Ableton Forum

Waves plugins have had a subscription model for many years. There's is rather good as you don't have to buy every year. In-fact, I had version 6, did not pay for 3 year until this year, then got version 9 of all my waves plugins. I do see with sonar you get to keep all the software you have after one year of subscription even if you don't pay for another year.

Personally, I've always thought the subscription method is the way all software will go!

If Ableton do this I will change Ableton in second :-)Fruity Loops is fine DAW also.

TomViolenz wrote:

Donnie wrote:These types of subscription models are new age piracy protection in disguise.

How so?!
I doubt that measure alone would make the software harder to crack.

I would go as far as saying that this model would put the pirats at an even bigger advantage vs. the honest user than they already are.

With subscription models companies have a lot more options available for controlling propagation. They can limit updates, make full versions less available, afford to create more features that rely on online connectivity (usually unable to be cracked), better monitor and control the machines that they are installed on (therefore limiting sharing), etc. With better control it reduces the opportunity for cracking because warez/cracking crews still need a regular supply of core software and updates. Therefore subscription based software usually takes longer to get a crack for, increasing the likelihood that those who can not find a timely crack will cave in and buy it.

I'm sure there are other benefits as well, just a few ideas off the top of my head.

To get back on topic, if I cared about this subject I would probably turn an eye toward what Cycling 74 has done with Max 7.

They offer different options. You can buy the app outright, you can pay a monthly subscription, or you can pay an annual subscription at a slight discount off the price of the monthly.

Seeing how Cycling 74 has publicly stated on several occasions that many of the changes in their software and the way they run their business since Max 5 have come from working with Ableton I would say that it's not a bad bet that something like this could be coming for Live 10.

mareproduction wrote:If Ableton do this I will change Ableton in second :-)Fruity Loops is fine DAW also.

FL is a subscription model - free updates for life.

Avid and Samplitude are the only subscription DAWs out there. The option is to buy. I don't think any software will be subscription only in a very competitive market.

CFM wrote:Waves plugins have had a subscription model for many years. There's is rather good as you don't have to buy every year. In-fact, I had version 6, did not pay for 3 year until this year, then got version 9 of all my waves plugins. I do see with sonar you get to keep all the software you have after one year of subscription even if you don't pay for another year.

Personally, I've always thought the subscription method is the way all software will go!

Early Waves inflexible PUP plan actually bombed. I've read numerous pages year ago on NorthernSoundSource how people would stop using Waves. Waves and Pace had bad reputations at one time. There's a reason why Waves gives away stuff and is also very affordable. They need money from the hobbyist. Pace/iLok at one time would corrupt a hard drive. Now you see vendors giving free products for an iLok.
The last time I checked Waves PUP $300 is the maximum charge.

//Apologies if anyone thought my previous comment was sexist. It was not intended to be. It was intended to show how you can rent a product/service in participating in a yoga class, wherein you rent a space to lay your matt down and you get the service of instruction. -Steve

kitekrazy wrote:
Avid and Samplitude are the only subscription DAWs out there. The option is to buy. I don't think any software will be subscription only in a very competitive market.

Oh? Try telling that to Adobe!!

Subject of corrupt a hard drives aside...

kitekrazy I think vendors give away free products for the iLok, not because it's terrible system, but because they can tempt you with products that cost. All music software companies need hobbyists to spend their hard-earned cash, very few could survive by just providing pro-studios.

For a company a subscription model has a number of benefits. The traditional way with any DAW is that a company will get maximum income over a few months when they release a new version. Some will never upgrade so income falls as upgraders fall, so you need to sell other products or gain more users. A subscription model allows developers to add new features when they are available without the whole upgrade fiasco.

Personally, I think a better way is to give a basic form of the software free with no support, then buy a subscription which allows more features to be unlocked, company support, updates and new versions.

After reading this, I changed my mind:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/Introducing-t ... 44654.aspx

It's actually a pretty cool idea considering you get to keep the software after one year, and can pay up front for less if you want,

It seems that a subscription model could be a recipe for corporate malfeasance but I think Cakewalk got their version right. That is, once you have paid full freight the software is yours to use. Or if you prefer just pay full freight from the get go. Perhaps the best of both worlds but time will tell.

Hi all,

Long-time Cakewalk user and relatively new Ableton/Push user. I just wanted to support Erik's post - this is not a subscription model but there are a lot of misconceptions about the model - you should see the hubbub on the Cakewalk forum! WOW

Anyway, I'm loving my Live/Push combination and even just posted about my love over there: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Ableton-users ... 48979.aspx

best,

kitekrazy wrote:Waves and Pace

Waves doesn't use PACE now.

If there is a payment threshold that changes to full ownership, then the model is rent-to-own or a version of financing: not a software subscription model.

Stop it, common sense is not allowed here