The Downside of Software

[LNerell]

I was just reminded today of one of the major downsides to using just software in our audio creations. Last week both Bias Software (http://www.bias-inc.com/) who make audio editing software for the mac called Peak, and Redmatica (http://redmatica.com/Redmatica/Redmatica.html) who make editing tools for software samplers, no longer exist. In the case of Redmatica it looks like Apple bought them out, so their software might make it to part of the next version of Logic Studio (most of their software was geared towards Logic's software sampler anyway). But in the case of Bias, it looks like they are gone for good, which to me is rather sad as I have been using Peak for about 15 years now (since version 1.6, last version is 7.03). Add to this numerous software plug ins that I use frequently (like NI's Spektral Delay) that are no longer supported, not to mention Sounddiver, Apples own midi sound librarian software that Apples no longer supports and does not work with their current OS. I guess this is nothing new, I've had other software in the past disappear (anyone remember Alchemy, or Masterlist?) but its all a bit frustrating since so much of what I do is reliant upon this stuff. I know nothing lasts forever but at least most of the hardware I bought even 30 years ago still works. Sorry, just had to rant. 

[hdibrell]

I miss Seer Reality. I've often been tempted to pick up a cheap Windows 98 machine with Soundblaster Live just to run it. I agree, though, most of my old hardware is still running.

[mgriffin]

I feel your pain, Loren. The thing to remember is that abandonware doesn't suddenly stop working when the company goes out of business. Yes, you may need to keep an older computer in the studio to continue using these apps when they're no longer supported by your OS or hardware, but that's not the end of the world.

A couple of things, though, are a little strange to me.

First, why doesn't anybody make a general patch editor and librarian app for synthesizers any more? Unisyn was great, and Sound Diver wasn't bad. Can't some developer come up with a framework for people to develop and share their own patch editor interfaces? They wouldn't even have to individually support each synth... users would do that, using the framework, and could freely share the profiles.

Second, given that the Mac platform is so common in recording studios of all sizes, why hasn't at least one company come up with a top-notch app for editing stereo digital audio? Why is it that Sound Forge 1.0 from at least 15 years ago is STILL superior to any Mac OS digital audio editor? I've messed around with Bias Peak, Adobe Audition, TC Spark, Audacity, DSP-Quattro, and still keep going back to Sound Forge.

Speaking of DSP-Quattro, I thought the company had vanished but apparently they're back online again, and offering cheaper deals than ever on version 4 of their software.

http://www.dsp-quattro.com/dspquattro/Site/DSP-Quattro.html

[ffcal]

Yes, that really stinks.  I still use my now ancient Win 98 computer to run certain fractal and algorithmic software, and have kept a really old Mac Performa around to run a pre-MSP version of MAX.

Forrest

[LNerell]

I feel your pain, Loren. The thing to remember is that abandonware doesn't suddenly stop working when the company goes out of business. Yes, you may need to keep an older computer in the studio to continue using these apps when they're no longer supported by your OS or hardware, but that's not the end of the world.

Not quite true, if your hardware dies and you have to reinstall your software you might be out of luck it it requires some sort of server authorizing like Peak does. This happened to me with Masterlist, Hyperprism, and Bitheadz software.  None of it is useable anymore as I can't get any of it authorized.

[APK]

You'd think when a software company goes out of business that they would set the stuff free and remove the need for authorization, especially if the authorization requires a response from the author's site.

Of course, on the hardware side gear companies orphan stuff fairly quickly, and also go out of business leaving little recourse for repair or spare parts.

[mgriffin]

You're right, Loren. I forgot about those companies that use server-side validation, then go out of business and shut down the servers.

And you're right too, APK -- companies that don't intend to support an app any longer should either make it public domain, or sell it cheap to some other company that will support and update it.

[phobos]

First, why doesn't anybody make a general patch editor and librarian app for synthesizers any more? Unisyn was great, and Sound Diver wasn't bad. Can't some developer come up with a framework for people to develop and share their own patch editor interfaces? They wouldn't even have to individually support each synth... users would do that, using the framework, and could freely share the profiles.

Regarding patch editor/ librarians I think Midiquest is still available, for Mac and PC
http://www.squest.com/index.html

[Scott M2]

Speaking of Logic... I started out with Notator on Ataris which evolved into Logic (in quite a quantum jump)
which then abandoned Ataris for Macs & PCs. I went the PC route and then Apple bought out Logic and
soon after, abandoned it on PCs. I drew the line and abandoned Logic, since it had abandoned me.

Started again with Sonic Foundry (Sound Forge, ACID & Vegas), which was bought out by Sony but they have
been updating regularly for Windows. ACID hasn't had an update for a couple of years but it works on Win7.
That should keep me going for a few more years until I see if they update ACID for future OS changes.

Man, I have various somewhat-crippled old computers lurking around my studio for when I need old software:
a Win95, Win 2000 and XP-Pro plus an old Atari, which I keep for old Notator and Sound-Diver files but haven't
booted for quite a while - hmmm, should test it soon.

[SunDummy]

Aren't there "virtual OS" programs that let you use old software on new machines?

[mgriffin]

Yes, in fact that's a good solution. I've got Sound Forge running on my Mac Pro inside a VMware Fusion installation of Windows XP. Lots of people use VMware virtualizations to run old software that requires an old OS.

[EOG]

To Loren: One thing a friend and I have discussed (in addition to the authorization "thing"), is most if not all the software companies seem to be going to software download only. Granted most still require online authorization even with a disc copy but download only kind of troubles me. I can definitely appreciate being enviro-friendly but I suspect download only is more about cost-cutting measures. I'd still like to have a disc copy. It's curious to see where the industry is going to go and how it will effect what we do at home. Of course most if not all of us have been seeing this trend for some time.