Free updates - where does it stop?

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JiveTurkey said:
I get all this. Get what you can afford that has as much as what you need as you can. But the whole push towards "I just use the manufacturer originals and make it sound like whatever amp that actually exists because there are only 3 types of amp circuits anyway" thing just doesn't ring true for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I'd say that any amp tone ever made can probably be represented by something like only 12-20 amp models. There's only so many "archetype" amps that everything is based on and in the virtual realm feature sets don't really matter like they do in real amps. I guess I just don't care about what is modeled exactly, they could as well be just custom models to me if they sound and feel right.

Now cabs, I see more reason to have a lot of those. Especially with tech like Dyna-Cabs where you can dial in your own mic setup so it's not someone else's idea of how cab X should sound.

But bringing this back to the subject at hand, additional amps, cabs and fx are indeed a relatively easy way to make the unit seem "fresh". It probably gives similar dopamine hits to buying new gear.

Maybe someone needs to implement lootboxes for modelers where you can roll a dice and score a rare amp or overdrive model if you get lucky. Here's a leaked video of the upcoming Quad Cortex 2: Vegas Edition.

Slot Machine Casino GIF by NETFLIX
 
BenIfin said:
Hell .... for sh%ts and giggles I just priced the stuff in the US.

=> Axe + FC + EV1 US $3200
=> Full Floor Helix US $1700
=> Kemper Stage + Exp Pedal US $1750

F&ck ... I had never even thought / realized it was so relatively "disproportionate" even in the US !!!

Ben
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You're comparing our flagship rack unit with two floor units. A more accurate comparison would be the FM9 + EV1 => $1840.

And that product has twice the DSP power of the next most powerful processor in your comparison.
 
I think maybe it’s looking at it from the wrong perspective.

- Companies want repeat customers
- New hardware gives users a reason to make another purchase
- New hardware is also very expensive to create
- Software is far cheaper to produce
- New software updates entice former customers to make new purchases

So free software updates are a more cost effective way of enticing former customers to purchase again. It’s great advertising.

How many of us have bought something like a Helix once, sold it, then heard about an awesome new feature in an update and bought another one to check it out?
 
FractalAudio said:
You're comparing our flagship rack unit with two floor units. A more accurate comparison would be the FM9 + EV1 => $1840.
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I completely agree that this is a much fairer comparison, but the situation isn't so rosey outside the US.

Here in the UK, an FM9+EV1 will set you back £2161 from G66.eu, but you can pick up a Helix Floor for £1151 from PMT (£1249 from Andertons).

Kemper Stage prices seem to be all over the place though - £1290 delivered including UK VAT from Thomann and DV247 (German stores) but £1695 from PMT (UK store), and you still need an expression pedal!
 
FractalAudio said:
You're comparing our flagship rack unit with two floor units. A more accurate comparison would be the FM9 + EV1 => $1840.

And that product has twice the DSP power of the next most powerful processor in your comparison.
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Not wanting to start anything but I respectfully disagree.

It was/is a very simple comparison between the two "top of the line" products for each brand ... each brands units with the most features and bells and whistles etc.... so I think it is extremely fair and "accurate".

Your point goes more to "parts and power" which are doubtless very relevant also in cost terms.

Regardless .... even allowing for this ..... i.m.h.o ... the price differences here in Oz between the "2 top of the line units" are simply preposterously absurd and cannot be justified on any level ... again this is just my view.

The US price differential is less, but still not too far off x2 the price.

I'll leave it at that.

Ben "retired Economist, Accountant and Business Analyst" Ifin

Ps: And if there are any responses can we please spare the "and how many modelers have you designed and brought to market" argument :)
 
BenIfin said:
Not wanting to start anything but I respectfully disagree.

It was/is a very simple comparison between the two "top of the line" products for each brand ... each brands units with the most features and bells and whistles etc.... so I think it is extremely fair and "accurate".

Your point goes more to "parts and power" which are doubtless very relevant also in cost terms.

Regardless .... even allowing for this ..... i.m.h.o ... the price differences here in Oz between the "2 top of the line units" are simply preposterously absurd and cannot be justified on any level ... again this is just my view.

The US price differential is less, but still not too far off x2 the price.

I'll leave it at that.

Ben "retired Economist, Accountant and Business Analyst" Ifin

Ps: And if there are any responses can we please spare the "and how many modelers have you designed and brought to market" argument :)
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I’m going with Fractal Audio on this one.
 
TSJMajesty said:
Agree also. Toyota doesn't make a heavy-duty truck, so it would be similar, but not a perfect analogy, to comparing a Ford F-450 Limited to a Toyota Tundra Capstone, just because they're both their "top of the line" models.
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We’re also very conveniently ignoring a more appropriate comparison of the Helix Rack + Controller + Exp Pedal, but I am not an economist / business analyst so what do I know.
 
fretworn said:
If people in AUS are buying fractal audio, then there’s value to those customers.

Apparently Ben’s just not one of them.
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For the record .... as I've written before here and in "the other place" ... I've bought and run and used 7 or 8 iterations of Fractal gear over the last 8+ or so years - my last one being the FM3 running FW 5.x - before jumping off the train ... all bought here in Oz. I am very far from anti Fractal.

I still have my Helix LT .... as I'm always intrigued about what's coming .... but again, as I've written before here and in "the other place" ... I've been running my GT1000 with the Tonex Pedal in its Loop since its release with the 3 x Amalgamaudio D.I Capture Packs, and have -for me- the best sounding and feeling tones I've ever had out of any unit ... including when I was a big KPA fan-boi.

Ben
 
eggpl@nt said:
We’re also very conveniently ignoring a more appropriate comparison of the Helix Rack + Controller + Exp Pedal, but I am not an economist / business analyst so what do I know.
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Yeah me neither ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ , but that would seem to be more of an apples-to-apples comparison.
 
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