Voyager Editing Software - Should we pay?!

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:45 pm

Is it just me or is it a little unreasonable to charge $80 for the Voyager editor? Two days ago, I purchased a new AE, and today I got a VX351 (very cool btw). I still need a gig bag and dust cover. All in all, this is a bleep load of money... I don't think it is too unreasonable to expect the editing software to be free for a synth of this value.. There are many very low value synths out there that come with free editing software. Even the $200 DX200 I purchased a few years back came with a free editor..

Just my thoughts.. Sorry if this has been discussed before.

The Unknown · Post by **The Unknown** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:11 am

The reason the editor isn't free, is because it is a third party product. Simple as that.

Qwave · Post by **Qwave** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:45 pm

...There are many very low value synths out there that come with free editing software...

And some of those low value synths really need an editor to design sounds at all.
The Voyager is a synth, that is not a hardware controller for some software like some japan synth that is a scalled down version of an old synth.
And it is not without knobs like some rack unit by a very well known name that made a well known 5 voice synth years ago.
And it is not a knobless synth without a way to edit on board like the new german polysynth by someone in Berlin.
The Voyagers main feature beside its well known sound is its userinterface with real knobs and switches.

Boeing 737-400 · Post by **Boeing 737-400** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 3:11 pm

So is the new PolyEvolver Keyboard. And it comes with a free editor.

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:14 pm

"So is the new PolyEvolver Keyboard. And it comes with a free editor."

Yep!

My point was (is): we can all think of loads of reasons why they SHOULD charge for the editor but we are still left with the single remaining fact: the Voyager is as high-end as you can possible go and we all choose to pay for this, but, is it so unreasonable to expect the editor to be free?!

Qwave mentions the fact that the Voyager's interface is so good and hence, an editor is not really required. But to me this is another argument FOR the editor to be free! All I want it for is a librarian and random generators are often fun, $80 for this is a lot of money..

We/I have paid top-dollar for the ultimate mono synth. But lets be honest about this, a considerable % of our money was for the name 'Moog' which is fine. I made a choice and Im sticking to it.. I will own the AE Voyager #AE0679 until the day I die, ideally being buried with it! [will being buried 6ft under the ground invalidate my warranty?] Every accessory proudly carries the name Moog and we pay for this; but this is a computer program!

Qwave · Post by **Qwave** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:41 pm

To see why "We/I have paid top-dollar for the ultimate mono synth." look inside:
http://www.till-kopper.de/voyager.html

From the day I opened my Voyager (just like all synths I own), I knew I wasn't paying the name that much. I was paying for real hardware mainly.

Btw: I bought the software licence as an extra. And I use it now and then to create some new sounds by morphing patches.

monads · Post by **monads** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:12 pm

I never purchased the software. The only thing I like about it is the bank/patch mgmt. features. Should it be free? Tough call. At least you don't really need it thanks to the user friendly OS

thebedroom · Post by **thebedroom** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:50 pm

actually, the editor for the poly evolver only comes free with the rackmount version. dave does not include it with the keyboard version since the parameters can be accessed by front knobs via tweaking, so mono evolver & poly key owners are required to pay for the editor software just like us.

Boeing 737-400 · Post by **Boeing 737-400** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:36 am

Indeed it doesn't. I thought that since the PolyEvolver came with it, the keyboard version would too.

monads · Post by **monads** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:36 am

Boeing 737-400 wrote:Indeed it doesn't. I thought that since the PolyEvolver came with it, the keyboard version would too.

I thought the same thing too, and really it should be free with both. The keyboard version costs more, why not just throw it in as a bonus?

Well hey, if they don't want to throw it in as a cool bonus I'm fine. Just glad we don't have to pay for OS updates. That would totally suck.

JvS · Post by **JvS** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:16 pm

It would be a nice gesture if the editor came for free. But on the other hand, the Voyager is such a great instrument that I'm happy to pay for a good editor/librarian. It just deserves that. And so I did.

Why don't we start a topic about what we would like to see improved on this program. Since we all paid for it, I guess we are entitled to feedback what we like and don't like. That's a positive thing about something you actually paid for

I like the program but IMHO there's room for improvements in future updates. I would like to have an option to select multiple patches, like in Windows Explorer, with control-mouseclick so you can drag a whole bunch of sounds from one pane to the other.

Gawd I dig this AE, in combination with my Kurzweils it's just awesome. Yesterday I had to play on a Motiv from somebody else at a gig and though it's not a bad synth, it just kind off sucked after I just spend hours tweeking my Moog. Everything else sounds pretty digital now

Cheers
Jan

boose44 · Post by **boose44** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:46 pm

I must admit to being mixed about this.

On the one hand I remember getting a free copy of Sounddiver for my one synth, and also getting a free editor for a virtual analog card it used.

On the other hand, I had to buy a program for my uQ as it didn't come with *anything*, and I bought another editor for a Matrix I used to have.

So, I'm not really pro or con either way. I've gotten great editors that were freeware, and junk editors that I paid for.

In a few months, after some more of the dust has settled from my recent Voyager purchase I'll probably go ahead and buy a copy of it.

-bruce

monads · Post by **monads** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:06 am

Well over the weekend and trying out the demo I ordered the editor. Patch management is just easier. I don't like though how if when I back-up my patches it's tied to the editor. Meaning I'm still going to back-up SysEx incase develolpment for the editor ever ceases.

So how long does it take to get the code/license? I ordered on Saturday...and I know it was a holiday weekend...

goldphinga · Post by **goldphinga** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:30 am

i dont have the editor, but if you spend that much on a synth another $80 hardly breaks the bank does it! this is a third party product and the voyager is a complex analog/digital hybrid so its not as straightforward to make an editor when compared with a completely digital version. if you need it buy it. why do people always think software should be free???

i feel for software developers who work hard to make good software like the voyager editor then people demanding it for free. how do they make a living? moog are still a relatively small company and maybe absorbing the cost of the editor so it can be free is just not possible.

i dont have the editor yet as still on os9.2 mac but when i get my G5 i will buy the editor straight away.

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:05 am

"if you need it buy it. why do people always think software should be free???"

This answer to this question is in all the above posts..

Thanks,