What NOT To Buy This Black Friday - I Upset Software Developers - FREEBIES To Satiate Your G.A.S.

[@KeyboardPonderings]

"Explore what I already have." Excellent advice!

[@IanWaugh]

An oldie but a goodie and should save a few pennies 😊👍

[@nkronert]

Neh, that will take too much time. I'd better buy some new stuff 😊

[@IanWaugh]

@@nkronert I'm leaning that way, too! 🤣

[@rick49]

Good info. Thanks Ian!

[@IanWaugh]

Cheers Rick 😊👍

[@frederikclement7795]

Thanks for the tips on zyclop and soundpaint!

[@IanWaugh]

Not yet tries Zyclop but eager to do so. Soundpaint is definitely one of my Go Tos for all sorts of sounds 👍

[@SěmtêxČØŴv2.0]

Well 2024 is the year I’ve got the pc and the money, to finally scratch the itch that is Arturia’s V Collection. You’re 100% right, the first time buyer discount is awesome. I love my microfreak physical synth even more, it’s got me a very nice special offer 😁. Thanks for the freebie links 👍.

[@IanWaugh]

Good stuff! The V Collection is awesome. It'll keep you out of mischief till next BF. Probably... 😄

[@SěmtêxČØŴv2.0]

No comment, but 39 new synths should keep me going for a good while. I anticipate at least day only playing orchestra bursts on the CMI 😁.

[@IanWaugh]

@@SěmtêxČØŴv2.0 I'll have to try that 😄 There are synths from v8 I haven't fully explored and barely looked at the new stuff in X 😢

[@glyndarby1715]

Great advice, I’m waiting/hoping that Synapse Audio Legend HZ goes on sale, because it’s the only thing I would like. One I did see that is a good buy but I already own is the Harrison Mixbus 10 for $15 instead of $99. Cheers Glyn.

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Glyn- that's a good deal. I'm afraid I wouldn' consider paying that much for Legend 😲 But on the other hand, if it's really what you want... 😊

[@NeuroPete]

Thanks, Ian. I really enjoyed this video - by far my favorite of the multitude of "Black Friday" videos I have watched so far this year. For stuff I want to buy that I am willing to wait for, I put it on a wishlist, waiting for a future sale, especially Black Friday, Christmas or the Spring. My criteria are similar to yours. First, is it likely to be useful for the types of music I want to create (mainly songs and ambient)? I spent way too much on expensive orchestral libraries when I am not looking to create perfect mockups. I wish Musio 1 (currently $149 perpetual) would have been available then. Second, is it significantly better or different than what I already have? Especially with mix/master/creative effects plugins, such as reverbs, compressors, eq's, sound manglers, etc.. Until I have developed the "ear" to hear the difference, I won't try to buy "better" ones than I currently own, even if the deal is smoking good. Third, is it either a good deal or something that I think I might make use of soon? I have learned my lesson from the Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate collection. There are some libraries I wanted that I held off buying that now may make the upgrade from v14 to v15 worth buying for me. I will be interested to see if there is a sale for the upgrade between now and next Spring. Forth, is it easy to install, use, and find presets later? If you can't find it, you don't have it. Like you, I look for NKS compatible, as I love the ability to search and audition presets. But often, I will buy an inexpensive special-purpose library for my musical toolbox, where I know where to find a specific type of sound, such as choirs, niche orchestral/percussion instruments, cinematic/ambient underscores, or specialty/quirky instruments. Will I buy anything this Black Friday / Christmas? So far, nothing tempts me, but the year is not over.

[@IanWaugh]

Hi Pete - thanks for your kind comments and super info 👍 I like your BF/sale criteria - you should have made a video about it 👍 Although I was determined not to buy anything, I am tempted by a couple I have been curious about which have small reductions. Yes, be interesting to see if the KK 15 upgrade goes on sale. I really don't think I'll get it unless or until it does. Pretty sure it will at some point

[@KeyboardPonderings]

Great list of freebies, I think I have all of them except the Kontakt freebies. Also, I couldn't get TyrellN6 to load. Kept getting errors. I may try again. I've had my eye on the Arturia collection. I'm going to pass on it this year. I decided to pick up a couple GForce instruments on sale. They seem much higher quality instruments: OB-X, OB-E, OB-1. Also picked up UA's Waterfall B3 Organ, Opal Morphing Synth, Moog Minimoog, also on sale. So... I won't be spending any more $$$ this year. ;)

[@IanWaugh]

Awesome - you've got some great stuff - GForce is stellar. Haven't installed Tyrell on this installation but was working on the last. odd.

[@KeyboardPonderings]

@@IanWaugh I figured out the problem with Tyrell N6. I'm running Cubase Pro 14 on native Apple Silicon. Cubase Pro 14 only supports VST2 when running in Rosetta mode, which I have no interest in doing. Also, the VST3 version of Tyrell is buggy. The developers have stated they are currently unable to get the VST3 version working properly, and to use the VST2 version. So, I guess I'll pass on Tyrell for now.

[@IanWaugh]

@@KeyboardPonderings Ah, well at least you know what's going on. I'm using a PC which is not without it's problems 😤

[@F.R.B.Synths]

❤❤❤

[@IanWaugh]

👍👍👍

[@definitelynotnammanade]

I just bought Pigments 5 on Thomann for 83 usd. Then they offers cross grade like Fx collection 5 for 69 and V collection for 99 and I already get komplete standard 2 days ago 😭 still deciding to get fx and v because I think next time it's not gonna show up again.

[@IanWaugh]

Wow! They are good deals. If you want 'em, go for it 👍 Have to say though, I haven't used FX as much as I'd hoped. I'm sure they are great emulations but on a computer I think graphic displays are easier 😊

[@definitelynotnammanade]

Indeed, this is what I think. I'm not gonna use Fx a lot (or not at all. Shaperbox 3 has already been my go to) but it's a passage to get V for 99 (I got V for 149 at first but asked their support and they say there'll be cross grade to V from Fx). Fomo hits me haaaaaard 😂

[@IanWaugh]

@@definitelynotnammanade Yeah, I'd defo recommend V. Shame they can't come up with a fair and consistent pricing system. Get it while you can 😄

[@martinausdeutschland]

80,000 presets? I found I have much more fun to twiggle around with a synth and find nice patches/settings by myself. And sometimes it's more fun to me, if the synth has restrictions - more restrictions, more fun. ;-)

[@IanWaugh]

Yes, you're absolutely right. I love messing with my rather limited Moog Grandmother, there's a connection between you and the synth when you tweak 👍 but sometimes you need to see what else is out there 😊

[@GrumpiDukk]

Agree with what you say re Arturia, NI & Steinberg pricing, though I did cave in on a BF Arturia deal to upgrade from FX3 to FX5 for 49EUR. I'm still sitting on V Collection 9 atm although their BF deal to upgrade to X is 99EUR. I'll wait and see what is in XI which is coming soon and maybe upgrade next BF. All the NI Komplete editions will be 50% off in their "Summer of Sound" promo in 2025 - I'll stick to Komplete Ultimate CE 13 for now. Cubase 14 upgrade will be 50% off in summer 2025 - if you can wait that long! The worst offender for me is Reason Studios. At launch the upgrade price to Reason13 from R12 was 199/GBP/USD/EUR for a synth and a delay and a couple of utils!. Now on sale at 50% off - I'll pass on that too. Best deal I've had so far is from Plugin Boutique - Baby Audio Super VHS for about a fiver and GForce Axxess synth as a freebie... nice.

[@IanWaugh]

Everyone wants a piece of your wallet 😄 I did the FX upgrade, can't quite recall the price but I don't use most of them. I like the Tape Echoe as I had an original 501 back in the day 😊 I remember reviewing Reason when it first came out. Everyone was blown away by the wiggly cables 🤣 Never used it or got into it since although it seems a good system.

[@GrumpiDukk]

@@IanWaugh True - for any collection you buy - probably use less than 50% of the stuff. The thing about Reason is that upgrade price is the same whether you are upgrading from version 1 or all the way through (like me) to version 12. So not a reward for faithful users. They really want you on their monthly subscription model. Great software though - you can run the Reason rack as a plugin in any DAW - complete with wiggly wires 🤣

[@IanWaugh]

@@GrumpiDukk Subscriptions are a great model for the company but usually not so much for the customer 🤔 That upgrade system is bonkers😤 Not sure I'd want to support a company doing that...🤔

[@axs203]

Some hardware synth really cheap. I had a bit of money after I got Xmas out of the way then my bike for work packed up. So no BF for me then.

[@IanWaugh]

Oh, sorry to hear that. Upsets always seem to happen at the worst time 😢 Not really looking at hardware, mainly coz I can't use the thing with displays and most also have multi-button funcions. Hey ho... 😤

[@axs203]

@@IanWaugh There are some bargains to be had.....The Roland Gaia 2 is half price as I am sure you have seen......I like the layout of it ..shame it's not multitimbral. The Uno Pro X as well down to £200. Korg have lopped off lots for the full size OP 6 and Platinums but I guess we expected that 😄 I wanted a T.E Medieval. I think it's such a good and fun device. Also the new Sonicware Ambient 0 looks interesting. I must admit as time goes on I want simplicity in devices which most do not have. I used a Casio SK app the other day and Animoog for OS X (both very cheap ) and was really impressed by the simplicity of it and immediacy. What plugins are you tempted buying with Ian - any?

[@IanWaugh]

@@axs203 It's interesting when hardware get discounted by so much - says something I think 🤔 - although no reason not to take advantage of it Considering Dreamtonics' Synthesizer V which really sounds so much better than Emvoice although, apparently, they don't discount often and are offering a miserly 20% 😤

[@pmc5532]

Now do i Play with my AN200 thats not seen any light of day for years🤔 or go and get a East beast or Kobal expander Mm 🤗 ❤ new things😂 Cheers Ian.

[@IanWaugh]

If the hardware is 50% off I'd go for it 😄 Although Behringer stuff is well-priced as it is (can't believe I said that 😲)

[@iamelohym]

Did you try Zyklop yet, brother?

[@IanWaugh]

Hi - yes, just tried it, running through the presets - very nice 👍 Trying to get to grips with the interface 🤔 Stellar for free 😲

[@iamelohym]

@@IanWaugh I am sure, you will figure it out and looking forward to hear the results.

[@IanWaugh]

@@iamelohym Not sure how far I'll get with my eyes but it's free so you can try it and let me know what you think 😊

[@iamelohym]

@@IanWaugh I already did.🙂There is a cool walkthrough on the Dawesome KZbin by the Developer. He kind of quickly goes through every parameter and makes good overall sense in the end.

[@IanWaugh]

@@iamelohym Great, thanks, will deffo take a look, just haven't had time recently. So what do you think?

[@rodnee2340]

GO MAD! I'M BUYING SYNTHS AND SYNTH MODELS. I'm buying effects. I'm buying Teenage Engineering, I'm buying Korg, im buying beringer! Im buying anything I wanted, but was too expensive. I'm buying the world. Do not listen to this folly! Buy the things you want but could never afford! QUICK MARCH!

[@IanWaugh]

ha! Ha! You are a member of the Synth Manufacturers Consortium and I claim my £5 🤣

[@4mb127]

You don't really know much about making and selling software. Just saying.

[@IanWaugh]

Enlighten me...