This illustrates a problem with software generally, that it's dependent on the platform it runs on and once updates stop it's only a matter of time before it's left behind by new OS and audio/plugin formats. Unlike a 50 year old ukelele you found in the attic, you can't simply dust it off, tune it up and play it. Sad really.

 

Or one PC for internet and one PC for making music. I have very old plugins running in 32 bit in Synapse Audio Orion - 32 bit Daw. However, on a 4K monitor - 64 bit system. you have to reset the resolution of your PC to even read the controls. I made a soundbank for the nrg-A because it sounds so good. It's from 2006 and it still works without any errors.

Also the company bankruptcies are worshipful. A positive example was the Vember Audio - Surge VSTi programmer who said he had no more time to take care of the Surge and made it open source and it is still free today and has been totally modernized by a Github crew. The Devine Machine - Krishna Synth (last update 2009) cost over 200 EUR and the company went out and they take the code with them to the grave.

 

Thank you for this. Good to hear from the fella himself. You can almost tell just by looking at Plasmonic that it's made by the Absynth guy. Physical modeling meets subtractive synthesis with MPE support. Sign me up.

 

Absynth was so ahead of its time when it was released.
I think that this synth is still relevant in 2022 but apparently NI begs to differ.

 

I guess they don't want or can not do a VST3 and/or apple M1 version, which makes it unsellable in a new Komplete (14) which will need to have vst3 and M1 support.
Same happened when everything needed to be coded for 64 bit a few years ago, spectral delay and vocalsynth where abandoned.

 

We need new business models:

Software programmers should get together and form a cooperative and we the customers would then buy cooperative shares.
And we would all decide which software we want to have.

 

Software plugins are so valuable than almost nobody will run them on old computer/virtual machine just to get the sound of it.
Whereas vitual machine cost nothing, and old computer second hand cost less than the plugin.
That's how you know the final "software value" : when not "practical" enough (GUI,compatibility...) ppl just drop it.

Remember the 32bits episod ?
Most ppl dropped their 32bits softs/plugs like old socks (not me).

During this time, DX7 still cost around 700-900 bucks.

Softwares can be expansive from start, BUT they tend to be ZERO at the end.
Not hardware.

Virtual 0
Reality 1

 

Yes. And there are other famous examples of that kind of "generosity" from some companies, either by closing the door either simply by dropping a product or leaving free a previous version. I can cite for example these:

• A long time ago... I remember Tone2 Firebird which became free around 2012-2013. It has now vanished from the website, even from the "Download" page... but Tone2 let the download still available for those who know its direct link.
• In February 2019 D16 Frontier limiter became free.
• In June 2020 Sys Audio Research updated their Ton-Geraet synth to fix an issue... and definitively made the synth free.
• In April 2021 Ocean Swift ceased their activity and made free their entire line of synths. The site has vanished now but I'm gonna do a zip file of them all to download on my webspace. The versions on Plugins4Free are not all at their last versions.
• Last February ToneBoosters made free all the v3 or their great effects plugins. Watch the question "Where can I find older (legacy v3) plug-ins?" in this page.
• And a few weeks ago, Novation B-Station, V-Station, and Novation FX Suite became free.
• And another great example when in 2018 BandLab made free the phenomenal DAW Sonar from Cakewalk... and continues its development! And with now free instruments to download from the assistant!

EDIT: I just uploaded on my webspace all the synths that Ocean Swift (in the list above) made generously freeware just before closing the door and closing their website. It's here.

 

Last edited: Sep 8, 2022

Well Brian The développer said he would have let all his work pending if NI asked him to Work on an update M1 & vst3 cause Vst2 s no longer supported
Also he shows his new work : Plasmonic that sounds amazing but 149€ or $ it's a title too much there s no launching promo otherwise I d buy it
I m Testing the Demo

 

I use Jbridje, last week I reinstalled Edirol, to make things fast as it is light for my pc.
And yes, it is true what you say. The comidad sometimes puts us above the quality or utlidad. Like buying an old pc or just using a vst like Jbridge.
In my case I can't use a virtual machine because my pc is very bad, it freezes, it freezes, it crashes.

 

Some software, such as the Cakewalk - z3ta+ went to a music magazine. I don't know if the money is flowing.
Cakewalk Z3ta+ magware in next CM magazine 171 - I paid 79 EUR with box and manual from paper, even multilingual.

Tone2 - Firebird v2.1 VSTi - Free Download = www.audiopluginsforfree.com/firebird-2/

Ummet Ozcan - Computer Music - Genesis v1.0.2 VSTi with 4 Soundbanks
https://audiosex.pro/threads/computer-music-genesis-v1-0-2-vsti-with-4-soundbanks.31897/

 

Last edited: Sep 8, 2022

FL Studio, for example, used to have a 64 and a 32 bit version. Cakewalk - Sonar plays almost all 32 bit without problems. Sonar has its own bridge already built in. I have an old Synapse Audio - Orion DAW, the 32 bit version installed and everything runs great.

 

In my text there was the direct link to the Firebird zip file on Tone2's website.

 

I had purchased all the synths from Cakewalk. Triangle I and II, Square, Pentagon, Z3TA+2, Dimension Pro, Rapture, etc. as soon as they were released long years ago.
All were excellent.
And today all can be still installed again, with the serial numbers (the online installers were not really required). And I still use them with the same pleasure.
I hope one day BandLab will take up Z3TA+ to make it revive and improve, even if it is outdated at its current state today. For the moment they have taken up the virtual instruments but a real synth is missing at their catalog to run on the DAW.

 

The successor to the Cakewalk (formerly rgc:audio) is the Cakewalk - Z3TA + 2
www.cakewalk.com/products/z3ta (No Longer Available) https://www.kvraudio.com/product/z3ta-and-by-cakewalk

Cakewalk has announced that Z3TA+ 2 is now available for download and purchase. The waveshaping sound of Z3TA+ is now better than ever, with new filters, modulatable waveshapers, flexible effects, expressive control and a new interface.
www.kvraudio.com/news/cakewalk-releases-z3taand-2-17055

I made 9 soundbanks for it (free!!!) www.kvraudio.com/product/9-free-z3ta-and-2-soundbanks-by-sonic-sirius
and/or here: http://ohlenbostelhelge.magix.net/public/misc.htm

 

Yes, many 32-bit plugins still run perfect. And some were gems which have never been replaced by other more recent products. Is is simple to use them in DAWs and hosts which keep on maintaining the compatibility with 32-bit architecture.

 

Yes, and I use your soundbanks.
On Z3TA+ I especially love a lot Andromeda Galaxy.
Your two banks for Discovery Pro also.
And the one (you should make a second one) for ImpOscar 2.
And the one for Messiah (you never made one for Memorymoon and for ME80, these two synths would deserve a bank from you).
It's funny also that you never made a bank for Alpha or Octopus or Spectral after your bank for ChronoX... I would have loved them, sure!
I remember also the two excellent banks you made for TAL, and the great one you made for Syn'X.

 

The 'launching promo' happened like 2 years ago when Plasmonic was released. There was even a kickstarter for it, its not his fault you missed it.

 

Well that's a surprise, a little praise and appreciation always does us good. Thank you!
Thanks for the tip for the soundbank you could still make. I really appreciate it.

Your BlackWinny avatar exudes something positive - alive and confident. I continue to look forward to your contributions.

There were already so many good sound banks for the Alpha that I couldn't create any added value with my sound art.
Memorymmoon is not scalable and is not 4K ready, which means I can't read the sliders at all.

In the download link there are 3 Lnplug sounds:
- The Space Soundset by CHE for the LinPlug - Spectral VSTi
- The ReAction Soundset by CHE for the LinPlug - Octopus VSTi
My Homepage: http://ohlenbostelhelge.magix.net/public/misc.htm
Direct Download Link: https://mega.nz/file/zngniAbQ#w2L56tryMfjF6LHkisM4EMBZfiGJeyaXLZd4S-7G4aQ