Wrong, Bitwig update is only $129 a year IF YOU DECIDE TO UPGRADE, which you don't have to. Same for other DAW's. Also, the first year after purchase updates are free.

I just bought Bitwig 2.x for $299 a couple of days ago. If I'm happy with the actual features - which I are - I can use it for the rest of my life without spending 1$ more.

The subscription model for Serato Studio is a shoot in the foot IMO. If anything, make a sub for content for folks that don't already own DAW's VST's, sound libraries, sample packs etc, but not for the Studio app itself.

Let's do the math. I spent $60 for a year during the beta sale. If I were to buy bitwig on sale it's $299 with one year of updates included. My subscription would cost more then your initial cost of Bitwig if you don't update it for 4 years. That's a long time in the software world.

There was a 5 year gap between Ableton 9-10. The upgrade to the 10 suite is $249. That's about $50 a year. That's why I don't understand why people are upset about subs. If you stick with the software, you're going to paying that amount anyways.

I know Serato studio has a ways to go to compete with other DAW's, but at the end of the year, if it hasn't progressed, I'm out $60 instead of $300 or more.

I don't think using $5 a month sub ($60 per year) as an example is fair - because that's the special Beta Tester cost.

For the rest of us (in the world), 'regular customers' - don't get that special pricing. We pay double that (up-front annually), or triple that monthly.

So I'm amazed that you try to rationalize value based on a special pricing that the rest of the world doesn't get. (and then compare that to Bitwig's regular pricing).

Serato's subscription dreams, the way they currently have it, is just not going to work.

Serato's current "value proposition" (rationale) is regularly adding Sounds, Loops, Content.

I think DJs and Producers (versus Newbies) have enough Content sources already, and let's get real: Serato is not going to offer any content ("packs") that isn't readily available already. Who cares if an 808 kick is processed through analog gear. There's 100s if not 1000s of that stuff out there already.

To Save Face: they should differentiate between people that Want Content (newbies to production and remixing) and those that want Serato Studio software but No Content

and for the people who Don't Want or Need Content:

Pay to Own (or whatever that is now called)

works like a Subscription (monthly) but after 12 months or 18 months or 24 months: you own it (perpetual license)

Serato needs to differential and break down the type of users they are trying to appeal to

It's not a one size fits all product and service -- which is how they are marketing it now

Even Ableton has Standard and Suite (Suite having much more Content, Instruments, Effects, etc).

I think there is a huge market for Serato Studio for a version without any content and without any included instruments), but has VST and VSTI support for the instruments and content we already have.

-- Just my thoughts.

there's no question that it's Brilliant Software, Brilliant Design, Brilliant Execution and there are places/niches for it in the industry

but the degreed MBA who is in charge of Marketing / Pricing has his/her head in the Clouds

sorry for being honest

They need to now apply their creative abilities to fair pricing and getting active paying users without enforcing Adobe / Microsoft / Sounds 'subscriptions for life' income models

-- just my opinion

Absolutely agree with this:




and this:





From what I've seen so far Serato Studio is and could be a great piece of software, which I would definitely purchase if it had a one off price. Unfortunately I will never purchase it with a subscription and this seems to be the case for thousands of other people.

Such a shame and waste.

Exactly...

120 per year SS vs 299 BW means you get 'approximately' 2.5 years of SS for the price of BW. And then many producers - not all - tend to upgrade at least once every 2 - 3 years anyway one the extra 129 BW cost. It kind of roughly works out similar, over around 3-4 years at least, plus you have ongoing content with SS. At that point SS should have matured a lot too.

The issue that I personally have with this is that I don't want any ongoing content, and so I don't want to pay for content that I do not want or need.

I'ts quite simple, two different packages should be offered. One as a subscription with which comes all of the content, and one which is a single payment/fee with no extra content.

I understand that Serato are in this to make money, obviously.

But they are missing a trick if they don't find a way to also release this great piece of software to people who don't want to pay for subscription/extra content.

exactly, I agree 100%

part of success is: Getting the Software to the Masses

even though the idea and design is excellent, it's a very niche product

unless they push it out there, going with:

High Number of Users x Very Fair Price

versus the current:

Small Number of Paid Subscribers x Too Expense and Not Fair Price for People that Don't Want Any Content

only one of the about methods succeeds

More Users at Fairer Pricing is Better

it cost them nearly zero to distribute the product digitally so they are just being Elitist

we all agree it's good software, but more than 1/2 of us (potential users) don't need to be paying forever for samples and sounds - there is enough of that stuff out there already and there is nothing that Serato is going to offer content-wise that isn't 'everywhere' already.

You want to see true content value for $10 per month: check out the Output Arcade trial

even if I likely wind up not going for Output Arcade (after the trial), Output Arcade is the only company with content (that I know of) that is constantly adding unique content (all the time) and Serato is never going to get to 1/100th of what Output Arcade has (in terms of variety, sound design options and project usable sounds).

I guess corporations just don't get it

when a company loses it soul

they should be turning hundred of thousands of people onto what Serato Studio can be for digital djs and producers, but that momentum is not going to happen by forcing subscription on people at this early stage of the game (even before 'all that content' even exists).

Elitist ? Do you expect these guys to work for free ?or reduced cost and anything else is deemed elitist ? If you started a business, would you do that ?
Even without the ongoing content which whoever said it is right , it’s not on a par with arcade at all, but it’s definitely usable, but even without it it’s a proper daw, albeit in its very early stages, so it’s on a par with the cost of many daws out there. And it’s Usp is the time and pitch element. It’s funny because people will never agree on everything. That’s life. And we all have our own opinions on how things should be. In this case Some people will argue elitism, others would argue that some users are feeling entitled....

Well, to me I'll say that so many people will never agree with such amount even my self I didn't agree with such amount but what will I do, I have to pay for it to make my work much easier and for new futures. This is business, if you need a good thing, go ahead and pay the price then enjoy it. Thank you so much you can still find me here [link removed]

I have no problem with the b price especially if you put it to work for you, one beat leased, or licensed will pay for multiple years. I remember having to pay 15 - 20 to have a system of hardware that could not do anything near what Serato Sample can do. I think all the time expressed on the forum about the price could have been used to make music and express how to make it better - no offense just an honest opinion. I'm sure more content creators will be licensed by the company to make it more appealing. The key matching functionality can be expanded on to chords etc.. I'm actually good with the price point because of where it is now and excited about where it could go.

Correction... I have no problem with the price especially if you put it to work for you, one beat leased, or licensed will pay for multiple years. I remember having to pay 15k - 20k to have a system of hardware that could not do anything near what Serato Sample can do. I think all the time expressed on the forum about the price could have been used to make music and express how to make it better - no offense just an honest opinion. I'm sure more content creators will be licensed by the company to make it more appealing. The key matching functionality can be expanded on to chords, progressions, and inversions, etc.. I'm actually good with the price point because of where it is now and excited about where it could go.