Comments on: IK Multimedia Rebuts Mag on Free Software; Why They Missed the Point

By: Patrick_K

Patrick_K — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:54:19 +0000

googled my way into this one while doing some research on freeware vs. open vs. commercial in the VST vs. AU vs. RTAS world. Excellent work Peter (as always), thank you.

By: Dan Marois

Dan Marois — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:36:47 +0000

“10. Because top 10 lists are arbitrary lists of things that require you to make up filler so you hit the right number.”

Amen! I believe this is the first time I actually see this written anywhere. Maybe it’s because it’s so true and most people hate to be embarrassed by the truth. :)

By: Dan Marois

Dan Marois — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:15:19 +0000

I just want to offer an answer to the question “Why is this s debate?”: because, in reality, most humans have little else to do with their time than to flap their gums (or click their keyboards) for no good reason. Arguing is the foundation to all human relationships. Don’t believe it? Check out marriage. It creates a sense of community.

By: TJ

TJ — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:02:24 +0000

If you make conventional kinds of music, propietary software might help you get a job done best.

On the other hand, if you’re heavily experimental, you might find most proprietary software terribly restricting … at least until it comes to mix and burn time.

The coolest, most powerful software tends to come without lots of support and beautiful interfaces. Some of the funnest and most motivating sounds I’ve made have come from experimental / academic software.

Propietary software tends to limit options to keep things simpler, and to serve the majority of users that are more likely to be doing more conventional work.

By: IK Multimedia Rebuts Mag on Free Software, DrawSound + Balls, Stanton to Release Touch DJ Controller, Runaway Harp, TENORI-OFF

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:36:22 +0000

[...] # IK Multimedia Rebuts Mag on Free Software; Why They Missed the Point [...]

By: TOP FIVE REASONS WHY IK SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT BEFORE SPEAKING | [audioauxiliary]

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:32:27 +0000

[...] IK have issued a rebuttal to a MusicRadar article on the benefits of freeware, which I found through an article on CDM. The original article was a great list of reasons that you should use freeware, but good ol’ [...]

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:07:06 +0000

@Paul Davis: No argument here on those points. I think free and open source software deserves its own list, and it’s a different list than the freeware list from CM here. (And, I think, a more interesting set of reasons…)

By: naus3a

naus3a — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:35:43 +0000

being a developer myself i’m inside thins kind of dispute on a daily basis. in my opinion the true point is that people should start understanding is that software licenses are simply dumb. you pay for the time the coder spent for you. period. i can ask money for my time before people download my software, every month, or simply give it for free, but that is my sole business, no great debates needed.

and of course the OS model is the one to be followed :)

By: SomeAudioGuy

SomeAudioGuy — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:32:52 +0000

IK’s response was retarded, and I mean that in the truest sense of the word (as in to retard progress). To get rankled about freeware is a stupid way to burn bridges with potential customers. See, we all gotta start somewhere. People tend to have this idea that more expensive = more better. Free software is like a gateway drug, enticing us to start spending cash on “the good stuff”.

My only problem with the freeware issue, I just couldn’t spend $17 on a magazine full of software I could get for free, LOL.

By: Hungry Antelope

Hungry Antelope — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:31:35 +0000

I agree with IK, IN THEORY… In reality, I have gotten crappy support from most of the music software I have purchased, it has been crippled by copy protection and dongles, and much of it has turned into completely unstable “the marketing department says to add 10 more bulletpoint features for the next version – throw in 10 crappy features real quick”.

Compare with something like CSound or PD which have been in development for years, are rock solid stable, and very well supported.