Universal Binary

I'm starting yet another UB thread in hopes that the sheer number of threads will convince NI that they are actually expected to honour commitments. Just FYI, there are bugs in their Kontakt 2 player that is causing delays for at least 2 other manufacturers that use that player. NI, I have to say, is the worst company for product support that I have ever come across. Is it because they make some truly great products so they don't give a f**k? I will say that one time I called tech support (U.S.) and when I mentioned that a couple of other software manufacturers did so-and-so, he actually laughed and said "Well those products aren't in the same league as ours." I had mentioned MOTU and IK Multimedia. Unbelievable.

 

I'm sorry you had that experience, it is certainly not the norm.
As for the Kontakt issues, post that in the relevant forum if you have a minute.
As for UB, it will be ready when it's ready. That's all I know!!

 

"It will be ready when it's ready"?

I think that just about sums it up really - I wish NI would just put a realistic date when they think they can manage to put resources into getting it sorted. It's absolutely disgraceful to just keep essentialy promising it to be tomorrow - as we all know tomorrow never comes.

 

Marc,
You're right that it's not the norm in U.S. however, I would say that trying to get information out of Germany is equally maddening.
The K2 player problems are the reasons quoted by both Garritan and Big Fish Audio as the reason that their products that use K2 player have not been ported over to UB. I have no first hand experience with the bug.
One last thing. I agree with kev.davies that "It will be ready when it's ready" is not the right answer. As the moderator, I guess you're tired of our whining, but really, is that the way to sell software? Why not have that in the UB release schedule?

 

Well. Here's why I answered that way, and it wasn't to be flippant. They simply won't tell me. That's the beauty of not being part of NI, I'm from the outside. I really don't know. So rather than blowing smoke up your butt, I'm telling you what I know to be true: As soon as it's done, you'll have it. They of course are working on it, I know that for a fact, but I get no word as to when. So, I was just being a bit realistic, maybe overly harshly so, and for that I apologize. I'm not here to sell software! I'm here to moderate the posts, make sure we all get what we need. I'm here to ask Berlin what's up when I need to know something.

I know they are working on it, and I will tell you that I have sent many emails stating just how important this release is to all of us.

I wish I had more for you guys. Once it comes, it will rock and we'll all be happy, Possibly sore that it wasn't sooner, but happy none the less.

Sorry if I came across as gruff, I'm just as frustrated as you guys.

 

Marc,
I wasn't really talking to you about the selling of software. In fact, I'm not really blaming you in any of these posts. Clearly the fact that they don't tell you illustrates my point about getting info from Germany. Please don't take these complaints personally. This is a forum to try and get a message to NI that they're pissing people off. If your job as moderator is to pass stuff on that they then ignore, then-further illustration of my point. I have no suggestions about what you should be doing. I'm saying THIS SUCKS and it's typical of NI, and much less so, in my experience, of other software manufacturers.
Marc, you and I have no problem.

 

Hey,

They actually do listen to me! That's why they asked me to be a moderator. They do trust me and what I say, so when things are important, I really do go to bat for you. When it comes to releases, they don't tell me because that's confidential information. I'm not on the Combos beta, so I have no idea.

All in due course!

Thanks for the clarification -- peace.

 

It's May 3, and now it seems they can't even be bothered to change the UB release schedule.

 

Blue pill vs red pill. You can only have one... Either they work on the UB or the update the website, but not both!

(tongue in cheek)

 

Hello? Anybody there? May 8!!!

 

never ending story?

Well, April 2007 is history now.
And still no update.
And no new date.
It will be ready when it's ready...
April 2008?
I am considering switching to Amplitube Live.
I have downloaded a demo and it seems to sound very similar to
the NI stuff.
What a pity that NI leaves us in the desert.
And loses some addicted customers.

 

I'm thinking about the Amplitube too - is it worth checking out the demo then? The whole UB update has gone beyond a joke now.

 

I have AmpliTube, but I got it for free because I have many other IK Multimedia products. It's absolutely worth checking out. However, price-wise, it's more along the lines of Guitar Rig than Guitar Combos. I wonder if that's part of what's holding this up. I paid something like $50 or $60 for it, and I think they were blowing it out because they were originally discontinuing it. None of this changes the fact that NI have f**ked this UB thing up with virtually every product. I have Kontakt, B4, and 2 VI's that rely on the K2 player (which are still not ready) and they were all promised and delayed.

 

Well, part of the problem is this - it was sold at a special price during their NI-versary promo, at which time it was on the UB list/timeline.

AFTER they sold a pile of copies it got removed from the UB timeline with an announcement that they had decided not to port it. This of course p*ssed a lot of people off, including me, and I'm sure they got overwhelmed with angry e-mails - when I bought it, I had IntelMac firmly on my radar and I ONLY bought it because I knew at some time in the future it would be moved over, and I had hoped sooner than later. I was not happy when it was 'discontinued.'

So when it was returned to the UB timeline, of course it was at the bottom - low priority, a begrudging admission of error on NI's part...

 

New release date! I'm sure this will be the one!

 

I hope so!!

 

Actually, I was kidding. What I love is, they say "end of May" instead of "June". It's the "$99.99" instead of "$100.00" theory.

 

The words 'carrot' and 'donkey' spring to mind. Seriously though, it does sound better than: 'next month', 'umm, next month', 'no, next month' doesn't it? You have to admire good marketing don't you. I have spoken to so many people that love guitar combos and it is such a shame that they are draggin their heels so much with the update. Give us a beta version and we'll let you know the probs. To be fair that's what most companies do with their 'real' versions when they release them and let us be their unofficial testers - (you know who you are). It is so frustrating to upgrade your hardware to find out your software needs updates. Grrrrrrr.

 

End of May?

When does the end of May begin?
Today it is the 23rd, only 8 days to go!
Will it be ready?
Don't think so!

I will utterly wait till June 1st,
and then I will switch to Amplitube.
Sorry guys!

 

Who knows when the end of may begins, all I can say for sure is that the end of may definately ends today...

NI don't seem to be able to keep their announcements once again. Although I like my AK1 Audio-Interface, NI's credibility approaches zero the more we approach june. I doubt that I'll be buying any more products from NI. What I need is reliable support and trustworthy information.