EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, Nick Batzdorf <recording@...> wrote:
 >
 > Posted by: "midiface" pshackleton@... midiface
 > > I'm amused at the notion that we should watch out for Redmatica's
 > > economic well being.
 > >
 > Hilarious, isn't it. But I suspect the reason you find my comments so
 > amusing is that you aren't thinking about the larger context. Are you
 > aware that Apple just lowered the price of Logic to $500 - with all
 > kinds of other goodies? And Digidesign sells PT LE with an MBox Mini
 > and all kinds of plug-ins for $300?
 >
 > I guess I have a different perspective from yours. In addition to
 > being a user, I'm a magazine publisher who relies on a healthy music
 > software industry for his supper - although I'm posting as a user  
here.


Posted by: "midiface" pshackleton@...   midiface
Wed Oct 24, 2007 11:28 am (PST)

> Nick, I'm not pushing Redmatica to do anything they don't see as being
> in their own self-interest. That IS the larger context.

That's NOT the larger context, but of course - I'm not suggesting  
that Andrea is a pushover. My point is much more general.

> As for Apple
> and Digidesign, they also act in their own self-interest, and the
> competition benefits us all.

That is, unless there's very little competition because companies  
like Redmatica aren't able to compete with large companies  
subsidizing their software development with hardware sales. Hopefully  
that won't happen, but it is a danger.

And I say that as an enthusiastic user of both Logic and Pro Tools.

> Surely you aren't suggesting that consumers shouldn't seek the lowest
> prices they can legally get?


Yes and no. Obviously we're not going to pay companies out of the  
goodness of our hearts - we're all going to do the research and find  
the best deal. But the best price isn't always the best deal. Look  
what's happened to music retail, for example. Or music journalism,  
for that matter. Consolidation has its upsides and downsides.


> Just curious: do you think the music software industry is not
> "healthy"? If it isn't, do you think that is the fault of users
> seeking lower prices?

It's thriving at the moment, and I want to see that continue.

> Perhaps there should be an industry-wide
> commission with representatives from the software companies and user
> groups, that SETS prices and enforces them, hmmm? And while we're at
> it, online vendors who sell at lower prices should be unable to order
> product from the central supply house through which all music software
> will be sold. Oh, and I forgot: software makers should have to get
> permission of the central licensing commission before adding new  
> features.

> Just my way of saying this: trust the markets, my friend. It'll all
> be OK in the end.

The markets have some blind spots, and things go very wrong when  
money rules everything - as we see in the US right now.


> Which doesn't mean that Redmatica will thrive;
> perhaps they'll undersell or underprice and go under... in which
> case, if there is really a need for such a product, someone else will
> pick it up and run the business more effectively. I think I trust
> Andrea to make good decisions, though. Why don't you?

Andrea is a big boy, yes. My diatribe was more to tell people to just  
go out and buy the damn thing, not to wait for a group buy.



Nick Batzdorf, editor/publisher
Virtual Instruments Magazine
www.Virtualinstrumentsmag.com
1-877 VImagzn (846-2496)
+1818/905-9101, cell 590-9101