Komplete 15 Is Awesome - You Should Buy It - But Why I Am Not Upgrading 😲

[@christopherbuck7679]

I feel your pain, it’s a world without loyalty. I did upgrade to ableton 12 from 11, and am still slightly kicking my self for doing so, and that’s because there aren’t many packs or other instruments that I have looked at yet that I am excited over. I think you mentioned it, but like you, you can go mad with noodling with new stuff and wasting time, but you can also get expired, so it’s a devil and deep blue see place for me. I now have so many synths, effects, plugs ins blah blah I’m not sure I will ever master any one of them, so have now actively decided to curtail buying new stuff. Saying that I do like Arturia and their way of buying their patches based on music type. So for now I’m overloaded and will explore and know what I’ve got. As always Ian tape draw stuff, can’t beat the NE accent.

[@IanWaugh]

Ha! Ha! I sometimes wonder how well others understand me😄 Yes, it's a problem, Christopher. Arturia got me to upgrade to V X by throwing in the Synthx. I have no resistance 😢 But, like you, I have more sounds and FX that I xould possibly ever try nevermind use 🫢

[@NeuroPete]

Update Dec 17, 2024: The Black Friday sale had a massive 50% off new Komplete 15 purchases, but not on the update. I was willing to wait until Spring 2025, but yesterday (Dec 16), the update went on sale for 20% off, plus a 10% voucher (28% combined). I bought it, though of course, I didn't "need" it. I have finally learned a few good lessons about upgrades to the NI Komplete and Arturia V Collection bundles: First, I won't buy individual instruments at the intro discount price unless I don't want to wait for up to two years for them to be included in the upcoming bundle. Second, I will wait to see if the update goes on sale.

[@IanWaugh]

Yes, I also succumbed 😢 It's interesting that neither of us seem overjoyed with our purchase 🤔 Unless I misread... It may drop to £249 in the summer do you reckon,? So another £70 now. I have so much stuff now I really should stop

[@NeuroPete]

@ You read me right. I am not overjoyed with my purchase. I know from experience that the new libraries will likely be at best only a slight improvement over what I already have, though several were on my wish list. Still, I will likely have enough fun playing with them to justify the update fee to myself, which was $491 Canadian, including 5% tax (currently £270 British pounds). Full price for me was $682, tax included (£375). If the update discount in the Spring sale ends up being 50%, I would’ve saved an extra $150 (£100). I am ok with paying that much to have it sooner. I should stop too, but I know that I won’t. I have at least slowed down, though, and I have enough money in my retirement fund to support music software collection as a hobby.

[@IanWaugh]

@@NeuroPete It's a mixture of sad and strange🤔 There are some which I am very curious about which might justify the expense but nothing at all I nee. I paid £320 so it looks like you got a better deal than me 👍 I really, really must work on my G.A.S. strategy 😢

[@PeterJoslynHarris]

One thing I appreciate about NI is that I can legally resell instruments and expansions that I buy individually in between the bundle releases, even listing them on NI community forums. So for example when I couldn't resist buying Utopia in between upgrade cycles, I went ahead and paid for it as an individual instrument, knowing that I could sell my individual license once I upgraded to K15CE and I'd effectively get it back. I don't know any other companies that let you do that.

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Peter - yes, that's really great. I think Arturia lets you do that, to, and you can re-sell Omnisphere but just the once 😄 There are probably others but when I buy software I do so not expecting to be able to re-sell it 😊

[@malcolmbritton33]

Hi Ian, I agree with pretty much everything you said here about NI. They need to give their head a wobble on customer loyalty! Just a quick point; you get Leap, Chords and Phrases with Kontakt 8 Player as well, which I'm sure you know is a free download, so you could try out those tools without committing to any kind of upgrade. I personally wasn't that impressed with Leap, if you want that kind of functionality there are better tools out there - or try Ableton Live Lite - that's free as well!

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Malcolm - yes indeed 👍 It's good that folks can try with the Player and , yes, Ableton has lots of really cool features 👍

[@axs203]

@@IanWaugh Even though 40 years has passed it's pretty amazing now what computers can do eh

[@IanWaugh]

@@axs203 And if you told someone that 40 years ago, would they have believed you...? 😲

[@TomMarvan]

Great review and discussion, thank you! I purchased the CE14 in July 2023 and just logged in and the initial $499 price is discounted to $399.20. I didn’t check it before today, so I am not sure if it is special in anyway, or if it was the same price I would have been offered 2 months ago. I did get an email today, btw, offering a free upgrade of Kontakt 7 which claims to have some performance enhancements (loads faster, better compatibility with iOS os (I have a PC anyway)). 15:15 - how long does it take me to make US$400. On a good day, less than a day. In that respect, it might be worth it, as Kontakt is upgraded as part of the CE14 to CE15 price. But I am leaning towards no, possibly waiting for another summer sale in 2025, and certainly not buying any individual instruments or effects in the meantime. I upgraded Ozone about a year ago for about $149, and now it is being included for free as part of the newest upgrade. I will try to be patient. There really is a lot of wonderful items to play with in the meantime.

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Tom - Yes, I think the main take-away from these bundles is not to buy any individual instruments and to wait for the inevitable discount offer. No, your offer would likely be new, in the last day or so. I also received a similar offer from £449 to £349 but with an additional 10% voucher. And I succumbed ...😢 I reckon it might be £70 cheaper in the summer but who knows...? I mainly wanted Kontakt 8 which would have been an £85 upgrade for me. Soon we will be seeing libraries that will only run in Kontakt 8

[@TomMarvan]

@IanWaugh Oh no, you succumbed already! I think I recieved that voucher as well, possibly in my email, but it was soon followed by the Kontakt 7 "free upgrade" offer (I am suspicious about NI's true motives in that regard, as this kind of generosity is out of character). I am also certain that when I log into my profile directly from my browser, the $100 off and voucher is not offered. The link in the url code is probably triggering it, so I immediately went back and placed the reduced price CE15 upgrade in my shopping cart for "safe keeping" like a squirrel gathering nuts for winter. That way, if (when) I succumb, at least I'll save some $!

[@IanWaugh]

@@TomMarvan What can I say - I can resist anything but temptation 😊 You have to apply the voucher on checkout so wouldn't appear in your offers. Weird email about the Kontakt 7 upgrade as this comes through automatically in Native Access. I check it every week or two and had it already.

[@dirkschiller9060]

Thank you for sharing Ian!

[@IanWaugh]

You're welcome. What's your take?

[@dirkschiller9060]

Hey Ian, I completely agree with your points. It would be fantastic if NI could introduce better loyalty programs, tailored upgrade paths, and clearer discount periods. Additionally, having the option to create customizable bundles would be great. Regarding accessibility, I also agree that it remains a challenge across the board, regardless of the software company. Interestingly, accessibility features aren't just beneficial for users with impairments-in my opinion, a wider range of customers could greatly benefit from them. Unfortunately, I think this is an area that many software companies still don't address adequately.

[@IanWaugh]

@@dirkschiller9060 Hi Dirk - the thing is, NI - and other companies - could easily create a super loyal fan base with just a little thought 🤔 And yes, speech could benefit many users - look at the interest in speech-equiped AI 😄

[@dirkschiller9060]

Talking to GPT and challenging it a bit brings forth many great ideas that companies could utilize: Summary of Strategies for Software Vendors Current Challenges: Many software vendors tend to adopt a "milk the customer" approach, focusing primarily on maximizing profits from existing customers rather than providing value and flexibility. This can lead to customer dissatisfaction and reduced loyalty. Suggested Improvements Custom Bundling Options: Allow customers to create their own product bundles with tiered discounts based on the number of items purchased. Offer curated bundles based on specific genres or use cases. Loyalty Programs: Introduce a points system for purchases and engagement, allowing customers to earn rewards. Establish tiered memberships with increasing benefits based on spending or engagement. Subscription Models: Offer flexible subscription services with easy cancellation options and pay-per-use options for specific software. Volume Discounts: Provide discounts for educational institutions or studios purchasing multiple licenses. Facilitate group purchases to encourage collaborative buying. Freemium Models and Trials: Extend trial periods and offer basic versions for free, encouraging upgrades. Dynamic Pricing: Implement time-limited offers and personalized discounts based on user behavior. Enhanced Customer Support and Engagement: Create user forums for feedback and establish beta testing groups for new features. Collaboration with Artists and Influencers: Partner with well-known artists to create exclusive bundles and showcase advanced use cases. Transparency in Pricing: Ensure clear and upfront pricing structures to build trust with customers. Unconventional Solutions: - Crowd-Pricing: Price decreases as more units are sold, motivating community-driven purchases. - Group Buy Discounts: Users form groups to purchase together, lowering costs for all. - Gamification: Users earn discounts for engagement, referrals, or completing challenges. - Sliding Scale Subscriptions: Prices decrease as more users subscribe to the same plan. - Pay What You Want: Allow customers to choose their price during promotional periods. - Community Goals: Set milestones that trigger discounts when achieved, fostering collective motivation. By adopting these strategies, software vendors can shift from a profit-centric mindset to one that prioritizes customer experience and engagement. This can lead to increased customer loyalty, enhanced community building, and ultimately, higher sales. By implementing innovative pricing and engagement strategies, vendors can differentiate themselves in a competitive market and foster a more collaborative relationship with their users.

[@TheMirolab]

I’m at K11 Ultimate that I bought 7 years ago, and I’m facing a $400 upgrade price. It feels like a lot, but when I break it down to $57/year I think it will be worth it. What will really cost me is that my 1T SSD sample-library drive won’t be large enough anymore!

[@IanWaugh]

Yes, I bought a 4Tb drive when I got 14. I also use it to store the sample portions of other VSTs. If you're coming from 11 there is absolutely tons of new stuff, the 14 upgrade was particularly good. Have fun 👍 😊

[@craigsimmons-y7k]

Great video. There is no way on earth I would spend that amount of money on software. But if I did I would expect life free upgrades or seriously reduced upgrades. I think it's dreadful

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Craig - yes, it's a lot of money. You'll know what I think of software prices if you've seen some other videos 😊 but it seems to be the way prices are. I tend to wait until there are deals 😄

[@craigsimmons-y7k]

@@IanWaugh Thanks for the reply I will subscribe

[@IanWaugh]

@@craigsimmons-y7k Very kind and much appreciated, thank you 👍

[@CarlosSanchezcsbphoto]

Totally agree with respect to the concept of “loyalty”. This update seems to me more of a marketing campaign than a real value of the product. Total disappointment regarding Kontak 8.

[@IanWaugh]

Yes, compared to what's gone before it's a bit disappointing all round 😢

[@axs203]

I just found a review by you back in 87...The ZX spectrum music machine. 1.1 seconds sample time at 9khz. Probably more efficient than hungry old Kontakt 😅

[@IanWaugh]

Blimey! That's going back a bit 😲

[@JoseVGavila]

I am stuck in Komplete 13 Collectors Edition and really don't feel the need to upgrade either. There are plenty of other interesting things to spend the cash into 😅 And in fact I didn't went to 14th because I knew they keep up to three versions at the same price. So I could upgrade to Komplete 16 in some time (of course, when they discount it further, as in Summer of Sound). Patience pays!

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Jose - good plan 👍 Let's hope they bring out some good stuff for K16 😊

[@NeuroPete]

Hi Ian. I have Collector's Edition 14 and I haven't upgraded yet. Like you, I am getting the same price to upgrade as someone with CE 12 or 13, even though I bought a few libraries/upgrades since CE 14: Valves Pro, Vocal Colors and Music Production Suite 6.5 upgrade (which includes Guitar Rig 7 Pro and the iZotope mix/master stuff). I got these on special intro discount, so maybe that is why they aren't giving me any special pricing on the CE 15 upgrade. I am slightly annoyed that I am paying the same to upgrade as someone with CE 12 or 13, and that I am not getting any credit for the new libraries in CE 15 that I already bought, but I don't feel disrespected. I don't feel valued either, though. Native Instruments is simply trying to charge as much for libraries as they can get away with, so they can remain a viable company. It is the same pattern as with most music software companies: release a title for an initial discount, then to full price for a year or two, with the occasional sale getting better as the title ages. Eventually, the title gets old enough with better stuff coming out, that it gets added to a bundle or to a subscription service. Fair enough. Native Instruments isn't loyal to me, and I am not loyal to them. As for CE 15, there are enough new titles to justify the upgrade price to me, but I am going to wait for a better price, at least until the Black Friday and Christmas sales. But I have a feeling the price won't go down more than 10% or so before next Spring. Still, if there is something in the bundle I don't want to wait for, I may get it at the current price. Hopefully the upgrade price won't go UP! One item that tempts me a little in CE 15 is Kontakt 8. I am not very interested in the new Chords, Phrases, and Leap functions right now, but there are some UI changes that sound as if they might be helpful. Also, the next time I want a library that requires full Kontakt beyond v7, I would be tempted to upgrade to CE 15 then. For now, I can use the free Kontakt Player 8 for my NKS compatible libraries (which is most of them). As for virtual instruments I don't have, I may decide to upgrade to CE 15, if a project I am working on could benefit significantly from any of the following titles I want: Action Woodwinds, Fables, Kithara, Schema - Dark/Light, Session Guitarist/Bass/Percussionist (the recent ones). Like you, I am not interested in any of the new expansions. Also like you, I could simply explore and learn the software I have, which is way more than I need to create some great music for as many years as I have left.

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Pete - yes, I'm with you on this 👍 Many companies charge what they think they can get away with but I really think it's false economy and they'd do far better trying to keep existing customers 😲 I'm hoping for a 30-50% discount next year. I've already more than enough stuff to keep me busy forever 😄

[@D76-z2h]

No same price of £449 and in a similar position as yourself with CE14. But been generally far less disciplined than you and have bought a few individual products (not many) that will now appear in 15. I always wait anyway till the bundles have dropped again which will probably be next year at some point. I have also purchased a lot of NI Hardware so again a strange one it didn't offer a better loyalty discount. NI seem to be seriously missing a trick these days with their products when it comes to keeping their existing customer base hands on wallets. First an S Class keyboard that takes functionality away whilst adding new features. Stopping support on some of their old MIDI controllers. Now this, and am sure if the price had been in the high £300's you would be downloading it now rather than making a video. For me there's lots of better deals out there. Just swapped to Cubase 13 (as an existing Studio One user) for only £152, and picked up virtually the entire Cinesamples output with Musio at around £150 too. .

[@IanWaugh]

Thanks for the price info 👍 Yes, would have pulled the trigger at £350 😄 Lots of little things NI - and other companies could do to keep us spending... Maybe it's good that they don't 😄 Just got Museo - looks good 👍

[@D76-z2h]

@@IanWaugh I would keep looking as the pricing looks a bit odd as if someones possibly made a bit of a hash of it. The Komplete Standard addition is coming up as "best price for me" is £449 also, whilst the Ultimate with more intruments than standard is £359? NI seem to have resorting to bombarding customers with constant advertising these days which am sure costs a lot more than just knocking off a bit more to reward that loyalty and no guarantee of getting a sale. . Musio is fantastic value especially as they are adding more libraries. Sad that the legato control has not been included (yet) and things like the useful runs missing from the Hollywoodwinds. But to fill gaps in with other libraries, unbeatable. Enjoy Ian.

[@IanWaugh]

@@D76-z2h Here are my upgrade offers: Standard £449, Ultimate £359, Collector £449. Yes, that's correct 😲 I assume it's a deliberate ploy to keep me on the top two tiers...😄

[@D76-z2h]

@@IanWaugh Yeah maybe that's it. Otherewise their pricing strategy is obviously far beyond my comprehension when compared to all other offers I've ever seen. 3 Bedroom detached house - £500k, 2 Bedroom semi - £350k, Studio Flat partial kitchen and outside loo -£500K 🤔

[@IanWaugh]

@@D76-z2h Let's hope they don't start selling houses 🤣

[@xp50player]

Most of the new content is getting to be prefab music, loops, pattern- based instrumrnts, not much playable stuff. I could have done without all of it in retrospect. And there’s no demo versions of anything.

[@IanWaugh]

Hmm, doesn't sound encouraging 🤔 Best we can do for demos is to check the the 'reviews' 😊 Sorry to hear that 😭

[@leec3112]

@@IanWaugh You can demo all instruments and packs by taking the trial of the subscription for 14 days. I did and decided not to update! Not worth it at full price IMO. I'm in exactly the same boat as you by the sound of it and feel exactly the same. I think even the paltry 20% discount running ATM is a slap in the face to existing customers.

[@IanWaugh]

@@leec3112 I totally agree although I did succumb to the paltry 20% offer as they also included a 10% voucher . I reckon I could have saved another £70 if I'd waited till summer but G.A.S. is strong and I am weak😢