Live software subscription?

[arachnaut]

All this talk about pricing had made me think that maybe Ableton should move to a subscription service.

At, say, $10/month, that's $120/year; equal to a basic upgrade. Add more for extra features.

Have the Live application validate itself once a month on the anniversary of the purchase, like the current synchronization.

[ethios4]

Wrong. What if you don't care about upgrades? What if you don't want an upgrade right when it is released? The thought of monthly fees for using software sickens me.

[arachnaut]

I don't doubt there are complications.

I'm talking about a model.

[beats me]

Wrong. What if you don't care about upgrades? What if you don't want an upgrade right when it is released? The thought of monthly fees for using software sickens me.

How about they offer it as an option but you don't have to do it?

[ethios4]

Yar! Still it makes me sickly!

I guess if it was just an option I couldn't complain much, but it would feel like a slippery slope that leads to subscription only, which I would hate and very possibly stop using Live if that happened.

[smutek]

I know this is completely not what you are asking about, but here goes anyway..

You could just open a dedicated savings account and put $10 a week in and pretend it's your subscription. If you have direct deposit it would be even easier to do, just divert it straight to the savings account and you'll never miss it.

The key is making sure you forget about the money and don't touch it for anything else.

By the end of the year you'd have $520.00 - enough for the annual upgrade, and change left over for whatever else.

hmm.... actually that might not be a bad idea.

[arachnaut]

I know this is completely not what you are asking about, but here goes anyway..

You could just open a dedicated savings account and put $10 a week .

Yes, but I'm talking about $10/month.

I don't for a minute think there are complications, but the current update process is far from simple.

You can, for example pay for 1 year in advance.

I won't go into details, I'm not much of a businessman, but the concept is not far out.

[leedsquietman]

I don't see anything wrong with investigating the model if there remains a choice to opt in and out - you can do this with Samplitude (SAM for rent) although their idea is not as good and they profit off you by charging you extra at the end to buy out the product (like making interest on buying something hire purchase), Ableton can take the monthly sub off the cost of the next upgrade, making it less painful. People sub to Puremagnetik and stuff and have no problem with it (albeit they provide sounds rather than a software program)

[beats me]

I kind of see this option being similar to a publicly traded company on the stock market. You don't have to opt in, can buy their products directly, and this would also give the Abes another constant stream of revenue to invest in production, and maybe a nice large fish tank for the office.

I'm sure a lot of people would buy stock in Ableton, even if it were a drunk purchase.

[leedsquietman]

It;s not always a good idea to invest with your heart.

I once invested 200 pounds UK in shares of Leeds United, who were (still are) dear to my heart, for about 18 pence per share. The idea of voting on board policies and being able to attend the AGM with the big wigs appealed too. For a time, they soared to 35 penced a share, only to eventually be worth nothing when the club went into receivership. Many similar stories abound.

Ableton on the stock market - an interesting idea, although I don't think their turnover and profits are really enough to see them listed on a big market.

Of course, more success could bring bigger companies sniffing around with a view to buy but I hope ABleton stays independent.

[dave999z]

i wish they would just make it free but put ads all over the interface. like gmail. best webmail there is. they make money. i don't pay money. win win.

[dazzer]

OMG, let's hope Ableton never become the Leeds United of the software world...

[leedsquietman]

yeah, LET'S, given the fact that we are now a 3rd rate outfit probably hanging on by a thread again due to serious mismanagement over a number of years from idiot executives who care little for the club, but who shafted many people and ultimately the fans...whatever. Loyal fans will always remain, averaging over 21,000 per home gate in a 3rd tier league shows that.

[dazzer]

Aye.

And don't get me wrong, I speak as one who knows too. Here's hoping we get the 3 points against Stockport.

On on on.

[beats me]

It;s not always a good idea to invest with your heart.

I once invested 200 pounds UK in shares of Leeds United, who were (still are) dear to my heart, for about 18 pence per share. The idea of voting on board policies and being able to attend the AGM with the big wigs appealed too. For a time, they soared to 35 penced a share, only to eventually be worth nothing when the club went into receivership. Many similar stories abound.

Ableton on the stock market - an interesting idea, although I don't think their turnover and profits are really enough to see them listed on a big market.

Of course, more success could bring bigger companies sniffing around with a view to buy but I hope ABleton stays independent.

But I'm saying the subscription thing would be slightly different. Let's say as in individual you could give Ableton $5 - $20 a month, you choose what amount. And that's all you can do, not buying some huge amount of controlling stock. So the Abes get a steady flow of revenue and you can apply that money to whatever Ableton product you want whenever. By capping the amount you also won't have some huge amount invested in Ableton that could potentially turn you into a whining and demanding asshole. Maybe as a perk for doing this you could also get discounts or subscription only content.