marcL

But you still need ONLINE access on your computer to use NA (authorization)! And also your NA gets more and more cluttered (it lacks some sort of hierarchical organization)!

I prefer if a product is just right from the beginning! ?

Still prefer "Full Kontakt" version(s), 'cos they allow offline and manual installation (as far as you have already Kontakt installed)! I don't like NI Access and there are already too many products in it (Komplete), it is not very clearly arranged (in short a mess)!

Regrettably, I don't have the Arturia one (have only the Jup8V and AnalogLab). Their synths are quite expensive.

Thanks @TheSteven ! I didn't know that it is possible to import sysx files into FM8. I just have loaded the factory presets (almost unchanged) that I had exported of my DX7II (bought in the 80s and I still have it). Many of the sounds are almost the same as the original, but there are some with pitch changes that sound completely awful in the FM8 (the pitch changes too much). I had noticed the same thing with Dexed some years ago, where I tried the patches the first time.

Frankly, there are not many plugins in the ANY-2999-1 range that I would buy again at this price (almost $36 - $38 with tax in Europe)! There are better alternatives from small developers for eqs, compressors, deessers, ... for less (Toneboosters, Klanghelm, ...). Though the lower priced PA plugin deals are ok. I think some companies make a mistake if they add the whole European tax to the product prices! We do not earn 20% to 25% more than in North America. Usually prices are indeed higher here, but not at the whole tax percentage. Otherwise we would be really poor and consumption would drastically decrease!

Thanks Bapu! That's very cool to listen to the sounds. I have found my favorite Paiste ride now: Masters Dry Ride 20" (great bell sound and the tip is not too crashy)! But regrettably I am NO drummer! ? It would be great if the drums VSTis had more choices for good Rides like that!

And again I have to repeat it: There is no clever and reliable plugin manager/installer! Many times you have more trouble than help with them IMHO, but YMMV! I always have hated the Melda installer, because I don't like how it organizes the plugins in subdirectory groups as if there is only Melda Production! I have such groups on a higher level (provider independant) and it does not make sense to repeat this on their level! I.e. I always have to move their stuff around manually. Like that it is one of the most labour-intensive installations for me! Another dislike: I don't think it is a good idea to keep the version number of a component out of its code, it's rather dangerous and confusing!

That's why I lately purchased a Marshall Studio Classic, remembering the great sound of the JCM800 that I once owned. And it did not disappoint me, they still make great amps! I still prefer real amps over simulations, but YMMV!

Cool, I really like 1x12 and 2x12 guitar sound! Though I always preferred combos.

Though one thing one should not forget with all these automatic tools: If you want to handle the frequency clash of 2 tracks (e.g. Bass and Kick), then it is advisable first to reduce some frequencies of the sidechain track IMHO. Otherwise the sound of the target track is reduced too much! What I want to say: The man behind the mix still has to decide whether the bass or the kick should occupy the lowest frequencies!

"Are you my main man Are you now are you now Are you my Main Man Are you now are you now Are you now" - Marc Bolan (T. Rex)

Do I need another EQ ... another EQ ... another EQ ??? But it's soooo cheap, a real deal for $10 !!! But I have so many EQs plugs console strips, do I really need this one? It's so mean, soo meeean!

That's the advantage of buying instead of sub! ?

^^this * 100

I share your concern not to be able to use the stuff you paid for in certain cases! But as far as my experience goes, I am more worried about online authorizations. These include the risque that you cannot reactivate/install your software on a system with hardware update anymore (many possible cases).

By the way, last time I forgot to mention that their plugins can be used without shell! Just copy the plugin dlls to your scanning location, works without problems!

Sadly loyalty voucher already used!

I am sure assembly language is not required! Even a good C++ program would run more efficiently!

NI did a very bad job in programming Kontakt IMHO! Just the fact that all quick load stuff is being parsed when Kontakt is loaded is very stupid! Good programming practice would load on demand in such a case! Once I found this out because I had some libraries on an external disk that had not been inserted. As a result I moved the folders back to the local drives and tried to keep only the sample folders on the external drive. But hell, even this is scanned before it's being used! How dull can software developers be sometimes! ?

IMHO this is regress! It causes a painful installation with NA!

If someone is interested: They provide 2 seats on iLok (dongle/cloud).

But it's not required for those who really have a customer friendly authorization (NOT LIKE IK, Presonus, Steinberg)!

How many seats do they provide?

The authorization works totally offline! If you are online, maybe they check the current version, IDK!