software pre-orders

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/?item_id=13155

I agree. This is the email I just sent IK:

Respectfully, this feels very much like changing the rules of the game while the game is underway. Previous promos have not differentiated between the price paid for a product and the list price: Historically, products purchased at a discount have still been valued at the IKM website price for determining free products. 

I see that the APD website has been updated to note that this product doesn't qualify - but when it is listed as a qualifying product on your website AND it was purchased during the time frame of the promo I feel rather strongly that IK should honour this as a qualifying purchase.(per the terms on IKM's website: The promotion applies to new purchases from the beginning of the promotion only (product transfers and products received as giveaways are ineligible). 

I like IKM and their products a lot, and have no problem with them having all the T&Cs they want re promos, but there are going to be a bunch of us who've just bought licenses for products we don't need to get in on this...because that's how IK has conditioned us to approach their promos.

2 hours ago, Mark Downer said:

Thought this was a good deal, so I've just purchased and registered Modo Drum 1.5 SE from Audio Plugin Deals (FAQ does state purchases from authorised resellers do count for the promo). Doesn't seem to have qualified though, so I've raised a ticket with IK.

Wish I'd seen your post because I just did the same thing!

4 minutes ago, Zolton said:

Also, if you're specifically interested in the TDR Kotelnikov GE -- and your interest reaches up and grabs you by August 7th, as mine is threatening to do -- that's on double-sale (80% off) at Plugin Boutique for ten bucks:

https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/71-Dynamic-Processor/4657-TDR-Kotelnikov-GE

Bargain! TDR's stuff is always top notch and ridiculously well-priced even when it's not on sale.

Hopefully Larry's just enjoying a bit of downtime rather than having to dash off to tend to family matters as he sometimes needs to. If I posted all the deals he stays on top of I'd need time off to let my fingers recover from all that typing anyway...perhaps he just has cramp. Wishing you well, Larry.

The IK is well worth hanging on for.

Just now, LittleStudios said:

With a sale like this, basically almost giving away there whole T-Racks library, makes me wonder if it's a last stab to grab some quick cash before releasing a new version T-Racks 6 or a discontinuation of T-Racks all together.  Maybe a whole new product line.

...or maybe not.

Nah to the discontinuation; this is a pretty regular IK thing. They just keep going bigger!

Worked for me!

Honestly, I've stopped buying Nembrini stuff because I really like what Kuassa are doing with their 360 ecosystem, but as they don't have a Hi-Watt amp, I'll dip my toes back in the Nembrini waters. For $10 it seems rude not to.

10 hours ago, MusicMan said:

I was thinking I might grab the The Famous E Electric Piano..

But I do have quite a few Rhodes patches in various instruments and the IK Stage 73 Mark V along with any others that come with Sampletank 3 / 4...  so I'm a little on the fence with it. I've added it to the order for now though and will decide.

I know Fleer loves it, and it does sound great. But, like you I have Rhodes coming out the wazoo, and can't bring myself to buy another...especially after picking up Keyboard in Blue for $25 (also Fleer's fault...). Realistically, I'll probably always turn to Pianoteq for EPs anyway.

I did register for the mandolin, though! I'm doing it!

2 hours ago, Christian Jones said:

Do something about that, Craig! buy something else! 

You trying to get me hurt, Christian? I'm already in trouble for buying the new VSL Bechstein with only 'retroactive' permission!

58 minutes ago, Fleer said:

That mandolin is pretty pretty sweet. As is the banjo. 

The banjo was last year's sweet treat! Alas, my pitch bend wheel broke, so I can't make the most of it!

I'd really like the mandolin. Must resist...Maybe next year!

2 hours ago, PhonoBrainer said:

Not at all, Craig! I half expected my snarky little remark to generate a full-throated defense, and yours was well put.

I agree about the quality! But do you find they have the room baked in?

Nine pianos later, once I got Garritan CFX (on sale!) I was done looking. Cheers!

I did think there was more room sound baked in at first - but not as much as Garritan (which has the advantage of it being a beautiful sounding room!). But, as with Garritan dialling back the release sample volume and, of course, lowering the mid/decca tree/room mics also helps. Something that I wrestled with at first was that there seemed to be two separate reverb controls, so I you *think* you should have a nice, close sound -- but you still don't!

There's much less room sound in the studio B libraries (both uprights, Bluthner, Bosie 280). And I don't know if I'm imagining it, but I feel like the room sound is harder to tame on the Steinway than the other big grands. 

I understand the charm of Garritan - I like it too. But it's practicing with the VSLs that I think has really helped my technique.

Well, about $400 is for the full packages, not the standards...and the standards are definitely not 'lite' versions!

$136 for the uprights put them quite a bit under the price of Modern U ($169). $200 for the standard CFX is pricey but not crazy.

All that to say, these are clearly not cheap instruments - but they are wonderful, not just for production but for practice. And that ain't something more than a handful of other piano VIs can lay claim to. I've got all 7 of the Synchron pianos now, and they've brought me a huge amount of pleasure! Sorry if I'm getting protective of my babies!

10 hours ago, PhonoBrainer said:

If someone can't spend on Kontakt, will they drop 4 or 5 hundred on this? Whomever players were sampled must have been union.

Still I'd give it a listen.

They will if they want what the library offers 🙂

But yes, I think so. It is pricey, but it's not in a different ballpark to a really good orchestral brass library (e.g., VSL Synchron brass). And if you haven't played with this developer's recent horn/clarinet libraries, yet, give 'em a whirl - They. Are. Extraordinary! Jaw-droppingly gorgeous and amazing results.

The straightaheadsamples jazz libraries really are pushing boundaries with the smart delay feature. They're the best of the best at what they do IMO.

I don't know if I'll ever buy this as I don't think I'd get enough use from it to justify the cost, but I bet it's a ton of fun!

The YouTube demo sounds great! I really like this developer - and in case anyone else cares about the backstory, I love that the two Yamaha piano libraries were created as part of his degree requirements. Pretty sure nothing from my uni years brought anyone that much enjoyment!

11gb library for a machine that had 48kb of memory and I associate with the sound of tape loading. What's next? Soundpaint internet dial tone?

Yes

4 hours ago, Walter Cruz said:

$49 for Super 8 (Future Classics) seems a nice day. Do you guys know if it's a single license for the bundle or if it can be split?

I don't *know*, but other NI bundles I've had have been just a single license!