Thought I would chime in as I've seen some interesting perspectives. I'll add mine. I'm a professional user doing full pop production and light scoring. I also private tech for a few known composers and studios in nashville. I'm just gonna say it. Any professional user of Vienna Ensemble Pro needs to purchase the upgrade.
Paul and the team have provided free patch maintainence for years and has provided personal and most excellent customer support to the highest extend a small dev team can provide. There is a trust relationship over many years. I'm going to give VSL the benefit of the doubt when they price new product and provide an upgrade path. I don't have time to nitpick personally. However, maybe a few helpful notes for those feeling a bit burned:
- Pro Audio Software is a VERY small market
- We do not get any support from main OS companies, and computer hardware manufacturers are even less concerned with our specific needs as time goes on. Apple discontinued its pro lineup spawning entire grey market resellers of modified apple hardware JUST to meet specific needs in the pro audio market. OS Platform upgrades are RELENTLESS (especially Mac) and it is VERY difficult for small pro audio developers to keep compatible with an ever diminishing set of standards and SDK's that make our careers possible.
- Vienna as a company could BE FAR WORSE. Ever used "Software-as-a-service"? Mandatory $50/ month seat licenses for Adobe, an ever growing list of software you cannot even purchase (Slate DIgital I'm looking at you) and companies that desire to NICKEL AND DIME you to absolute death.
- VSL is the only software package that performs the task of VST load management for large scaled music production workstations. Someone said monopoly... but really... we are LUCKY to have this software. This helps smaller studios compete with larger (custom designed) studios and is an absolute game changer for composers and a boon for track producers.
- VSL does NOT complain and post sob stories about the cost of business or the shifting economy to make excuses for changing a payment arrangement. They could EASILY stop all development of older platforms and sell a smarmy, scammy, temporary seat license for "access" to their software or any number of predatory monetization schemes that would increase margins considerably. They have chosen instead, to provide the most ACCESSIBLE upgrade path yet... with the ability to upgrade a single seat just for single workstation implementation (testing) and very reasonable additional licenses....
- VSL is very much in line with other niche pro audio software packages. Check out ReVoice, Celemony Melodyne, UAD DSP, Breakaway VST, Soundminer, NI Machine and you will find a range of pricing far higher than VSL is charging. They could easily go into $500+ territory for these releases like ReVoice or Melodyne Studio Editor but they choose to price their software in a much lower tier.
- It is in our best interest to keep VSL in business. It is common in this industry for niche developers to shut down (even Steinberg was sold to Yamaha and Didgidesign to Avid back in the day) due to unsustainability. It should be every professional user's concern to help support the dev team that is providing the software we depend so heavily on. I understand if some of you are not as dependent on the software I'm just speaking from my personal perspective.
- I bought the upgrade license as soon as it was available. I don't know what features are coming. I don't know what is changed or improved and it is likely I won't even be upgrading for a long time but it is my priority to keep supporting devs of the software that is most critical to running my studio.
I understand there are many types of users and I think they are trying to find a balance here but I just wanted to add my thoughts on here because I don't think VSL is going to be able to say the things I did with the same perspective or potential impact.
Happy producing guys and looking forward to Vienna Powered Production for many years to come. Cheers!