Ive been using the sister site and this one for several years as a hobbyist, initially starting downloading from our sister site. Then as years passed by I started feeling bad and started buying software. This weekend I had a major crash and decided to have a clearout and start again. I have a list of VST's and VSTi's quite substantial. Now looking at the list its about 50/50 between legit and Try B4 you buy stuff, and after three days of strugling installing all the legit stuff, with all their protections updates and general junk that these time wasters sell us.. yes three days and I used to work in software. Then when it comes to Try B4 you buy stuff it took about 2 hours to install. I'm begining to think now that going legit was a very bad thing
As the scene nfo's say, "It's not piracy, it's alternative solution". If you buy the software, you needn't feel bad about installing the alternative version. Which is often a lot easier, especially if your music machine is air-gapped from the internet!
I don't feel bad. Really. If I feel something is worth buying, I will and I do, but I "try" for quite a while before I make that decision, but no, I don't feel bad about it and neither should you.
I have many legit licenses but end up using "try before you buy" stuff because -updates are up faster -installers are somehow easier to obtain -pretty often work (lets say) faster* than legit stuff Long Live To The Scene! (but dont forget the developers) . . . . *in certain cases even better
im not against it, it helped me like crazy at one point in my life and im grateful i was able to have them when i needed them. its just now i make too much money to be doing that shit, i should be helping people who are trying to make a living doing what they love, especially if theyre making shit that im using to do exactly that, the fuck am i doing? so yeah i started feeling bad. i have noticed i value softwares more now, like i havent a bought a new one in a minute because i got something that does it well; and since i already bought it, imma use it. the trial periods are also long enough to tell if id cop something or not, i dont miss cracks
If you have the money, you should buy software that you use (often). I am poor. For me, the question is not whether to buy software costing more than 30 euros or to use the "unlimited trial version" from the sister site instead. Either I use the sister site or my hard drive remains empty. Some people's idea that any use of cracked software inevitably causes damage to the vendor, because otherwise you would have bought the software legally, is simply wrong. And even if you have a licence for the software, it's no secret that using 'free' software can be worthwhile.
I buy what I use but mostly what hits my hard drive are the sister site's offerings instead of going through the online hassle, the crooked path that I am tasked with to install them. Devs like Klanghelm both get my money and a place in my heart for their minimal protection.
If you want to have total peace of mind: Buy the software, install and in stall and use the try-before-you-buy version. (In Germany this is not only absolute legit, it is handled by a lot of people and studios.And you are on the right side regarding the IRS/Finanzamt, and morals and ethics.) . . . . Uh... now I have ratted out a secret? Anyway. As long as it's legit, that's OK.
