Eventually, the marketers and pr people will stop sending out embargoed releases, and just email the world when they are ready to go public, and even then, they will need the people they trust. This is another good way to give more credibility to new media.

There is a larger debate, larger than music tech, which I think has gotten out of hand, particularly:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/17/death-to-the-embargo/

TechCrunch’s situation is very different. But yeah, this is just where I’m at with this, not anyone else. And I think it’s something readers should know.

What Peter and his crew do with this site is up to them and I respect that and frankly that cultivates a certain type of audience to follow that. I just don’t want anyone to be on some sort of high horse talking down towards other sites or forums that don’t follow that ideology.

It’s not like it’s a war – working together means that the reader gets the best possible info. And that ultimately is why we do what we do. Posting rumours is more dishonest than anything else. Luring readers to the site with probable rubbish has zero integrity and serves no purpose.

2. It matters because we have more time. I’ve got some stories to write up tonight. Then they’re done, I’ve asked some questions and know something, you’ll see them tomorrow and meanwhile I’ll be working on some actual music. Oh, and by the way, we’re talking press releases here more than actual gear/software.

Anyway, part of what apparently happened in this case is indeed that print magazines ran stuff early. It was a timing screwup. The information isn’t complete, so I’d rather get the complete and accurate information on the embargo deadline tomorrow.

There’s no obligation for these companies to tell us anything, and even many non-PR, inside sources won’t talk about something. These are small, closely-knit little shops for the most part.

It’s not in anyone’s interests — least of all those developers — if we’re their lap dogs. I know some of them will get upset when we criticize them in a way they disagree with, but I’ve also heard them get upset when they feel we’re not critical enough. This industry is different from the tech industry in general, though; the vendors are companies with marketing, yes, but they’re also part of the community of people using music technology.

Sometimes, there’s a reason to be discreet. You don’t broadcast every conversation you have with every friend. The embargo is “I’m not ready to share this with everyone yet, but I’d like you to have a look at it.” It can be an opportunity to give feedback early and to start writing early.

I think the only real gray area is that once a cat is out of the bag, it’s tough for other writers to know what to do. That’s where it gets ambiguous. That just happens not to be a problem for me yet because I’d rather be late but more complete.

Tell the manufacturer, hey if you are going to give it to me then I am going to write about it, but I am not going to mess with this “I know a secret” jumbo because that IMO is dishonest to your readers/listeners/fans.

In my opinion (again it is only my opinion) that it is the responsibility of the company to do the legwork of not leak their products. This embargo debate has been one that has raged for years in the tech and video games news industries.

This is the whole beauty of the blogosphere to begin with. It is ruthless, gotta get to it first reporting. The thing is though that this isn’t an either or debate. Just like in the “real news” world there is a place for the 60 Minutes type site that is slower but does more in depth and then there is a place for the TMZ’s of the world.

> Let us know if you hear anything you think we should care about.

Well, you didn’t write something about the new Kyma hardware, Paca Rana & Paca. But maybe you are waiting for something :)I can’t believe the price of this boxes. No audio interface, no midi interface… It’s just a PC and a software. A great software, but 2900$ ? Comon…

We as journalists have to work with the manufacturers to bring you the information you need. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement, especially if like me, you depend on the good relationship with the manufacturer to get the gear in for a test.

It would be possible to go renegade and post any and every snippet of secret info we come across, but in such a niche scene, we have the possibility to do much damage. And seeing as everyone knows everyone else, eventually nobody would speak to the renegade because in such a small industry, sources can be quickly traced. And channels for review gear would disappear as well.