Slate Everything Bundle $149 special this week

[David Polich]

I bought at least two Slate plugins per year until
their subscription model came out. For less than
the price of one plugin, I subscribe for the year and
get everything Slate puts out (except for their drum
stuff or their hardware solutions). No matter how
many scenarios I consider, it always comes back
to the yearly subscription being a total no-brainer.

Nothing is forever...Slate could fold, MOTU could go
out of business, an asteroid could hit the earth
and destroy life as we know it. So I dont waste
time wondering if its wiser to buy these plugs.
AFAIK it IS wiser to subscribe.

Replace every Slate plugin with something else?
No I dont think so. I dont know of any other
single plugin like VerbSuiteClassics..there isnt
one. There is no equivalent to Slate's Repeater,
or their FG-Bomber compressor. Or their Virtual
Buss Compressors collection. Trust me I've searched
and demoed.

Not that other vendors dont make great plugins.
I just doubt you'll find another vendor that offers
such a comprehensive set of tools that all sound
this good.

[Gravity Jim]

Fine, David, but I own a dozen reverbs that all sound real good. Also compressors, and EQs, etc., etc. I'm not worried about needing to rebuild an old project. That happens maybe once every year or two, and if and when it does, nobody - not even me - is going to notice that the VerbSuite got replaced with a Lexicon 224 emulation.

You can say that they are so unique they're irreplaceable, and I might agree on on the FG-X. But even that can be replaced with two plugs instead of one.

This endless nitpicking over the sounds of plug-ins isn't musical or creative. It's the same kind of minutiae guitar players get lost in when they start talking about not just amps, but the tubes in those amps and how far out of spec they have to drift drifted to create the Ultimate Sound.

But there isn't one. There's no ultimate sound. There's no perfect plug in. I'm a musician, not a gear head, so I can't relate. If it sounds good, it is good. If it sounds bad, it isn't.

[James Steele]

Nothing is forever...

My property taxes are due in 10 days. I think taxes may be the exception.

[David Polich]

Nothing is forever...

My property taxes are due in 10 days. I think taxes may be the exception.

True.

[David Polich]

Fine, David, but I own a dozen reverbs that all sound real good. Also compressors, and EQs, etc., etc. I'm not worried about needing to rebuild an old project. That happens maybe once every year or two, and if and when it does, nobody - not even me - is going to notice that the VerbSuite got replaced with a Lexicon 224 emulation.

You can say that they are so unique they're irreplaceable, and I might agree on on the FG-X. But even that can be replaced with two plugs instead of one.

This endless nitpicking over the sounds of plug-ins isn't musical or creative. It's the same kind of minutiae guitar players get lost in when they start talking about not just amps, but the tubes in those amps and how far out of spec they have to drift drifted to create the Ultimate Sound.

But there isn't one. There's no ultimate sound. There's no perfect plug in. I'm a musician, not a gear head, so I can't relate. If it sounds good, it is good. If it sounds bad, it isn't.

Hmm...perhaps I offended you personally. That was not the intent of my post, which I still stand by. Where else would you get a collection of several different hardware reverbs all under one roof, so to speak? If you know of one, do tell.

I'm not nitpicking, I'm merely saying that for me, the Slate Everything Bundle subscription is a really good deal and makes economic sense. Really, that's all it was. If anyone is completely happy with what they've got, then cool.

[James Steele]

Just wondering aloud here, but I recall when BIAS went out of business... wasn't there an issue with people who owned Peak not being able to authorize machines?

As far as I know, Slate is quite financially solvent, but what happens if they were to go out of business? Do the Slate plugs "phone home" via the internet to a Slate server to verify your subscription is paid up? If that were to happen... AND I'M NOT SAYING IT IS... would your subscription plugs cease to be functional?

Just wondering again. I like Steve and I'm sure his company is on solid footing but just playing devil's advocate here.

[David Polich]

Since Slate subscription plugins are authorized
via Gobbler, I think both Slate and Gobbler
would have to go out of business before Slate
subscription plugs stopped working.

The BIAS situation left BIAS Peak users still
able to authorize Peak 7. Not any versions
before that, I think. And it is still possible to
authorize Peak 7.

UAD could go out of business and leave
all of its customers unable to authorize
their hardware and plugins. Same thing could
happen to Softtube and Waves and other
vendors. I dont spend much time contemplating
these scenarios.

[James Steele]

That's good. I didn't know and I was just wondering how it authorized. I stated early in this topic that my aversion to "rent-a-plug" wasn't necessarily logical. I understand that this is a new paradigm that some developers are pushing. I have a very visceral uneasiness with it. It's sold as a convenience to users, but it seems to me it's also a way for developers to stabilize their revenue stream and not rely on new features or upgrades to bring in more income from their installed user base.

[billf]

The BIAS situation left BIAS Peak users still
able to authorize Peak 7. Not any versions
before that, I think. And it is still possible to
authorize Peak 7.

I have Peak 6 and can authorize it.

[waxman]

Had I been able to "RENT" every plug I've bought over the last 10 years I would have a fat wallet... I've spent at least double the Slate deal for 10 years just on UAD plugs. Not to mention the Waves gimmicky crap that is really just renting. A $39 special on a Waves plug lasts about 3 years then boom... they WUP YO ASS

[waxman]

Just wondering aloud here, but I recall when BIAS went out of business... wasn't there an issue with people who owned Peak not being able to authorize machines?

As far as I know, Slate is quite financially solvent, but what happens if they were to go out of business? Do the Slate plugs "phone home" via the internet to a Slate server to verify your subscription is paid up? If that were to happen... AND I'M NOT SAYING IT IS... would your subscription plugs cease to be functional?

Just wondering again. I like Steve and I'm sure his company is on solid footing but just playing devil's advocate here.

Steven Slate eats nails for breakfast. He is going to end up buying Apple, Roland, Korg and Yamaha... And Ford and Chevy!

[HCMarkus]

Just wondering aloud here, but I recall when BIAS went out of business... wasn't there an issue with people who owned Peak not being able to authorize machines?

As far as I know, Slate is quite financially solvent, but what happens if they were to go out of business? Do the Slate plugs "phone home" via the internet to a Slate server to verify your subscription is paid up? If that were to happen... AND I'M NOT SAYING IT IS... would your subscription plugs cease to be functional?

Just wondering again. I like Steve and I'm sure his company is on solid footing but just playing devil's advocate here.

Steven Slate eats nails for breakfast. He is going to end up buying Apple, Roland, Korg and Yamaha... And Ford and Chevy!

It has been said... "Rust never sleeps." Sounds like Steve may have a hard time sleeping, too, given THAT diet!