Waves go subscription only!

[The Elf]

I think a lot of damage will have been done and they could live to regret it mightily.

While creating a mix this morning I've made it a point to try replacing every Waves plug-in in my channel presets with an alternative. TBH I've found better solutions in a couple of instances.

[Luke Wood SOS News Editor]

The latest update is now in our News section.

The previous story still available, and now just covers the two new subscription packages and StudioVerse feature.

[Kwackman]

I suspect there'll be an accounting/marketing team getting the hairdryer treatment.

[MeJ]

I just got a snivelling rollback letter from Waves. Good, but as previously said, they will be paying for this in shifted attitudes and trust.

I don't in principle object to subscription offerings, as long as they are an option. For some people they can make sense, but there has to a benefit to the subscriber.

I stopped using Adobe products when they moved to subscription only, but then I'm not in professional graphics, if you are there's no choice. But that's not the case at all for film, Adobe is now a minor player.

In the plugin field AFAIK both Melda and Plugin Alliance offer subscribe-to-own models, which make a lot more sense to me. I did take up the PA "all" offer last year.

Also these companies (and many others) DON'T restrict me to just two machines (I have four in use, main DAW, VEP, mastering machine, location laptop, obvs. not all at once)...

[Drew Stephenson]

Anyone got a strong recommendation for a good de-esser? I like Waves Sibilance and I've never got on with the JS one in Reaper for some reason.

Have you tried ReaFIR in compression mode? It is easy to see and then tune out the sibilance.

I haven't, I shall add that to the list. I've only really used ReaFIR as a noise reduction tool - I've been aware it's capable of a lot more but not had a play.
Thanks

[Alperian]

As more companies go subscription model, the big winners here will be the DAW manufacturers as more bedroom producers decide that their trouble-free stock plugins ain't so bad after all.

Now under a waves subscription it's impossible for old tracks to work faithfully again if the subscription is stopped. Bounce or freeze all your tracks quickly?

For me, I was in a quandary as to upgrade (Horizons + more) or not. Now the decision happily has been taken out of my hands. I won't be subscribing.

Ignore my above. Now I have a quandary again

[sonics]

Well that reversal didn't take long, did it?
I was thinking they'd wait until Saturday.

Whilst the decision is helpful to me since it'll allow me to WUP a couple of the older plugins (at which level I'll then be happy to stay for the forseeable future) I do wish they would say sorry by giving us two perpetual licenses. That's still a negative point for me.

[dbfs]

It's good to see that they rolled back as it gives some people time to adjust. However, the very poor heavy handed approach taken in the first instance was indeed shameful in my view.

I guess today was a zero revenue day for them and that's the reason for the cold feet. I truly cannot accept that they thought pulling everything perpetual overnight without warning and forcing people into all or nothing subscriptions was good for customers. To suggest that would make them either really out of touch, stupid or dishonest.

Every second that passed gave competitors a leg up and opened people's eyes to other options.

I will stick to my gut feeling and avoid them, despite having most of their stuff. For me they were not always the best plugins. But the were native and reliable.

I feel differently now. The trust is gone and I hope it does cost them.

Goodbye Waves.

[dbfs]

ps, Martin, the document with alternatives is a great idea, thanks for linking.

[Drew Stephenson]

As more companies go subscription model, the big winners here will be the DAW manufacturers as more bedroom producers decide that their trouble-free stock plugins ain't so bad after all.

This ^^^!
Stock plugins are so good now you really have to wonder what the thinking was because, retraction or not, that seed has now been planted.

[ITHertz]

Anyone got a strong recommendation for a good de-esser? I like Waves Sibilance and I've never got on with the JS one in Reaper for some reason.

Plugin Alliance have the SPL and Lindell. Also Toneboosters.

[dbfs]

It seems that upgrades are still gone.

So when they say "You now have full choice." Presumably they mean now you have full choice to buy separate plugins to upgrade or to buy a bundle from scratch e.g. mercury with no recognition of your existing licences.

If that's the case then they are still sharks.
Beware buying anything from them untill things become clearer.